JACKSON - When the 2011 season came to a close, the Millsaps Majors were in a position they were not used to. After an already young team suffered numerous injuries, the Majors finished the season 4-6, under .500 for the first time since 2005. The Majors showed signs of greatness throughout the season, losing three games by six points or less, but knew they had to do more to get back to where they have been the last five seasons.
The Majors started the year with a heartbreaking loss to Mississippi College in overtime in the annual "Backyard Brawl" before taking their home opener over LaGrange, 24-7. The Majors then fell to Louisiana College on the road and followed that up with a crushing 10-3 loss to the eventual SCAC Champion Trinity.
Millsaps then went on a three game winning streak defeating Sewanee on the road, Rhodes at home, and Austin College on the road to bring themselves into a fighting position for the SCAC Title.
However, something else that hasn't happened in five years happened to the Majors as they ended the year on a three game losing streak with a crushing loss to SCAC runner up Centre, 24-22, and losses to Division II Tarleton State and Birmingham-Southern.
Millsaps enters the 2012 in a new conference as they and six other schools from the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference broke off and formed the Southern Athletic Association with the addition of one other school (Berry College). Head Coach Aaron Pelch enters his third year at the helm and brings back a great amount of talent including 17 starters and a handful of key contributors as Millsaps looks to set the tone in the new SAA.
Pelch knows that he has a solid senior class that wants to get the Majors back to what they are accustom to.
"We have a strong senior group on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball," said Pelch. "Our expectation is to build off that experience on both side of the ball and be mature enough to handle adverse situations and win games when they are down to the wire."
OFFENSE
Returning Starters: 8
The Majors were in the Top Three of almost all offensive categories in the SCAC for the last four seasons coming into 2011, but had their share of struggles this past season.
In comes Andy Follett from Western Carolina University where he served as offensive coordinator and receruitng coordinator throughout his four year tenure. He did great things for the Catamount offense as well as sign the No. 3 and No. 5 recruiting class in the nation.
It all starts at quarterback where the Majors top two quarterbacks, seniors Garrett Pinciotti and Konner Joplin, have battled it out for the starting position all preseason long.
Pinciotti was a Second Team All-SCAC selection two years ago after having a breakout sophomore season, throwing for 2,206 yards with 23 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. However, injuries plagued Pinciotti all season long as he threw for 1,561 yards including 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Joplin on the other hand, played in seven games last year, throwing for 720 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions as both quarterbacks led the Majors to the second overall passing attack in the SCAC.
Pinciotti is set to start going into preparations against Mississippi College, but Joplin is prepared to go at anytime. Both quarterbacks show great arms, have good mobility and can lead this offense a long way in 2012.
At running back, the Majors welcome back Mike Barthelemy after a stellar rookie season where he racked up 823 All-Purpose yards and two touchdowns on the year. Barthelemy had his share of injuries all year, but showed flashes of greatness as he picked up 151 All-Purpose yards and two touchdowns in a Week Two win over LaGrange. A healthy Barthelemy looks to carry the load this season in the backfield.
The Majors also look to get a spark from a pair of freshman running backs in Jalen Jones out of Pensacola, Fla. and Taz Watson out of West Memphis, Ark. as they are a great blend of speed, moves, and power and will provide for more depth in Millsaps' rushing attack.
Millsaps also welcome back powerful fullback Jett Williams as he played in 10 games last season as well as junior Taylor Morris and sophomore Donald Cane.
Millsaps does lose talent at wide receiver as the All-Time leader in touchdown receptions and First Team All-SCAC recipient Jason O'Rear graduated early. O'Rear hauled in 775 yards on 46 catches for seven touchdowns to lead the Majors.
The next leading receiver returning is seniors Kegan Joplin and Dustin Fawcett. Despite injuries throughout the year, Joplin was third on the team with 24 catches and 194 yards and one touchdown. Fawcett, who also fought injuries, was right behind him with 22 catches and third on the team in receiving yards with 264 and one touchdown. The Majors also bring back junior Ryan Kirkley who looks to make a greater impact.
Sophomores Trevor King, Charlie Strauss, and Zander Romano also return. Both King and Strauss made numerous contributions for the Majors in 2011. Romano takes a break from the baseball diamond to join the football team and looks to use his size to take advantage of key opportunities. Freshman Jamie Edwards and Lacharles Washington look to provide to the offense at receiver as well.
At tight end, Millsaps loses Second Team All-SCAC Tony Bellan and will look to junior Taylor Morris as well as sophomores Matt Wahl and Dustin Garig to carry the load for Millsaps.
The offensive line will not only be the strongest part of the Major squad, but will be key for Millsaps as their entire starting offensive line and most of its reserves return for the 2012 season.
"I think that our offensive line is one of our most experienced groups," says Pelch. "We have seven offensive lineman who have extensive experience in games."
They are led by senior two time First Team All-SCAC selection Nathan Quick and junior All-SCAC Honorable Mention center Kyle Skene. Senior Kyle MacDonald, Junior Charlie Sagan, and sophomore Greyson Smothers round out the starting line, as they were a group that got better as each week progressed
Millsaps' also welcomes back senior J.T. Patterson as well as sophomores Harrison Olinger, Cody Page, and Brandon Webre who all look to provide depth for the Majors.
DEFENSE
Returning Starters: 7
Millsaps returns seven starters on the defensive side including five All-SCAC selections from a year ago and the Newcomer of the Year. Pelch who coaches the defensive line and second year Defensive Coordinator Brandon Lechtenberg brings in what could be the most talented defenses in the SAA this season.
"We got a lot of good quality depth at the defensive line," adds Pelch. "We also have the leading tackler in the conference returning as well as the Newcomer of the Year coming back."
On the defensive line, the Majors welcome back the Stewart twins in Alex and Joiner as they enter their junior year. Joiner finished the season with 35 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and interception, and two fumble recoveries at the defensive tackle position and earning First Team All-SCAC selection. His brother Alex had 38 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery at defensive end and earned All-SCAC Honorable Mention.
The two are the definition of power and finesse as Joiner is terrific job clogging up holes and making plays, which does not happen often at defensive tackle. Alex shows more speed, but also has a ton of power coming around the corner as they both look to put tremendous pressure on opposing offenses.
Millsaps also welcomes back the beforementioned SCAC Newcomer of the Year from a season ago in Jeff Milner, who finished with five tackles for loss, a team leading four sacks, and two forced fumbles in his first year. Milner was explosive in his first season as he made numerous big plays, especially when Millsaps needed it the most.
They also welcome back sophomore Zach Bell, sophomore Leland Elchos, sophomore Cooper Hastings, and junior Blake Price who look to contribute on what could be a very deep defensive line.
The Majors bring back one of the best linebackers in the country in Preseason All-American selection Jeb White. He became the third straight Major to lead the conference in tackles in a season with 97 total including 54 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble as he earned First Team All-SCAC honors. White was everywhere all season last year and looks to do more of the same this year
The second linebacker spot is up for grabs as junior Dustin Harscher and sophomore Garrett Coble are fighting for that spot. Both should see extensive time on the field no matter who earns the starting job.
The Majors lose three great defensive backs in First Team All-SCAC selection Jordan Nolan as well as Kenny Reeves and Brent Jerrell, but return a great portion of talent beginning with junior safety Jonathan Moore, a two time All-SCAC selection.
Moore led the team with three interceptions last season, while adding 53 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. He shows tremendous speed and playmaking ability, but also has a knack for the ball as he has picked up 50+ tackles in his first two seasons. In his freshman season, Moore started at cornerback, but made the move to safety his sophomore season.
This season, it looks as though Moore will move back to cornerback, but the Major defense knows that the playmaker can move back to the last line of defense and still contribute in a big way.
The Majors also return senior Greg Blasiar who stepped up at cornerback a season ago with two interceptions, 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Blasiar made huge plays throughout the season including a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 44-36 win over Rhodes in Week Seven. The duo of Moore and Blasiar could be a dangerous tandem at cornerback throughout the season.
Millsaps will also receive contributions from senior Russell Pellichino, junior Mitchell Keeton, sophomore Nick Arnold, sophomore Alex Jackson, and sophomore Telvin Keys as they will all be starting and coming into the game in certain situations. Senior Roderick Crockett, Sophomore Jon Peterson, and frehsman C.J. Black also look to see time in reserve roles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Returning Starters: 2
Millsaps welcomes back both their punter and kick this season in Second Team All-SCAC selection Stephen Gates and sophomore Beau Brady.
Gates averaged 34.4 yards per punt, but the number could be deceiving as Gates put 13 punts inside the 20 last season to lead the SCAC. He also had two punts of 50+ yards in 47 attempts. He was key last year during a downpour at Mississippi College as he saved several bad snaps and got each punt away safely with pressure coming.
Brady had a good rookie season, going 11-for-20 last season with a long of 42, but will look to improve on his accuracy in hit sophomore campaign. He will continue his role in kickoff, where he led the No. 2 team in kickoff coverage a year ago in the SCAC.
The Majors do lose an excellent long snapper in Tony Bellan due to graduation, but will have Connor Mize pick up the duties for him in 2012.
SCHEDULE
Millsaps opens the season at home with Backyard Brawl XIII against Mississippi College. The Majors have dropped the last three contests by combined margin of 13 points. Pelch and his Majors want to change that this year.
"The only thing that we are focused on is that August 30th date with Mississippi College," said Pelch. "We want to win it, we've come close and have had some great battles, but we are not happy with the results. Our No. 1 goal at this time is to win that game."
The Majors then return for a three game road trip where they travel to Georgia to take on LaGrange, Alabama to take on Point University, and Kentucky to take on Centre College in their first SAA conference game after a bye week.
They return home to start the month of October against Huntingdon followed by their second conference game of the year and first at home against Sewanee. They are then back on the road to take on Rhodes in SAA action followed by a road trip to reigning SCAC Champion Trintiy.
The Majors finish the year at home to start November with their Homecoming Game against Austin College followed by Senior Day and their final SAA bout against Birmingham-Southern.
The team has talent on both sides of the ball and wants to get back to where the Majors have been the last five seasons. But Coach Pelch knows to get his team back to where they want it to be, they have to focus on one game at a time.
"We have to take it one week at a time," says Pelch. "Right now, that's the Backyard Brawl."
And that brawl begins Thursday night.
