College Football Preview: Ursinus Bears

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The Ursinus Bears are looking to build off a successful 2013 season here in 2014.

The Division III Bears, who call Collegeville,PA, home, went 7-3 last year (6-3 in the Centennial Conference). This season they were picked to finish third in the conference preseason poll.

"Everything's looking good," Ursinus head coach Peter Gallagher tells KYW Newsradio. "We have a great nucleus of kids in camp, my largest roster since I've been head coach and probably the largest roster in the history of Ursinus College. So we've got about 120 kids and we're trying to get them all going in the right direction."

This will be Gallagher's 14th season at the helm of the Bears.

"The key and the philosophy and kind of the formula that Ursinus has always gone by since I've been here is let's play great defense, let's cover all of our kicks, let's be able to run the football, throw completions and not turn it over," Gallagher says. "That's kind of the formula that we're working for right now and things are shaping up to be a good year here."

Last season, Ursinus allowed 22 points a game and had three games where they held opponents to 10 points or fewer.

On offense in 2013, the Bears averaged a bit under 28 points a game, and Gallagher says there is a lot to like with that unit heading into this season.

"Football, you go as far as your quarterback can take you," Gallagher says. "And I think that (senior) Kevin Monahan certainly has stepped up into that role. Played the majority of last year and he's going to be returning. We've got a couple of great running backs and our great receiving core."

Monahan threw for 1,692 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Gallagher says he's keeping a close eye on both the offensive and defensive lines here in camp.

"We have some good players on both sides and some competition happening on both sides," Gallagher says. "But you know the old saying in football, 'When push comes to shove, you've got to be able to push and shove.' That usually decides football games and decides close game. So the trenches (are) something that we have our eyes on and we're working real hard to get that up to speed and be able to put some good units out on the field."

Ursinus opens the 2014 season on Friday night, September 5th, on the road against The College of New Jersey at 7:00pm.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

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