Monarchs aim to "Make a Difference" in 2005

One game is all that stood between the Methodist Monarchs and their first ever USA South Athletic Conference football championship in the 2004 season. A disappointing defeat, however, at Shenandoah in the final game of the season kept the Monarchs from hanging their first conference championship banner in the rafters of the March F. Riddle Center.

Methodist still finished strong with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the USA South. It was the Monarchs’ best season since 2000, and their best mark yet for a season within the USA South.

With that in mind, veteran head coach Jim Sypult has his team sniffing at the title in the 2005 season. The Monarchs return 26 letterwinners overall: six starters return on offensive and seven back on the defensive side of the ball. The experience was evident in the USA South preseason poll, where Methodist was picked a strong third in the eight-team conference.

”Our goal every year is to win the conference championship and advance to the NCAA Division III Playoffs,” said Sypult, entering his 14th season at the Monarch helm. “The chemistry is good, and the kids now know what it takes to get to that level. We have basically the same kids, and our depth has increased. We just have to execute better.”

OFFENSE:

Over the last few seasons, Methodist has produced one of the more explosive offensive units in the USA South, and a big reason for that has been the play of two-time All-USA South quarterback Chris Roncketti. Starting an unprecedented fourth season as the Monarch signalcaller, the 6-foot, 195-pound senior is one of the most talented and dangerous offensive players in the entire USA South.

Last season, Roncketti led the Monarchs in rushing with 480 yards and seven touchdowns on 98 carries, while passing for a season-best 1,233 yards with six touchdown passes. He finished third in the conference in passing and second in total offense behind Averett’s Scott Swann.

For his career, Roncketti ranks second all-time at Methodist in rushing touchdowns, third in both passing yardage, pass attempts and completions and fifth in rushing yardage. He is backed up by sophomores Brandon Burch and Rob Schultz.

“Chris, in my opinion, is the best quarterback in the conference,” Sypult said. “He can run well and throw well and take a bad play and make it good. The players know what he can do, and he adjusts well to the players around him.”

To exploit and maximize Roncketti’s talent and abilities, the Monarchs will be more of a spread offense this season with multiple receiver sets, and Roncketti will have plenty to choose from in terms of targets. Returning is strong receiving corps, led by junior Chuck Howard and sophomores Jerold Robinson, Jonathan Mularski, Patrick Doleman and George Sands.

The 5-6, 175-pound Howard led the Monarchs in receiving last season with 147 yards on 17 receptions, while Robinson had 13 receptions for 198 yards. Howard, Doleman and Robinson are the Monarchs’ deep threats, while Mularski’s strength is as possession receiver. At tight end, Roncketti has two big targets in juniors A.J. Huddleston (6-5, 230) and Andrew Gurley (6-2, 215). Expect senior Jonathan Sherman (6-1, 215) to also see some time at tight end.

“This group has really grown,” Sypult said. “They understand the routes better, and that is important when it comes to timing. They are now more on auto pilot - big, physical, and good at blocking well on the wings.”

The Methodist rushing attack, which has eclipsed 2,000 yards rushing in each of the last two years, will have some reloading to do this season. Gone is All-USA South halfback Darmarcus Wilson, who finished second all-time at Methodist in rushing yardage, as well as All-USA South fullback David Leonard.

Sophomore Mike Hill was perhaps the team’s most dangerous rushing threat late last season, finishing with 333 yards and six touchdowns. He will no doubt carry the bulk of the team’s rushing load, as will senior Jeremy McSwain, a 5-7, 153-pound speedster who needs 263 yards to reach 1,000 yards for his Monarch career. In addition, freshmen R.J. Lassiter, Joseph Matthews and Travis Mills have made significant gains in the preseason.

At fullback redshirt freshman Reco Abney has worked his way into the starting spot, while freshman Chris McBride appears to be a solid backup at fullback.

“We’re deeper at tailback than at fullback,” Sypult said. “We’re untested at fullback. Hill is our best all-around back by far. He has good strength and speed and does so much with the football.”

Over the last two years, Methodist has developed one of the most consistently strong offensive lines in the USA South. However, three starters, including All-Conference performers Jonathan Byrd and Gary Futch have graduated.

Seniors Billy Delapp (6-2, 282) and Jonathan Willis (6-0, 325) and return at left tackle and center, respectively, while sophomore Matthew Parrish (6-0, 292) is set to replace Futch at right tackle. At guard, sophomores Max Dinges (6-1, 290) and Rhyan Breen (6-0, 269) will get the first opportunities to replace the combination of Byrd and Boatman at guard. Senior Rodney Ray (6-2, 315) should make immediate contributions at offensive tackle after three seasons at defensive tackle. Junior Jordan Allen will provide needed depth at tackle.

Depth is a big concern along the line, according to Sypult.

”Delapp has really established himself at left tackle and is one of the best tackles in the conference, and Willis is solid in the middle at center,” Sypult said. “We cannot afford injuries because there is little depth there. However, the younger linemen are beginning to understand what they have to know, and coach (Carl) Funderburk does a great job coaching them.”

Methodist thrives on its special teams play, and the Monarchs return arguably the top place-kicker in the conference in junior All-Conference performer Patrick Larkin. The 6-5, 210-pound Larkin converted 25-for-26 in point-after attempts, while also hitting 7-for-10 in field goal attempts. He also kicked a game-winning 49-yard field goal at Emory & Henry. In addition, he and freshman Anthony Liuzza are battling for the punter position as well.

”If the game is on the line, Patrick Larkin is the man,” Sypult said.

DEFENSE:

Last season was transitional for the Methodist defensive unit with Sypult taking control of the unit. It was a season of learning and adjusting, but Methodist ranked amongst the nation’s best in interceptions and turnover ratio. What makes Sypult happy and excited about the defense is one word – depth.

“Considering they had to learn the new schemes and terminology almost from scratch last season, we did well as a unit,” Sypult said. “Now I am very happy with the depth. We plan to have a fresh defensive unit in there on every snap.”

Linebackers are the heart-and-soul of this unit, and the Monarchs return a strong cast in this area. Seniors Greg Hyslop (5-9, 194) and Max Pope (5-9, 184) make up the best set of outside linebackers in the USA South. Hylsop made All-USA South with 57 tackles and two interceptions, and Pope recorded 48 tackles. Junior Blake Farrell (6-0, 190) will also see extensive action at outside linebacker after recording 19 tackles last season, as will senior Brandon McKoy (5-11, 175).

All-Conference standout and leading tackler John Shaw has graduated, but senior Travis Jean-Claude (5-9, 213) steps in at middle linebacker spot after recording 44 tackles last season. Sophomores Daryl Lawrence (6-0, 220) and Phillip Burlingame (5-10, 197) flank him inside, while freshmen Braxton Teachey (5-11, 186) and Greg Nelson (6-0, 228) have shown promise on the inside.. Sophomore Jeremy Perkins (6-2, 185) will provide depth on the outside,
”Travis is in the heart of it now,” Sypult said about Jean-Claude. “He has a great nose for the football and has great speed. The defensive responsibilities are the same, and there is a lot of experience on the outside with Greg, Max, Blake and Brandon. We can keep them fresh.”

Methodist lost two All-Conference performers up front in tackles Lorenzo Sweeney and Justin Howard. However, there is no shortage of depth on the defensive line. Senior Irrington Roberts (6-3, 248) has the speed, ability and attitude to dominate at one defensive tackle position, while sophomore Kyle Smith (6-1, 260) will start at the other defensive tackle position. Senior Erik Spong (6-0, 225), junior Lance Wilkie (6-0, 279), sophomores Brandon Hayden (6-3, 224) and Sean Merritt (6-0, 260) and freshman Lawrence Douglas (6-4, 190) give the Monarchs plenty of depth at tackle.

At noseguard, junior John Northern is the anchor to the line, according to Sypult. At 5-9 and 238, Northern has a low center of gravity and plenty of leverage and strength to take on more than one blocker. More importantly, he’s durable and can take on many plays in a series. Sophomore Desmond Perryman (5-11, 223) started some last season at noseguard and will be counted on heavily this season.

”Those nine will play a lot. There is plenty of depth up front,” Sypult said. “Northern is pound-for-pound our strongest player and premier defensive lineman. He can line up and play 30 snaps and not feel any effects.”

Over the last couple of seasons, the Methodist secondary has been one of the younger areas on defense. This season, there is an abundance of experience returning to give the Monarchs one of the top defensive backfields in the USA South.

Sophomore Nevin Rayford is back at cornerback after a strong freshman campaign in which he was one of the conference leaders in interceptions with four. Freshman Antwin Shuford (6-3, 195) has been the biggest surprise in preseason by winning the other cornerback spot in place of graduated All-Conference performer Jackson Jean. Ever-improving junior Chris Gauntlett is entrenched at free safety after recording 58 tackles and three interceptions last season.

Senior Sammy Alston provides depth at cornerback, while freshmen Yahtavian Bellamy, Mitchell Collier, Nathan Flach and D.J. Steele are the future to the Monarch secondary.

”In the past, we’ve never had the depth in the secondary as we do now,” Sypult said. “Now we can play more dime and nickel packages. This is the deepest our secondary has ever been, and it ranks right up there in terms of talent.”

Overall, Sypult is confident as the team approaches the 2005 season.

“There are some question marks, but not as many as last season,” Sypult said. “They went through a rugged camp, and conditioning is where it needs to be. A team gets closer when having gone through an extended camp, and this coaching staff is the toughest I’ve ever been a part of. They are demanding and don’t give an inch. They’re a blessing to the program and to the college.”