[Football] Football Falcons 2019 Season Preview
WICHITA, Kan. – Heading into the third year of head coach Dion Meneley's tenure, the Friends University Falcons will attempt to build on some positive momentum generated down the stretch of the 2018 campaign.
The Falcons couldn't have scripted a worse start to last season, dropping their first six games that included an injury to starting quarterback Brennan Whitaker that forced their starting signal caller to be sidelined the next three games.
But the Falcons refused to pack it in and finished the year with three wins in their final five outings to close out the season on somewhat of a high note with a mentality they hope will carry into this season and beyond.
"Our kids have played hard since I arrived two seasons ago and I think it just took us awhile last year to get our young players used to the college game," Meneley said.
"We have emphasized giving great effort in everything we do at Friends and I think it is starting to make its way to the playing field. Our goal is to carry ourselves in a manner that will make anyone associated with Friends University proud to say they are a Falcon. We are working to build well-rounded, accountable men, which will translate to winning consistently."
According to Meneley, junior Dan Dawdy (JR/Haysville, Kan.) will have the first crack at solidifying the starting quarterback spot. Dawdy, a local product from Derby, Kan., has scattered 12 appearances over the last two seasons and has thrown for 1534 yards along with seven touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
"Dan will lead the charge heading into camp, but he will have to compete against the quarterbacks we are adding to the program," Meneley said. "Dan will have the edge from a knowledge and experience standpoint and we expect him to take another step forward this season."
Quincy Brown (SR/Redding, Calif. ) and Marshall McShan (JR/Millville, NJ) should give the Falcons reliable options at running back this season. Each making their debut last year, Brown rushed for 212 yards with a team-high four touchdowns, while McShan gave the Falcons 112 yards on the ground.
High hopes abound for sophomore wide receiver Cade Nagy (SO/Broken Arrow, Okla. ), who looks to build on an extremely promising first year with the program. Nagy became a go-to option for the Falcons, leading the team in receptions (38), receiving yards (636) and receiving touchdowns (six) that featured a breakout performance of 153 receiving yards and two scores in the Falcons' 44-38 victory over the University of Saint Mary.
Meneley expects senior Tyler English (SR/Dallas, Texas) to provide veteran leadership for the upcoming season. English made an impact on special teams last year, averaging 13.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.
The Falcons are also looking to junior Jacob Kerby (JR/Kanopolis, Kan.) and sophomore Zane Ortiz (SO/Texas City, Texas) to help anchor the offensive line and win matchups up front on the line of scrimmage.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons welcome back a pair of honorable-mention All-KCAC selections in junior linebacker Sonny Brown (JR/Wichita, Kan.) and junior defensive lineman Robert Garcia (JR/Wichita, Kan.).
Brown made an immediate impact in his first season at Friends, recording 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Garcia was a force defensively, making a team-high 14 tackles for loss that ranked fourth in the KCAC. He wound up fifth on the team in tackles (49) overall while tying for the team-lead with three sacks on the season.
Also returning to bolster the Falcons' defensive efforts are senior defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms (SR/Stockton, Calif. ), sophomore defensive lineman Adam Brown (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) and pair of sophomore defensive backs in Drake Damon (JR/Goddard, Kan. ) and Christian Ryan (JR/Grapevine, Texas).
Pharms registered eight tackles for loss and two sacks, along with a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Brown ranked fourth on the team in tackles (51) while also notching a pair of sacks.
Damon and Ryan should help give the Falcons a solid secondary, as Damon tied for the team lead with three interceptions and Ryan made two picks while finishing third on the team with 54 tackles.
Meneley also anticipates a slew of newcomers attempting to make their mark on the program and vie for playing time this season.
"We have over 60 newcomers this year and we expect all of them to compete for playing time; however, until I see them perform in person I will hold off on giving out premature compliments," Meneley said.
Those additions include welcoming back a trio of defensive contributors in 2019 that wasn't available last season in senior defensive backs Sherman Arthur (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) and Malik Muhammad (SR/Midwest City, Okla. ) along with senior defensive lineman Jordan Brookins (SR/Fort Worth, Texas).
Arthur was a 2017 All-KCAC honorable-mention performer and finished tied for second in the conference and sixth in the NAIA with six interceptions. Brookins finished seventh on the team in tackles (43) and third in tackles for loss (7.5), while Muhammad saw action in five games during the 2017 season.
The Falcons will kick off the 2019 campaign on the road, with a KCAC matchup at the University of Saint Mary Spires on Sept. 7 at 6 pm in Leavenworth, Kan.
One week later, the Falcons will open up the home portion of their schedule against NAIA semifinal qualifier Kansas Wesleyan University at 7 pm in the friendly confines of Adair-Austin Stadium.
The Falcons will remain in Wichita for another Saturday night tilt against Tabor College, also at 7 pm. Tabor received votes in last season's final NAIA Top 25 poll.
"This will be a challenging schedule," Meneley said. "We would typically play a game before conference play, but with a bye the last week of the regular season we decided to stick with playing our ten straight conference games."
Homecoming is set for Oct. 5 at 1:30 pm against McPherson College, while Senior Day is also slated for a 1:30 pm kickoff on Nov. 2 vs. Bethany College.
"We are going to have to be mentally and physically ready to play Saint Mary on September 7th, and then the schedule continues to heat up from there," Meneley said. "We will emphasize starting fast and then focus on getting better each and every week. I am excited to get to work with this group of players and coaches."