CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - After a disappointing 4-6 season in 2008, the Coe College Kohawks look to rebound during the 2009 campaign. Despite the losing record, Coe went 4-0 on the road in the tough Iowa Conference.

The Kohawks will keep their same two non-conference opponents as last season, Augustana and Gustavus Adolphus. Coe opens the season Sept. 5 with a 1 p.m. contest against Augustana at Clark Field.

 

The Kohawks will once again be anchored by the team's defense, with D3football.com Preseason All-American senior linebacker

Harrison

Tate Harrison (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) leading the way. Harrison, along with senior Calvin Thomas (Westchester, Ill./St. Joseph's), tied the school record with 120 tackles apiece last year. Both Harrison and Thomas earned D3football.com All-West Region honors at linebacker last season, as Harrison was a second-team choice and Thomas a third-team selection. Joining Harrison and Thomas will be fellow senior linebacker Ross Yeast (West Liberty, Iowa/West Liberty). Yeast was third on the team in tackles with 77 last year.

 

Despite losing all five lineman, the Kohawk offense returns 85 percent of its scoring from last season, led by senior running back

Hammes

Sam Hammes (Story City, Iowa/Roland-Story). Hammes rushed for 870 yards and five touchdowns last year. Hammes will be joined in the backfield with quarterbacks Brad Boyle (New Sharon, Iowa/North Mahaska) or Patrick Wallace (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South). Both players started two games last season. Adding to the skill positions, Coe returns its top five pass receivers in yardage, led by junior Nick Ratchford (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus), senior Robert Welborn (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) and Hammes. The three combined for nearly 1,000 yards receiving last year. Also returning on the offensive side of the ball is tight end Ryan Jones (Harpers Ferry, Iowa/Waukon). The junior caught six passes for 100 yards last year, including a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime on the road against Luther.

 

Junior kicker Elliot Rausa (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) returns once again for the Kohawks. Rausa tied the school record for field goals in each of the past two seasons, as he connected on 10 kicks both years.

 

The Kohawks open the Iowa Conference portion of their schedule Sept. 19 with a Family Weekend matchup with Luther. Other home contests for Coe includes an Oct. 3 Homecoming game against Dubuque and a regular season closing game Nov. 14 against Linn County rival Cornell, which is the oldest football rivalry West of the Mississippi River. The Kohawks will face all three teams receiving votes in the D3football.com preseason poll from the Iowa Conference on the road this season. Central and Buena Vista both received votes, while reigning conference champion Wartburg is ranked 17^th. Coe will face Central Sept. 26, Wartburg Oct. 17 and Buena Vista Nov. 7.