2011 Mount Allison Mounties Team Preview

Source: Mount Allison Sports Info

2010 regular season record: 4-4
2010 regular season standings: 2nd in AUS
2010 playoff record: 0-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost 22-14 to Acadia in 4 OT’s

The Mounties enter 2011 coming off of their best season in over a decade.  In 2010 the Mounties finished second in the AUS regular season standings and had nine players selected to the AUS All-Star team.  The Mounties hosted their first playoff game in 12 years losing in four overtimes to finish the 2010 season.

In 2011 Mount Allison will look to make it back to back winning regular seasons.  With ten returning starters on offense and seven on defense the Mounties will again run a veteran group on to the field in 2011.  AUS Coach of the Year Kelly Jeffrey enters his fourth year as Head Coach after guiding the Mounties to playoff berths in two of his first three seasons.

Quote from head coach:

“We lost some great players to graduation from last year’s team but are still returning a lot of veterans.  We’ve had a great offseason and need to be ready to compete right away with a tough opening schedule.”

Head Coach:

- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): Four
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): Four
- Career regular season record with team: 6-18
- Career regular season record in CIS: 6-18
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 6-20
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 6-20

OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 10

Key returning players:

QB Jake Hotchkiss returns for 3rd season.  Jake was an AUS All-Star in 2010, finishing first in the AUS in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage (65.2%) and passing efficiency (134.6).

REC Adam Molnar returns for his fifth season after leading the AUS in receptions in 2010.  Adam was a 2nd Team All-Canadian in 2010 and recorded 35 receptions for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2010.

OG Mike Filer leads a veteran offensive line (2nd Team All-Canadian in 2010) that returns all five starters for the second year in a row (Aaron Harper, Chris Munn, Mario Basque, Alex Healy).

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

OL Richard Smith – Hill Park HS (Hamilton, ON)

REC Morgan McIsaac – MacNaughton HS (Moncton, NB)

RB Iain McMillan – Central Kings HS (Coldbrook, NS)

Key losses:

REC Gary Ross, RB Matt Pickett

DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 7

Key returning players:

DE Ryan Downe returns for his 4th season.  Ryan was an AUS All-Star in 2010, finishing fourth in the AUS with 5 sacks in 2010. Ryan needs just 1 sack to become Mount Allison’s all-time sack leader.

LB Ben Halpern returns for his 5th season.  Ben collected 36 tackles in 2010 and ranks 5th in AUS history for career tackles.  Ben needs just 27 tackles to move into 3rd all-time.

DB Matt Kenny returns for his 4th season.  Matt was a 2010 East-West Bowl participant and is expected to lead a young secondary after playing in just 4 games due to injury in 2010.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

DL Jacob Leblanc – JL Ilsey HS (Halifax, NS)

DB Donovan Saunders – Delta HS (Hamilton, ON)

LB Te Nguyen – Holy Trinity HS (Oakville, ON)

Key losses:

DB Bradley Daye, DL Akwasi Antwi, DB Jermaine Oram

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

Kicker/Punter Cody Jones – Beaver Brae HS (Kenora, ON)

Kicker/Punter Alec Curtis – Canisius HS (Lewiston, NY)

Key losses:

RET Gary Ross, LS Peter Nicolajsen, K/P John Szilaygi