DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The 2016 season opens for the Loras football team on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. when they host Elmhurst on Bierie Field inside the Rock Bowl.

SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS - OFFENSE
After opening their 2015 season with three straight wins, the Bluejays fell on hard times, losing six of their final seven contests, all of which came in the CCIW. Elmhurst will be without star running back Josh Williams, who motored out of the backfield last season, nearly reaching the 1,000-yard mark, finishing with 887 yards and eight touchdowns. Against the Duhawks, Williams scampered for 184 yards on the ground and three touchdowns, which was his best game of the season. Four separate quarterbacks saw time last season, including projected starter Orlando Hernandez. In five games, Hernandez threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off on five occasions. Loras held Elmhurst's passing attack in check last season, limiting the Bluejays to 93 yards through the air, which included a long of 20 yards.

SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS - DEFENSE
The Bluejays' defense allowed an average of 368 yards per game and surrendered 31 total touchdowns, 17 of which came via the ground game. Leading tackler Sean Weatherall, returns at the safety position and will look to provide aerial support as well as slow the run. Weatherall finished with 90 tackles last season including 6.0 for loss while adding 11 pass breakups. Of Elmhurst's four blocked kicks, Weatherall was responsible for two. Against Loras last year, Weatherall collected nine tackles and had one pass breakup. As a team, the Bluejays forced three turnovers, two fumbles and one interception, against the Duhawks, which they turned into two touchdowns. A blocked punt in the third quarter put Elmhurst on the Loras 10-yard line and was quickly converted into six points by Williams with a 10-yard rush.

TIGHTENING THE BELT
Despite throwing for nearly 3,700 yards last season, the Duhawks closed the season with a 4–6 record. As a team, Loras committed 30 turnovers compared to forcing 15 on defense. With the high-tempo offense in place, one area of focus for the Duhawks in 2016 will be limiting turnovers and keeping the ball in the hands of their electric offense. In addition to the turnovers, Loras committed 68 penalties for 626 yards, another area that the coaching staff has keyed in on throughout the offseason to take Duhawk Football to the top of the Iowa Conference.

WORKHORSE IN THE BACKFIELD
Entering his second year and final year as a Duhawk, senior Zach Minch is looking to prove himself once again. After starting all 10 games last season at running back, Minch will be relied on as the primary force in the Loras backfield. He recorded the first 1,000-yard season since 2012 by a Loras running back when Nate Carrier ran for 1,247 yards. Minch totaled 1,118 yards on 196 carries. Minch ended his debut season as a Duhawk, ranked second in the Iowa Conference in rushing yards and second in all-purpose yards with 1,439. 

EXCITEMENT IN YEAR THREE
In his third year at the helm of the Duhawk football program, head coach Steve Helminiak looks to continue the steady improvement of this team. In the previous three seasons before Helminiak took over, Loras compiled a 4–26 record and won one IIAC contest over that span. In the past two years under Helminiak, the Duhawks have a combined 7–17 record and are 5–9 in the Iowa Conference. 
 
EXPERIENCE RETURNING ON DEFENSE
The defensive side of the football for the Duhawks returns 10 starters on top of two key players returning from injury. Seniors Mitch Powers and Calvin Harridge missed a combined 13 games to injury last season. A new addition to the defensive line is senior Mike Maligranda, who has spent the previous three seasons on the offensive line. Keeping the defensive starters and rotation players healthy for all 10 games can go a long way in 2016 for Loras.

QUARTERBACK BATTLE
Last season was a record-breaking year for the Duhawk air attack with 3,699 yards passing. With last year's offensive success, there are still questions that need to be answered, with the biggest being who will be the starting under center for the Duhawks in week one. Redshirt sophomore Bob Kelly began last season as the starter before a season-ending injury sidelined him in week one. The Duhawks then turned to senior veteran Nik Schulte and freshman Nolan Baumhover to take over the reigns, leading the Duhawks to a 4–6 record. With the veteran experience of both Baumhover and Kelly, the Duhawks can be sure the battle for the starting quarterback job is in good hands regardless of the final decision from the coaching staff.

FIGHTING FOR CONSISTENCY
As this football season comes into full swing, the Duhawks are excited to start the year off right.  With an improved record of 4–6 last year from 3–7 in 2014, they are looking at the defense to hold a bigger responsibility.  Last year versus Simpson, the Loras defense held the Storm to three field goals, while collecting two sacks and one interception.  In the week prior versus Central, the Duhawk defenders gave up 721 yards of total offense, including 380 yards passing and 132 yards rushing. Two key interceptions from the Loras secondary paved the way for Loras' dramatic 55-48 come-from-behind victory.  

LETHAL WIDE RECEIVER CORPS
Nate Even led the charge at wide receiver for the Duhawks last season. Averaging 15.37 yards per game, Even totaled 1,153 total yards and caught 12 touchdowns during his senior season. Loras is now left to fill the void left by Even's graduation. Returning seniors Josh Schulte and Danny Willis helped Even spearhead the Duhawks receiving corps last season, combining for 1,078 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in 2015. Junior Mikey Castoro averaged 11.5 yards per catch last season, totaling 41 receptions for 470 and six touchdowns, providing yet another target for the gunslinger under center.