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Dearcorn
makes most of opportunities By SCOTT MANSCH |
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D.J. Dearcorn didn't
score a touchdown every time he touched the football last Saturday. It just seemed like it. Dearcorn, a senior
running back at Carroll College, scored three touchdowns in the Saints' 58-17
victory over Montana State-Northern. Dearcorn rushed for 113 yards and two
TDs, and caught a 55-yard pass for another score as the top-ranked Saints
rolled to another victory. Dearcorn did all that
damage with just four rushing carries and the one pass reception. "He's probably one
of our most unselfish players," said Carroll head coach Mike Van Diest.
"He's a very physical kid, really a triple threat because he's a good
pass-blocker as well as somebody who catches the ball well." Dearcorn isn't too shabby
running with it, either. Van Diest said Dearcorn could well carry the ball 20
or 25 times a game, but he prefers spreading the wealth. That's because
Carroll has swift halfbacks Tim Bowman and Jed Thomas, plus a veteran
receiving corps. Dearcorn certainly isn't
complaining. In fact, he's just thankful Van Diest made the recruiting trip
to Dayton, Wyo., in the first place. Zawacki, from Powell,
Wyo., is another key recruit from the Cowboy State landed by Van Diest, who
played tight end at the University of Wyoming after graduating from Helena
Cathedral High. Dearcorn, whose parents make the 5Þ-hour drive from Dayton to
all the games in Helena and often fly to the away games, said he's the
fortunate one. "I've been involved
with some great people here," he said. "It's been an amazing
situation. ... There's no better feeling than the support I receive from my
parents and the other people I've met here." TOP-RANKED Carroll puts its unbeaten record
on the line Saturday afternoon in Dillon. And they do so against a
pretty hot quarterback. UM-Western's Travis Kirby
leads the Frontier in passing (278-yard average) and touchdown passes (14).
Kirby threw three first-half TD passes last week as Western outscored Rocky
Mountain 55-31. "It feels like we're
finally coming together as a team," said Kirby, who has led the Bulldogs
to three straight victories. "We're feeling pretty good about the way
we've played lately." Kirby is a native of
Washington state who played one year of junior-college football in Arizona
before transferring. He admits it was a little bit of a culture shock to move
from the hot Southwest to Montana. "It's been a good
change," he said. MONTANA TECH true freshman quarterback Justin
Kegel will make his second career start Saturday when the winless Orediggers
take on Rocky Mountain in Billings. "I'm convinced that
playing Justin is the way to go," said Tech coach Bob Green, who
compares the Havre native's talent with that of former Tech superstar QB Mark
Jensen. Kegel's cousin, Nate
Kegel, starts in the Oredigger secondary. Of course Justin Kegel's big
brother Matt is a star quarterback at Washington State. THERE MIGHT have been a silver lining in that
58-17 thrashing that Montana State-Northern received from Carroll last week. Several of MSU-Northern's
young freshmen played well as the Lights amassed 432 yards of total offense. True freshman QB Jeff
Fischer of Laurel threw the first touchdown pass of his college career, and
also rushed for 63 yards. Freshman running back
Tanner Cochrell gained 84 yards and scored a touchdown. ROCKY MOUNTAIN quarterbak Adam Sanchez continues
to lead the Frontier in total offense. He averages 314 yards per game, which
ranks second in the nation. Frontier Conference
Notebook is compiled each week by Tribune writer Scott Mansch, who can be
reached at (800) 438-6600 or by e-mail at tribsports@sofast.net Originally published Friday, October 10, 2003 |
