Thomas More coming off best season in program history

Three-time defending conference champion Thomas More College has been picked to repeat as the PAC champions. The results were from polling head coaches, sports information directors and media in attendance at the PAC media day held in Latrobe, PA, at St. Vincent’s College.

Coach Jim Hilvert returns 19 starters and 42 lettermen from last year’s Saints team which finished 11-1 overall, including a perfect 7-0 mark against conference competition. Hilvert led the Saints to a first round playoff win over Washington and Lee, but soundly beaten in their second round matchup at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX by a score of 69-7.

“We got humbled by the experience we had in Texas in the second round of the playoffs last year,” said Hilvert. “We ate some humble pie. But that experience helped us in our offseason by putting a big chip on our shoulder and getting us back to work. I think our guys now know what it takes to be one of the elite programs in the nation.”

As for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, going undefeated in the past three seasons has been no small task and one that Hilvert sees as a real challenge.

“This is a very, very tough league and a well-respected league,” he said. “You can’t take anybody for granted. That (playoff) loss last year brought us back down to earth and I know our guys are looking forward to the 2011 journey to try and win a fourth (PAC) championship.”

With those types of results, there is little wonder why Thomas More was picked to finish first. They’ve 17 returning starters, 9 on offense, 7 on defense as well as their all-league punter/kicker. It is an honor to be picked first again this year.

"This pick recognizes past and present players,” said Hilvert. “But, last year is last year. We have a lot of hard work to do this year. We must play with a certain edge this year to accomplish the goals we set this off-season. In the PAC, you must be ready week in and week out. We must also stay healthy.”

The offense will be led by a trio of fine running backs including senior captain Kendall Owens, and sophomores Adam Rauch and leading rusher Domonique Hayden. Sophomore quarterback Rob Kues (pronounced ‘keys’) will trigger the offense with a full year of starting under his belt. Plus four starters on the offensive line return to the team.

That makes Hilvert a very excited coach when thinking about the potential of this unit. “We have nine starters back on offense. Four starters are back on our offensive line led by Jeremy Hoop and Kevin Naltner,” said Hilvert. Our quarterback, Rob Kues is back and ready to take his learning experiences from the regular season and the playoffs last year and apply them on the field. We expect big things from him. And our three-headed monster at running back returns, led by senior Kendall Owens, and sophomores Adam Rauch and Domonique Hayden.

Wide receivers we have Austin Studer, Corie Cartnell and Tony Bell. We’re very excited about the playmakers we have on our team and the guys we’ve brought in to compete with them for those positions.” The defense, which allowed only 11 pts/game last year until that lopsided playoff loss, returns seven starters with key players along the line, at middle linebacker and big playmakers in the defensive backfield.

“Defensively, we lose a couple of guys, but we have seven starters back,” Hilvert said. “MLB Nick Gramke has been an All-PAC selection, and CB Antonio Booker and FS Zach Autenrieb will be the core of our defense. We’re very excited about those guys returning. They have set the bar high for the unit and they know the hard work that they’ll have to put in to get ready for this season.”

But beyond the offense and defense, Hilvert likes the unity he sees in his team. The collective effort they put forth in the offseason will make them more than ready to advance past the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs this year.

Hilvert noted, “With the returning starters coming back and for us to gel as a team, for guys to be selfless and for guys who put in the hard work and have a chip on their shoulder and play with a sense of urgency I think our team can be up to that challenge. I’ve very excited about our outlook.”