Aug 30, 2018 4 min read

Every football player has goals in mind for a season, whether it be rushing yards, passing yards, touchdowns, sacks or tackles.

Jordan West is no different. The number tumbling around in his mind is 11.

That’s the minimum number of wins West expects Washington & Jefferson College’s football team to have this season. That would be enough for the Presidents to win another Presidents’ Athletic Conference title and be successful in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

“Everyone has personal goals,” said West. “It might be 1,000 rushing yards or scoring so many touchdowns. Sure, I’d like to rush for 1,000 yards but I would take 400 if we can win all of our games.”

W&J’s season begins Saturday afternoon, when the No. 15-ranked Presidents take on St. John Fisher in the season-opener in Rochester, N.Y.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

West, a junior and graduate of Washington High School, gets his chance to begin the journey from his running back position in the Presidents’ high-powered offense.

West was a surprise winner of the running back position last year and produced 751 rushing yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns.

West, E.J. Thompson and Justin Vickless combined for 1,702 yards and 19 touchdowns. Vickless graduated so West and Thompson will carry the load.

“The main difference with this team is the amount of seniors. We have some strong leaders,” West said. “My role is to be the starting running back. If I do my job, and everyone else does, too, then we’ll have more than 11 wins.”

St. John Fisher missed the postseason for the first time in 16 seasons last year. The Cardinals return nearly 80 players with game experience, making them one of the deepest teams in the Empire 8 Conference, after going 2-8 in 2017. But their quarterback is new. Jake Thompson, a Division I transfer from Albany, is making his first start for SJF.

“I expect to see a traditional East power team,” said W&J head coach Mike Sirianni. “Last year in the fourth quarter, they were up on us with the ball and inside the 50. They don’t score, we put together two drives, put the game away and their season goes downhill. If they win that game, it might be a lot different for them.”

Jake Adams will be making his first Week 1 start for W&J but had three starts and significant playing time last season. He won’t have Jesse Zubik, one of the top receivers in NCAA Division III history, but four players with significant playing time return.

“I expect them to be as big and as physical as any other team we play this year,” Sirianni said. “I expect them to be really strong. Don’t let last year’s record fool you.”

Muskingum at Waynesburg

Not the early days of spring ball, the summer workouts or the time spent in fall camp provided enough time for Chris Smithley to settle on a starting quarterback.

Prior to Saturday’s nonconference opener against Muskingum, Smithley was still deciding between Tyler Srbinovich, a 5-10, 193-pound sophomore, and Tyler Perone, a 6-3, 200-pound junior. Srbinovich and Perone are listed 1-2 on the depth chart.

“The quarterback race is not over yet,” Smithley said. “We’ll see how they practice and who steps up. We need a leader.”

Srbinovich threw one incomplete pass last season and Perone started seven games.

The running back rotation will include Chad Walker, Jordan Taylor and Washington High School graduate Zyan Wallace.

“We need a stable of backs,” said Smithley. “We’ll make sure we put them in good position.”

Muskingum changed coaches after a 2-8 season so there is a lot the Yellow Jackets don’t know.

“We look at this game as not being about Muskingum,” Smithley said. “It’s more about us.”

Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.