In honor of the Big Green’s Ivy League season kickoff this weekend, we’ve compiled football previews from the sports departments at each of the dailies in the Ancient Eight. Below, the Ivy writers share their thoughts.
Coming off a 3-7 season that featured a number of close losses, the Bears will look to implement a balanced attack and use an experienced defense to stay in the game.
The Bears will feature a new quarterback in junior signal caller Michael Dougherty. Dougherty is the offense’s biggest question, as he threw just ten passes last season, but he threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening win over Duquesne University.
Senior co-captain and reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week Derrick Knight will take the reins at the starting halfback position after splitting the time last year, and will be complimented by a stable of receiving threats.
Paul Raymond should be the team’s primary deep threat as he is the Ivy League’s reigning champion in the 60-meter dash and rugged tight end Colin Cloherty should be a force over the middle as he went for 171 yards one week ago.
The offensive line, led by Co-captain AJ Tracey, should be one of the team’s strengths.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears will sorely miss All-Ivy linebacker Zak DeOssie, who is currently playing for the New York Giants. But Brown returns eight starters including sack leader Kai Brown, co-captain and linebacker Eric Brewer and hard-hitting safety Jose Yearwood.
