The University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s Chavon Wright steps toward the end zone for a touchdown against New Haven during an NCAA Division II football playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at UC Stadium.
University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä football coach Quinn Sanders directs his team during an NCAA football game against Gannon on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at UC Stadium.
The University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s Chavon Wright steps toward the end zone for a touchdown against New Haven during an NCAA Division II football playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at UC Stadium.
University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä football coach Quinn Sanders directs his team during an NCAA football game against Gannon on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at UC Stadium.
There’s quite a bit of rebuilding these days at UC Stadium at Laidley Field, but none of it has to do with the Golden Eagles football team.
The University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s third season under coach Quinn Sanders begins with many of the Golden Eagles’ starters returning from last season’s Mountain East Conference championship team, leaving most of the facelift at Laidley on the stadium’s press box.
The University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Golden Eagles had arguably one of their better seasons in the programs existence in 2023. The Golden Eagles went 10-2, won its first-ever MEC title, won its first conference title since 1954, host its first ever NCAA home playoff game and reached the second round of their region. UC welcomes back plenty, which leaves everyone excited for this fall.
By Taylor Kennedy
tkennedy@hdmediallc.com
However, the returning talent and the school’s first league championship since it was known as Morris Harvey College puts a target on UC’s back.
Sanders’ colleagues within the MEC didn’t do him any favors when they voted UC as the preseason favorite to repeat.
The coach said his staff doesn’t hide from the players the pressure and expectation to repeat.
“We’re going to get everybody’s best shot,†said Sanders, who followed up a 6-5 overall record his first year with a 10-3 mark in 2023. “I’ve been told that winning the first conference championship is always easier than winning the second.â€
Sanders said he doesn’t mean to sound cliche when he and his staff tell players that “they’re just trying to go 1-0 every game.†There’s nothing trite about telling his Golden Eagles that they do have unfinished business.
After UC posted an 8-1 league record last season, it advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, in which Sanders and the Golden Eagles were given a generous portion of adversity.
Leading by 14 points with less than five minutes to play, the Golden Eagles allowed Kutztown to rally for a 32-31 win at Laidley Field to end UC’s season.
“We had two losses by four points,†Sanders said, “and then we were up 14 with minutes to go. There’s a sour taste after last year.â€
That sour taste lingers because so many players from that team have returned for 2024.
According to Sanders, four players left with opportunities to play for Division I teams. Even with those and graduation, UC had the starting lineup on each side of the ball settled before fall practice even began.
Mari Lawton, a defensive lineman from South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, didn’t play last season and received a medical redshirt, yet he remembers the loss to Kutztown.
“We beat ourselves,†said Lawton, a redshirt freshman.
Now, Lawton — cleared to resume playing following November surgery and physical therapy that concluded in April — is shooting for playing time this fall to help UC repeat last year’s success.
“I’m going for a rotation spot with some of the older guys,†the 6-3, 285-pound Lawton said. “It’s going smooth.â€
Javonte Howard returned as a graduate student and will be the starting quarterback heading into the season. The loss to Kutztown, he said, left the Golden Eagles aiming for a high goal when they reported to practice this summer.
“With nine, 10 guys back on offense, there is pressure to execute,†said Howard, who passed for 30 touchdowns last season. “We learned from our mistakes. We’re ready to move forward. We want to win a national championship.â€
Aside from Howard, the key returner on offense is Chavon Wright, who rushed for 1,611 yards and 20 touchdowns a season ago. A redshirt junior, Wright was the 2023 MEC Offensive Player of the Year.
The tandem of Willie Floyd and Aden Miller combined for 145 tackles and five sacks last season from the linebacker position and return this season. Floyd was the Golden Eagles’ top tackler, with Miller No. 2. Cashawn Beasley was third on the team with 38 tackles from the cornerback position.
Yves Bosmans and Marquan Herron both return as wide receivers. Bosmans was second on the team in receptions in 2023 with 49 for 576 yards and six TDs. Herron was third with 25 catches for 514 yards and matched Bosmans with six scores.
Herron’s 20.56 yards per catch led UC last season.
Gone is the Golden Eagles’ top receiver, Tae Marrero, who transferred to Southern Illinois, a Division I FCS program, after he led UC in catches (55), receiving yards (923) and receiving TDs (10).
Sanders said after seven practices, the Golden Eagles’ first scrimmage on Wednesday would be the first step to solidifying depth.
The coach is confident, he said, that UC will be ready for Aug. 31 to take on Livingstone, a CIAA member that posted a 4-6 record in 2023.
UC’s home opener will be Sept. 7 against California University of Pennsylvania in a noon kickoff.
Rick Elmore covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-5122 or relmore@hdmediallc.com. Follow @ElmoreSports on Twitter/X.
