Football vs. Mount St. Joseph -- Week 3 Game Notes

DEFIANCE, OHIO  - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets host The College of Mount St. Joseph this Saturday, Sept. 20 at Justin F. Coressel Stadium at 1:30 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets will look to build upon a 3-7 overall record in 2014.  Defiance returns 28 letterwinners, including 14 starters this fall.  DC ended last season as one of the top offenses in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference finishing third in total offense averaging 347.5 yards per game.  Defiance also had one of the better ground attacks with 152.4 yards per game placing them third in the conference.  DC will also be strong defensively following a season that saw the Jackets ranked nationally in several categories including: total defense (seventh) allowing an average of just 257.4 total yards of offense per game, rushing defense (sixth) giving up just 74.1 yards per game, tackles for loss (14th) with 89 and interceptions (T-15th) with 18.

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Series History

Saturday's meeting will be the 23rd meeting in the history of the two rivals. Both teams have won an equal number of games to tie the series record at 11-11.  Last season the Yellow Jackets fell to the Lions in an offensive shootout, 44-31, in Cincinnati. The two teams combined for 727 total yards (Defiance - 403; MSJ - 324) last year. The Lions have won the previous two meetings and seven of the last 10.

Harper and Feldhaus Record Career-Highs Last Week Against Centre (Ky.)

Sophomore wide receiver Darius Harper (Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee) had a career-high 101 yards with a game-high seven receptions. One of his receptions was for a 44-yard touchdown.  Junior safety Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner) posted a career-high 15 tackles against Centre, including 12 solo tackles. He was one of three Yellow Jacket players to finish the game with 10 or more stops.

Yellow Jackets Extend Scoring Streak

The Yellow Jackets extended their consectutive scoring streak to eight games coming into Saturday's matchup against Mount St. Joseph.  The last time Defiance was held scoreless was Sept. 28, 2013 against Anderson (Ind.) University.  The Ravens went on to win that game by the final of 34-0 at home.

Yellow Jackets Picked to Finish Tied for Fourth in HCAC

The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish in a tie for fourth in the 2014 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll.  Defiance returns three All-Conference players in junior Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner), senior Jamario Belton (Tampa, Fla./Spoto) and senior Eric Strickland (West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge).

Scouting the Yellow Jackets

The offense is averaging 219.5 yards per game this season and will be led by senior quarterback Garrett Teague (Webberville, Mich./Webberville). Teague moved back to the QB position last week to fill in for injured player Alex Larson (Highland, Mich./Milford). Teague completed 14-of-31 passes for 159 yards and one score.      

The Yellow Jacket backfield is led by junior Daniel Collins (West Springfield, Va./West Springfield). To date, Collins has rushed for 87 yards on 24 carries (3.6 yards per carry). Also look for senior Trevon Burrell (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale) to see action in the backfield. Burrell has totaled 33 yards on 11 carries so far this season (3.0 ypc.).

At the wideout position, look for sophomores Darius Harper (Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee), Dante Smith (Villa Rica, Ga./Villa Rica) and junior Daniel Collins (West Springfield, Va./West Springfield) to start. Harper currently leads the team in receptions (14) and yards (171). He also has one TD reception on the year. Smith is second in catches with seven for 47 yards and Daniel Collins will line up at the slot receiver spot and has caught one pass so far this season for four yards.  

On defense, Defiance is currently allowing 395.0 yards per game, but has accounted for six takeaways already this season with three interceptions and fumbles.

The defensive line will be led by junior Kyle Wilson who leads all lineman in tackles with nine (five solo and four asissts) and has 1.5 tackles for loss.

The linebackers will start All-HCAC senior Eric Strickland (West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge) and sophomore Keandre Gilmer (Toledo/Rogers). Strickland is tied for second on the team in tackles with 17 (seven solo and 10 assists), including a tackle for loss, a team-tying best two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Gilmer is fifth in stops with 10 (six solo and four assists) and has two forced fumbles.

The Jacket secondary is led by junior first-team All-HCAC award winner Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner). Feldhaus recorded a career-high 15 tackles last week against Centre (Ky.) and is currently tied for second on the team with Strickland with 17 overall tackles. He is also tied for the team-lead in breakups with two to go along with a forced fumble. In addition to Feldhaus, senior Josh Slayton (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) and sophomore Kenny Jones (Toledo/Bowsher) will start at the safety positions. Slayton has made 14 tackles (nine solo and five assists) so far this season and has one interception and two fumble recoveries. Jones has made three tackles (all solo), including a tackle for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Also in the secondary, look for freshmen Angello Proulx (Warren, Mich./Mott) and Laron Brewster (Delray Beach, Fla./Athlantic) to start at the corners. Proulx leads the team in tackles with 19 (12 solo and seven assists) in addition to a half tackle for loss and a team-best two interceptions. Brewster has tallied six tackles (five solo and one assist) coming into Saturday's game.

Scouting the Lions

The Lion offense has been averaging 335 yards of total offense (153.5 rushing and 181.5 passing) so far this season. MSJ has featured a pair of underclassmen at the quarterback position with freshman Greg Simpson listed as the starter. In two games, Simpson has completed 18-of-28 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns. He is also the team's second-leading rusher with 70 yards on 14 carries (5.0 yards per attempt). Also look for sophomore Mike Williams to take his share of the snaps. He has compled 13-of-20 passes for 148 yards and two TD.    

At the reunning back spot, the Lions will start sophomore Denzel Norvell. Norvell has carried the ball 30 times ofr 182 yards (6.1 ypc.) with one TD. He is currently averaging 91.0 yards on the ground per game. He has also caught seven passes for 63 yards.

MSJ will line up three wide receivers, plus a tight end to make up the passing attack. Senior Leonard Riston will be the player to watch as he leads the team in receptions (10), yards (127) and is tied for the team-lead in TD (two).  

On defense, MSJ feature a 4-3 scheme and will feature a pair of seniors in Montez Patterson and Joe Meade. Patterson leads all lineman in tackles with seven (four solo and three assists) and has one tackle for loss. Meade has made six tackles (all solo stops) and has two tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack.  

The linebacking corps will also start a pair of seniors led by Konnor Blevins. Blevins comes into Saturday's game as the team leader in tackles with 16 (14 solo and two assists). He also has 3.5 tackles for loss, which is second most on the team.

At the secondary positions, expect junior Judge Love and sophomore Tyler Kratzenberg to start at the safety spots and junior Marvin Draper and freshman Tracy Fomby to start at the corners. Love leads the secondary in tackles and is tied for third overall with 14 tackles (13 solo and one assist) in addition to a tackle for loss.