Catawba College football coaches are on the road again.

The Indian staff didn’t have much time to mull over its team’s 28-25 loss to Carson-Newman in the second round of the NCAADivision II playoffs. It was time to recruit.

Both coordinators, Richard Kent on the defensive side and Jamie Snider on the offense, are actually recruiting for two years from now. Next year’s Indian squad will have 23 seniors.

Offensively, Snider says his first priority is finding a quarterback. Mitch Ellis will be a senior.

“Going into next year, we have senior, junior, sophomore at that position,” Snider said.

No. 2, Snider wants wants a fullback to replace Joe Hilliard, who will be in his last season in 2000.

“Kevin McKenzie will be a senior too,” he pointed out. “And we lost Steve Peterson, Eric Westbrook and LeMarcus Williams from this year. “

No. 3 is the offensive line. Every lineman, including tight end Sean Pearson, will be a seniors in 2000.

Defensively, Kent is looking to replace departed seniors Darrell Erby and Alvis James at cornerback and Derrick Montgomery on the defensive line.

“We’d also like to get a couple of inside linebackers,” said Kent.

Head coach David Bennett realizes that after next season, he’ll be young.

“In 2001, we’ll be a bunch of young puppies,” he said. “That’s why, in recruiting, you can’t miss one year of getting good players and good young men.”

In fact, since the season ended, Bennett has already made trips to Mississippi and Myrtle Beach.

“You can’t take time off — well, maybe Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. But you better get back on the recruiting trail.”

A-A: Brian Hinson was one of only two players named to the American Football Coaches Association Division IIAll-American team for the second straight season.

Hinson joined Michael Walton, a linebacker from Eastern New Mexico as second-timers.

Hinson, who played at East Montgomery High School, is the only Catawba player to ever be a two-time All-American.

“I remember when he said he that was his goal,” said Bennett. “Dadgum if he didn’t do it. And this is a team with just 11 offensive players and 11 defensive players. There are no second or third teams.”

Rowan County schools superintendent Joe McCann was at a luncheon with Hinson Thursday and was impressed.

He told Bennett, “Coach, that young man right there is outstanding. Are all your young men like that?”

Bennett replied, “I wish! We’ve got a lot of ‘em like that.”

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ALLSOUTH: During the season, Catawba fought for recognition in the South Region.

After the season, the Indians received it.

Bennett’s club placed more players — six — than anybody on the All-South all-star squad.

Four were on defense, led by linemen DeVonte Peterson, the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He led the team and the league with 18 sacks, while piling up 55 tackles. He had 58 quarterback pressures and caused two fumbles. He led all defensive linemen in voting, which was done by NCAA Division IIsports information directors.

Radell Lockhart (12 sacks, 45 tackles), a junior like Peterson, was also put on the line.

At linebacker, freshman Todd McComb and sophomore Shawn McBride were named. McBride, from Sumter, S.C., had 81 tackles and six sacks. McComb, from Thomasville, led Division II’s top defense with 95 tackles and intercepted two passes.

On offense, two linemen made the team. Hinson, from Star, was named for the second straight season while Don Moore of Blackville, S.C. made it for the first time. Moore, a junior, switched from tackle to guard this season and was second-team all-SAC.

An interesting point: McComb didn’t even make second team all-SAC while Lockhart and Moore weren’t first-teamers in SAC voting.

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DEE-FENSE: The Tribe finished the season ranked first in run defense and third in scoring defense. Catawba was fourth nationally in overall defense.

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OFF-FENSE: The Carson-Newman loss was the first time in Bennett’s five years that Catawba has scored at least 22 points and lost.

He looks at the Eagles’ 350 yards rushing and shakes his head.

“We’ve never given up 350 yards,” he said, “and I don’t think we ever will again. You have to give Carson-Newman credit.”

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THANKS, PREZ: Excitement was everywhere once Catawba made the Division II playoffs, especially in the president’s office.

Fred Corriher, wanted to be a part of it too.

Corriher was in Florida raising money when he called his office.

“His secretary told him there were 40 message from people excited about the football team,” Bennett said. “He flew in to congratulate the team and then flew back. Our administration is so behind our students in anything and everything they do.”

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NEXT YEAR: Carson-Newman will come to Catawba next season in Week 8 as the schedule has been revamped. But right now, the Indians have just 10 games on the schedule. Bennett said he is looking for an opponent for an Oct. 14 open date.

Three of the first four games are at home.

Livingstone comes to Catawba Sept. 3 to begin the season and then Catawba travels to Austin Peay. Wingate and Presbyterian come to Catawba, followed by road games at Newberry and Tusculum. After an open date, North Greenville, who is trying to gain admittance to the South Atlantic Conference, visits Salisbury.

After Carson-Newman, the Indians will finish the season on the road at Mars Hill and Lenoir-Rhyne.

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