CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - After being picked to finish seventh in the Iowa Conference last season, the Kohawks surprised the league, and the nation, with a second place-finish and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs. This season, Head Coach Steve Staker's squad is picked second by the league coaches.

Staker garnered numerous honors last season, as he was named the Iowa Conference Coach of the Year, AFCA Region Five Coach of the Year and the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year.

 

Coe closed the 2009 season with a 10-2 record, with losses coming to Iowa Conference Champion Central and to St. Thomas, both ranked 10^th in the nation at game time, in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. It was just the third 10-win season in school history. The Kohawks finished 10^th in the D3Football.com poll and 12^th in the AFCA Coaches Poll, both the highest rankings in school history.

 

The Kohawks open the 2010 campaign ranked in three preseason publications. D3football.com has the Kohawks 12^th, while The Sporting News has the Kohawks ranked 18^th and USA Today puts them 20^th. The Sporting News also tabbed Coe's Sept. 18 game against Central, the coaches pick to win the league, as one of six NCAA Division III games to watch across the nation this year.

 

Reigning Iowa Conference MVP Brad Boyle (New Sharon, Iowa/North Mahaska) returns under center for his junior campaign. Boyle joined Bill Lech last year as the only Kohawks to have three or more 300-yard passing games in a single season. Boyle broke an NCAA Division III record by throwing 307 passes without being intercepted, before throwing his first pick in the regular season finale. Along with throwing 19 touchdown passes, Boyle rushed for 15, the most by any quarterback in school history. Boyle completed a school-record 212 passes, while throwing for 2,639 yards.

 

Coe will look to replace two-time All-Iowa Conference member Sam Hammes in the backfield, but should have plenty of options to do so. Hammes led the Kohawks with 682 yards rushing last season. He'll likely be replaced by Brendan Leiran (Waukon, Iowa/Waukon). Leiran saw action in 11 games last season, starting two for the injured Hammes. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry on 41 attempts. 

 

The Kohawks will return their top two wide receivers in Michael Rozum (Byron, Ill./Byron) and Tyler Takes (Ely, Iowa/Solon). Rozum and Takes caught 40 passes each last year, with Rozum going for 625 yards and three scores, while Takes had 567 yards and eight touchdowns. Takes was a second team All-Iowa Conference performer as a wide receiver and return specialist, where he averaged over 10 yards per punt return and 20 yards per kick return. The Kohawks will also welcome back two-year starter Nick Ratchford (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus), who started the first three games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury.

 

Paving the way up front, all six players that started game on the offensive line last year returns. Logan Weber (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) will lead the way at center, where he was a first team All-Iowa Conference selection. Joel Brockmeyer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) and Sam Wright (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South) will anchor the left side, while Charlie Goetzinger (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) and Carrington Daniel (Kahoka, Mo./Kahoka) will hold down the right side. Jacob Deaton (Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) started a few games last season due to injuries. 

 

Just like the offensive line, all four starters return to the defensive line. Sophomore All-American Frank Weymiller (New Albin, Iowa/Waukon) returns at one defensive end, while All-Iowa Conference performer Nate Clear (Dallas, Texas/Bishop Lynch) returns at the other. Weymiller shattered the school record for sacks last year, recording 15.5. His total was the third most in NCAA Division III. Tyler Hemry (West Union, Iowa/North Fayette) and Elias Randel (Grundy Center, Iowa/Grundy Center) will hold down the tackle spots.

 

The biggest hole for the Kohawks to fill is the linebacker position. Coe will look to replace all three linebackers, all of whom earned All-Iowa Conference honors. Seth Johnson (Glidden, Iowa/Glidden-Ralston) and Jake Breitbach (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) return to the defensive backfield. Johnson led the Kohawks with three interceptions last year.

 

All specialty players return for the Kohawks as well. Chase Cooling (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) returns as punter, while Elliot Rausa (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) returns for his senior year as kicker. Cooling averaged over 35 yards on 56 punts last season, with 19 landing inside the 20-yard line. Rausa has hit 26 career field goals, the second most in school history.

 

Coe will open the season with a 5 p.m. kickoff at Iowa Wesleyan. Coe returns home the following weekend for the home opener against Olivet Nazarene. The Kohawks kick off Iowa Conference play Sept. 18 at Luther. Coe will also host Central in a family weekend game Sept. 25 and Wartburg on Homecoming Oct. 16.