Learning about Lenehan

10/1/2007

As I reported in The Blade this morning, D.J. Lenehan is likely the Toledo quarterback for the near future (I m guessing the next two weeks or so until Opelt gets healthy, but a lot can happen in a few weeks).

I knew that Lenehan passed for more than 7,700 yards in his high school career in Easton, Pa. Before I talk to him again this afternoon I went to the Internet to learn a little bit more about him.

*Lenehan is a winner. His high school team was the state runner-ups his junior year and won the Pennsylvania AA state title his senior year. Lenehan was named the AA player of the year his senior year.

*He started 51 games at Wilson Area High School, starting his freshman year.

*He said he came to Toledo because, My goal is to be recognized in another state and in a whole different environment. I want to start from the bottom and work my way up."

*He reminded opposing coaches of Luke Getsy, who started for Akron when the Zips won the MAC championship in 2005.

Someone who will be a lot of help to Lenehan this weekend against Liberty is Jalen Parmele. Parmele had his best game of the season Saturday with 130 yards, his sixth 100-plus yard game of his career. He has gotten better every week and the Rockets will surely rely on him to steady the offense.

Checking in on Liberty s defense, the Flames have been rather stingy giving up yards on the ground, allowing 99 rushing yards per game. Opponents have averaged 250 passing yards per game against Liberty, but the defense has capitalized on quarterbacks mistakes with seven interceptions, two for touchdowns.