Trinity Football
Preview/Recap 2009

The 2009 edition of the Trinity University Tigers could easily be referred to as the “Road Warriors.”

Trinity, led by head coach Steve Mohr, in his 20th season at the Tigers’ helm, will not play at E.M. Stevens Stadium until Oct. 3. The Tigers will host Birmingham-Southern College in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference game on that date, five games into the campaign.

“We play four road games to start the season,” coach Mohr said. “The season will depend on how well we get started. We will be tested early.”

The Tigers, who completed the 2008 season with an 8-2 overall record (ranked No. 35 by the American Football Coaches Association), open on Sept. 5 with McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. Texas Lutheran University, located in nearby Seguin, will be Trinity’s opponent Sept. 12. The Tigers start their SCAC schedule Sept. 19 in Memphis, Tenn., against Rhodes College. Defending SCAC champion Millsaps College will host Trinity on Sept. 26 in Jackson, Miss.

Then comes Birmingham-Southern, the first of four home contests for the Tigers. Following an open week, Trinity plays host to Sewanee: The University of the South on Oct. 17, in a conference game. A SCAC road game on Oct. 24 in Greencastle, Ind., with DePauw University is on the schedule. The Tigers will play two of their three remaining games at home, starting with Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), a member of the NAIA, on Oct. 31. Colorado College was originally scheduled for a SCAC game on that date. But Colorado College dropped football and Azusa was added to the slate.

The regular-season home finale is Nov. 7 – during Trinity’s Alumni Weekend – as the Tigers host Centre College in a SCAC game. The Trinity Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at halftime.

Trinity wraps up the regular season Nov. 14 in Sherman, Texas, with Austin College.

So, the stage is set and the schedule is intact. What of the team itself?

The Tiger offense will be a force to be reckoned with, as five starters return.

“In the past, we’ve been primarily a throwing team,” coach Mohr said. “But this year, we should be a dual threat. We may rely on our running game.”

Trinity was No. 2 in SCAC scoring offense (32.6 points per game), second in total offense (422.7 yards per game), third in passing offense (249.9 yards per game) and second in rushing offense (172.8 yards per game).

The quarterback slot will be a tossup between senior Jeremy Staska of  La Porte, Texas (La Porte); and junior Robert Davidson of Fort Worth, Texas (All Saints Episcopal). Staska was injured last season and Davidson served in a backup role. Davidson completed 4 of 16 passes (one interception) for 46 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed eight times for 42 yards.

Returning at wide receiver is three-time All-SCAC honoree Riley Curry of Sugar Land, Texas (Clements). Curry, a senior who made the All-SCAC First Team for the second consecutive year, snagged 54 passes for 604 yards and six touchdowns. He is ranked fifth in Trinity career receptions (165), seventh in receiving yards (2,126) and seventh in touchdown receptions (20).

Senior running back Chris Baer of Shiner, Texas (Shiner), was an All-SCAC First Team recipient. Baer, who made the conference Second team in 2007, led the SCAC in rushing, with 840 yards in nine games (93.3 yards per game). He was No. 2 in scoring, with 12 touchdowns (eight rushing touchdowns). Baer also grabbed 24 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns. He is ranked 12th in Trinity rushing yards (1,481), 14th in rushing attempts (309), seventh in rushing touchdowns (20) and 10th in total touchdowns (27).

A multi-sport athlete, Baer is also a two-time All-American in the javelin, in outdoor track and field. He placed third in the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships. Baer became one of Trinity’s first Division III men’s track and field All-Americans, with a fifth-place javelin finish in 2008.

Senior tight end Danny Davidson of Fort Worth (All Saints Episcopal), the brother of Robert Davidson, caught four passes for 75 yards (18.8 average). 

Caleb Urban, a senior wide receiver from Victoria, Texas (Memorial), led the SCAC in kick return average (15 returns, 407 yards, 1 touchdown, 27.1 average over 10 games). His 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half against Colorado College, turned a close game into a 21-3 lead for the visiting Tigers. Urban’s first career return touchdown is the first for a Trinity player since his older brother, d3football.com All-American Jerheme Urban, returned a 91-yard kickoff for a score in the 2002 playoffs against St. John’s. Jerheme Urban is a receiver for the Super Bowl finalist Arizona Cardinals.

Caleb Urban is ranked No. 6 in Trinity kickoff return yardage (685) and eighth in kickoff returns (30).

A key returnee is senior offensive lineman Josh Hooten of Robinson, Texas (Robinson). Hooten, an All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team honoree, anchors the stalwart O-line which was ranked No. 11 nationally in sacks allowed (.80 per game).

Senior running back Al Furlow of Chesapeake, Md. (Katy High School, Texas), made the All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team. Furlow was ranked sixth in SCAC scoring (nine touchdowns, six passing and three rushing) and ninth in rushing (83 carries for 486 yards).

Sophomore offensive lineman Justin Campbell of Victoria (Memorial) became an All-American in track and field. Campbell placed third in the discus competition.

Sophomore offensive lineman Justin Campbell of Victoria (Memorial) became an All-American in track and field. Campbell placed third in the discus competition

Punter Thomas Outzen, a senior from Monterey, Calif. (Stevenson), was ranked No. 2 in SCAC punting (32 punts, 1,222 yards, 38.2 average). The only first-year starter will be kicker Garrett Biel of Clayton, Calif. (De La Salle). In 2007 and 2008, Biel booted 5 of 7 field goals and connected on 92 of 97 extra points.

The Tiger defense will also be a force to be reckoned with, as eight starters return.

“This year, we have eight starters back on defense,” coach Mohr said. “They will have to come ready to play. We have some returning players who will step up to the challenge.”

The Tigers, who were 5-2 in the SCAC (tied for second place), had some good marks on defense in 2008. Trinity was ranked third in SCAC scoring defense (18.9 points per game), fourth in total defense (312.0 yards per game), third in rushing defense (131.0 yards per game) and fifth in pass defense (181.0 yards per game).

Senior linebacker Dennis Grebe of Bay City, Texas (Bay City), was seventh in SCAC tackles, with 84 (25 solo). Grebe, elected to the All-SCAC Second Team, had one pass interception and one forced fumble. Kyle Coats, a senior linebacker from Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown), also made the All-SCAC Second Team. Coats recorded 58 tackles (31 solo), 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, three pass breakups and recovered a fumble. Jeff Jones, a senior linebacker from Houston (Cypress Falls), was second on the Tiger team in tackles, with 61 (26 solo). Jones had two tackles for a loss, two interceptions, one pass breakup, one recovered fumble and a forced fumble.

Senior defensive back Bobby Adamson of Nacogdoches, Texas (Nacogdoches), was selected for the All-SCAC Second Team. Adamson made 46 tackles (25 solo), with three interceptions, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. Junior defensive back Baron Rabe of San Antonio (Marshall), accounted for 40 tackles (30 solo), two tackles for a loss, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and recovered a fumble. Evan Reville, a senior defensive back from Oklahoma City (Casady), had 30 tackles (15 solo), one interception, four pass breakups and one recovered fumble.

Two returning senior starters will anchor the defensive line. Ronald Satterthwaite of Dallas (Jesuit), made the All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team. Satterthwaite had 14 tackles (six solo), 4.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and one quarterback hurry. Jeff Carapetyan of Mesquite, Texas (Richardson), also was an All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team recipient. Carapetyan made 42 tackles (15 solo), six tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup and three quarterback hurries.

Head Coach Steve Mohr begins his 20th season with the Trinity Tiger football team in 2009

Trinity will open the season with a month's worth of road games

The E.M. Stevens Stadium crowd will have four games
to cheer on the Tigers this fall

Three-time All-SCAC honoree Riley Curry is back to lead the Tiger wide receivers

Running back Chris Baer led the SCAC in rushing last season and has scored 27 touchdowns in his career

Caleb Urban led the SCAC in kickoff returns last season - including a 100-yard touchdown against Colorado College

Running back Al Furlow will join Baer to give Trinity a dangerous rushing and receiving combination in the backfield

Dennis Grebe led the Tigers in tackles last season and was seventh overall in the SCAC

Bobby Adamson tied for the team lead in interceptions last year, and was also fifth in tackles

Jeff Carapetyan is one of a pair of returning defensive linemen that earned All-SCAC honors in 2008