College football 2016: Friends plans on making 2015 an aberration

In the ups and downs that every college football program experiences, Friends hit a definitive low point a year ago with a 3-8 record. There’s no erasing the mark, but climbing back to the Falcons’ standard of winning is the focus as the 2016 season approaches.

“I feel like our winter and spring got us back on track,” coach Monty Lewis said. “It was a painful 2015 season for us. I think we underachieved, and I think that squarely sits on one person’s shoulders – mine.”

Regardless of who’s to blame for 2015, the 2016 version of the Falcons has already demanded enough attention to forget about the struggles of a year ago. Some positives return, including senior running back Jesse Rogers, who will once again see the majority of the offensive workload.

But who hands Rogers the ball – and occasionally throws it – has been the big question in the offseason. A quarterback competition has grown into a four-man race, meaning Lewis and his staff will have some difficult decisions before the season begins.

Brett Darling took over at quarterback after last season’s 0-4 start, but he threw more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3) before his season ended due to injury. Andrew Matthews stepped in for the final three games, which saw Friends lose two.

Though Darling and Matthews both have experience as starting quarterbacks, neither are guaranteed the job. Junior Spenser Lewis, a redshirt a year ago, saw plenty of work behind center in the spring, while sophomore Brennan Whitaker, who played on the defensive side of the ball out of necessity last year, will also get a shot at quarterback.

The only surety Lewis offered was that only one quarterback will be the starter and see the bulk of the playing time.

“I’m not a two-quarterback system guy,” Lewis said. “So I’m looking for a guy that will play within the system. I want the guy that understands we’re going to run it first.”

A run-first offense isn’t different from a year ago, but the results will hopefully improve. Assistant coach Jerry Taylor will shift over to coach the offensive line, which Lewis identified as an area in need help.

“We felt we weren’t very good up front completely,” Lewis said. “So we focused there.”

The offensive line will feature the return of NAIA All-American Mitch Butterfield. But he’ll need help to open more holes for Rogers again. That’s why Lewis and his staff recruited heavily to bolster an underperforming offensive line.

“There’s a lot more competition this year,” sophomore lineman David Loucks said. “Last year you knew you had your spot because there wasn’t anyone behind you. This year you know that there are three or four guys going for each spot. It’s been a big difference.”

Ultimately, Lewis said his program must improve in terms of football intelligence. The skill and ability have been there, but he hopes to build on his players’ understanding of the game and the team’s plans.

“It wasn’t a question of their athleticism. … Our football IQ was not where it needed to be,” Lewis said. “So the challenge is can you really improve a person’s IQ? Maybe or maybe not – but in football you certainly can.”

With nine starters returning on offense and nine on defense, experience will be with Friends this season. It’s another reason to believe last season was a fluke and the losses are behind the Falcons.

“We feel good about where we’re at,” Lewis said. “We don’t want to go back to where we’ve been.”

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 5:26 PM with the headline "College football 2016: Friends plans on making 2015 an aberration."