Panthers put 10 on conference football team

Ten members of the Hanover College football squad have been named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's all-league team. The honorees were selected by the conference's eight head coaches.

Corey Fogle

Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.), junior receiver/quarterback Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) and senior defensive lineman Luke Keller (Jasper, Ind.) were each named to the Heartland Conference's first team.

Fogle led the Panthers in both receiving and rushing during the 2007 campaign. He caught 76 passes for 559 yards with two touchdowns. He rushed 142 times for 471 yards and five touchdowns.

Thiems split time at receiver and quarterback through Hanover's 10 games. He had 29 receptions for 534 yards with four touchdowns. In a stint as the Panthers' signalcaller, he completed 61-of-113 passes for 623 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

Keller led the Panthers' defensive linemen with 51 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Tyler Thiems

Linebackers Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) and Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.), along with defensive end/punter Andrew Houtsch (Otwell, Ind.) and placekicker Matt Herron (Greenwood, Ind.) were second-team honorees.

Cornely and Spillmann each started the season on the bench and earned increased playing time as the season progressed.

Cornely, a sophomore, led Hanover with 114 tackles. He posted 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Spillmann had 82 tackles and led the Panthers with 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Houtsch, a former receiver, shifted to the defensive line at the start of the season. He collected 27 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. As the Panthers' punter, he booted a school-record 71 times with an average of 36.5 yards per punt.

Herron, who also was an all-conference selection last season, totaled a team-high 42 points. He converted 7-of-11 field goals and made all 21 point-after-touchdown attempts.

Senior linebacker Alex Middendorf (Hamilton, Ohio), senior defensive back Chan Nelson (Louisville, Ky.) and senior offensive lineman Clarke Hall (Cincinnati, Ohio) were honorable mention selections.

Hanover capped its season with a 2-8 record. The Panthers placed sixth in the Heartland Conference with a 2-5 mark.

Franklin claims Victory Bell in Perry's finale

Franklin College posted a 55-14 victory against Hanover College's football squad in the 51st battle for the Victory Bell trophy. The Panthers' season-finale was played Saturday, Nov. 10, at L.S. Ayres Field.

Franklin, which will represent the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in the NCAA III national playoffs, scored 41 straight points to blow open a game that was tied at 7-7 late in the first period.

The contest marked the end of Hanover head coach Wayne Perry's coaching career. Perry, with the most victories in Indiana collegiate football history, guided the Panthers to a 174-89-2 record in 26 seasons. He led Hanover to a 2-7 overall record in 2007, including a 2-5 mark in HCAC games.

Franklin, 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the league, grabbed a 7-0 lead on senior running back R.J. Hartsfields' two-yard run midway through the first period. Hanover answered near the end of the period. Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.) scampered into the end zone from one yard out to cap a 12-play drive and knot the game at 7-7.

Then Franklin erupted. Junior quarterback Chad Rupp tossed two touchdown passes and senior running back Jon-Erik Bennett scored a pair of touchdowns as the Grizzlies scored on six of its following eight possessions to put the game out of reach.

Hanover totaled 319 yards of total offense in the contest. Fogle posted career-highs with 17 receptions for 174 yards, including a 40-yarder for a fourth-quarter touchdown. He also rushed for 33 yards on 12 carries.

Freshman quarterback Josh Elbert (Morning View, Ky.) completed 24-of-49 passes for 252 yards. He tossed the touchdown pass to Fogle and was picked off three times.

Franklin netted 446 offensive yards. Rupp completed 22-of-30 passes for 273 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Bennett led the Grizzlies' rushing attack with 65 yards on nine carries.

Sophomore linebacker Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) led Hanover's defense with 14 tackles. Freshman linebacker Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.) added nine stops for the Panthers, including a tackle for loss.

Hanover vs. Franklin stats available here.

Wayne Perry to coach final Hanover game

Head football coach Wayne Perry will work the Hanover College sidelines for the final time, Saturday, Nov. 10, as his Panthers host Franklin College in the 2007 season finale.

Perry, who has guided Hanover's football program since 1982, has the most wins of any coach in Indiana collegiate football history. He will move into a position to lead the College's athletic fund-raising initiatives and coach men’s and women’s golf at the conclusion of the season.

Perry has tallied a 174-88-2 record through 26 seasons at Hanover. His Panthers have won eight conference championships (1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003), made nine appearances in the national playoffs (1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003) and posted each of the school’s 10-win seasons (10-0 in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2002).

The kickoff for Hanover's season-finale against Franklin will begin at 1 p.m. at L.S. Ayres Field. The contest marks the 51st battle for the Victory Bell trophy.

A special dinner to honor Perry's career will be held following the game in the J. Graham Brown Campus Center. Former players, coaches, fans and friends are invited to attend. Dinner, which costs $20 per person, will begin at 5:30 p.m. To reserve a seat at the event, please contact Abbe Ernstes at ernstes@hanover.edu

Hanover sports a 2-7 overall record this season. The Panthers are 2-4 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Perry became the winningest coach in Indiana collegiate football history with a 41-35 overtime victory against the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio), Oct. 1, 2005. With the victory, he surpassed Butler University legend Tony Hinkle, who totaled 165 wins in 32 seasons with the Bulldogs.

A native of Madison, Ind., Perry played on both the offensive and defensive lines at DePauw University, where he earned his bachelor’s (1972) and master’s degrees (1974). Following two years as a graduate assistant coach at DePauw, he was head coach at East Central High School from 1974 to 1978.

Perry joined Hanover’s staff as offensive line coach in 1979 and replaced Pete Compise as the head coach in 1982.

Perry earned the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 21 coach of the year honor seven times during a 10-year span in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, he was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coach-of-the-year in 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2003. In those seasons, the Panthers captured league championships and earned playoff berths five times.

Under Perry, 26 Hanover players have been named to 44 all-American teams, including a precedent-setting three first-team offensive selections in 1991. Hanover has dominated the Heartland Conference player of the year award, winning 11 league most valuable players from 1989 to 2003.

Anderson outlasts Panthers for football victory

Anderson University managed to hold off Hanover College's football squad, 37-27, in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference clash, Saturday, Nov. 3, in Anderson, Ind.

Anderson jumped on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter and the squads alternated scores throughout the game. The Ravens led 14-10 at the intermission and stretched the cushion to 12 points at 31-19 late in the contest.

Hanover totaled 388 yards of offense, including 338 yards through the air by freshman quarterback Josh Elbert (Morningview, Ky.). Elbert completed 33-of-59 passes with two touchdowns. He was picked off twice and sacked three times by Anderson's defense.

Junior receiver Tyler Thiems (Indianapois, Ind.) and senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.) each collected more than 100 receiving yards in the contest for the Panthers (2-7; 2-4 HCAC).

Thiems had seven receptions for a career-best 176 yards and two touchdowns. He snagged a 35-yard touchdown pass from Elbert in the second quarter and caught a 58-yarder late in the fourth period.

Fogle collected a career-high 16 passes for 101 yards. He also rushed for 56 yards on 17 carries and scored on a two-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Senior placekicker Matt Herron (Greenwood, Ind.) converted a pair of field goals for Hanover. Herron, who has made 7-of-10 field goals this season, nailed a 31-yarder at the close of the first half and made a 26-yard attempt midway through the third period..

Anderson (3-6; 2-4 HCAC) mounted 417 yards of offense in the contest. Senior running back Denny Kimmel rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Matthew Thompson had six receptions for 88 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.

Freeshman linebacker Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.) led Hanover with 13 tackles, including a sack. Senior linebacker Eric Cook (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 11 stops for the Panthers.

Hanover vs. Anderson stats available here.

Hanover swipes gridiron win in final seconds

Senior receiver Wes Barnes (Valparaiso, Ind.) caught a five-yard touchdown pass with 18.5 seconds left to lift Hanover College's football team to a 24-21 victory against Bluffton University (Ohio). The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tilt was played Saturday, Oct. 27, at L.S. Ayres Field.

Wes Barnes

After getting possession with just 50 seconds remaining, Hanover marched 80 yards to tally the game-winner. Freshman quarterback Josh Elbert (Morningview, Ky.) keyed the drive with a 17-yard pass to senior receiver Tyler Rump (Vincennes, Ind.) and a 58-yarder to junior Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.), which put the ball on the Bluffton five-yard-line.

Bluffton (0-8; 0-5) had taken 21-17 lead with 5:27 to play after a 97-yard drive. Running back Edward Jackson capped the 14-play drive with a one-yard run into the end zone.

The contest featured six lead changes and neither team led by more than four points. Bluffton held a 14-10 lead at the intermission after junior defensive lineman Kyle Rode tipped an Elbert pass in the air, pulled it down and rambled 86 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the half.

Hanover (2-6; 2-3 HCAC) totaled 374 yards of offense. Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.) accounted for 79 rushing yards on 20 carries, including a four-yard touchdown scamper midway through the third quarter. He also caught eight passes for 77 yards.

Elbert completed 22-of-44 passes for 288 yards. He tossed two touchdowns and was picked off twice. Thiems had five receptions for 105 yards.

Hanover's defensive unit limited Bluffton to 232 offensive yards, including just 107 yards in the first half.

Sophomore linebacker Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) piled up 18 tackles, with two tackles for loss and a sack. Freeshman linebacker Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.) had 14 stops, with two sacks. Senior lineman Luke Keller (Jasper, Ind.) posted 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss.

Hanover vs. Bluffton stats available here.

Defiance pulls away for HCAC football win

Defiance College (Ohio) reeled off 26 unanswered points to pull away for a 33-7 victory against Hanover College's football team in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tussle, Saturday, Oct. 20, in Defiance, Ohio.

Defiance, now 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the Heartland Conference, limited Hanover to just 154 total yards of offense. The Yellow Jackets allowed the Panthers to gain only 90 total yards through the final three quarters of action.

Defiance staked a 7-0 lead in the middle of the first quarter on quarterback Hans Vetter's four-yard touchdown pass to receiver Luke Dillon. Hanover countered three minutes later to tie the game. Sophomore wingback Adam Miller (Franklin, Ind.) tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Chad Vilas (Cincinnati, Ohio) to pull the Panthers even at 7-7.

Defiance placekicker Alex Bonilla hit 41- and 32-yard field goals in the second quarter and added a 26-yarder in the third period to push the Yellow Jackets' cushion to 16-7. Bonilla hit a 33-yard field goal in the fourth period.

Hanover junior quarterback Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) completed 17-of-33 passes for 100 yards. He was intercepted twice by Defiance's defense.

Miller caught seven balls for 48 yards in addition to his touchdown pass.

Sophomore linebacker Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) piled up 17 tackles to lead Hanover's defense, which surrendered 551 total yards to Defiance.

Senior linebacker Alex Middendorf (Hamilton, Ohio) added 12 tackles for the Panthers, including two tackles for loss.

Vetter completed 18-of-34 passes for 183 yards for Defiance. He threw one interception. The Yellow Jackets' Lewis Caralla rushed for 195 yards on 18 carries, including a 70-yard touchdown dash in the third period.

Hanover vs. Defiance stats available here.

Trio earns HCAC player-of-the-week honors

Seniors Matt Herron (Greenwood, Ind.) and Carley Meek (Indianapolis, Ind.), along with sophomore Felicia Adams (New Albany, Ind.), have earned player-of-the-week honors from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in their respective sports.

Herron, a placekicker, was tabbed the HCAC's football special teams player of the week for his efforts in the Panthers' 30-28 victory against Manchester College Oct. 13 at L.S. Ayres Field.

Herron booted a career-long 44-yard field goal as time expired to lift Hanover to its first win of the season (1-5). He also converted 26- and 27-yard field goals and made all three of his point-after attempts.

Meek was named the Heartland Conference's volleyball player of the week for the second time this season. An outside hitter, she led the Panthers (16-8) to four wins in five outings last week, including three wins at the Thomas More College (Ky.) Invitational Oct. 13-14.

Meek averaged 14.8 kills and 13.0 digs per match for Hanover during the week. She collected 74 kills, 65 digs, five service aces and six block assists.

Adams, a sophomore midfielder, was named the conference's women's soccer player-of-the-week after posting three goals to help Hanover (5-7-2) post a 1-0-1 record last week.

Adams netted the game-winning goal in the Panthers' 1-0 overtime win at Franklin College Oct. 10. She added two goals in a 3-3 tie with Manchester College Oct. 13.

Herron's FG at :00 lifts Panthers to first win

Senior kicker Matt Herron (Greenwood, Ind.) booted a 44-yard field goal as time expired to lift Hanover College's football team to a 30-28 victory against Manchester College, Saturday, Oct. 13, at L.S. Ayres Field.

The triumph snapped a six-game losing streak for Hanover and improved the Panthers' record to 1-5 on the season. The squad is now 1-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Manchester, off to its best start since 1997, dropped to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the league.

Herron's game-winner capped a wild second half. Hanover led 24-7 before Manchester mounted a fierce comeback. The Spartans, behind two touchdown runs by Brandon Wells, eventually grabbed a 28-27 lead with 22 seconds remaining following an 11-play, 69-yard drive.

Hanover advanced a squib kick to midfield and moved to the 34-yard-lline on a pair of Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) completions to sophomore wingback Adam Miller (Franklin, Ind.).

Herron's game-winning field goal was his third of the game. He converted a 27-yarder in the second period and added a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give the Panthers a 27-21 lead.

Hanover totaled 447 yards of offense in the game, including 294 yards through the air. Thiems completed 20-of-31 passes for 235 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Manchester, limited to just 67 yards of offense in the first half, finished the contest with 416 total yards. Hanover sophomore linebacker Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.) led the defense with 12 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

Hanover vs. Manchester stats available here.

Hanover drops 56-21 decision at MSJ

The Hanover College football team dropped a 56-21 decision to the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tilt, Saturday, Oct. 6, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hanover, now 0-5 on the season, is off to its worst start since 1963, when the Panthers finished with a 0-9 record. The squad is 0-2 in the HCAC.

Hanover totaled 277 yards of offense in the outing. Junior quarterback Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) accounted for 216 yards, completing 10-of-20 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 60 yards on 11 carries.

After Mount St. Joseph grabbed an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, senior defensive back Chan Nelson (Louisville, Ky.) answered just 15 seconds later with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Nelson's touchdown return was the first for a Hanover player since Bryan Arthur rambled 87 yards for a score in a 1998 game against Washington and Jefferson College (Pa.).

Mount St. Joseph (5-0; 3-0 HCAC), however, countered with 28 points in the second quarter to put the game out of reach. The Lions totaled 503 yards of offense in the gameand averaged more than seven yards per play.

Sophomore receiver Adam Miller (Franklin, Ind.) snagged both of Thiems' fourth-quarter touchdown passes and finished the day with six receptions for 116 yards.

Senior defensive back Jake Crockett (Vincennes, Ind.) led Hanover's defense with six solo tackles and three pass deflections. Freshman linebacker Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.) added eight total stops for the Panthers.

Hanover vs. Mount St. Joseph stats available here.

Panthers open HCAC play with loss at Rose

Hanover College's football squad opened its 2007 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference slate with a 24-7 loss to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The tilt was played Saturday, Sept. 29, in Terre Haute, Ind.

The setback snapped Hanover's four-game winning streak against the Engineers and pushed the Panthers' record 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the league. Rose-Hulman, meanwhile, improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the HCAC.

Junior Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) started at quarterback for Hanover and completed 14-of-27 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Thiems, who played quarterback for the Panthers as a freshman, was shifted from his receiver spot due to injuries

Thiems connected with sophomore wingback Corry Stewart (Nashville, Tenn.) for an eight-yard touchdown to knot the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. Stewart has scored a touchdown in each of Hanover's last three outings.

Rose-Hulman totaled 494 yards of offense in the game, including 206 yards on the ground. The Engineers broke open a close game with a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth period.

Sophomore receiver Adam Miller (Franklin, Ind.) collected six balls for 70 yards. Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.) rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries to pace Hanover's ground effort.

Sophomore linebacker Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) led the Panthers' defensive unit with 14 tackles. Senior lineman Luke Keller (Jasper, Ind.) totaled five tackles, including two sacks for minus-16 yards and a tackle for loss.

Hanover vs. Rose-Hulman stats available here.

Washington & Jefferson posts 50-14 victory

Hanover College's football squad fell to 0-3 on the season with a 50-14 setback against 16th-ranked Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.). The outing was played Saturday, Sept. 15, in Washington, Pa.

Washington & Jefferson piled up 675 yards of offense and limited Hanover to just 105 total yards in the contest. The Presidents (2-0) jumped out to a 33-0 lead after the first period and coasted to the program's fifth consecutive victory against the Panthers (0-3).

Washington & Jefferson quarterback Bobby Swallow tied a school-record with six touchdown passes and finished the game 20-of-25 for 307 yards. David Ravida had eight receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Kevin Mathews rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries for the Presidents.

Senior quarterback Ryan Pulfer (Bowling Green, Ky.) entered the game in the second quarter for Hanover and completed 9-of-13 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. Pulfer connected with sophomore wingback Corry Stewart (Nashville, Tenn.) on a 43-yard scoring strike with 10 minutes left in the third period.

Sophomore running back Josh Juett (Owenton, Ky.) punched his way into the endzone from three yards out to get Hanover on the scoreboard with 32 seconds left in the first half.

Senior linebacker Alex Middendorf (Hamilton, Ohio) and senior defensive back Jake Crockett (Vincennes, Ind.) combined for 25 tackles to lead Hanover's defense.

Middendorf tallied 14 stops, including a tackle for loss. Crockett had 11 tackles.

Hanover vs. Washington & Jefferson stats available here.

Hanover falls to 0-2 with 44-14 loss to Butler

The Hanover College football team dropped a 44-14 decision to Butler University, Saturday, Sept. 8, at L.S. Ayres Field.

Butler, 2-0 for the first time since 1992, totaled 515 yards of offense. The Bulldogs limited Hanover to just 201 offensive yards in the contest. Butler blew open a 17-7 game by outscoring the Panthers 27-7 in the second half.

Daniel Cornely

Hanover freshman quarterback Josh Elbert (Morningview, Ky.) completed 15-of-26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked six times for minus-35 yards.

Wingbacks Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Corry Stewart (Nashville, Tenn.) each had touchdown catches for Hanover. Thiems, a junior, pulled in a 58-yarder late in the third period. Stewart, a sophomore, turned a short pass into a 28-yard score to give Hanover a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.

Sophomore linebacker Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) collected 17 tackles to lead Hanover's defense. Senior defensive back Brooks Kieres (Fairfield, Ohio) had 12 stops, a fumble recovery and two pass deflections for the unit.

Hanover vs. Butler stats available here.

Hanover opens gridiron campaign with loss

Hanover College's football squad opened the 2007 season with a 40-24 loss to Thomas More College (Ky.) The contest was played Saturday, Sept. 1, at L.S. Ayres Field.

Hanover's offensive unit tallied 369 yards in the contest, but turned the ball over four times on two fumbles and pair of interceptions.

Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.) rushed 14 times for 63 yards and a touchdown and added 13 receptions for 74 yards to lead the Panthers' attack.

Freshman quarterback Josh Elbert (Morningview, Ky.) completed 32-of-53 passes for 263 yards in his collegiate debut. Elbert, who was sacked three times, also rushed for 39 yards.

Thomas More (1-0) totaled 454 yards of offense. The Saints scored on three plays of 40 yards or longer and also had a 76-yard run from scrimmage.

Senior cornerback Steven Moyer (Germantown, Ohio) led the Panthers' defense with 10 tackles and two interceptions.

Hanover vs. Thomas More stats available here.

Perry to tackle new challenge after 2007 season

Hanover College’s Wayne Perry will retire as head football coach at the conclusion of the 2007 gridiron campaign.

Wayne Perry

Perry, the winningest coach in Indiana collegiate football history, will move into a position to lead Hanover’s athletic fund-raising initiatives and coach the College’s men’s and women’s golf programs.

Perry has guided Hanover’s football program since 1982. He has tallied a 172-81-2 record heading into his 26th season with the Panthers. Under Perry’s guidance, Hanover has won eight conference titles (1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003), made nine trips to the national playoffs (1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003) and posted each of the school’s 10-win seasons (10-0 in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2002).

Hanover opens the 2007 campaign Saturday, Sept. 1, at home against Thomas More College (Ky.). Game information available here.

“ I have decided to step down as the head football coach,” states Perry, “so that I can use the time, effort and my experiences to help the entire department in its future athletic visions.” Hanover’s goal is to provide upgrades to its outdoor athletic facilities, which includes football, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, golf and cross country.

A search committee will be formed during the 2007 season. The group, which will include Hanover faculty, staff and alumni, will begin the search for Perry’s successor in late November. It is expected a new head coach will be hired in January.

“ I have played or coached football for 50 years,” adds Perry. “I love Hanover College football. Hanover has been good for my family, and hopefully my tenure here has been good for the College.”

He became the winningest coach in Indiana collegiate football history with a 41-35 overtime victory against the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio), Oct. 1, 2005. With the win, he surpassed Butler University legend Tony Hinkle, who totaled 165 wins in 32 seasons with the Bulldogs.

A native of Madison, Ind., Perry played on both the offensive and defensive lines at DePauw University, where he earned his bachelor’s (1972) and master’s degrees (1974). Following two years as a graduate assistant coach at DePauw, he was head coach at East Central High School from 1974 to 1978.

Perry joined Hanover’s staff as offensive line coach in 1979 and replaced Pete Compise as the head coach in 1982.

Perry earned the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 21 coach of the year honor seven times during a 10-year span in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, he was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coach-of-the-year in 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2003. In those seasons, the Panthers captured league championships and earned playoff berths five times.

Under Perry, 26 Hanover players have been named to 44 all-American teams, including a precedent-setting three first-team offensive selections in 1991. Hanover has dominated the Heartland Conference player of the year award, winning 11 league most valuable players from 1989 to 2003.

Panthers tabbed to finish fifth in HCAC race

Hanover College has been picked to finish fifth in the race for the 2007 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football title.

Corey Fogle

Hanover, under 26th-year head coach Wayne Perry, picked up 35 points in a balloting of the HCAC’s eight head coaches. The Panthers return seven offensive starters and just three defensive starters from last season’s 4-6 squad.

Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.) and junior receiver Bobby Smart (Coral Springs, Fla.) are the Panthers’ top returning offensive threats.

Fogle rushed for a team-best 295 yards in 2006. He also caught 33 passes for 331 yards. Smart led the team with 34 receptions for 386 yards and seven touchdowns.

Steven Moyer

Senior all-Heartland Conference selections Steven Moyer (Germantown, Ohio), Keith Sofiak (Port Orange, Fla.) and Alex Middendorf (Okeana, Ohio) will anchor Hanover’s defensive unit.

Moyer, a four-year starter at cornerback, posted 72 tackles and two interceptions in 2006. Middendorf, a linebacker, is the team’s top returning tackler. He posted 103 stops and a team-best three interceptions last season. Sofiak, a safety, had 59 stops.

The College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) was picked to win its fourth straight Heartland Conference crown by the league’s coaches. The Lions, 9-2 last season, received 60 points in the poll, including four first-place votes.

Hanover opens the 2007 campaign Saturday, Sept. 1, with a battle against Thomas More College (Ky.).