More News

Optimism is a funny thing.

Fresh off its worst campaign since the 1980s, McDaniel College, which finished the 2007 campaign at 1-9 and eighth in the nine-team Centennial Conference, heads into its 114th season of collegiate football confident 2008 can be a banner year for the program.

"We need to go out every week and be ready for a fight," head coach Tim Keating said. "There was a time in the past when we were the top dog. We've slipped a little bit in the last few years, but I think more of it is that the rest of the league has caught up to us. Hopefully, though, we are taking the right steps to change that and get back to the top."

Brunswick High alum Eric Zwilsky, a junior captain, accounted for 10 touchdowns and over 500 yards in 2007.As a sophomore, he started nine games and recorded a season-best 110 yards against Centennial Conference foe Juniata.

Another former Monocacy Valley Athletic League standout will help fuel McDaniel's attack. Pat McCarrick (Middletown) started the final two games at wide receiver last season and figures to be a contributing component to the offense this season.

A pair of Frederick graduates will line up for the Green Terror's defense. Patrick Desmond made a pair of starts at safety and recorded 20 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in 10 appearances. Senior linebacker Cory Briggs has been named as a captain. He started three games during his junior campaign and accumulated 26 tackles in 10 appearances.

Joining Briggs on the linebacking corps is Linganore grad Nick Giusti and former Thomas Johnson standout Albert Leech, who appeared in all 10 games last season.

Sophomore Juris Eyler (Middletown) led the conference in kickoff return yard average (27.1) before being relegated to the sideline by injury for the final six games.

McDaniel opens the season at St. Vincent on Sept 6. The Green Terror open their conference schedule by welcoming Moravian the following week. Catholic of Washington D.C., Penssylvania schools Dickinson, Juniata, Muhlenberg, Ursinus, Franklin and Marshall, Gettysburg as well as in-state rival Johns Hopkins round out the schedule.