DUBOIS LOOKING TO PUT LOSING WAYS BEHIND

DUBOIS – The once mighty DuBois football program has fallen so low that there is only one direction the Beavers can go after losing 21 of their past 23 games dating back to the 2001 season: up.

Last year, DuBois started that process breaking a 15-game losing streak in Week Two with a 14-6 win over Punxsutawney. But still the Beavers finished the year 2-7 after going 0-10 in 2002 and 5-6 in 2001 while losing their last four games that season. But the problem has been festering even longer than that. The Beavers have not had a winning season since going 8-3 in 1999 and have gone 11-29 in four years under fifth-year head coach Lon Hazlet.

"The last couple of years, the varsity program has stepped back a bit," Hazlet told the Tri-County Sunday of DuBois. "I’m excited about the direction of our entire program. Eventually this tree is going to bear the fruit. We are right on the verge of it being our time to shine."

One of the biggest reasons for Hazlet’s excitement is the 13 starters he has returning including talented running backs and two quarterbacks.

At quarterback will Joe Wanson or Ryan Liddle.

Wanson is a two-year starter at quarterback going 50-for-112 passing for 571 yards, zero touchdowns and six interceptions last season after a sophomore year that saw him go 44-for-119 passing for 626 yards, five touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

A threat to run, Wanson gained 212 yards and six touchdowns on 65 carries last season after picking up 113 and a touchdown on 72 totes as a sophomore.

In limited action last year, Liddle was 7-for-14 passing for 114 yards, 1 touchdown and three interceptions.

"They are both working hard," Hazlet told the TCS. "We’re not going to hesitate to go in one direction or the other. We want the one who will put us in the end zone."

The Beavers are well stacked at running back with its top three rushers from last season returning in Mike Stewart, Vance Newell and Robbie Hanzley.

Stewart gained 590 yards on just 97 carries (6.1 yards per carry) while scoring three touchdowns, while Newell added 402 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries (4.1 yards per carry). Hanzley contributed 278 yards and four touchdowns on 51 touches (5.5 yards per tote). Both Newell and Stewart have plenty of experience having played extensively as sophomores two seasons ago with Newell gaining 391 yards on 89 carries and scoring two touchdowns and Stewart picking up 107 yards and two scores on 25 carries.

In addition to the three returning backs, DuBois will also have the services of Brandon Wagner, who missed last season with a broken ankle.

"We have installed a little three-back offense to get more guys into the ball game," Hazlet told the TCS. "We feel very powerful back there."

While quarterback and running back are loaded with experience, wide receiver is not.

Junior Tony Wells, who didn’t catch a pass in 2003, is the main candidate to be the leading receiver, while tight end Derek Bundy (12 catches, 165 yards, 1 TD) should also see plenty of balls his way.

Despite a talented corps of skill players, the downfall for the 2004 Beavers might be its offensive line, which is a very undersized 210 pounds for Class AAAA.

"If there is an area of concern, that’s it," Hazlet told the TCS/ "You would think that a school this size would be able to produce some big linemen, but we just haven’t had them."

On defense, the Beavers are very experienced with the only significant loss being three-year starter Ryan Royer, who is now at Lock Haven.

"Other than that, we are pretty much intact," Hazlet told the TCS. "We are looking to be a little more diverse defensively. We’ll run a couple of different fronts and bring more pressure from the secondary."

One of the major keys to turning things around for the Beavers will be a quick start.

"It is so vitally important to come out and play well early," Hazlet told the TCS. We’ve got to turn the tide, and we’ve got to do it right away. What we need is confidence."