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2009 Season Schedule
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Head Coach: Dan Kenilvort - 2nd Season (7-14)
Drake Football Preview
By JOHN SWARTZ
THE MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
By JOHN SWARTZ
THE MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
Coach: Dan Kenilvort (second season)
Returning starters: seven offense, two defense
Last year: After three non-league wins to start the season, Drake lost starting quarterback Cory Bostjancic to a shoulder
injury in a lopsided loss to Tam. The team never recovered from that injury and others, losing five of their last seven
regular season games while averaging just over 12 points per contest. The Pirates still made NCS though, losing to D-III
runner up Novato, 49-7, in the first round. Drake's most impressive win of 2008 may have been its 27-7 defeat of San
Marin at home.
Keys to success: Although the Pirates return seven starters on the offensive side of the ball, they took a big hit when
Bostjancic elected to have shoulder surgery and miss the entire season in preparation for his senior baseball campaign.
Much of Drake's success will depend on quarterback Connor Wilms' ability to move the ball downfield through the air. "I
think we'll be throwing the ball a lot," Kenilvort said. "We've got a small, quick offensive line, so we'll be moving the
quarterback around and throwing a lot. Our speed will be our biggest asset." Wilms will have several choices when
dropping back, with junior Alec Kenilvort a big target at tight end and senior Andrew Staggs the No. 1 option at wide
receiver. Seniors Kenny Watts and Travis Hansen are in the backfield and will look for holes behind the blocking of
returning linemen Joe Proambro (Sr.), Colin McKee (Jr.) and Matt Jaspring (Sr.). Defensively, the Pirates will operate out
of a 4-4 base, but defensive coordinator Chuck Clemons says there will be a few wrinkles in the formation from time to
time. "What I try to do is put the defense on the field and let them play," Clemons said. "We want to run pregame and
prepare, but then they just go play." Team captain Hansen bolsters the defense at middle linebacker, with Skaggs also at
linebacker. Dakota Baylacq is the last line of defense at free safety, while defensive linemen Steven Teijero, Dillon
Reinking and Proambro are expected to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Newcomers Connor Lind (WR/DB), Ben
Richmond (RB/LB) and Jeremy Steele (RB/LB) are expected to contribute on both sides of the ball. Despite more
returners on offense than defense, Kenilvort said he is more comfortable with the progress of his defense as the season
opens. Drake's offense is indeed its biggest question mark, especially after losing a gifted athlete like Bostjancic.
The last word: "We had a lot of freak injuries last year," Kenilvort said. "We had Cory's injury, then our two other kids
who could play quarterback got hurt playing other positions. I hope we had our bad luck and this year won't be quite the
same."
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