Football vs. Hanover (Ind.) -- Week 4 Game Notes

DEFIANCE, OHIO  - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets travel to Hanover, Ind. for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game against Hanover College at L.S. Ayers Field 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.

DEFIANCE INTERNET BROADCAST:  Yellow Jacket Sports Network  [CLICK HERE]

HANOVER VIDEO BROADCAST:  [CLICK HERE]

LIVE STATS:  [CLICK HERE]

COMPLETE GAME NOTES IN PDF FORMAT:  [CLICK HERE]

Series History

Saturday's meeting will be the 34th meeting in the history of the two rivals. Hanover leads the series standings with a record of 21-12.  Last season the Yellow Jackets fell to the Panthers, 25-21, at Coresesl Stadium. Hanover scored a pair of late touchdowns in the fourth quarter to record the come-from -behind victory. Then freshman quarterback Alex Larson (Highland, Mich./Milford) completed 10-of-23 passes for 161 yards with two TD and an interception.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets

The offense is averaging 249.7 yards per game this season and will be led by senior quarterback Garrett Teague (Webberville, Mich./Webberville). In two games, Teague has completed 28-of-65 passes (43.1 percent) for 297 yards and one touchdown.

The Yellow Jacket backfield is led by senior Trevon Burrell (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale). Coming into Saturday's game, Burrell has carried the ball 29 times for 86 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and a pair of TD.

In the slot position, look for the duo of junior Daniel Collins (West Springfield, Va./West Springfield) and sophomore Cody Wilson. To date, Collins has rushed for a team-high 127 yards on 31 carries (4.1 ypc.). and a TD. He has also caught six passes for 48 yards. Wilson has caught eight passes for 81 yards to go along with a TD.

At wideout, look for sophomores Darius Harper (Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee) and Dante Smith (Villa Rica, Ga./Villa Rica) to start. Harper currently leads the team in receptions (18) and yards (219). He also has one TD reception on the year. Smith is tied for second in catches with eight for 54 yards.

On defense, Defiance is currently allowing 395.3 yards per game, but has accounted for eight takeaways already this season with four interceptions and fumbles.

The defensive line features four juniors at the starting positions with Kyle Wilson (Wauseon) leading all lineman in tackles with 12 (seven solo and five assists), including 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 fourth on the team in tackles with 17 (seven solo and 10 assists), including a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Gilmer is tied for seventh in stops with 12 (seven solo and five assists) and has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Jacket secondary will be made up by junior first-team All-HCAC award winner Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner), senior Josh Slayton (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) and sophomore Kenny Jones (Toledo/Bowsher) at the safety positions and freshmen Angello Proulx (Warren, Mich./Mott) and Laron Brewster (Delray Beach, Fla./Athlantic) at the corners. Feldhaus leads the team in tackles with 28 (20 solo and eight assists) to go along with 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.  

On special teams, senior Spencer Saunders has handled the kicking duties so far this season. He is currently 0-1 in field goal attempts and has converted five-of-six extra-point attempts. As a punter, Saunders is averaging 36.5 yards per punt in 33 attempts with a season-long 59-yard punt.

Scouting the Panthers

The Panther offense has been averaging 325.7 yards of total offense (110.0 rushing and 215.7 passing) so far this season. Hanover has used two players at the quarterback position with junior Trent Downs listed as the starter. In three games, Downs has thrown for 462 yards while completing 48-of-81 passes. He has thrown a pair of TD, but also has two interceptions. Also expect to see sophomore Adam Gutermuth to see time at QB. Gutermuth has completed 22-of-45 passes (48.9 percent) for 185 yards, two TD and three interceptions.    

At the reunning back spot, the Panthers will start senior Spencer Corrao. To date, Corrao has rushed for 173 yards on 51 carries (3.4 ypc.) with three TD. He has also caught 12 passes for 150 yards.

Hanover will line up four wide receivers, to make up the passing attack. Sophomore Lyne Taylor currently leads the team in receptions (22) and yards (178) an dis tied for the team-lead in TD receptions with two. He is averaging 8.1 yards per catch and 59.3 receiving yards per game.  

On defense, Hanover feature a 4-3 scheme and will start four juniors on the defensive line lead by T.J. Gerking who leads all lineman in tackles with 14 (all solo). He has also tallied two tackles for loss, a sack, a fumbled recovery and a forced fumble.  

The linebacking corps is led by the duo of seniors Vince Peiffer and Justin Magaw. Both players are tied for the team-lead in tackles with 32. Peiffer has also posted two tackles for loss by way of a pair of sacks and Magaw has added three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

At the secondary positions, the Panthers are led by freshman Kegan Aldridge. After three games, Aldridge is third on the team in tackles with 23 (19 solo and four assists) and has two pass breakups.

On special teams, sophomore Ben Wheeler with handle the field goal kicking duties having made his only attempt on the year and is a perfect six-of-six in extra point attempts. Junior Josh Green is listed as the starting punter and is currently averaging 37.5 yards per kick.