Yellow Jackets to Open Home Schedule Against Adrian

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets will open up the 2013 home schedule with a meeting against Adrian College at Justin F. Coressel Stadium on Saturday. The game between the Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs is set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. [Game Notes - Week 2]

Last season the Yellow Jackets fell to Adrian College, the eventual Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions, in a 23-13 contest at Performance Stadium in Adrian, Mich. The Bulldogs hold a narrow 30-28-1 record in the series between the two schools.

Defiance College fell in the season opener last week at Albion, losing 32-29 at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium despite more than doubling up the Britons in total yards 508 to 240.

Freshman quarterback Alex Larson and sophomore defensive back Jorry Matherson each picked up Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recognition for their performances last week. Larson was named HCAC Offensive Player of the Week and Matherson was recognized with the HCAC Highlight of the Week for a one-handed interception in the game.

Despite the loss last week, the Yellow Jackets lead the HCAC in 13 statistical categories including scoring offense, total offense, total defense, first downs on offense, first down defense, time of possession, pass efficiency defense, and 3rd down defense.

Series History Versus Adrian
The Defiance College Yellow Jackets trail the Bulldogs of Adrian College by a slim margin in the series history between the two schools. Saturday's meeting between Defiance and Adrian will be the 60th meeting between the two schools. Adrian leads the series 30-28-1.

Last season the Yellow Jackets fell to the Bulldogs 23-13 at Performance Stadium in the second game under head coach Brian Sheehan. Defiance's last win against the Bulldogs came seven seasons ago, when the Yellow Jackets defeated the Bulldogs 10-0 on Sept. 9, 2006.

Adrian has won the last six meeting between the two schools, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 176-58 during that time.

Last Time out
The Defiance College Yellow Jackets football team dropped a close battle against the Albion College Britons 32-29 in the season opener Saturday night at Albion's Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium.

Defiance College put up 513 yards of total offense, while limiting the home team to 240 yards of total offense. However, the Jackets turned the ball over five times and were stopped on a fourth and goal from the half-yard line, giving the Britons a chance to stay in the game.

Freshman quarterback Alex Larson led the offensive attack for the Purple and Gold with 117 rushing yards, while also throwing for 279 yards. Larson was a part of three touchdowns for DC, throwing a pair and running in another.

Defensively for the Yellow Jackets, senior Tony Sierra and sophomore Jorry Matherson each had an interception, as well as three breakups a piece. Leroy Cheatham and Rayon Calloway each forced a fumble in the game.

Andrew Feldhaus led the way defensively for DC, recording eight tackles in the game, including a sack. McGowan and Andrew Leverenz each had a sack in the contest as well.

Offensive Player of the Week
Freshman quarterback Alex Larson was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Week last Saturday night in Defiance's 32-29 loss at Albion.

Larson led the way offensively for the Yellow Jackets (0-1, 0-0 HCAC) in the setback to Albion (1-0, 0-0 MIAA). The freshman quarterback recorded 391 total yards of offense with three touchdowns in his first college game. 

The Highland, Mich. native carried the ball 27 times for 112 yards and one touchdown, while finishing 24-of-44 for 279 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Larson is the first Yellow Jacket to receive HCAC Player of the Week honors since Spencer Saunders was named Special Teams Player of the Week for Sept. 17-23 in 2012. The last time a Defiance player was named Offensive Player of the Week by the HCAC was in 2011, when Drew Kuesel was named to the award for the week of Oct. 17-23.

Highlight of the Week
Jorry Matherson, a sophomore out of Columbia, Md, was awarded the HCAC's Highlight of the Week for intercepting a pass with one handi n a diving play.

The play received 72 percent of the voting over Franklin's wide out Kyle Linville's catch against Mt. Union. In just 36 hours the two plays generated over 1,200 votes.

Matherson had four tackles in the game against Albion, including two for a loss. Along with the interception, Matherson broke up three passes and deflected four more in the game.

In 2012, Matherson had 20 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and 15 break ups and deflections as a freshman.

Record Against the States
The Yellow Jackets are 0-1 against the state of Michigan in 2013. In the all-time series, Defiance is 71-83-2 in 156 games against teams from the border state up north.

Collins Makes Big Impact in Opener
Sophomore running back Daniel Collins made a big impact in the season opener, rushing, receiving and on special teams.  The  West Springfield, Va. native reeled in a 35-yard touchdown pass and also blocked a punt that was recovered by Gareth MacMillian in the end zone for a touchdown.

For the game, Collins had four rushes for 31 yards, including a 26-yard rush, the team long in the game. Collins also had the top two receiving plays in the game, including a 28-yard reception to go along with the 35-yard score.

Feldhaus Coming Off Career Night
Yellow Jackets defensive back Andrew Feldhaus had a career night last Saturday in Albion, recording a team high eight tackles in the game. The sophomore got in the backfield for 2.5 tackles for a loss and also had a sack. The Lutz, Fla. native had a total of 14 tackles in seven games as a freshman in 2012. He had a three tackles for a loss and a sack to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery last season.

A Freshman Connection
Freshmen Trey White and Alex Larson connected for several completions in the season opener in Albion.  White, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., reeled in 10 receptions, a team high in the game. The duo connected for a total of 91 yards of offense through the air, the most of any receiver in the game.

Senior Statement
Brian Mircovich made a statement in the season opener, catching eight balls while being double covered often by the Albion secondary. The senior leader had 68 yards receiving in the game, including a touchdown reception. The eight receptions were a career high for the Clearwater, Fla. native.

Making Most of Second Chance
Senior defensive back Tony Sierra received a second chance at a senior season after an injury last season and the Warren, Mich. native started strong in take two, grabbing an interception and three tackles in the game. Sierra now has a total of 10 interceptions for his career.