2016 MEDIA GUIDE | 2016 ROSTER | 2016 OPPONENTS | RECORD BOOK | COACHING STAFF

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Entering its 84th season on the gridiron, the (RV) EOU football team will look to a senior quarterback and an experienced group of veterans to pave the way in 2016.

Head coach Tim Camp (47-40), who enters his ninth year at the helm of the Mountaineers, said that senior leadership would play a big part in EOU's success this season.

"They [seniors] understand our standards and how we do things," said Camp. "It's really good, each and every day, to have those guys on the same page as the coaching staff, pushing this program back to where it needs to be – and that's a winning program."

Camp sits just two victories away from becoming the all-time winningest coach in school history. Despite posting a 4-7 record last season, the Blue and Gold has tied a program-high with eight wins twice under Camp since the 2011 campaign.

Former All-American Jace Billingsley, last year's leading rusher and receiver, is gone to graduation and was picked up by the Detroit Lions of the NFL. Despite facing the hole left by Billingsley, EOU's offense is in good hands with senior quarterback Zach Bartlow and junior wide receiver Calvin Connors.

EOU ranked third in the league in scoring offense (32.4) in 2015, and behind Bartlow's leadership, the Blue and Gold was fourth in the Frontier in passing offense (234.5).

While the fight for a conference title won't be easy, Bartlow's leadership and experience will give the Mountaineers a chance in any contest. A six-foot-one product of Waitsburg, Wash., Bartlow finished eighth in the country in total offense (3,052) and 15th in passing yards (2,498). He completed 25+ passes on four separate occasions and finished the 2015 season with nine rushing and 23 passing touchdowns. He was also second behind Billingsley with 540 rushing yards.

"With the poise and confidence he has gained in his time at the control of the EOU offense, as well as the trust and faith of his teammates, it is likely that the best is yet to come for Zach [Bartlow] and those who share the field with him," said Camp.

Besides Billingsley, most of Bartlow's passes found the hands of Connors or junior wide receiver Joshua Richards. Connors emerged as a dynamic and crafty receiver and snagged a team-high seven touchdowns en route to earning first-team all-conference honors on offense in 2015. Richards got better as the season progressed, tallying 40 receptions for 583 yards and five touchdowns. He was tabbed 'Most Improved' at the team's annual banquet in 2015.

While Camp affirmed that Connors and Richards would lead the passing attack in 2016, he warned to watch out for junior Brenden Kelly and senior TJ Esekielu.

Kelly, a six-foot-two, 185 pounder out of Kennewick, Wash., averaged 11.1 yards per catch and mustered four touchdown receptions in 2015. Prior to suffering a season-ending injury in the sixth game of the year, Esekielu collected three touchdown receptions and 186 receiving yards. 

Coming alive at the running back position late in 2015, senior Alfred Gross posted 195 rushing yards in the final two games and will look to lead the charge this season. Senior AJ Prom will see playing time after recording 33 yards and one touchdown in 2015, as will senior Nicolas Slater, who appeared in eight games last year after transferring from Menlo College.

"All three players possess explosive, big-play ability," said Camp. "And all have shown tremendous work ethic, as well as the willingness to share the football with the other players within the offensive unit."

At the tight end position, junior Gabe Giacci brings size, strength, and speed and will be a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Most of EOU's offensive line returns from a year ago, including sophomore Mick Wilson – a six-foot-four, 270 pounder who started every game in 2015. The Mountaineers also bring back junior Andre Brembry and sophomore Atiai Mataafa. While the o-line may be young, EOU still has Mitch Staeffler, the lone senior in the group.

"We like having a young group of guys because it allows us to see the potential that we have as a unit," said Camp. "When you couple that with the knowledge and game experience of our solo senior, Mitch Staeffler, you can create a holistic picture for these kids."

EOU's defense will have to be better in 2016, as the Mountaineers were seventh in the Frontier last season in scoring defense (32.5) and last in rushing defense (234.0). Fortunately, the defensive unit returns multiple veterans who should get the job done.

Leading the defensive line are seniors Kyle Lanoue and Dalton Morgan. Lanoue was a second-team all-conference honoree in 2015, and the dynamic duo combined for 83 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss.

At the linebacker position, senior Tucker Stanley is EOU's top returning tackler from a year ago and will undoubtedly wreak havoc in the Frontier Conference. He amassed 70 tackles (29 solo), five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and nine pass breakups. The Blue and Gold will have some assurance with senior Jared Jensen (51 tackles, three fumble recoveries) and junior Michal Arenas (36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss).

The Mountaineers bring back two key cornerbacks in senior John Payne and junior Kalliy Ceesay. A vocal and inspirational leader on the gridiron on the field, Payne carded 34 tackles, four tackles four loss, and five pass breakups in 2015.

EOU boasted one of the best return units in the NAIA last season, as the Blue and Gold ranked second and third, respectively, in kickoff and punt returns. Much of that success was due to Connors, who averaged 29.7 yards per kickoff return and 17.6 yards per punt return – both good enough for third in the country.

With the departure of Marc David to graduation, junior Nathan Harden will look to handle kicking and punting duties this season. He unleashed 48 punts for 1,829 yards in 2015.

Once again, EOU pads up for the rigors of arguably the best conference in the country. Five of the eight squads in the Frontier Conference are either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, including No. 2 Southern Oregon, No. 7 Montana Tech, No. 22 Carroll, No. 25 Montana Western, and (RV) EOU.

Since joining the league in 2008, the Blue and Gold is 44-35 against Frontier Conference foes, with its best finish coming in 2011 when the Mountaineers went 9-2 to finish second overall.

2015 TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS
Two top-15 victories (No. 4 Carroll, No. 15 Montana Tech)
Three first-team all-conference honorees offense (Bartlow, Billingsley, Connors)
Three second-team all-conference honorees defense (Byron Benson, Gary Posten, Lanoue)
Two first-team all-conference honorees special teams (Billingsley, Connors)
Seven CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees
27 Academic All-Conference selections
Five Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Billingsley selected by Detroit Lions as undrafted free agent

2015 STATISTICAL LEADERS
Offense:
Rushing: Billingsley (78.5 yards/game)
Passing: Bartlow (227.1 yards/game)
Receiving: Connors (58.6 yards/game)
All-Purpose Yards: Billingsley (175.5 yards/game)
Scoring: Billingsley (78 points)

Defense:
Tackles: Posten (140)
Tackles for Loss: Stanley & Morgan (Seven) 
Sacks: Stanley (Five)
Interceptions: Posten & Benson (Three)
Fumble Recoveries: Jensen (Three)

Special Teams:
Punt Returns: Connors (17.6 yards/game)
Kick Returns: Connors (29.7 yards/game)
Punting: Harden (38.1 yards/punt)
Field Goals: David (6-for-9)

SEASON OPENER
EOU hosts No. 2 Southern Oregon on Sept. 3. Kickoff at Community Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

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