2002 Season Recap

TSU football team records successful season

          The Tri-State University Thunder football team had another successful season under head coach Dale Carlson. The team finished with an overall record of 6-3 and was 5-1 in conference play, which was good enough for second place in the tough Mid-States Football Association Mideast League.

The Thunder fought hard against a number of nationally ranked teams and earned a respectable final ranking of 21^st in the NAIA Division III and came within one game of competing in the NAIA playoffs. The Thunder recorded wins this year against Albion, Taylor, Walsh, Geneva, Urbana and Malone.       

Several players gained All-Conference honors for their efforts. For the offense, seniors Brad Peffly, Adam Jatich, Pete Hobbs, Nate Young, and junior Nick Testa made the First Team. Peffly caught 57 passes for 750 yards. Testa grabbed 46 passes for 494 yards. Hobbs gained 844 yards rushing year and 236 yards passing. Young and Jatich helped anchor the offensive line.  

On the defensive side, seniors Lou Willoughby, Jordan Gigli, Kyle Christman, Jason Stechschulte and punter Adam Ryder received First Team honors. Willoughby was credited with 42 tackles and seven sacks. Gigli had 52 tackles. Christman led the team in tackles with 83 and had three sacks on the season. Stechschulte finished second on the team in tackles with 71 and led the team in interceptions with five. Ryder averaged 37.5 yards per kick and had one of 62 yards.  

Named to the second team on offense were seniors Jon Bethuram, Dusty Hiday and John Fletcher. Bethuram completed 130 of 228 passes from the quarterback position.  Hiday and Fletcher were stalwart in the line. Second team defense honorees were seniors Nick Vanover, Kadir Muqit and Josh Will. Vanover finished third on the team in tackles with 66. Muqit had 32 tackles and Will compiled 40 tackles. 

Receiving honorable mention for Tri-State were Eric Hensel, defensive back; Lee Schulz, defensive back; Curt Miller, tight end; and Jake Kapitan, offensive line.

Looking ahead to next year, the Thunder will not have the services of 19 seniors, who amassed 26 wins and 14 losses during their careers with Tri-State.