FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2003; A NEW ERA IN MUSKIE FOOTBALL
Aug 5, 2003
The Lakeland College Football team takes on a new look this year under the direction of first-year head coach Jim Zebrowski. Zebrowski begins his first head coaching stint after handling the offensive coordinator chores at Millikin University (Decatur, IL) the past three seasons (see coaching bio).

The Muskie faithful will especially be in for a new look offensively this season as Zebrowski will replace the run and shoot offense that former coaches Jeff Hynes (now at Concordia University , IL) and Randy Awrey (Saginaw Valley State, MI) ran the past nine seasons.

Zebrowski brings in a multiple offensive scheme based on balance between the run and the pass. The Muskies will be driven by a power running attack and play action passing scheme. Multiple formations and motions will be used along with various personnel groupings.

OFFENSE:
The offense will be led by returning IBFC All Conference performers Brent Luebke (QB, First Team), Kevin Cox (QB, Honorable Mention), Jeff Taff (WR, First Team and IBFC Outstanding Wide Receiver for 2002), James Hayes (WR, Second Team) and Nick Fox (OT, First Team).

QUARTERBACK:
Luebke is poised to lead the new look Muskie offense in his senior year, but will be challenged by fellow senior Cox and sophomores Ryan Maiuri and Matt Behringer. Outstanding newcomers Craig Distin and Erick Steiniger enjoyed very successful high school careers and are looking to make an impact.

WIDE RECEIVERS:
The receiving core will be a strength for the Muskies as they return four talented seniors in Taff , James Hayes (Second Team), Shaun Behrend (Honorable Mention) and Joe Huber. This foursome will be challenged by sophomore Mike Christian and juniors Courtney Gatlin and Jeff Harding. Adding depth to the receiving core are newcomers Ricardo Brown, Matt Martin and Anthony Rodriguez.

RUNNING BACKS:
After several years of playing in the run and shoot, a talented crew of running backs looks forward to making more of an impact in the Muskies power running attack.

The halfbacks will be led by senior Eric Fritz and junior Nick Hunter. These upperclassmen will be pushed by a terrific group of newcomers led by Marcus Denham and Marcus Green. Freshmen Johnny Mallory, Aaron Berrie, Arthur Sakalowski and Chad Stingle round out this talented group of halfbacks that will vie for playing time in 2003.

Fullback will be a new position at Lakeland this year. Travis Gervais (jr.), Vince Cooper (so.), Kenny Grundy (jr.), Bob Kelly (so.) and Juderson Desile (jr.) will vie for the starting position along with freshman Steve Berry.

DEFENSE:
The Muskies defense will have a new attitude as well as a new look for the 2003 football season. New Defensive Coordinator Chris Krich will incorporate a 4-2 defense this year. Leading the way for the Muskies will be All-IBFC performers Jacob Vigliante (jr., defensive back, Honorable Mention), Roosevelt Moore (sr., linebacker, Second Team) and Mike Gregory (jr., linebacker, Honorable Mention).

DEFENSIVE LINE:
Seniors Johnnie Ferguson and Eric Luchina will anchor a strong defensive line that includes Nick Zeck (so.), Rick Bowerman (jr.), Joe List (so.), David Benton (so.), Rich Skipper (so.) and Shane Schrimpf (so.), who will be moving over from the O-Line.

A strong group of freshmen, led by All-State performer Issac Nerat (Menominee, MI) will look to add size and strength to the defense. Included in this group are Jim Blaul, Jacob Burchyett, Mark Vandenhoogen and T.J. Schouten.

LINEBACKERS:
The inside linebackers will return Moore, Gregory and senior Scott Ring, who will be returning from season ending knee surgery in 2002. This group will be helped by the return of Sam Scharinger (jr.) who played free safety last year and Justin Monty (sr.). Newcomers James Washington and Phillip Gourdine will look to contend for playing time in the 2003 season.

The outside linebackers will be led by returning starters Vigilante and Terrance Kilgore (sr.). They will be pushed for playing time by Rodney Ellison (so.) and Paul Daniels (jr.). Depth at this position will be supplied by a fast and physical group of newcomers which includes Josh and Adam Stewart, Ryan Rivera, Joe Huibregtse, Dustin Jaeger, David Jenswold and Shawn Steinke.

DEFENSIVE BACKS:
The secondary will be led by returning starters Erich Voight (sr.), Mike Gibson (so.), Tyrece Warner (so.) and Mark Edmond (jr.), who will be returning from a season ending injury from 2002. Upperclassmen Matt Swain (jr.), Jason Tschudy (so.), Rodney Rice (jr.) and Oscar Mayfield (so.) will also be in the mix for playing time in the 2003 season. Kyle Turner, Quentin Braswell, Ryan Greytok, Mike Schroeder and James Ferguson are a fast group of newcomers who will look to make a mark in 2003.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
A Strong point of the Muskies football team could be special teams as they return Matt Cook (jr.) and Gerald Starner (sr.) who both saw playing time last year. Cook handled the punting chores last year and shared the kicking duties with Starner. These two young men, along with freshman Casey Kedrowski will look to make the kicking game one of the best in the IBFC.