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PINEVILLE, La. – The 2011 Louisiana College football team is a veteran group that features precious few first-time starters. Among this collection of weathered hands, few players have the game-day experience of senior linemen Hunter Crowder and Ben Feibel.

The two seniors, both of whom will start Saturday at 5 p.m. when LC hosts Millsaps in a non-conference contest, have been at LC longer than even Wildcats Stadium. That facility was opened midway through their freshman year.

Feibel, a center from Shreveport, La., and Northwood High School, has started all but one game of his college career.

Crowder, a Zachary, La., and Zachary High School product, has been in the mix either as a reserve or starter the last three years.

“Ben and Hunter are two shining stars of our senior class,” Louisiana College coach Dennis Dunn said. “They are the types of guys who, in the recruiting process, we weren't getting here five years ago. But we knew we had to have those types of players to be able to compete and become a championship caliber team.”

When Feibel and Crowder first arrived in Pineville, the year was 2008 and Louisiana College had not fielded a winning football team since 1961.

LC finished with a 7-3 record that year and has continued to field successful team in the years since.

“I think the biggest change I've seen in the last four years is the quality of athlete we are getting here,” Feibel said. “When we first got here, a lot of positions were set in training camp because of a lack of depth. Now, there's no position on this team where you can relax. If you can't get the job done there's one or two guys waiting in the wings to fill in. That competition has made us a better team.”

Having quality leaders has helped.

“Both of these young men have been great leaders for us,” Dunn said. “Their thinking is generational. They aren't just worried about what happens to Louisiana College while they are here. They are concerned about the future of this program. That attitude is hard to find, but they both have a 'leave it better than you found it' mentality.'”

“We've learned to nurture these young guys,” Feibel said. “When I got here, the upperclassmen were great. They were always kind, would always talk to you. We've really tried to go beyond even that and really take these young players under our wings and teach them what it means to be a part of this program. It's bigger than us. It's bigger than this season.”

That type of mentoring has taken the Wildcats to new levels, Crowder said.

“The level of accountability has changed a lot over the years,” Crowder said. “It's to the point now that we don't really even have to talk about it anymore. Now, it's just a given. Everyone is expected to be and will be accountable so we can just focus on football.”

While the young men are hesitant to speak well of themselves, their accomplishments while at LC have been noteworthy.

Feibel is a multiple-time All-Conference and Academic All-Conference performer who's maintained a high grade-point average while preparing for med-school.

He's also developed into what Dunn calls the “second quarterback” of the Wildcat offense.

“What's left to say about Ben Feibel,” Dunn said. “If I could some up the respect I have for Ben it would be this … If I need surgery one day, he's the doctor I will go to. I know how meticulous he is about preparing for football. I know he will have the same approach to medicine. I'm willing to put my life in his hands. That's how much I trust him. He's a guy we will miss so we will take full advantage of his skills the next few months.”

Crowder has maintained a high GPA in the field of math education and has been both an All-Conference and Academic All-Conference performer.

“Hunter is one of those guys with a contagious personality,” Dunn said. “His leadership qualities are those that represent the culture we've tried to establish here. When we talk about leadership to the younger players he, along with Ben, is a player we point to. He has helped establish a culture of toughness and accountability that the young players will feed off of for years to come.”

PREGAME CAPSULE:
Louisiana College (1-0) vs. Millsaps (1-1)
When: Saturday at 5 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Stadium (Pineville)
Coaches: Louisiana College, Dennis Dunn, 6th season; Millsaps, Aaron Pelch, 2nd season.
Last Contest: Louisiana College defeated Belhaven 32-24 in 3OT (Sept. 3), Millsaps defeated LaGrange 24-7 (Sept. 10)
Conference Affiliations: Louisiana College (NCAA Division III, American Southwest Conference), Millsaps (NCAA Division III, Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference).
Last year: Did not play.
Last meeting: Millsaps defeated Louisiana College 44-10 in 2007.
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1.
Louisiana College notes: Louisiana College last defeated Millsaps in 2006 (41-38) ... Louisiana College sophomore defensive end Peter Ford (New Orleans, La./Teurlings Catholic) was named American Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance versus Belhaven, one in which he made seven total tackles (all unassisted), four tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles ... In his first career start LC junior quarterback Jamie Bunting (Alexandria, La./Alexandria Senior HS), replacing four-year starter and All-American Ben McLaughlin, had more ups than downs. He completed 21-of-36 passes for 235 yards and had a passer efficiency rating of 114.83. He threw three interceptions, one a pick six in the fourth quarter but showed resiliency and completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver D'Mario Parker (Shreveport, La./Huntington HS/Northwestern State) on the drive that followed the pick six. He later connected with senior receiver Justin Usey (Belle Chasse, La./Belle Chasse HS) for what turned out to be, after the LC defense held, a game-winning 25-yard touchdown in the third overtime.
Millsaps notes: The Majors got 14 points in the 4th quarter and a strong defensive performance to roll to a 24-7 win over LaGrange last week ... Millsaps quarterback Garrett Pinciotti (Hoover, Ala./Bessemer Academy) has completed 31-of-55 passes for 370 yards over the Majors' first two games. He has three touchdowns and one interception ... Millsaps receiver Dustin Fawcett (Grapevine, Texas/South Grand Prairie HS) has caught seven passes for 119 yards and one touchdown to lead Millsaps in receiving yards ... The Majors' top rusher is Thomas Theriot (New Iberia, La./Catholic-New Iberia) with 122 yards on 22 carries ... Millsaps is scoring an average of 25.5 points per game while allowing 20.