FORT WAYNE – Coach: Kevin Donley
Record: 9-3 (3-2 MSFA, MEL)
What went wrong: Saint Francis’ only losses came against the Nos. 1-, 2- and 3-ranked teams, ending with a second-round playoff loss at No. 3 Georgetown. Saint Xavier, No. 1 at the time, and current No. 1 Marian, No. 2 at the time, defeated Saint Francis in back-to-back home games. In the second week of the season, the Cougars found themselves without two of their top three quarterbacks when Josh Miller suffered an injury and Alex Beierwalter left the team. Senior Justin Boser took control and played admirably. The bugaboo of all three losses this season was turnovers. Saint Francis had six against Saint Xavier, and three against both Marian and Georgetown. Injuries also hampered the Cougars. Along with Miller, Saint Francis’ two fastest players, running back Frank Wolfe and Austin Coleman, missed games. Senior linebacker Solomon Grimes also missed the last three games.
What went right: Saint Francis turned around its season with a five-game winning streak after losing two straight home games for the first time since 1998. Much of the credit goes to the defense, where the three-man defensive front was changed to a four-man front. That enabled Saint Francis to play more aggressively off the edges and it freed up the linebackers. Georgetown’s 26 points Saturday were the most scored against the Cougars since it gave up 40 to Marian on Oct. 15.
Saint Francis found a potent weapon in junior kick return specialist Coleman, who had four kickoffs returned for touchdowns. Freshman running back Antoin Campbell also made an impact. Twice this season he rushed for more than 150 yards and had 159 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over Walsh.
Outlook: Saint Francis could be facing the same question going into the 2012 season as it did entering 2011: Who will be the starting quarterback? Miller’s return puts him in the hunt for the job, although he spent most of his time this season playing flanker. The starting position could go to sophomore-to-be Wesley Hunsucker, who appeared in six games, completed 22 of 38 passes for 281 yards and had two touchdowns with no interceptions. Hunsucker is also the baseball team’s ace pitcher, and his availability for spring practices could be limited. Offensively, the Cougars lose Boser, Wolfe, versatile running back Koby Frye, along with four-year starting guard Corey Cronk and two-year starting center Wyatt Tuggle. On defense, only senior linebackers Ross Bauman, Derek VandenBosch and Grimes will be leaving. The rebuilding could come next season, when the defense will lose six starters, including leading tackler Brody Kalbaugh, whose 123 were the second most for one season in Saint Francis history, behind Brian Kurtz’s 133 in 2006.
