#5 GLIAC SOUTH
WALSH CAVALIERS (3-8 OVERALL, 3-6 GLIAC)

2014 Walsh Preview (by Tony Nicolette, GLIAC contributor)

As Walsh enters year three of its GLIAC tenure, they’ll look to take a step forward from back-to-back three-win seasons.  Head coach Ted Karras now has a year under his belt navigating the GLIAC, and he is no doubt looking to create the kind of form at Walsh that he did so successfully at NAIA’s Marian.

At his disposal entering 2014 will be the bulk of last year’s offense.  Starting QB Paul Kempe returns, as does RB Aaron Male…this tandem posted two of the team’s top three rushing totals a year ago, with Male leading the way and scoring eight TD’s via the ground.  Perhaps even more exciting for the Cavaliers is all of the pass-catching ability that is back.  Leading WR’s Jerald Robinson and Darryl Gray return, as does steady TE Justin Keith, and perhaps the most anticipated return could be that of WR Anthony Schrock.  Schrock was the club’s most prolific playmaker in 2011 and 2012, but he missed nearly all of 2013 due to injury.

Many familiar faces return on defense as well, including leading tackler Cam Trudell.  The senior LB will be joined by a couple of key cogs in the secondary, most notably Pat White (team-best five INT’s in 2013) and Jamaris Brown.  This trio will look to help the Cavaliers improve upon a unit that was in the bottom half of the league statistically in 2013, including yielding 43.5 points per game in its final four contests.

While early season contests with Ashland and Ohio Dominican will prove stern tests, the second half of the Walsh slate appears to be the more daunting than the first.  Trips to Findlay and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to play Northern Michigan appear in that stretch, as do home dates with arch-rival Malone, MEC foe Glenville State, and a finale against potent Ferris State.