Hardrockers lose starting QB, but plenty of competition to fill role

By Jeff Budlong, Journal staff Wednesday, August 13, 2008

RAPID CITY – With fall football just a few days old, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology football team is already down one major player.

Wednesday was the first day of practice in full pads for Mines, but all starting quarterback Joe Sanchez could do was watch. The sophomore from Arizona came into camp with a slight knee injury, but one awkward hit may have ended his season before it really had a chance to get started.

“He had a partial tear in his ACL to begin with so he knew he was kind of weak. We were in light gear and he took an awkward hit,” said sophomore wide receiver Andy Rogers of the injury. “Everyone was down at first, but we have some young guys stepping up.

“It is really hard because of the bond he has with the wide receivers, we know what he is going to do and he knows what we are going to do. He sees the field so well and can run with it so it is depressing.”

Sanchez was the team’s punter last season but won the starting quarterback job in the spring. Sanchez left Tuesday to return to Arizona to have his knee checked and determine if surgery would be needed.

“We are back to square one and looking to find that experienced player who can give us something,” Hardrockers head coach Dan Kratzer said.

Sophomore Trevor Roberts is the most experienced of the three quarterbacks who are now vying for the starting job. Roberts started under center for Mines last season leading the team in the Hardrockers’ victory over Dakota State.

Mike Lacher is a walk-on freshman quarterback who is competing for snaps as is fellow freshman Nick Russell from San Diego, Calf.

“Our challenge is going to be offensively and getting it in gear and getting in the end zone,” Kratzer said. “We have three guys from different types of football and competitive situations and we will have to see how it works out.”

Turning up the intensity

The coaches wasted little time getting the players used to some live hitting, putting the Hardrockers through an Oklahoma drill no more than an hour into practice.

The drill may have left some of the players sore, but it was also a wakeup call to all the players that practice had begun.

“This is the third day of two-a-days so everyone is a little sore and dragging, but we came out and started hitting pretty hard right away,” Rogers said. “We are just excited to be out here because we see some good things out of our defense and young guys. We are working through the pains and groans.”

Kratzer said the two biggest areas he wants to see improvement in his team is the physical play of both the offensive and defensive line which were the players to first step up in the drill.

D takes the day

The defense ruled the morning session of practice for Mines, stymieing the offense during its scrimmage and 7-on-7 drills making it nearly impossible for the offense to run the ball and making areas to throw the ball hard to find.

“I think the defense has a tendency to come together a little quicker, but I think the offense will come back,” sophomore safety Tom Lunzman said.

The defense also made several goal-line stands to frustrate the offense, which had gotten the ball inside the 5-yard line on a couple of occasions.

“Our goal line defense is something we are pretty proud of and we were pretty good on the goal line last year, so hopefully we can build on that,” Lunzman said.

Kratzer sees the defense as a strength for his team.

“We have a good group of returners back there and filled in with some freshmen that can play,” Kratzer said. “We are very pleased with our linebackers and a couple of our defensive backs in Tom Lunzman and Dustin Meneley are all-conference type performers.”

Looking into the backfield

While the Hardrockers’ running game is still trying to establish itself, newcomer Jamie Dale, of California, has impressed his teammates. His ability in the open field is a threat Mines hopes to be able to exploit this season.

“He is really quick and he is really positive for us,” Rogers said. “He is going to do good things for us.”