2008 CELTIC CLASSIC

Midwestern Allstars (USA) v Dublin Rebels (IAFL)

Saturday 28th June, Sportslink, 5pm.

North Central College Wide Receiver Tyke Spencer - one of the players selected for the Allstars in the Celtic Classic.

This years Celtic Classic features Irish team, Dublin Rebels against the Midwestern Allstars from the USA. The Midwestern Allstars is a team comprised of some of the best college football players to come out of the midwestern states of the USA in recent years. The team is being coached by Bradley Spencer of North Central College and who also supply the highest number of players to the squad. The bulk of these players played on the North Central College team which has won the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin in each of the past 2 seasons and is expected to contend for the NCAA Div III National Championship in 2008. Other NCAA colleges with players in the squad include Benedictine, Bethal University and Luther College. This is expected to be the best US team to have played in the Celtic Classic as players are selected from a number of NCAA colleges rather than in past years where a single NCAA college supplied the US opposition. The Dublin Rebels are one of Ireland top teams having won the Irish Championship (Shamrock Bowl) between 2003 and 2006. Last year they were IAFL Central Division Champions and Shamrock Bowl semi-finalists. They are having a good season this year and have again won the IAFL Central Division and have qualified for the Shamrock Bowl play-offs which take place next month.

The Celtic Classic game is run in association with Global Football, a US based non-profit organization who organize football events around the globe.

Dublin Rebels Preview:
Running the Rebels' Offense is veteran QB and offensive coach Andy Dennehy, who enjoys protection from a vastly experienced and mobile offensive line. Dennehy is a skilled tactician and a great reader of defensive packages. He orchestrates his offensive weapons extremely well, preferring a balanced attack, but he is not afraid to change formations or to audible the play at the line of scrimmage. The Rebels have a mighty arsenal of offensive weapons. Recievers Barry Flinn and Mike Kresowaty give Dennehy the deep threat. Tight Ends Paul Smyth and Mick Finucane offer short yardage and power blocking options and RB Sam Hodgins can run the ball effectively behind one of the best Offensive Lines in IAFL history, including Fergal O'Hanlon, Tobias Hansson, Dave Sherwin, Simon Connellan and Shane Campbell.

The stingiest defence in the league is coached by veteran DB Marcus Naylor and he has a very tight and aggressive bunch of players who can really hurt offenses. The defensive backfield is marshalled by Steve Archibald, Eoin Daly and Naylor. The aggressive and hard hitting linebacker corps is lead by former Shamrock Bowl M.V.P Ross McCooey, with Kevin
Finnegan, Pat Quinn, Paul Calner and Andrew Gannon dishing out the pain. Veteran Conor Walsh leads the defensive line of Steve Wilson, Colclough Doran, Dave Williams and Darren Conway. This is a fantastic defensive unit, with great depth, is very tough to beat.

Midwestern Allstars Players to Watch.

Jordan Hoffman-Defensive Back: Graduate of North Central College (2008). A 3 year starter at North Central College. A member of 2 time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship football teams. Led the team in pass breakups his senior year and earned All-Conference Honors.

Dan Lantz-Defensive Back: Graduate of North Central College (2008). A member of 2 time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship football teams while at NCC. His class of seniors won more games in the CCIW over their four years than any other CCIW team. Lantz had 22 career tackles and 3 interceptions.

Peter Fribert-Defensive Back: Has been an important member of the North Central College football program as a team manager for the past three years. Pete has worked specifically with the receivers and as a film editor. Pete majors in History and Political science and will graduate in 2009.

Joe Mastrino-Wide Receiver: Graduate of North Central College (2008). A two-year starter at NCC and member of the two-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship football teams. Led the Cardinals in receiving yards, yards per catch, and receiver touchdowns during his senior season, his efforts earned him All-Conference honors.

Chuck Earnest-Wide Receiver: Graduate of North Central College (2006). A four year starter and member of the first North Central football team to earn a playoff birth. Chuck graduated with the second most career receiving yards in the school’s history and the second most career receptions in the schools history. He earned unanimous All-Conference honors his senior season.

Matt Edgcomb-Linebacker: Graduate of North Central College (2005). Over his career he started at three different positions (Linebacker, Tight End, Running back). During his senior season Edgcomb was second on the team in rushing, he rushed 75 times for 282 yards and 5 touchdowns. He currently owns his own painting company.

Tim Hammers-Linebacker: Graduate of North Central College (2002). A four year starter at NCC earning All-Conference and All-American honors at linebacker. Currently ranks 7th in total tackles. Hammers now owns two hearing aid centers in Illinois.

Jared Hall-Quarterback: A two-year letter winner as a quarterback at Bethel University. Hall graduated with a Communication Studies degree in 2007 and currently works and lives in California. Hall also coaches high school football.

Tyke Spencer-Wide Receiver: Graduate of North Central College (2006). Spencer was a two-time All-American and All-Conference player while at NCC. He graduated as the all-time leader in career receptions, career receiving yards, career touchdown receptions, receptions in a season, receiving yards in a season, and receiving touchdowns in a season.

Marcus Hendrickson-Linebacker: Graduated from Luther College (2008) as a political science major and plans to attend law school this fall. Was a four year letter winner and three year starter while at Luther. Earned All-conference honors during his senior year in which he led the team in tackles. Is one of three brothers to attend Luther College and letter in football.

James Brinkley-Wide Receiver: A graduate of Benedictine University as a Communications major. (2008). Saw game action in three of his four years. Prepped at DeLaSalle Institute where he lettered in football and basketball.

Ryan Schwartz-Running back: Entering his junior season as a sociology major at Benedictine University. In his sophomore season Schwartz led BU in rushing attempts (230) and rushing yards (947) and 7 touchdowns.

Eric Stuedemann-Wide Receiver-A 2007 graduate of North Central College in business. Is currently working on his master of business administration at NCC and coaching defensive backs after coaching Tight Ends for one year. Stuedemann is the current leader of career catches and career receiving yards for the Cardinals. He was a 2 time All-conference player in the CCIW and named All-American.