Football is almost here: Ottawa tops KCAC polls

Humbled by missing the NAIA playoffs the last two years, Friends football coach Monty Lewis said he didn't see his team being picked any higher than third or fourth in either the coaches' or media polls after Wednesday's KCAC media day.

He was right on one count.

The Falcons were picked to finish fourth by the coaches but second by the media, with Ottawa and two-time All-American wide receiver Clarence Anderson picked first in both polls. McPherson, the defending league champion, was picked second by the coaches and third by the media.

Friends dropped three straight games to end the season in 2010, falling out of playoff contention with a 6-4 record. The Falcons return eight starters on offense and eight on defense. Lewis said that returning quarterback Jayme Bristow's job could be up for grabs after an up-and-down sophomore season in which he threw 18 interceptions and the signing of Hutchinson Trinity's Derek Racette, a freshman who turned heads in high school and with a big performance in last week's Shrine Bowl.

"A record of 6-4 will never be acceptable for us," Lewis said. "It was like we were walking around in a fog at the end of the year. Now, what we've got is a lot of guys coming back who were embarrassed at the end of last year and I think that's a good thing. You won't have to call the state police to get us to come out of the locker room this season... we'll come out on our own.

"As far as Jayme goes, I love him but even he knows that he has to show he's learned lessons from last year. Ideally, I'd like to redshirt Derek and have Jayme be the man and answer the bell but we'll see."

McPherson has made back-to-back NAIA playoff appearances — the only two postseason berths in school history — and second-year coach Joe Bettasso will have to try and defend his crown with a new quarterback in 5-foot-10, 165-pound junior Jake Snodgrass, a Derby product who has been the quarterback-in-waiting behind All-KCAC performer Shane Mascarenas the last two seasons.

Snodgrass' learning curve won't be as sharp in his first season as a starter with two 1,000-yard receivers back in Joe Middleton and Andy Skinner, along with three returning starters on the offensive line.

Anderson has rewritten the record books at Ottawa in three seasons, racking up more than 2,000 all-purpose yards the last two seasons while leading his team to two straight NAIA playoff berths. The 5-9, 155-pound Wichita Southeast product is also drawing attention from pro scouts, with the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers all having called to inquire about him.

" (Anderson) pulled his hamstring at the end of track season, which kept him out of nationals but allowed him to start focusing on football a little earlier," Ottawa coach Kent Kessinger said. "He ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash when we had pro scouts on campus, which has generated a little interest because you can't coach that type of speed.

"He always makes the big catch, he always makes the big play... if he can put together another big year, hopefully somebody will give him a shot."

Sterling was picked fourth by the coaches and fifth by the media. Bethany and preseason All-American running back Junior Allen were seventh and sixth, Tabor was sixth and seventh, Southwestern was eighth in both polls and Bethel was picked to finish last in both polls coming off a winless, 0-10 season.

This story was originally published August 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Football is almost here: Ottawa tops KCAC polls."