Bernell DorroughThe football team will have to find a new quarterback this year, but at least the Bears can count on one thing: the guys that the new field general will be throwing to are rock solid.
After last year’s freshman sensation, Nathan Szep, transferred to Ohio State, Matt Alley emerged as the first-string signal caller. Alley is a senior, but only started one game last year, and an early-season confidence boost could help him immensely. Making his job much easier will be his wide receivers, including a top-notch threesome that all contribute to the team in different ways.
Blake Westra is the senior leader. Last year Westra caught 23 passes for 277 yards and made the all-University Athletic Association (UAA) second team. But according to head coach Larry Kindbom, on-field production is not the most important attribute that Westra brings to the Bears.
“The biggest thing I expect from Westra is leadership,” Kindbom said. “He’s a guy who can step forward on the field as a player and off the field as a person. He has to live the philosophy of the program and be a role model for the younger players.”
“Blake has had an outstanding fall and shown a great work ethic; he’s a big play receiver who has stepped up as a leader and accepted the challenge of a new level.”
Brad Duesing is the pure athlete. At 6’3″ and 195 pounds, the sophomore is a big physical presence at the line of scrimmage. He’s a strong and powerful receiver that presents unique problems for cornerbacks that smaller players do not. Duesing exploited these gifts to the tune of 69 receptions and 1,073 yards last year, both school records.
“Duesing is a great matchup for us against defenses,” Kindbom said. “He has good hands, and he’s also a very smart football player. Brad does a lot of things that you just can’t coach. He’s just a really good football player who hustles, learns the system, and gets better every day.”
As an added bonus, Duesing was recently named to the pre-season All-American team for Division-III, along with defensive back John Woock.
“That doesn’t really mean anything other than some recognition,” Kindbom said. “We care more about how Brad plays day-to-day. I’m not really surprised by it, because he really earns it on the field, although there aren’t a lot of sophomores who are in that position.”
Jeff Buening is the team star. He grabbed 39 passes for 396 yards last year, but, like Westra, his contributions go beyond the numbers.
“Jeff is a guy that seems to make everyone play better when he’s in there,” Kindbom said. “That’s why he’s known as a team star. He’s also got good talent, and he leaves the field better every day.”
Kindbom has not seen much of Buening’s abilities thus far during the fall because the receiver has been out for most of pre-season practice. He’s taking things day by day and is not expected to miss any games during the season.
Behind Alley, Kindbom has moved Adam Meranda back to quarterback from the defensive side of the ball. In addition, Zach Norman, Nick Henry and Pat McCarthy have impressed in drills. Despite the vast array of inexperienced quarterbacks, Kindbom is not concerned about creating a good rapport with the receivers.
“I haven’t coached a position in many years, so it will take some time to sort through it,” Kindbom said. “But I think Alley has proven that he belongs; he’s our number one guy. I really never worried about the rapport between the new quarterbacks and the receivers. The challenge is not individually with passes; it’s how good the team can be.”
Regardless of how well the play is behind center, the Bears believe they can count on its talented group of wideouts to have a successful season and lead the offense to new heights.
“I’m having a lot of fun with these guys,” Kindbom said. “They’re energetic and they look at practice like a competition, which is what you really need. They’re making it a lot easier for me to coach and teach, and I love to see them create the picture when it’s all said and done. We’ll see how they do, but I’m fairly confident.”