The Flyers came close last year but dropped a 19-14 decision at Jacksonville in a battle for the crown on the final day of the season.
“There’s definitely a feeling of unfinished business,” said Heenan, who had 12.5 tackles for loss in 2008. “It left a sour taste in our mouths. We knew we were so close.
“I only have so long to play football, then it’s going to be all work. I can be a doctor for 50 years, but I have only one more year to play ball. I’m excited.”
Heenan was named Ohio preseason defensive player of the year among Football Championship Subdivision teams (formerly Division I-AA). He’ll be part of what is expected to be a dastardly defense that also includes several other fifth-year seniors: tackle Kalen Hemmelgarn, linebacker Drew Fumagalli and defensive backs Matt Smyth and Kevin Burns.
“They’re winners, but they want to go out as PFL champions,” said UD coach Rick Chamberlin, whose team opens at home against Urbana University on Sept. 12. “That was a big motivation for them to come back, and the idea of being able to be in this program for another year — it’s fun. They had an opportunity to stay for one more year before you get out in the real world, as people like to call it, and they took advantage of that.”
DeWolfe honored
Women’s soccer player Jerica DeWolfe was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after scoring three goals in two games to help the nationally ranked Flyers remain undefeated.
The junior forward notched the game-tying goal in the 58th minute as the Flyers (2-0-1) played No. 21 Auburn to a 1-1 double-overtime draw. She also tallied a pair of goals in a 4-0 win over Middle Tennessee State.
The Flyers are ranked 29th in the NSCAA national poll, 23rd by the Top Drawer Tournament 64 and 35th by CollegeSoccer360.com. They’ll face Navy (4-0) on Friday, Sept. 4, and Western Carolina (2-1) on Sunday in the Miami (Fla.) tournament.
UD hosts meet
The UD men’s and women’s cross country teams will host their only home meet of the season at 10:45 a.m. Saturday in the Flyer 5K Challenge at Indian Riffle Park in Kettering. The women were picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10, the men fourth.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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