Football Notebook - Game 1 vs. Eastern Oregon

COMING UP: vs. No. 13 Eastern Oregon, Saturday, 1 p.m.

Click Here for the Complete Version of Week 1 Football Game Notes
 
ON THE AIR: All College of Idaho football regular-season games will be carried live in the Treasure Valley on 1350 KTIK-AM with Dave Tester and Kelly Barbour calling the action (or listen online at http://www.ktik.com/2015/05/04/college-of-idaho-audio-3/ – and click on the Listen Live icon).  Airtime on Saturday is set for 12:45 p.m.
 
LIVE STATS/LIVE VIDEO: Live Stats and Live Video all six home C of I home games will be available online through the Yotes streaming portal (http://portal.stretchinternet.com/yoteathletics), with the Live Video a pay-per-view fundraiser for Coyote football ($7.95 per game, $29.95 for the season). The Live Video will be simulcast with the 1350 KTIK-AM radio broadcast.
 
COACHES SHOW LIVE EACH MONDAY AT STEWART'S BAR AND GRILL: For the third-straight year, the Mike Moroski Coaches' Show will originate from Stewart's Bar and Grill (2805 Blaine Street – Caldwell) each Monday night from 6-7 p.m. throughout the season.  Mike Safford will host the show live on 1350 KTIK-AM, beginning Aug. 31, and feature Coach Moroski and the Coyote football program.
 
TICKET/TAILGATE/PARKING INFORMATION: Season tickets and Tailgate Zone spots are still available online for the 2015 football season (http://yoteathletics.com/sports/2015/7/9/FootballTickets.aspx?id=109), with general admission season tickets costing $58 and reserved season tickets $136.  Car spots in the Tailgate Zone are $133, with RV spots $260.  The C of I ticket office inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center will be open through Thursday at 5 p.m., with the ticket window at Simplot Stadium opening at 11:30 a.m. on game day (individual reserved seats are $29, individual general admission tickets are $13, youth general admission tickets are $11). Parking will be available at the west end of the Simplot Stadium parking lot and also behind Simplot Stadium off of Stock Trail Road (a shuttle will be available for those parking in the Stock Trail Road load north of the stadium).
 
SEASON OPENERS: Since the 1917 season, the Yotes have posted a 33-24-1 record in season opening games, including last season's 35-34 win at Pacific. Twice the Coyotes have won six-straight opening games (1946-51, 1959-64), while teams from 1925-32 combined to lose eight-straight openers (six losses to Washington State and one each to Idaho and BYU).  C of I is 22-11-1 in home openers since 1942, including nine-straight wins from 1962-70.  Last season's 31-28 win over Montana Western ended a seven-game home opener losing streak, dating back to 1971.
 
RECORD AT SIMPLOT STADIUM: C of I will play their 16th season at Simplot Stadium, beginning competition on the site in 1964.  The Yotes have an all-time record of 25-41-3, with the 2014 team going 3-2 – just the third time C of I has posted a winning home record at Simplot Stadium and equaling the 1968 and 1969 teams that won three home games.
 
FRONTIER CONFERENCE/NAIA PRESEASON POLL:  The C of I was picked in a tie for sixth-place in the 2015 Frontier Conference Preseason Football Coaches' Poll, announced July 28 by the league office. The Yotes received 16 voter points from the eight league coaches – sitting in a tie with Montana Tech in the tabulation, with Montana State-Northern placing eighth. Defending league champion, Carroll, earned top-billing in the poll, followed by NAIA national champion Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Montana Western, and Rocky Mountain.  In the Preseason NAIA Top-25 Poll, Southern Oregon and Marian (Ind.) were tied in the top spot, followed by Morningside (Iowa), St. Xavier (Ill.), and Carroll, with Eastern Oregon ranked No. 13.  The first regular-season NAIA poll will be released on Sept. 14.
 
A LOOK BACK TO 2014: What a magical opening season it was for the Coyotes, a season that was 37 years in the making after football was cut at the College following the 1977 season. Nearly 1,000 season tickets were sold in two hours in March; a Tailgate Zone at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center was created, turning into one of the biggest outdoor parties in Canyon County; and a first month of a season that was second to none. Who would have expected two blocked kicks in the fourth quarter of a wild 35-34 victory at Pacific in the season opener, then intercepting five passes in a 31-28 victory over Montana Western in the home opener. Throw in over 500 yards of total offense against Montana Tech in a 41-25 victory that wasn't even as close as the score indicated, and a final minute for the ages during Homecoming vs. Montana State-Northern, a go-ahead touchdown and a goal line stop to seal the 35-31 win. In all, a 4-7 record might not seem like much.  But in a bigger picture, it exceeded every expectation imaginable. The four wins were the most since 1974 – one of only three teams since 1962 to win at least four games.  Of the six other programs to start football in 2014, the four wins were second in the bunch (Southeastern of Florida posted a 7-3 record as an independent), with the five other squads combining for an 8-42 record. In fact, a four win season is rare for a start-up program.  Since 2012, only Lindenwood-Belleville, Alderson Broddus, Florida Tech, and Reinhardt won four or more games – nine other schools failed to win more than two games (four teams had winless records).  None of those teams played a conference schedule, while the Yotes played five ranked opponents in arguably the best NAIA football conference. And the crowds, they just kept coming - to the tune of over 4,500 fans per game. Only Carroll College claimed to have larger crowds in the NAIA than C of I, with only Humboldt State the Division II or III team to average more fans than the Yotes – by just over 200 fans.  In fact, the Coyotes would have finished No. 8 in the Division III in attendance; No. 39 in the Division II, and No. 93 in the Division I (FCS).
 
ABOUT THE YOTES OFFENSE: Returning all 11 starters on offense, the Yotes look to try to balance an attack that was run-heavy in 2014.  Quarterback Teejay Gordon returns to lead the offense after breaking school records for rushing yards by a signal-caller and set season marks for completions, attempts, and passing yards.  Gordon recorded four 100-yard rushing games and finished with 857 yards; tied a school record with 15 rushing touchdowns; and added 1,728 yards through the air, completing 57-percent of his passes.  Senior running backs Ryan Texeira and Kyle Merritt lead a big stable of ball-carriers.  Texeira averaged over five yards per carry last season, while Merritt had 209 yards rushing during an injury plagued season.  Zach Garzoli, who rushed for 559 yards as a freshman, has been limited in camp due to a nagging injury.  At the skill positions, leading receiver, tight end Marcus Lenhardt, returns after earning All-Frontier Conference honors as a freshman, grabbing 43 passes for 698 yards.  Returning receivers Austin Diffey (42 receptions, 404 yards) and Isaac Gonzalez (team-high 17.2 yards per reception) are joined by redshirt sophomore Shayne Robinson and newcomers Terrence Young , Tyler Higby, and Domenic Toliver, hoping to increase the Yotes production through the air. A big key is the offensive line, as senior Greg Dohmen anchors the quintet, flanked by four sophomores – guards Dylan Garcia and Andrew Galloway, and tackles Sam Zvirdys and Sam Ball – a group that added 10 pounds of muscle across each position in the offseason.
 
ABOUT THE YOTES DEFENSE: C of I looks marked improvement from its defense, after allowing over 480 yards per game during the 2014 season.  It starts with the front-four, where returning starters Josh Price and Talon Sudbeck look to build off last season – as Price recorded 57 tackles, including a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss.  Depth at tackle will be a key, as Zach Hall and newcomers Matt Crispo and Adam Kelsie look to make an impact.  The Yotes moved top tackler, Jordan Vielma (64 tackles) and Khallid Ransom (37 tackles), both linebackers last year, to defensive end, joined by transfer Carlos Murana and freshmen Zac Crosgrove and James Fononga. At the linebacker positions, Troy Carr, who averaged six tackles per game in 2014, will be joined by returners Jason Byce and Ben Ceccarelli, along with talented freshmen Nikolas Lyons and Zach Wagner.  An improved secondary will be a key in 2015, led by top corners Nate Moore and Grant Darrington, who will be pushed by freshman Morris Kroma and sophomore Malik Whitfield.  At the safety positions, returning starters Cory Brady (64 tackles, 6 INT) and Hunter Temple (40 tackles) have a year under their belt, with the duo joined by transfers Julian Patton, Tanner Oshiro and B.J. Newman, along with freshman Jaquan Mayberry.
 
ABOUT THE YOTES SPECIAL TEAMS: The Yotes will have a new kicker in 2015, as talented redshirt freshman Hartvig Bondo will handing placekick and kickoff duties, while punter Kevin McLemore returns after averaging 38.8 yards a kick last season.  Newcomer Michael Daw III will be the lead long snapper, with senior Levi Elsberry handling the place holding duties. C of I has options at the return positions, as Cory Brady and Grant Darrington return, along with newcomers Tyler Higby and Morris Kroma.
 
SURVEYING THE OPPONENT – EASTERN OREGON: The Mountaineers are coming off their best season in program history, recording an 8-3 record and open 2015 ranked No. 13 in the NAIA Top-25 poll.  The offense revolves around returning quarterback Zach Bartlow, who passed for 2,318 yards and added 523 yards on the ground, while All-America slot back Jace Billingsley had 637 yards receiving and 891 yards rushing in 2014. The EOU defense is paced by end Kyle Lanoue and corner Byron Benson, who each earned All-Conference honors.  Lanoue recorded 55 total tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, while Benson had 42 tackles, five interceptions, and 10 pass break-ups. Kicker Marc David returns, having made 40-of-42 extra point tries and 8-of-13 field goal attempts. The Mountaineers return five starters on offense and six defensive starters, but will need to replace four of their five starting offensive linemen from last season.
 
LAST MEETING(S): Last season, C of I and Eastern met twice, as Zach Bartlow passed for 227 yards and four touchdowns, as EOU scored the final 40 points in a 47-7 victory in La Grande, with Jace Billingsley combining for 294 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a 45-21 Mountaineers win in Caldwell.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the 37th meeting between the I-84 rivals, dating back to Oct. 12, 1929, when the Mountaineers earned a 19-7 victory.  C of I holds the all-time series lead, 25-10-1, including 19-straight wins in the series between 1939 and 1969.  The biggest Coyote win was a 66-6 victory in La Grande on Nov. 23, 1950; while EOU's biggest win occurring in last season's 47-7 victory, also in La Grande.
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE:  The Frontier Conference season opened last Saturday, as former member Dickinson State held Montana State-Northern to just 189 yards of offense in a 17-7 win in Dickinson, N.D.  Along with the C of I-EOU conference tilt, Rocky Mountain will host Dickinson State in a non-conference encounter.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME – C OF I OFFENSE VS. EOU DEFENSE: Can the Coyotes throw the ball against an Eastern defense that ranked second in the Frontier Conference in pass defense (195.4 yards per game) and had 20 interceptions? Last season, the Yotes averaged  238 yards rushing in the two games vs. EOU (averaging 4.5 yards per carry), but just 108 yards per game through the air and tossed five interceptions. If the Yotes are able to stretch the field vertically with their deep pool at wide receiver, it will allow the running game of quarterback Teejay Gordon and running backs Ryan Texeira and Kyle Merritt to open up.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME – EOU OFFENSE VS. C OF I DEFENSE: Last season, the Mountaineers used All-America slot back Jace Billingsley all over the field in the two victories over C of I.  The question remains, can the Yotes contain the speedy, physical back? Billingsley combined for 222 yards receiving and four touchdowns, while carrying the ball 22 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns in the two EOU wins. The difference could be the speed of the Coyote defense, which is much improved after a quality spring and the addition of key recruits on the defensive line and in the secondary. C of I will also have to stop quarterback Zach Bartlow, who completed 36-of-56 passes for 557 yards and five touchdowns against the Yotes in 2014.
 
THE COACHES – MIKE MOROSKI AND TIM CAMP: The Yotes are led by Mike Moroski, is in his third year as head coach at the College and has a 4-7 all-time record.  He was named head coach in January of 2013 and led the Yotes through their "zero year" program, prior to the return to the field in September of 2014. As head coach, Moroski has coached one All-Frontier Conference selection, two NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes, and 22 Frontier Conference All-Academic Team selections. Moroski came to the College after three decades at UC-Davis – both as a player and a coach.  As offensive coordinator from 1993-2010, his schemes helped the Aggies to eight NCAA Division II postseason appearances, including three trips to the national quarterfinals and trips to the national semifinals in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2001. In 2000, his offense averaged 47 points per game, ranking second in Division II, while in 2001, his offense averaged 41 points and 511 yards per game, helping Moroski earn Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year honors. With Moroski serving as offensive coordinator, UC-Davis posted an overall record of 148-80, including a 98-32 record as a Division II school. Moroski coached every offensive group during his tenure at UC-Davis – quarterbacks (1987-88), wide receivers (1992-97), offensive line (1998-2009), tight ends (2010-11), and running backs (2012), while serving as the junior varsity head coach from 1989-91. He helped the Aggies in their move from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision in 2003, with UC-Davis transitioning to the Great West Conference and the Big West Conference. A native of Novato, Calif., Moroski played quarterback at UC-Davis from 1975-78, earning Far West Conference Player of the Year honors in both 1977 and 1978, and leading the Aggies to the 1977 Division II national semifinals.  He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth-round of the 1979 NFL Draft, spending eight years as a backup quarterback with the Falcons (1979-84), the Houston Oilers (1985) and the San Francisco 49ers (1986). Moroski played in 69 career games, completing 57 percent of his passes for 2,864 yards and eight touchdowns. Moroski graduated from UC-Davis with a degree in managerial economics and has a master's in educational psychology.  He and his wife, Cathie, have four children – sons Nate, Will and Ben, and daughter Emilie. Eastern Oregon is led by eighth-year head coach Tim Camp, who has posted a 43-33 record with the Mountaineers, the second-most wins in program history.  Prior to his time at EOU, Camp was offensive coordinator at Bucknell University and was the offensive line and tight ends coach at Nebraska-Omaha.  Camp was an All-Pac-10 selection at Oregon State and signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers after graduating with a degree in sociology.
 
NEXT WEEK: The Coyotes play their lone non-conference game of the season, hosting Pacific University at Simplot Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on the C of I football program, visit the official homepage of the Yotes, http://yoteathletics.com/index.aspx?path=football&&tab=0 and follow Yote Football on Twitter (@YotesFootball).