In 2004, the Carthage College football team had the most successful season in the history of its program, going 11-2, winning its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship since 1973 and advancing to the third round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Red Men still are waiting for the sequel to that memorable season.

Yes, they've gone a respectable 13-7 during the last two seasons. It's just that a remarkable rash of injuries, especially last season, have prevented Carthage from demonstrating how far this program has progressed.

What was it like last season for coach Tim Rucks, the second-winningest coach in Carthage's history? Consider that 10 players missed the entire season and 30, including nine starters, were not available for Carthage's season-ending 34-24 loss to North Central Nov. 11. That final game completed a stretch in which the Red Men lost three of five games.

Here are some of the losses Rucks and his staff were forced to plug last season:

* Donovan Moore, a first-team All-CCIW safety and punter in 2004 and '05 missed all of last season with a torn hamstring.

* Mike Powers, considered by Rucks to be, "our best defensive lineman," tore an Achilles tendon and missed the entire season.

* Cornerback Franko Shenault missed the entire season after undergoing surgery on his foot.

* Wide receiver Eric Haldeman, who caught 20 passes in his first three games last season, missed the rest of the season with a quadriceps contusion.

* Quarterback Brennan O'Boyle, safety Nate Niles, linebacker Steve Rucks (Tim Rucks' cousin) and defensive end Joe Busse also missed significant portions of the season with injuries.

"Injuries have had a big impact on the fate of our seasons," said Rucks, whose team opens the season Saturday with a 7 p.m. nonconference game against Carroll at Art Keller Field in Kenosha. "As a coaching staff, we are constructing our practices where we're going shorter, we're not hitting as much … it doesn't mean that's going to prevent injuries, but the more a body wears down, the more prone it is to injury."

With all but Niles and Steve Rucks returning this season and the Red Men persevering through such hard times, this shapes up as another successful season for Carthage. The Red Men were picked to finish fourth in the eight-team CCIW, but that might be a tad conservative judging from the volume of talent and experience Carthage has returning.

Offensively, it could be shaky in the early going only because of the graduation of all five offensive linemen, including D3football.com All-American left tackle Ryan Glassman. But if that new line - which includes sophomore left guard Bryan Schredl and center Matt Favero and freshman right guard Terrance Clark - come through, the Red Men have the capability to be dominant.

Brennan O'Boyle, a junior quarterback, returns after passing for 1,267 yards and eight touchdowns and running for 375 yards and three scores. With Carthage going to a single-back spread offense, O'Boyle will have ample opportunity to showcase his multiple skills.

"There's absolutely no question from anyone around here that we're putting it all on Brennan's shoulders," Rucks said. "I think his knowledge and maturity and confidence are so much better than it was last year, not that it was bad last year. He's going to be the guy who's going to make us go."

Carthage's running game is untested with junior Andy Bures, a transfer from St. Ambrose. But experience won't be a factor with O'Boyle's receiving corps, especially senior tight end Bryan Bergman, who caught 25 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns.

"You're going to see Bryan next to the tackle, you're going to see him lined up as a wideout, you're going to see him lined up in the backfield, you're going to see him all over the place," Rucks said. "We are going to get him the football."

Another offensive threat will be kicker Matt Denny, who converted nine of 15 field-goal attempts last season.

"I really believe that Matt Denny is an All-American candidate," Rucks said.

The defense should also be strong with the return of those injured key players from last season plus 2005 Case High School graduate Tom DeBaker at SAM (strong) linebacker. With the graduation of Brandon Fox, a four-year starter at SAM linebacker, DeBaker is making the transition from cornerback to the cornerstone position of Carthage's defense.

"He had really done a great job of picking that up," Ruck said. "The SAM linebacker on our defense is the premier position. The SAM linebacker is usually your best athlete. We're asking him to cover, we're asking him to blitz … he's all over the field. I think he's going to do a great job. He's done a great job so far."

How does this all add up?

"I feel good about this team," Rucks said. "We're not a great football team. I don't think you can look at us and say, 'They're going to be the conference champs' or anything like that.

"But I really like a lot of things about this team. I've had more fun in the last two weeks being around these guys. I like the way they work. You just watch practice and you can see glimpses of their improvement day by day."

Carthage Football At A Glance

HEAD COACH: Tim Rucks, 13th season (62-55-1 record at Carthage, 71-88-4 overall).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Glen Brittich, defensive assistant; Garrett Campbell, offensive coodinator; Greg Etter, defensive coordinator; Jason Atanasoff, defensive backs; Eric Corbett, defensive line; Ferni Garza, offensive assistant; Brian Horensky, offensive line; Henry Johnson, wide receivers; Kyle Manderfeld, defensive backs; Paul Michalak, defensive line; Rick Mowen, running backs; Trevor Parker, tight ends; Jason Sonnenberg, outside linebackers; Jeff Winden, linebackers.

LAST SEASON: 6-4 overall, 3-4 CCIW.

OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 3

DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7

2007 Schedule

September

1 - CARROLL, 7 p.m.

8 - LAKELAND, 7 p.m.

15 - at Whittier, Calif., 9 p.m., CDT

22 - BYE WEEK

29 - at Elmhurst, 1 p.m.

October

6 - ILLINOIS WESLEYAN (Homecoming), 1 p.m.

13 - at North Park, 1 p.m.

20 - AUGUSTANA, 6 p.m.

27 - at Millikin, 1 p.m.

November

3 - at Wheaton, 1 p.m.

10 - NORTH CENTRAL, 1 p.m.