Football holds annual spring game
April 25, 2006 - Photo Gallery

West Virginia Wesleyan football played their annual spring game this past Saturday at Cebe Ross Field. The 60-play, offense versus defense scrimmage was the culmination of the team’s spring workouts.

The offense won the match up, 45-27.

Offensive points were awarded for touchdowns (6), extra points (1), field goals (3), and first downs (1). The defense was given points for forcing turnovers and holding the offense to three-and-out possessions.

Junior Stephen Link (Frederick, Md.) got the scoring started with a 31-yard field goal for the offense.

Fellow junior Harry Lorusso (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) extended the lead when he hooked up with wide out Alex Puente (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) for the game’s first touchdown.

Murray Harris (Miramar, Fla.) sparked the defense with a sack of then quarterback Cameron Cowart (Weston, Fla.).

Head coach Bill Struble continuously rotated his signal callers, giving Lorusso, Cowart, and transfer Devin Ramos (Templeton, Calif./College of the Sequoias) each time under center.

Ramos’ first play had positive results as he connected with Bryan Overton (Wexford, Pa.) in the front corner of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.

Linebacker Aaron Hoxie (Santee, Calif.) responded on Ramos’ next play, intercepting the quarterback to earn points for the defense.

Following the game, summer workouts were handed out. The team will now rely on the individual work ethic of each player if they are to improve upon last season’s 3-8 record. The fight for a starting job will begin anew on August 8 when the team reconvenes for fall practice.

West Virginia Wesleyan football kicked off spring practices last week. The team will hold their off season workouts three to four days a week for the next four weeks.

A scrimmage will take place on Saturday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. on the practice field.

The spring season will commence with the annual Spring Game at Cebe Ross Field on Saturday, April 22. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.

In 2005 the ‘Cats were 3-8 overall, 2-6 in the WVIAC.

The team also announced their 2006 schedule recently. Wesleyan will play 10 games with five home dates and five road games.

Bill Struble’s squad will start off the season with two new opponents. The Bobcats will travel to Kentucky Wesleyan on Sep. 2 before hosting Virginia Union on Sep. 9.

The 2006 homecoming game is set for September 21 against West Virginia State. The Yellow Jackets appear on the schedule twice, with only the second meeting counting as a WVIAC contest.

All games are 1:00 p.m. games. A bye is scheduled for October 14.

West Virginia Wesleyan College football players are continuing the tradition of helping elementary school students become stars in reading. 'Bobcats and Books' is a cooperative effort between the Wesleyan football team and local schools that allows players to read and interact with the children in a classroom setting.

Six Wesleyan football team members recently served as readers, mentors, and role models to classes at Union Elementary School. Bobcats and Books is a decade-old program that aims to increase elementary students' interest in reading, make reading fun, and introduce some new reading skills. “Bobcats and Books is an opportunity for student-athletes to be positive role models and effective teachers for young children in their community," remarked head football coach Bill Struble.
“It is a fun program for the Wesleyan players and for the elementary students. The kids love having college football players come to their classrooms. It gives them a chance to see that college athletes enjoy reading and that education is important.”

Organized by current defensive coordinator, Paul Price, the program has been a popular one for both the local students and Bobcat players. Freshman strong safety Anthony Hayes commented, “The trip to Union Elementary was a special opportunity for me. You do not realize how much these kids look up to you. To see the excitement on the faces of the children when we arrived, and then to be able to pass along the message of staying in school, to keep reading, and to earn a good education was a rewarding experience. I know I cannot wait to go back.”

West Virginia Wesleyan football coach Bill Struble announced this past week that 17 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend West Virginia Wesleyan and play football for the Bobcats.

The list, which includes players from eight different states, is highlighted by four signees from West Virginia. Of those four, two have been handpicked from the very competitive Buckhannon-Upshur football program.

The group includes two quarterbacks, three running backs, two wide receivers, one offensive lineman, four defensive linemen, one linebacker, and four defensive backs.

Keith Branch, DL, 5-11, 260, Buckhannon, W.Va. (Buckhannon-Upshur)
A two-time, first-team all-state selection in 2004 and 2005…Two-time Hunt Award finalist as one of West Virginia’s top linemen.

Jimmy Bowerstock, FB, 5-10, 245, Lisbon, Ohio (Beaver Local)
Second-team all-state, two-time All-Southeastern Conference.

Justin Fletcher, DL, 6-0, 200, East Pittsburgh, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
Starter on Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) finalist squad.

Anthony Hayes, SS, 6-0, 200, Princeton, W.Va. (Marshall University)
First-team all-state

Brandon Long, DE, 6-1, 210, Buckhannon, W.Va. (Buckhannon-Upshur)
Two-time all-state…Team captain of a program that achieved an 18-2 record the past two seasons

Christian Rasmusson, FS, 6-1, 195, Jupiter, Fla. (Jupiter)
First-team all-conference.

Allen Scott, DL, 6-0, 255, Glenville, Ga. (Tattnall Co.)
First-team all-region…Four-year starter

Yemi Shonibare, DB, 5-8, 175, Bowie, Md. (Lackawanna J.C.)
One of 11 scholarship athletes on a junior college program that has sent players to Division I programs such as Miami (Fla.), Penn State, the University of Florida, and West Virginia University and fellow WVIAC schools, Concord and Shepherd…Member of Parkdale H.S. team that won the Maryland State Championship in 2003.

Joe Stallings, FB/LB, 5-10, 210, Owings, Md. (Northern)
First-team all-county…first-team All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference…First-team All-Extra for the Washington Post.

Kyle Winters, LB, 6-0, 250, Washington, Pa. (Washington)
First-team all-state (Pennsylvania AA)…Member of Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Fabulous 22 & Elite 11…All-Interstate Conference.

Julio Vilatoro, OL, 6-1, 280, Annandale, Va. (Fork Union Military Academy)
Two-time all state…Two-time all-metro…Dominate player at legendary prep school.

West Virginia Wesleyan football was honored with eleven players being named to all-conference squads as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Headlining the list of players chosen from the orange and black is first team wide receiver Bryan Overton (Wexford, Pa.).

Overton was Wesleyan’s main offensive weapon in 2005 and with just two years under his belt, he has asserted himself as a potential offensive player of the year candidate for the next two seasons. He led Wesleyan in all three receiving categories (52 rec., 1,183 yards, 12 TD). His impressive receiving yards ranked him first in the WVIAC in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game (107.5). His 107.5 average was good enough to put him in seventh place nationally at season’s end. The Pine-Richland standout currently sits in ninth place with 79 career receptions, fourth place with 1,814 career receiving yards, and is tied for fourth all-time with 15 receiving scores at Wesleyan.

Senior quarterback Marc Kimes (Vienna), junior running back T.R. Dues (South Charleston), and junior tight end Brad Wilt (Salem) were named second team offensive players. Kimes finishes his time at Wesleyan as the school’s career leader in passing yards (7,983) and completions (487). He also set four individual Bobcat records during his senior campaign. In addition to becoming the first quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards in a single season (3,158), the Parkersburg native accounted for 3,146 yards of total offense and attempted 375 passes in 2005. Earlier in the year Kimes broke Bill Creighton’s single-game passing record by throwing for 483 yards in a 39-34 loss at Charleston.

Dues, a Don Hansen’s Preseason All-American at both running back and return specialist, battled injuries in the beginning of the season but managed to finish second on the ‘Cats with 413 rushing yards. He scored one touchdown and averaged 41.3 yards per game out of the backfield. T.R. was also selected as an honorable mention special teams kick returner. His quickness and versatility helped him gain 369 kickoff return yards and 63 punt return yards.

Wilt played in 10 games, catching 18 balls for 231 yards.

Sophomore kicker Mike Hibbert (Weeki Wachee, Fla.) leaped forward this season after bit of a down year as a freshman. He was rewarded for his efforts by being named both second team special teams as a kicker and honorable mention special teams as a punter. Hibbert made 12-16 field goals, including eight of his first nine, and 27-32 PATs this fall. He was the WVIAC’s leader in both field goals and field goal percentage (75.0%). At the beginning of the year Mike was the 10th-ranked scoring kicker of all time at Wesleyan. His 63 points in 2005 move him up to third place (105 pts.) and within striking distance of Daniel Breech’s second-place 119 points. Mike also had 47 punts for 1,771 yards (37.7 avg.). His two-year average of 36.3 yards per punt places him seventh in Wesleyan’s record books.*

A collection of Bobcats were chosen as honorable mention selections on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Alex Puente (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) (WR) and Ryan Dearman (Parkersburg) (OL) were given offensive recognition while Domonique Staten (Baltimore, Md.) (DB) and Aaron Hoxie (Santee, Calif.) (LB) were named to the conference’s honorable mention defensive squad.

Puente filled in after the departure of seniors Raschid Smith and Richard Shinners by catching 46 passes for 802 yards and five touchdowns. He was second on the team in all three categories behind Overton and also ranked fifth in the conference with 4.6 receptions per game and sixth with 80.2 receiving yards per game.

Dearman posted another solid year on the Bobcat offensive line. He looks to be a staple up front for the ‘Cats the next two years.

There was evidence in early August that Domonique Staten was going to be an impact player his sophomore season. However, despite his work in both the preseason and during 2005, an honorable mention selection just doesn’t seem to be enough of a reward for the team’s leading tackler. Staten made 87 tackles, intercepted two passes, and broke up eight others from his defensive back position. Look for Domonique to have a big season again in 2006.

Hoxie played in 10 games as a linebacker for the Bobcats and made 49 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss of 12 yards and one sack. He also had an interception in the season finale at Glenville State.

Special honorable mention accolades were earned by running back Ben Vance (Seneca Rocks) and defensive lineman Nick Sworden (Washington, Pa.). Vance led the ‘Cats with 454 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He was the team’s featured back for most of the second half of the season and ended the year as the conference’s seventh-leading rusher.

Sworden recorded 31 tackles and recovered one fumble in his senior season.

2005 All-WVIAC teams

*(note: this record will continue to change until Hibbert finishes his career)

GLENVILLE, W.Va.—West Virginia Wesleyan football ended the 2005 season with a 38-10 loss to the Glenville State Pioneers at I.L. Morris Stadium on Saturday.

The loss ends a tough year for the ‘Cats who finish 3-8 overall, 2-6 in the WVIAC. Glenville ends the regular season at 9-2, 7-1 in the West Virginia Conference.

Both teams’ defensive units rose to the occasion in Saturday’s first half. Wesleyan’s Aaron Hoxie (Santee, Calif.) intercepted Glenville’s Joey Conrad on the Pioneers’ first drive of the game. Early in the second quarter the ‘Cats made two goal-line stands that resulted in just three Glenville State points.

Damon Mcdowell’s 15-yard score with just over three minutes to go in the half was the game’s first touchdown.

The Bobcats remained scoreless until Mike Hibbert’s (Weeki Wachee, Fla.) field goal with one second remaining in the half cut the Glenville lead to 10-3.

All 13 first-half points were scored in the last 3:13 seconds by two of the WVIAC’s most prolific passing offenses.

Conrad and Glenville atoned for their sluggish first-half play by scoring twice in the second quarter and two more times in the fourth.

Damon Lindsey returned a punt 79 yards for the Pioneers’ first third quarter score and was on the receiving end of 70-yard pass play from Conrad for the quarter’s second touchdown.

Lindsey had eight receptions for 146 yards in the game. Conrad completed 31 of 40 passes for 427 yards and in doing so became the career leader in passing yards for Division II (11,884). The old record was held by Fort Lewis’ Andrew Webb. Webb threw for 11,742 yards from 2000-03.

Marc Kimes (Vienna) ended his brilliant Wesleyan career on Saturday completing 17 of 38 throws for 248 yards and 25-yard touchdown to T.R. Dues.

Kimes finishes his time at Wesleyan as the school’s career leader in passing yards (7,983) and completions (487). He also set four individual Bobcat records during his senior campaign. In addition to becoming the first quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards in a single season (3,158), the Parkersburg native accounted for 3,146 yards of total offense and attempted 375 passes in 2005. Earlier in the year Kimes broke Bill Creighton’s single-game passing record by throwing for 483 yards in a 39-34 loss at Charleston.

Bryan Overton (Wexford, Pa.) capped off his impressive sophomore season by catching five balls for 122 yards. Overton caught 52 passes this season for 1,183 yards and 12 touchdowns. He currently sits in ninth place with 79 career receptions, fourth place with 1,814 career receiving yards, and is tied for fourth all-time with 15 receiving scores.

Mott Gaymon (Bowie, Md.) led all players with 13 tackles on Saturday. Domonique Staten (Baltimore, Md.) added an interception, a pass breakup and three tackles. Staten ends the year with a team-leading 87 tackles.