Yellow Jackets eager to show improvement
Gendron returns to backfield, Zajac enters senior campaign

The 2005 Yellow Jackets are motivated to show their improvement under third-year head coach Robert Taylor. The squad itself has grown on paper. The DC squad boasts a 27-member junior class, a vast improvement from 10 juniors a season ago, showing the positive direction of the program.
Coach Taylor spoke of the forward inertia of the Yellow Jackets, “We are in the third phase of a four-phase plan. I am extremely excited to have these quality student-athletes and look forward to continued improvement.”

Taylor and the Jackets have plenty of challenges on which to focus. The Jackets were voted to finish sixth in the HCAC. Also, Defiance is switching from the “Spread” to the “I” offensively, while adjusting from a 4-3 to the 3-4 on the defensive side. “Our leadership, from the start, will dictate the direction of this team. We are all moving as a team and will stick together in our quest,” Taylor added.

Moving through the 2005 season, Taylor sees several additional challenges that this Yellow Jacket team is eager to face, “In order for us to be competitive, we must stay healthy, mature as a team and execute on both sides of the ball.”

“We have only 10 seniors, so the leadership responsibility will have to be shared by everyone. This is critical for our success,” Taylor noted.

The offense unit returns five starters, with depth and experience at all but one position group and an important piece that was missing one year ago.

Making a return to the purple & gold is junior tailback Jason Gendron (Monroe Jefferson HS, Mich.). Gendron missed the 2004 season with an injury after leading the conference in rushing with 1118 yards and earning All-HCAC honors in 2003. He holds the school record for rushing yards in a game with 295 (vs. Franklin, 2003) and can also be used as another receiver, with 214 receiving yards two seasons ago.

“J.G. missing last season was heart-breaking after the work he had put in. His leadership and ability are a welcome sight to this year’s line up,” said Taylor.

Ray Rateno (Nordonia HS, Ohio) returns for his second season as a lead blocker at fullback.

The quarterback position will be manned by sophomore Nate Fitton (Potterville HS, Mich.). Fitton’s athletic ability and improved arm will be pivotal in the ability of the Jacket offense to eat up yardage against some of the nation’s best defenses. The Grand Ledge, Michigan native earned All-HCAC honorable-mention recognition as a freshman, throwing for over 100 yards-per-game and accounting for a team-high six touchdowns.

Taylor spoke of the sophomore signal-caller, “Nate showed great maturity and growth as a freshman one year ago. He proved his toughness to his teammates, while learning how to compete at this level.”

The tight end position has great potential, but potential is a dangerous word. Senior Ricky Calverley (Dondero HS, Mich.) had 14 receptions for 198 yards last season.

“I expect Ricky to mature into the player we know he can be,” said the third-year DC head coach.

Fellow senior Maurice Griffin (South Bend Riley HS, Ind.) adds experience and blocking ability to the end position.

The wide receiver spots are up for grabs among several talented returners and newcomers. Rodger Shingledecker (Swanton HS, Ohio), a senior, has the most experience at receiver after seeing action in five games last season, catching five passes. Sophomore Gary Allen (Gull Lake HS, Mich.) moves over to the offensive side of the ball as a quarterback/wide receiver in 2005 after recording 15 tackles and a pass break-up last season.

Upfront the Jackets return starters John Lancaster (Ostego HS, Mich) and Robert Miller (St. John’s HS, Mich.) and are joined by Devon Palk (Grand Ledge HS, Mich.) to anchor the front five. Lancaster, a junior, enters his third season of duty on the O-Line, while Miller and Palk both return with starts already under their belts.

“Our offensive and defensive line must develop a physical, smash-mouth attitude. This is imperative for our success,” Taylor commented on the front lines. Defensively, the Jackets are led at linebacker by Steven Brancheau (Bedford HS, Mich.) and Tyler Haines (Piqua HS, Ohio). Brancheau, a junior has two years of experience as a starter and was named second-team All-HCAC in 2004 after recording 62 tackles, including 10 for-loss. Haines earned honorable-mention All-HCAC recognition last season, registering 42 tackles and a team-high 10.5 tackles-for-loss as a sophomore.

“We have two linebackers with the ability to cause problems for the opposition. They now must take their performance to the next level,” added Taylor.

Four starters return to a strong defensive backfield for DC. Junior cornerback Mike Haydon (Allen Park, Mich.) has started every game since his freshman season in 2003. The Allen Park, Michigan native led Defiance in tackles with 76, interceptions with three, pass break-ups with seven, and forced fumbles with two a year ago. Safety Kris Zajac (Grosse Ile HS, Mich.), a senior, finished third on the ’04 squad with 60 tackles in only eight games after sustaining an injury and missing two contests. Nick Cass (Roseville HS, Mich.) had 53 tackles and five pass break ups as a free safety as a freshman in ’04. Junior Jason Bushong (Marshall HS, Mich.) has speed at the cornerback position and recorded 33 tackles and a team-high two fumble recoveries in his sophomore campaign.

Taylor spoke of the ’05 secondary, ”Mike and the rest of the defensive backfield will be counted upon to continue their hardwork and assume a leadership role.”

On the defensive line, senior Zac Fulmer (Hastings HS, Mich.) and Richard Palmer (Orlando Lake Brantley HS, Fla.) headline the group with two seasons of starting experience. Fulmer had 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks, while Palmer had 7.5 tackles-for-loss in 2004, while sophomore Josh Staggs (Paw Paw HS, Mich.) returns after leading the Jacket defense with four sacks last season and a total of seven tackles-for-loss.

The Jackets’ special teams return skill and experience. Senior punter Blake Stambaugh (Swanton HS, Ohio) was named to the last two All-HCAC squads and led the league with a 39.3-yard average in 2004.

“Blake has done everything we have asked of him over the past two years. He gives us a great asset in field position,” ended Taylor.

Senior kicker Keith Wilson (Indianapolis Lawrence Central HS, Ind.) has made 7-of-14 career attempts with a long conversion of 39 yards.

The Yellow Jackets kick-off their season on Saturday, September 3rd at Otterbein College, when they face the Cardinals at 6:00 p.m. Defiance opens their home slate the following week when they host Adrian College on September 10th at 1:30 p.m.
Robert Taylor
Jason Gendron
Nate Fitton
Ricky Calverley
John Lancaster
Mike Haydon
Zac Fulmer