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Gold rush for Dwyer, Probst
Shea Dwyer (right) asked Mike Whalen a simple question after the highly-successful Williams coach returned to his alma mater, NESCAC rival Wesleyan, last spring.
“When I got the job, he asked me if we were going to run the ball,” Whalen recalled yesterday. “I said that I think you are well rested after four years of not running the football. Let’s see if we can run the football. He was excited.”
Granted another year of eligibility after tearing the meniscus in his right knee as a junior, Dwyer is off and running.
On Saturday, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound grad student broke loose for a school-record 213 yards on 27 carries, and a career-best five touchdowns (four rushing) in the Cardinals’ 35-21 win over visiting Hamilton.
Yesterday, flanked by his parents, Sharon and David, along with Whalen, Dwyer received this week’s Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Gold Helmet for Division 2-3 from the New England Football Writers at Harvard’s Dillon Field House. Rhode Island quarterback Steve Probst was the Division 1 winner after directing the Rams to a 27-24 overtime win over Brown.
“Coach Whalen had a lot of success running the ball at Williams, and with [former Yale coach Jack Siedlecki] in as offensive coordinator, it worked out perfectly,” said Dwyer, who also acknowledged the work of a veteran offensive line. “In terms of the ability to run the ball, I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”
In the first two weeks, including his 16-carry, 119-performance in Week 1 in a loss at Middlebury, Dwyer (43 carries, 332 yards) has nearly matched his production for all of last season (79-328).
“He has seized the opportunity,” said Whalen, while also noting the absence of senior Vince Miller, who was sidelined against Hamilton after a 100-yard effort in the opener. “He’s been a great leader, and he’s looking forward to it.”
The Cardinals travel to Colby on Saturday.
A junior transfer from Hofstra, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Probst (left) rushed for a career-high three touchdowns and finished 22 of 38 passing for 187 yards to power the Rams to their second straight victory, the first time since 2005 that URI has won consecutive games. He finished with 59 yards rushing, the most important chunk a 25-yard burst to the end zone for the winning score in OT.
Rhody travels to fourth-ranked William & Mary on Saturday.
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