Gannon Knight Sports

     When the Gannon University football team took the field Friday for its annual spring game, it was the Knights’ first action since knocking No. 19 Bloomsburg University out of playoff contention with a 10-7 overtime victory in November.
     The wait was too long for some, as players were eager to build on the momentum created by a season-ending four-game winning streak.
     “I was excited to get out there,” said senior running back Tyler Batts, who rushed for 512 yards and six touchdowns while playing as a change-of-pace for Jon Richardson. “It was a good feeling to get back on the field with my teammates.”
     The spring game, which was watched by a group of Gannon fans, used different drills and situational practices to conclude an offseason that consisted of workouts and practices.
     “The offseason went really well,” said senior linebacker Parris Williams, who was tied for the team lead in interceptions. “A lot of guys got bigger, better and stronger, and that’s the main goal of our offseason. It was good to go out and compete against each other.”
     The bar will be raised for the 2010 Knights, who are coming off their first winning season since 2003, as 22 seniors and 50 letter-winners will be returning. Gannon will only be losing five regular starters from last year’s 6-5 team.
     On the offensive side of the ball, both quarterbacks, Zach Boedicker and Bob Bartley, will return for their senior campaigns and Batts and six of the Knights’ top seven receivers revisit the roster.
     Gannon returns key starters from a defensive unit that was ranked second in pass defense and fourth in turnover margin in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Knights’ top five tacklers will return to the roster.
     Seniors Matthew Neal-Mink, Kevin Minor and Johnny Jones and juniors Khayree Connors-McChristian and Randy Colling headline the group of returning starters.
     Despite the small sample size that the game provided, players said they were still able to gather first impressions.
     While Williams said he believes that leadership is the team’s best attribute, Batts said the Knights’ biggest strength is the the fact that this isn’t their first rodeo together.
     “We have a lot of experience,” he said. “Our team has people that have played a lot of games. We all know what it takes to win and we’re starting to take the initiative.”
     Although Williams can see the positives, he also acknowledged that some aspects of their game must be worked on if they are to improve on last year.
     “We need to work on keeping composure,” he said. “When our back is against the wall we need to not break under pressure.”
     Only time can tell whether these strengths and weaknesses flourish or founder but Batts believes that last season’s late success was a big step for this year’s team.
     “Everyone was excited about that win [at Bloomsburg],” he said. “It opened up eyes in the rest of the PSAC and said that Gannon is an up-and-coming team.”