KCAC
[Football] Return to Friends: Football Falcons Hope to Carry Over Late Season Momentum in 2020 …
Levi Convirs, Friends University Sports Information DirectorWICHITA, Kan. — After dropping seven straight games following a season-opening victory, the Friends University Falcons found something late in the year, winning their last two outings that included a dramatic overtime win over Bethany College on Senior Day and a 20-13 besting at Ottawa University to wrap up the 2019 campaign.The Falcons appear to have the ingredients necessary to build on some of the positive things they accomplished at the end of last season as they prepare to head into a fluid 2020 season."The kids are excited to get the season started," said Dion Meneley, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Friends University football program. "It has been a long time since we have seen the team as a whole and they have done an awesome job of adjusting to change and uncertainty. Our hope is that they have put the work in while they have been away and are ready to hit the ground running."The Falcons placed 10 student-athletes on the All-KCAC list last season, with half of that amount set to return for the upcoming season.At the quarterback position, senior Dan Dawdy (SR/Haysville, Kan.) and sophomore Joshua Morris (SO/Mt. Pleasant, Texas) each saw time under center last season."The quarterback position will be very competitive this camp," Meneley said. "Dan and Josh will be returning with playing time under their belt and we expect our newcomers to challenge for the starting spot as well."Whoever emerges from the quarterback derby will enjoy having Cade Nagy (SO/Broken Arrow, Okla. ), a 2018 all-conference honorable-mention performer, as a target after missing last season. As a freshman, Nagy became a go-to option in the Falcons' passing game in the 2018 campaign, posting team-highs in receptions (38), receiving yards (636) and receiving touchdowns (six).The offense's effectiveness will be bolstered by the return of seniors Brock Johnston (SR/Claremore, Okla.) and Jacob Kerby (SR/Kanopolis, Kan.), who will bookend the Falcons' offensive line this season.Senior running back Juan Salazar (SR/Vernon, Texas) also returns after earning all-conference honorable-mention honors as a fullback last season. Salazar gained 94 rushing yards and scored one touchdown, while also proving to be a receiving threat out of the backfield, with 14 receptions for 139 yards and one score.While losing single-season sack leader and first-team NAIA All-American Jeremiah Pharms is certainly not ideal, the cupboard is far from bare on the defensive side of the ball.Four all-conference honorable-mention selections on that side of the ball return that contributed to the Falcons posting the fourth-ranked scoring defense in the KCAC.Featured among that group is a senior defensive line duo in Adam Brown (JR/Wichita, Kan. ) and Robbie Garcia. Brown put together a solid all-around season with 35 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, with Garcia posting near mirror image production of 34 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and also 3.5 sacks.The defense will also be enhanced with the return of four solid linebackers, including all-conference pick David Akao (JR/Wichita, Kan.), who recorded a team-high 66 tackles in 2019.After being limited to six games last season, senior linebacker Sonny Brown (SR/Wichita, Kan.) is back and will look for a repeat of his 2018 performance that saw him receive all-conference honorable-mention honors following a two sack and eight tackles for loss effort.Linebacker Jagger Blubaugh (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) will look to take another step forward after ranking third on the team in tackles (53) along with 4.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman last season.Junior linebacker Jason Weah (JR/Madison, Wis. ) adds to the Falcon depth at that spot and made 34 total stops, three tackles for loss and one interception in 2019.A pair of senior defensive backs in Drake Damon (SR/Goddard, Kan. ) and Christian Ryan (SR/Grapevine, Texas) will aid the Falcons' secondary this season. Damon, an all-conference honoree last season, picked off one pass and contributed 28 tackles, including three for loss.Ryan was fifth on the team in tackles (40) in 2019, with 2.5 tackles for loss."Sports have taken a backseat to the more serious issues facing our world during the past five months and we will see more changes to what we consider normal during a typical season; however, once we get between the lines we will get a sense of that normal back," Meneley said. "The safety of our players and staff continue to be at the forefront of our conversations and we will adjust as needed to ensure we are safe and competing at our highest level."Friends is scheduled to open up the 2020 campaign on Sept. 12 at preseason favorite KWU in Salina, Kan., with the home opener set for Sept. 26 vs. Avila University at Adair-Austin Stadium.