Posted: Sep 02, 2016
THE GAME
The Siena Heights football team will host Lindenwood-Belleville in a Mid-States Football Association Mideast Conference game on Sept. 3. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Siena Heights football team will host Lindenwood-Belleville in a Mid-States Football Association Mideast Conference game on Sept. 3. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Saints are coming off the 2015 season with a 2-4 MSFA Mideast record and 4-6 overall record. Lindenwood-Belleville also finished 2-4 in the MSFA Mideast conference and 4-6 overall.
FOLLOW THE MARCH
All Siena Heights football games will be webcast on the Siena Heights Sports Network, which can be accessed via the Stretch Internet link on WWW.SHUSAINTS.COM. Live stats can be followed online at WWW.SHUSAINTS.COM.
All Siena Heights football games will be webcast on the Siena Heights Sports Network, which can be accessed via the Stretch Internet link on WWW.SHUSAINTS.COM. Live stats can be followed online at WWW.SHUSAINTS.COM.
SHSN will provide live video for each Saint home game. Play-by-play will be called by Chris Renwick with Doug Goodnough providing color commentary. Renwick is in his first year with the Saints broadcast team while Goodnough resumes his role in SHSN after a year break.
SHSN and WLEN 103.9 FM have also enjoyed a five-year partnership. All games will be audio-streamed online at WLEN.COM while select games will be broadcasted live on the radio.
SHU FOOTBALL PREPARES FOR SUCCESS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP
Siena Heights football interim head coach, Matt Kohn, looks to use the strong team relationships to propel SHU to success for the 2016 season. Two seasons removed from earning a share of the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League championship, the Saints look to battle to improve on their 4-6 record in the 2015 season.
SHU FOOTBALL PREPARES FOR SUCCESS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP
Siena Heights football interim head coach, Matt Kohn, looks to use the strong team relationships to propel SHU to success for the 2016 season. Two seasons removed from earning a share of the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League championship, the Saints look to battle to improve on their 4-6 record in the 2015 season.
The Saints' first test under new leadership for the 2016 season is set for Saturday, Sept. 3, when SHU hosts Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) for the season-opener. Not only will this be the first home-contest of 2016, but the first MSFA Mideast League contest of the season.
"Go out every day and improve ourselves every day, focus on ourselves," Kohn states about the team expectations. "We will be the best football team we possibly can be when we take the field on game day…we're going to go week-by-week; take it one game at a time."
After coach Jim Lyall had to step down due to health concerns, Kohn has picked up the reigns. The transition from assistant coach to head coach has been smooth for Kohn. His focuses have transitioned from the defensive standpoint to a broader picture. He now focuses on an environment that breeds success.
"Our players have responded unbelievable to the change…All our players and our coaches have a vision for what they want to accomplish with this football program, and everyone is moving forward to take the steps to accomplish that vision," Kohn states.
"We have no significant changes from last season, maybe switching up a couple coverages defensively," Kohn said. "Looking at how we preformed last year, we were great against the run but gave up a couple of big plays that really hurt us.
Running back Dont'e Fox, redshirt-junior, will be returning for the 2016 season. Last season, Fox totaled 702 all-purpose yards. He had 144 rushes for 603 yards and seven receptions for 99 yards. Fox scored five touchdowns for SHU.
For the Saints' defense, linebacker Nate Yeloushan will be returning for his senior season. In 2015, he totaled 77 tackles, including 40 unassisted and 37 assisted. Yeloushan also earned two forced fumbles and five pass breakups.
Redshirt-junior defensive back Da'vonte Price will be contributing to the SHU defense for the 2016 season. Last season, Price made 72 tackles, including 40 unassisted and 32 assisted. He earned a forced fumble, an interception and a blocked punt for the Saints in 2015.
"Offensively, I know Coach McGee has a great system. We were ranked in the top 5 last year, total offense, passing offense; so it all will come down to our trigger-man." Reflecting on the offense, Kohn had this to offer, "We lost two great receivers in Reggie Blackmon and Aaron Doriot, so we really need two or three guys to step up in that area and fill those big shoes."
Senior wide receiver Curtis Smith Jr. will be returning for his final season in the Saints' uniform. In 2015, Smith grabbed 59 receptions for 684 yards. He had four kick returns for 59 yards, totaling 745 all-purpose yards.
Returning to the 2016 roster is redshirt-sophomore quarterback Lucas Barner Jr.. The Lansing, Mich. native threw for 1297 yards for the Saints, in 2015. He completed 95 of 150 passes and threw for six touchdowns and six interceptions for SHU.
Also returning in redshirt-junior Nick Gilliam to the quarterback position. He completed 74 of 116 attempts to earn 1014 yards and 11 touchdowns in the 2015 season.
As of who will start for the season, it's a toss-up for Kohn. "We've got three guys who've all have their own strengths and weaknesses: Lucas Barner, Garrett Shaffer and Nick Gilliam—in no particular order. They've all hand ups-and-down during camp. That will be Coach McGee's call leading into game week. McGee's the offensive coordinator and the quarterback coach, that's going to be his decision on who he feels comfortable running his offense."
When looking to the game against Lindenwood-Belleville, Kohn said that the team was extremely athletic but lost a few key players from their 2015 season, including the quarterback and the running back.
"We're hoping to gain an edge with the brotherhood, comradery that we've built at camp. It has been unbelievable to see. We've never had a football team, 125 young men, this close in the six years that I've been here. That's a beautiful thing. We're hoping that it will pay it's dividends on game day."
