Spartans Going Where They Have Never Been
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Manchester College football team has the opportunity to do something on Saturday that no other Spartan football squad has done before - start the season 4-0.
Spartan coach Dave Harms has led his team to a 3-0 record, the first time Manchester has started that well since 1968.
However, standing in the way of the record is the only other undefeated team in the conference, No. 20 (NCAA, Div. III) Hanover College. Hanover has started the year 4-0 and both teams will be playing their conference openers on Saturday. It will be a key game in getting a leg up on the conference.
For Manchester, this is new ground. The Spartans went 4-6 last year, 2-4 in the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference. Manchester has not ended a season above .500 since 1987 and has never won the ICAC, which began in 1989.
"With a young football team, I tell them every week that there's not a team on our schedule that we can't beat," Harms said. "But, at the same time, there's not a team on our schedule that can't beat us."
Manchester, known for its run defense, has gotten to this point ironically enough with its rushing offense. The run defense ranked second in the nation last year, allowing just 55.3 yards per game. This year the Spartans have allowed 127 yards per game on the ground, but are leading the conference in rushing yards per game with 220.3.
Of course, that Spartan defense is not to be forgotten, led by linebacker Trey Holcomb, last week's USA Div. III football national player of the week. They have allowed the least points per game in the conference, a measly 11.3 points per game, good for 20th in the nation.
"It's hard to describe what (Holcomb) brings to the football team," Harms said. "Right now, he's elevated his game to a new level that I haven't seen a lot of players be able to do. He brings a lot of leadership and a lot of determination to our defense. That kind of attitude is catchy."
Running back Jason Ward and quarterback Josh Crick have been the catalysts offensively for the Spartans. Both are averaging at least 89 yards on the ground per game. Crick rushed for 210 yards in a 31-24 victory over Bluffton on Saturday, the fourth highest total in school history. He is now 25th in the nation in yards per game at 248.3.
"Crick is starting to take control of the offense," Harms said. "He's developing. The nice thing is, he can still take it to another level, which is going to be scary when he gets there."
Harms understands that the 3-0 record along with receiving votes in the national poll for the first time is nice, but it needs to be put into perspective.
"(The votes) aren't going to put points on the board or stop the other team from scoring," Harms said. "We have to do it with our blocking and tackling. This is where we had hoped to be. Now, we have to carry it out. In September, you open people's eyes. In October, you prove you're for real. That's what it's all about right now."
Manchester will travel to Hanover on Saturday. at 1:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]
The Manchester College football team has the opportunity to do something on Saturday that no other Spartan football squad has done before - start the season 4-0.
Spartan coach Dave Harms has led his team to a 3-0 record, the first time Manchester has started that well since 1968.
However, standing in the way of the record is the only other undefeated team in the conference, No. 20 (NCAA, Div. III) Hanover College. Hanover has started the year 4-0 and both teams will be playing their conference openers on Saturday. It will be a key game in getting a leg up on the conference.
For Manchester, this is new ground. The Spartans went 4-6 last year, 2-4 in the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference. Manchester has not ended a season above .500 since 1987 and has never won the ICAC, which began in 1989.
"With a young football team, I tell them every week that there's not a team on our schedule that we can't beat," Harms said. "But, at the same time, there's not a team on our schedule that can't beat us."
Manchester, known for its run defense, has gotten to this point ironically enough with its rushing offense. The run defense ranked second in the nation last year, allowing just 55.3 yards per game. This year the Spartans have allowed 127 yards per game on the ground, but are leading the conference in rushing yards per game with 220.3.
Of course, that Spartan defense is not to be forgotten, led by linebacker Trey Holcomb, last week's USA Div. III football national player of the week. They have allowed the least points per game in the conference, a measly 11.3 points per game, good for 20th in the nation.
"It's hard to describe what (Holcomb) brings to the football team," Harms said. "Right now, he's elevated his game to a new level that I haven't seen a lot of players be able to do. He brings a lot of leadership and a lot of determination to our defense. That kind of attitude is catchy."
Running back Jason Ward and quarterback Josh Crick have been the catalysts offensively for the Spartans. Both are averaging at least 89 yards on the ground per game. Crick rushed for 210 yards in a 31-24 victory over Bluffton on Saturday, the fourth highest total in school history. He is now 25th in the nation in yards per game at 248.3.
"Crick is starting to take control of the offense," Harms said. "He's developing. The nice thing is, he can still take it to another level, which is going to be scary when he gets there."
Harms understands that the 3-0 record along with receiving votes in the national poll for the first time is nice, but it needs to be put into perspective.
"(The votes) aren't going to put points on the board or stop the other team from scoring," Harms said. "We have to do it with our blocking and tackling. This is where we had hoped to be. Now, we have to carry it out. In September, you open people's eyes. In October, you prove you're for real. That's what it's all about right now."
Manchester will travel to Hanover on Saturday. at 1:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]