2009 Football Season Preview
Head coach Andy Ankeny is optimistic about the 2009 season and the prospects for a successful campaign for the University of La Verne football team. In his third season at the helm of the Leopard program, Ankeny believes he has a better foundation to become more competitive in the SCIAC Conference race.
The Leopards finished 2-7 a year ago with both wins coming in conference against Pomona-Pitzer and Whittier. This season the Leos hope to improve the win total and move up in the conference standings.
Ankeny points to better array of talent on both sides of the ball along with improve depth at nearly every position. "We clearly have more talented players than in the previous two years and that's exciting," he said. "We've definitely upgraded our talent pool and that's a huge difference when it comes to gameday.
Youth is still very evident in the Leopard program, with 50 players who are either freshman or sophomores on the current roster. That said, the 2009 squad possesses more experience than the previous two regimes under Ankeny which should lead to better continuity.
On offense, the Leos will routinely utilize a one-back, spread formation while primarily imploring a double-flex package on defense. "We are going to be unique on both sides but the emphasis is to best put our playmakers in position to make a difference."
The Leopard offense has the luxury of two quality quarterbacks in Anthony Andre and Christian Winnewasser. Andre passed for 1,423 yards last season with Winnewasser passing for 427 yards with 4 TDs. The top returning pass receiver is senior Kenneth Chapman, who hauled in 12 passes for 224 yards and a pair of scores. The receiving corps will be bolstered by newcomers Cedric Ho and Allen Daniels along with Jimmy Morin and Jacob Tobias. Among running backs, freshman Erek Brown and junior Jeff Quinn should see plenty of action to help provide a balanced attack.
On defense the Leos return senior linebacker Branamier Courtney, a 2007 All-SCIAC selection who posted 63 tackles last season. Other defenders to watch include Daniel Brown, Alex Barrios and Chris Pace on the defensive line with Ordell Campbell, Rydell Moore and Wilson Truong at the linebacker positions.
Wesley Dean and Mike Casteneda will handle the placekicking duties while Edgar Rodriguez serves as the team's punter. Allen Daniels, Erek Brown and Loren Rojas will be the primary punt and kickoff returners.
The Leopards enjoy five home games this season, including a rarity of three home tilts to end the season with Whittier (Oct. 31), Cal Lutheran (Nov. 7) and Chapman (Nov. 14). La Verne opens the season at home against Whitworth on Sept. 12 and will face nationally-ranked Willamette (Sept. 26) and Chapman in non-conference action. "We're excited about the non-league portion of our schedule," said Ankeny. "Quality Northwest opponents like Whitworth and Willamette will tell us where we're at heading into conference play."
The SCIAC race feature perennial favorites Occidental, Redlands and Cal Lutheran along with Whittier, La Verne, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer vying to challenge within the conference.
