Published Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997
THIS TEAM'S...
BACK TO HERALD...
1997 season preview
Rock opens at powerful YSU
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1997 schedule (1 p.m. unless noted) Aug. 28 _ at Youngstown State, 7 p.m. Sept. 13 _ West Virginia Wesleyan Sept. 20 _ at Fairmont (W.Va.) State Sept. 27 _ at East Stroudsburg, 1:05 p.m. Oct. 4 _ West Chester, 2 p.m. Oct. 11 _ at Indiana, 7 p.m. Oct. 18 _ Edinboro Oct. 25 _ at Clarion Nov. 1 _ Lock Haven Nov. 8 _ at Shippensburg Nov. 15 _ California. |
The Rockets of 10th-year head coach Dr. George Mihalik return 25 lettermen, 15 of whom were starters, from last season's 7-4 contingent.
SRU's offense will be directed by red-shirt freshman quarterback Randy McKavish. The 6-foot, 190-pound McKavish led Central Cambria High two years ago _ one of Sharon's victims en route to back-to-back PIAA Class AAA championship game berths against Berwick.
``Randy's been working every day to develop a rhythm for the offense,'' Mihalik, who guided Slippery Rock to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crowns in the early-1970s, said. ``It's just a matter of feeling comfortable.
McKavish, a starting guard for SRU's basketball team last winter, won a battle during last spring's drills and has continued his fine play during the ongoing preseason camp.
The Rock's running game will be led by the club's top rusher a year ago, Rick Magulick (5-10, 205), who accumulated 793 yards and 7 touchdowns. Farrell High School product Stan Kennedy (5-10, 190) is one of a trio of freshmen seeking playing time in the backfield.
Senior wide receiver Kris Boschele (6-0, 180), who snared 32 passes for 482 yards and 6 TDs a year ago, and senior tight end John Curran (6-3, 260), one of the club's co-captains, lead the receiving corps while the offensive line _ coached by Grove City High and Thiel College product Bill Horsman _ will be anchored by three returning starters in All-PSAC center Dave Sabolcik (6-2, 270), a senior, and tackles Mark Clouse (6-3, 290), another senior, and sophomore Tim Kuzniez (6-5, 285) .
Defensively, Mihalik has been pleased with the play of end Casey Vogt and 6-3, 240-pound junior All-PSAC tackle Rob Anthony, who registered a half-dozen quarterback sacks and nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year.
Sack leader Matt Kinsinger (6-2, 250), a junior nose tackle, and junior end Omar Mitchell (6-0, 250) also return, as does team-leading tackler Shawn Rohrer (6-1, 220), a senior who recorded 139 stops, four sacks and an interception from his linebacking slot a year ago.
The secondary will feature returning All-PSAC cornerback Bret Geishauser, (5-10, 185), a senior, as well as Nate Snyder and converted linebacker Rodney Wilson (6-0, 205), a senior who has changed positions for the second straight season. Sophomore Brian Polk (5-10, 175) also is part of the quartet.
