Just 10 minutes into his first start, McDaniel quarterback Zach Swope took a seat on the bench, having just thrown an incomplete pass on third down. Green Terror quarterbacks coach Mark Yurek sat down with the sophomore, and draped a left arm over his young understudy’s shoulder pads.
It?s been that kind of year for the McDaniel and its offense, which did very little in a 42-10 loss to Ursinus to fall to 1-6 overall and 1-4 in the Centennial Conference.
“The character counts,” McDaniel coach Tim Keating said. “We’re young, so what? Our guys are getting better.”
They certainly can’t get worse, as McDaniel will post consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1988-89 when it went a combined 3-17. McDaniel was without starting quarterback Brad Baer (leg) and reserve Tom Wenrich (concussion).
Three reserve quarterbacks saw playing time Saturday, going 4-for-19 for just 10 yards and 4 interceptions.
In his first career start, Swope, a former standout of Hammond High, went 0-for-6 and three two interceptions in the first quarter. He re-entered late in the game, replacing ineffective 5-foot-8 freshman Coleman Flory (0-for-2), and finished 1-for-9 with three interceptions.
“Zach didn’t throw the ball as well as I would have hoped to. He’s a young quarterback,” Keating said. ” I’m proud that they played hard. But I think the score indicates what the game was.”
By the end of the first quarter, Swope had given way to fellow sophomore Joe Lapkowicz. The left-hander went 3-for-7 for 4 yards and an interception, but the team found success in his ability to run the option.
“I didn’t throw the ball as much,” Lapkowicz said. “I’ve got to improve my throwing motion and my decision-making throwing. I think that will help push me for the starting position next year. That’s one of the things holding me back. I don’t throw the ball as well as Zach does.”
Since no quarterback established himself against the Bears, it is unclear who will start Saturday?s Homecoming game against Franklin & Marshall (1-6, 1-4), which has defeated the Green Terror in each of the past three seasons.
After the loss to Ursinus, Keating looked to the sky in hopes that Wenrich would be available to start against the Diplomats, who are coming off a 31-0 loss to Muhlenberg, its fourth consecutive loss.
“I like my young guys, and I like my old guys,” Keating said. “Better days are ahead.”
