FORT WAYNE – It’s Shaine Tierney, at least for a while.
Saint Francis football coach Kevin Donley announced Tuesday that Tierney, last year’s starting quarterback, will lead the Cougars into their Saturday season opener at Iowa Wesleyan.
Tierney, a senior who averaged 214 passing yards and had 11 touchdowns as Saint Francis went 7-3 last season, won the starting job over junior Justin Boser.
“Tierney is going to start on Saturday,” Donley said.
“Both will play; how much depending on the situation of what we need to do to move the football. You don’t know how people are going to play you until you get into the course of the game.”
While Donley said that Tierney’s experience was a factor in the decision, he added that Boser was added to the equation after showing vast improvement in the fall camp.
“He was a different guy,” Donley said of last year’s backup.
Nor is Donley averse to a platoon system.
“They both bring a different dimension, so really it helps you refine how you prepare in terms of the list you give each one of them to work on,” he said. “On the other side, I think it creates a two-dimension preparation for the opponents.
“The key is keeping them both on the right plain. They’ve got to understand their roles to make our offense the best. They’re both great kids.”
Tierney, who started one game as a sophomore when then-starting quarterback Jeff Wedding went down with an injury, said the competition has made Boser and him better.
“Sometimes it’s frustrating, but I think it’s brought the best out of me and out of Justin, and it’s best for our team,” Tierney said. “I’ve always had confidence in myself and I know my teammates have confidence in me; it’s just a matter of getting out there and getting all the little things done.”
Although this will be the season opener for the Cougars, Iowa Wesleyan has played twice, losing both games.
Saint Francis will open its home season Sept. 18 against Saint Ambrose.
