Aug. 5, 2010
LANCASTER, PA - The Johns Hopkins football team, which won the 2009 Centennial Conference Championship en route to an appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals, tops the 2010 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll, which was announced Thursday. The Blue Jays picked up 11 first-place votes and totaled 154 points in the poll of league coaches and sports information directors. This is the fifth time in the last seven years that the Blue Jays have topped the poll as they were also selected in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009.
The balance of the league was on display in the results of the poll as four different teams picked up at least one first-place vote. In addition to Johns Hopkins, Franklin & Marshall (7 first-place votes), Ursinus (1) and league newcomer Susquehanna (1) all garnered at least one first-place vote. F&M finished second in the poll with 145 points, while Ursinus (126), Susquehanna (107) and Dickinson (99) rounded out the top five. Muhlenberg (90), McDaniel (57), Moravian (52), Gettysburg (51) and Juniata (19) rounded out the poll.
Johns Hopkins posted a 10-3 record, including a 7-1 mark in the Centennial, last season en route to winning its fifth Centennial Conference title since 2002. The Blue Jays parlayed their CC title into a stunning run in the NCAA Playoffs as they beat previously unbeaten Hampden-Sydney (23-7) in the first round of the playoffs and previously unbeaten Thomas More (31-29) in the second round. JHU's run came to an end at third-ranked Wesley in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
This season, the Blue Jays will be led offensively by junior quarterback Hewitt Tomlin, who threw for a school-record 2,642 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. He welcomes back his top three receivers in Dan Crowley, Tucker Michels and Sam Wernick, who combined for 171 receptions for 2,127 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. All-Centennial offensive linemen Ed Rodger and Ryan Lino will anchor a unit that must replace three starters.
Defensively, four All-Centennial performers return with first team honoree Mike Milano headlining the group from his safety spot. Milano posted a team-high 84 tackles a year ago and is joined in the secondary by cornerbacks Mike Mahon and Sam Eagleson, who combined for 105 tackles, 10 interceptions and 13 pass breakups a year ago. Juniors Ryan Piatek (78 tackles), Tyler Brown (74) and Kale Sweeney (45) form a solid core at linebacker.
Jim Margraff is entering his 21st season as the head coach at Homewood and carries a 129-75-3 record into the 2010 season. He is the all-time winningest coach in school history and has guided the Blue Jays to five Centennial Conference Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009), three ECAC Championships (2002, 2003, 2004) and two appearances in the NCAA Playoffs (2005, 2009).
Johns Hopkins, which is ranked 15th in the Sporting News Preseason Poll, 12th by Lindy's and 23rd by d3football.com, will open the 2010 season at Randolph-Macon on September 11. The Blue Jays' league opener comes a week later at Gettysburg.
2010 Centennial Conference Preseason Football Poll
Rank • School (1st-place votes) • Points
1. Johns Hopkins (11) • 154
2. Franklin & Marshall (7) • 145
3. Ursinus (1) • 126
4. Susquehanna (1) • 107
5. Dickinson • 99
6. Muhlenberg • 90
7. McDaniel • 57
8. Moravian • 52
9. Gettysburg • 51
10. Juniata • 19
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