By LYNN GROLL

groll@crescent-news.com

The Defiance College Yellow Jackets went into the final three weeks of the 2007 season with aspirations of capturing their first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship since 2001.

Instead, the Jackets suffered a 10-0 setback at the College of Mount St. Joseph before seeing a chance to at least tie for the league crown evaporate the following week in a 55-22 blowout loss at No. 21 Franklin College. The season then ended on a sour note in week 10 with a 22-21 home loss to arch-rival and winless Bluffton.

Heading into the 2008 campaign, sixth-year DC mentor Robert Taylor is ready to wipe the slate clean after a three-game losing streak ushered out last season.

"I'm not too worried about what happened last year," explained Taylor. "I'm more focused on what we're doing this year. Obviously you want to learn from your mistakes and I had plenty of mistakes a year ago. I've learned from them and this camp was run better and our players are better prepared. I'm pretty excited about what we're going to do this year."

Although a talented group of seniors are gone from last season, capturing the program's first league title since 2001 remains the ultimate goal.

"There's a tremendous group of leaders in this group," said Taylor. "They've really embraced that role of leadership, they've done a great job throughout camp and they need to obviously continue that throughout the season. They're off to a good start."

The largest piece gone from last season's squad is All-American receiver Luke Dillon. The 6-5 wideout left DC as its all-time leading receiver after hauling in 93 passes for 1,241 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Also lost were the next two receivers statistically with Gary Allen (21 catches, 240 yards, 3 TDs) and Nate Fitton graduated.

Without an experienced receiving corps back, Taylor wants to get off the bus running the ball this fall with first team HCAC running back Lewis Caralla returning. Caralla led the HCAC with 113.5 rushing yards a game in conference play. He finished the season with 793 yards on 135 totes.

With senior battering ram Tom Johns (first team HCAC) returning in front of Caralla at fullback, the Jackets are expected to have one of the most dangerous ground attacks in the league.

Linemen Tim Chambers (Sr., 6-3, 235), Nick Nicol (Jr., 6-4, 285) and Andrew Kohls (Jr., 6-3, 280) also return offensively along with senior tight end Chris Khoma (second team HCAC).

"We're staying with our running attack," remarked Taylor. "We're running our inside and outside zone. Lew and Tommy will spearhead that and we've got a couple of young kids that we'll work in there as well. Our O-line isn't the healthiest, though. We need to get a few guys healthy. They're playing pretty decent and we've had some kids step up that need to step up.

"But our passing game is probably a little bit behind. A lot of the passing game is new this year versus what we did last year, where as our running game is basically the same from a year ago. I would say if you had to look at the overall picture, our running game is ahead of the passing game, which is good because we like to run the ball."

A new signal-caller will also line up under center this fall with three-year starter Hans Vetter transferring to work toward his degree.

Currently, a trio of quarterbacks are battling for the starting spot. Junior Joey Stephens saw limited action a year ago and completed 3-of-4 passes. Geneva College transfer Austin Karcher, who's father is the quarterbacks coach at the University of Toledo, comes to DC as a sophomore and is in the mix along with rookie newcomer Rick Powell.

"It really hasn't played out," said Taylor of the QB battle. "We really don't know who we're going to start at quarterback. We have three kids that we're looking at. All three of them have had pretty decent camps and all three of them are in the mix right now. I'll probably wait until right before Muskingum to announce somebody."

The cast looking to replace the talented class of senior receivers that graduated include junior Harvey Morris (Cleveland Central High School), junior Dan Mull and sophomore Jake Harrigal.

"I think the cards we were dealt are pretty good," said Taylor about the receivers he expects to play this year. "I'm pretty excited about this bunch. We've got some young kids that don't have the experience but have been waiting their turn. Harvey, Dan and Jake have patiently waited behind Gary and Lucas. I think they're ready, I think they'll surprise some people. I think overall we're going to be pretty competitive."

Much like the offense, the DC defense lost some talented veterans but also brings back talented returnees that have been essential parts the last couple years.

HCAC Defensive Player of the Year candidate Keith Snyder returns for his senior year at free safety after finishing third in the HCAC with 111 stops a year ago. The Martin, Mich. native paced the league with 62 solo tackles.

Fellow safety Travis Guisinger returns after collecting 61 tackles, two sacks and one interception as a sophomore strong safety while junior corner Dustin Supan is another returnee back in the DC secondary after making 44 tackles and two picks a year ago.

Up front, end Joel Billings played in all 10 games in 2007 while fellow end Joemese Scott played in nine games as a rookie.

Returning linebackers Rodney Donald and Chuck Bowman (51 tackles) hope to elevate their play with all-HCAC linebacker Chris Tietje gone to graduation. The Patrick Henry product totaled 51 1/2 tackles and 11 1/2 sacks as one of the league's top pass rushers.

Junior linebacker Matt King has had a strong camp according to Taylor along with lineman Austin Hedderly.

"I think Matt King's played well and Chuck Bowman's played well," lauded Taylor. "Keith Snyder's dinged up and has not seen a lot of playing time in camp, but we know what Keith can do.

"We need a couple of other guys to step up and turn up their game. I think Rodney and Joemese and Austin at the D-line position are important parts of that. We've had some injuries at the defensive line we didn't anticipate and there's nothing you can do about that. I'm very confident those kids are relishing in that opportunity and are going to take advantage of that."

Sophomore Tom Foos leads the charge to handle the punting and kicking chores this fall with Kameron Owens challenging. Zach Floro is also pushing for time as the Jackets' punter.

Taylor has worries on each side of the pigskin.

"In the secondary we're going to have to play a couple of young kids which is always a concern," admitted Taylor. "Depth wise at linebacker is a very big concern of mine. Depth at interior defensive line is also a concern. I think we're pretty strong at the ends positions with Troy Huelskamp, Joe Billings, Joemese Scott and Austin Hedderly.

"Our offensive line right now is not real healthy, so that's a concern," continued Taylor. "Obviously at wide receiver we don't have a lot of experience and at quarterback we don't have a lot of experience. Now that being said, we have a certain level of expectations. Yes, they're new but we have the same expectations we've had in the past. I think my gut feeling is the kids are going to respond to that and they're going to be fine."

Taylor expects another very competitive autumn in the HCAC.

"I'm thinking there are some pretty darn good football teams," lauded Taylor. "Mount's going to be great as always, Franklin has pretty much everyone coming back, Rose-Hulman will be very tough to play, Manchester is going to be good and then Anderson's got tons of talent. Bluffton and Hanover both have new coaches, so that always tends to spark a lot of energy into a program when you bring in a new coach. I think it's going to be a tough year, very tough."

The Jackets start their 2008 season on the road with a pair of night games. Up first is a trek to Muskingum College this Saturday before DC renews its 'Border War' with Adrian College in week 2. Trine University, formerly Tri-State University, will be the Jackets' opponent in their home opener on Sept. 20.

The Jackets take their bye on the final Saturday of September before they host defending league champion and preseason No. 21 Franklin College on Oct. 4.