Freshman are no lightweights

The Penn lightweight football team is out of contention for the 1997 ELFL title, but the future is bright. The 1997 Penn lightweight football season has been highlighted by its quest to repeat as Eastern Lightweight Football League champions and the phenomenal running of tailback Tim Ortman. Amidst this excitement, the team's freshmen players have quietly given the Quakers the ability to be competitive. "In the past there have been times when the number of lightweight football players was pretty high. Then, freshmen mostly played in practice only," defensive line coach Tony DiPetro said. "There was also a time when freshman had no experience." "Now, our guys come out of good high school programs, so they can contribute immediately," defensive coordinator John Amendt said. "I'd say at least 20 of our players could play for Division III programs." "There a couple of freshmen who have taken starting jobs from sophomores and juniors," Amendt continued. "This is the best freshman class we've had since I've been here." A primary example is at quarterback. Freshman John Kernan stole the starting job from sophomore Zachary Shinar after a few games of the 1997 season. Kernan leads the team in all statistical categories. His 38.5 completion percentage, 214 passing yards and one touchdown are superior to Shinar's 22.6 completion percentage, 69 yards and zero touchdowns. Who is Kernan's most frequent target? Freshman tight end Scott Moore, who leads the team with nine receptions and 112 receiving yards. Second to Moore is freshman split end Dan Reeves with 38 yards on four receptions. Moore has also done an excellent job punting since the injury to Keith Lotman. He is averaging 33.4 net yards per punt with his longest punt of 48 yards coming last week against Navy. Much of the depth in the backfield and the offensive line lies in freshmen hands. Until both were injured, fullback Evan Kipperman and tailback Chris Wright had key backup roles. On the offensive line, tackle Steven DeWitt and guard Tim Schoenrock are the first players off the bench at their positions. If you throw Ortman -- only a sophomore -- into the mix, this offense has a nucleus that will play together for another two years to come. The defense, which has allowed less than 10 points in its last two games and shut out Princeton earlier in the season, has been boosted by great play from the Class of 2001. John Clarke, Mike Viney, Kevin Manning and Steven Schickram have all started this year for the defense. Combined, Clarke and Brad Gusich have two of the Quakers' five interceptions this season. "Five freshman -- Gusich, Viney, Clarke, Manning and Schickram -- were on the field together for most of the time in our biggest game of the year last week against Navy," Amendt said. "If they have the confidence to play, and I have the confidence in them, then why not play them?" Volunteer coach Clint Schmidt, who played for last year's championship team, said, "If that core of freshmen play together for the next three to four years, they'll be scary." This year's freshmen have already made big plays in the 1997 season. They are a big reason why this team could finish tops among the Ivy League schools in the ELFL. Although a championship is out of reach for this year's team, one can only wonder what reward these players can accomplish in a couple of years. Perhaps the answer is a championship ring.

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