7/15/2010
By BOB DAVIDSON Salina Journal

Bethany football coach Jamie Cruce has unveiled his recruiting class for the 2010 season.

The list includes 21 athletes from Kansas and six junior college transfers. Three of the signees are from Saline County high schools and three others who played at Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg.

Bryant Beneke, the starting quarterback at Southeast of Saline the past three seasons, signed along with teammate Shane Shoenhofer, who plays offensive line. Keenan Thompson, a fullback/linebacker from Sacred Heart, is the third Saline County signee.

Beneke had 2,752 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns, and threw for 2,834 yards and 30 TDs his last two years at Southeast. He also plays defensive back.

"He has a lot of potential at several different positions both offensively and defensively," Cruce said.

Schoenhofer was a two-time all-NCAA first-team selection. Thompson was a four-year starter at Sacred Heart and will play outside linebacker for the Swedes.

Ridge Jones, a standout wide receiver at Smoky Valley, returns to Lindsborg after playing two seasons at Hutchinson Community College. Jones earned unanimous all-Mid-Central Activities Association honors on offense and honorable mention honors as a defensive back at SVHS his senior year.

Joining Jones from Smoky Valley is running back Eric Hawk and defensive lineman Ethan Hendricks. Hawk ran for 1,250 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2007, his season year, and is the school's single-season rushing leader. Hendricks played on both sides of the ball last fall and will play defensive end at Bethany.

The other four transfers play offense -- one quarterback, two linemen and two running backs.

The quarterback is Darby House, transfer from Texas A&M-Commerce and native of Skidmore, Texas. House didn't play at A&M-Commerce and has freshman eligibility. He threw for 1,867 yards and 20 touchdowns his senior season in high school.

Theron "Junior" Allen, a quick 5-foot-8, 185-pound back, is a transfer from Missouri Valley College, where he earned first-team all-Heart of America and first-team NAIA All-America honors as a punt returner. He also returns kickoffs.

"He's the type of player that can make people miss and excels quickly," Cruce said.

Anthony Pines, a speedy 5-8, 188-pound back, comes from Pasadena City College (Calif.), where he had 550 yards rushing (6.3 per carry) and scored seven touchdowns last fall.

The linemen are Charlie Poland (6-4, 310) from Santa Monica College (Calif.) and center Troy Vogt (6-1, 282) from Allan Hancock College (Calif.). Both will compete for starting positions this fall.

One of the signees doesn't qualify as a newcomer. Anthony King, a safety from The Colony, Texas, initially signed with Bethany in 2008 and moved into the starting lineup his freshman year before departing.

"Anthony has done a great job since returning and he should again compete for playing time," Cruce said.

Cruce, who enters his fourth season this fall, likes the balance of his recruiting class.

"We were able to sign 21 kids from Kansas and that's a good number," he said. "We were able to bring in a few impact players, and the transfers we brought in will make a difference for us.

"We feel it's a group of kids we feel we can retain, and it's a group of kids who we think will develop into players who could help us in the long term."

Bethany opens the 2010 season against Saint Mary at 2:30 p.m., Sept. 11 in Leavenworth.

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