Alfonso Hoggard of Clarion Named PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, Willie Walker of California Named Defensive Player of the Year
Clarion's Alfonso Hoggard (left), the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, and California's Willie Walker (right), the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year.

Alfonso Hoggard of Clarion Named PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, Willie Walker of California Named Defensive Player of the Year

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Cal’s Rontez Miles named Freshman of the Year; Clarion’s Foster tabbed division’s top coach

2009 All-PSAC West Football Teams (pdf)

Lock Haven, Pa. - Alfonso Hoggard
of Clarion, the PSAC’s leading rusher, overall scorer and leader in rushing touchdowns, has been named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year while California’s Willie Walker, an anchor on California’s defensive line that helped contribute to the PSAC’s second-best rushing defense, has been named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year. Those two individuals highlight the 2009 All-PSAC West football teams. California defensive back Rontez Miles has been named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year, the second straight year that the West’s top freshman has been a defensive player, while Clarion head coach Jay Foster has been named the PSAC West Coach of the Year.

California, which won its third straight PSAC West title and its fifth straight overall, led the way with 17 overall All-PSAC West selections, including eight first team selections, also tops of all eight PSAC West teams. The Vulcans were represented on the first team by wide receivers A.J. Jackson and Terrance Moore, two of the top 10 receivers in the PSAC in receiving yards per game. Jackson leads the PSAC in both receptions (74) and receptions per game (6.73), receiving touchdowns (13) and is also the only PSAC wideout to go over 1000 yards in the regular season with 1027 yards entering the playoffs. Also represented Cal in the first team offense were offensive tackle Cha’Mar Jones and offensive guard Dan Jordan, a second team selection last year. Vulcans on the first team defense included Walker, on of just two four-time All-PSAC selections on this year’s team and the only one on defense, linebackers Dontey Brown and Brett Diamond and defensive back Terrence Johnson, who is now a three-time All-PSAC West first team pick. Quarterback Josh Portis was named the second team QB, the third straight year that a Cal signal-caller has been named to the second team and the fifth straight year overall that Cal has had an all-conference quarterback. Joining Portis on the second team are running backs Freddie Bacco and Windell Brown, center Nick Piccirillo, who is the second team center for the second straight year, wide receiver Chedrick Cherry, defensive linemen Marcus Cook and Brandon Gordon, defensive back Miles, and punter Derek Fiorenza, who swapped teams with Slippery Rock punter Kyle Witman, the first team punter this year after Fiorenza was the first team punter last year when Witman was on the second team.

Despite having a disappointing season on the field, IUP was second among all West teams with nine all-conference citations. Those nine were made up of eight individuals, as Akwasi Owusu-Ansah was named to the first team twice, once as a defensive back and once as a return specialist. It marks Owusu-Ansah’s second straight first team award as the return specialist, as the dynamic returner took back three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns this season. He was joined on the first team by linebacker James Carson, a second team selection last year, and running back Tobias Robinson, who makes his second straight appearance on the first team. Mercyhurst also had eight overall selections as did second place Clarion, which had eight overall selections made up of seven individuals, as Hoggard was named to the first team as a running back and to the second team as a return specialist.

Other highlights on the All-West teams included Edinboro quarterback Trevor Harris, who was the other four-time All-PSAC West selection. He is the first team quarterback for the third straight season after being named to the second team as a freshman. Harris, who will close his career ranked near the top of the PSAC career leaders in several categories, holds the Edinboro records in nearly all QB categories. Entering the playoffs, Harris leads the PSAC in passing efficiency and total offense per game at 269.6. He also is third in passing yards per game at 237.6 and despite missing a game, is also third overall in passing yards at 2376. He leads the PSAC in completion percentage at 66.6 percent and is one of six QBs in the PSAC with over 2000 passing yards this year. A two-time PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, Harris finished second in the balloting for the award this year to Hoggard. Mercyhurst offensive tackles Dave Hetrick and Slippery Rock center Brandon Fusco each were named to the first team for the second straight year while Gannon running back Jon Richardson, who finished second overall to Hoggard in scoring with 16 rushing touchdowns, Clarion tight end Matt Foradora and wide receiver Jacques Robinson were each first team selections after being named second team last year. Mercyhurst tight end Josh Szeluga and IUP kicker Craig Burgess were each named to the second team for the second straight year. Overall, there were 24 repeat all-conference selections this year, including nine repeats on the first team and Owusu-Ansah and Hoggard each counting twice for their multiple positional honors, and 35 first-time all-conference honorees.

Hoggard, the Offensive Player of the Year, is Clarion’s first West Offensive Player of the Year since Steve Witte in 1996. The diminutive back led the PSAC average rushing yards per game at 104.6, the only PSAC back to average over 100 yards per game. Hoggard, who moved from wide receiver to running back this year as a junior, finished second in overall rushing yards in the PSAC with 1046, one of only two PSAC backs to go over the 1000-yard mark for the season. Hoggard also led the PSAC in scoring overall with 19 overall touchdowns, in rushing touchdowns with 17, and in all-purpose yards by a wide margin with 179.8 yards per game. Hoggard, who was a second team All-PSAC West selection as both a wide receiver and as return specialist last year, is a first team running back this year and for the second straight year, the second team return specialist.

Walker, the Defensive Player of the Year, is the second California player in the last three years to garner the Defensive Player of the Year, after former teammate Gary Butler was the division’s top defensive player in 2007. For the year, Walker recorded 34 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and three sacks. He broke up two passes and also blocked a kick. His efforts on the defensive line helped the Vulcans hold five of their opponents to under 100 yards rushing for the game and the Vulcans only allowed one individual to rush for over 100 yards in a game this year. Only in four games, did the Vulcans allow their opponent to go for over 150 rushing yards as a team, as Cal take the PSAC’s second-best rushing defense at just 103.9 yards per game into the playoffs.

Miles, the Freshman of the Year, is Cal’s first Freshman/Rookie of the Year since 1993, when Eric Carter was named the West Co-Rookie of the Year. Miles saw action in 10 games, recording a total of 33 tackles, including 26 solo stops. He had 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He also forced a fumble during the year and blocked a punt, which he returned for a touchdown. He was also named to the second team as a defensive back.

Foster, the Coach of the Year, earns the award for the first time in his career after guiding Clarion, which was picked to finish seventh in the PSAC West in the preseason poll, to a second place finish, just one game behind division winner California. The Golden Eagles ended the year on a six-game winning streak, their longest such streak since 1992 and the second place finish was their best since winning the West title in a three-way tie in 2000. Clarion’s eight wins is also the most since it won 11 in 1996. Foster, who is in his fourth year as head coach at Clarion, is the first Clarion coach to win the Coach of the Year in the West since Malen Luke in 2000.




First Team Offense

Quarterback
Trevor Harris**^ Edinboro Sr. Waldo, Ohio/Marion Pleasant 

Running Back
Alfonso Hoggard^ Clarion Jr. Philadelphia, Pa./Caravel Academy
Jon Richardson^ Gannon Sr. Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding 
Tobias Robinson* IUP Jr. Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest

Offensive Tackle
Dave Hetrick* Mercyhurst Sr. Northfield, Ohio/Brecksville
Cha’Mar Jones California Gr. Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa

Offensive Guard
Dan Jordan^ California Jr. Tionesta, Pa./Redbank Valley
Rob Stoner Edinboro Jr. Edinboro, Pa./General McLane

Center
Brandon Fusco* Slippery Rock Jr. Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley

Tight End
Matt Foradora^ Clarion Sr. Falls Creek, Pa./Brockway

Wide Receiver
A.J. Jackson* California Sr. Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh
Terrance Moore California Jr. Key West, Fla./Key West
Jacques Robinson^ Clarion Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Oliver

Placekicker
C.J. Bahr Slippery Rock Jr. Boalsburg, Pa./State College


First Team Defense

Defensive Line
Chad Brooks Edinboro Sr. Brockport, N.Y./Albion
Randy Colling Gannon So. Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer
Fred Hale Mercyhurst Jr. Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
Ben Maund Clarion Jr. Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan
Willie Walker**^ California Sr. Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa

Linebacker
Dontey Brown California Gr. McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport
James Carson^ IUP Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep
Brett Diamond California So. Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca
Tim Herbener Mercyhurst Sr. Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls

Defensive Back
Robert Doiley Slippery Rock Jr. McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport
Terrence Johnson** California Sr. Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah^ IUP Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone
Branden Williams* Edinboro So. Eastlake, Ohio/St. Edward

Return Specialist
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah* IUP Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone

Punter
Kyle Witman^ Slippery Rock Sr. Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity




Second Team Offense

Quarterback
Josh Portis California Gr. Woodland Hills, Calif./William H. Taft 

Running Back
Freddie Bacco California Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin
David Bostic Edinboro So. Tavares, Fla./Tavares
Windell Brown California Jr. Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne

Offensive Tackle
Sam Geldmaker* Gannon Jr. Bradenton, Fla./Manatee
Nate Tucker IUP Sr. Rochester, Pa./Rochester

Offensive Guard
Andrew Salamon Mercyhurst Sr. Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
Joe Tonga IUP Sr. Taylorsville, Utah/Taylorsville

Center
Nick Piccirillo^ California Jr. Mayfield, Ohio/Mayfield

Tight End
Josh Szeluga^ Mercyhurst Sr. Cheektowaga, N.Y./West Seneca East

Wide Receiver
Chedrick Cherry California So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller
Devin Goda Slippery Rock So. Monongahela, Pa./Elizabeth Forward
Mychal Skinner IUP Jr. Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area

Placekicker
Craig Burgess^ IUP Jr. Medina, Ohio/Highland


Second Team Defense

Defensive Line
Marcus Cook California So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods
Brandon Gordon California Sr. Alliance, Ohio/Alliance
Nick Gounaris Lock Haven Jr. Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury
Pat Marsilio Slippery Rock Sr. Freedom, Pa./Ambridge
Carl Thornton IUP Fr. Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls

Linebacker
Bryan Boyce* Mercyhurst Sr. Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard
Joe Fox Clarion Jr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Reg.
Matthew Neal-Mink Gannon Jr. Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown
Zach Sheridan Slippery Rock So. Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-LaSalle

Defensive Back#
Julius McCormick Mercyhurst So. Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Scioto
Rontez Miles California Fr. Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills 
Nick Sipes Clarion Jr. Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville
Daily Whitten Clarion Fr. Darlington, S.C./Darlington
Ian Wild Mercyhurst So. Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin

Return Specialist
Alfonso Hoggard^ Clarion Jr. Philadelphia, Pa./Caravel Academy

Punter
Derek Fiorenza* California Gr. Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan
 

# Additional honorees due to tie
* Indicates previous All-PSAC West first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC West second team selection




PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year
Alfonso Hoggard, RB, Clarion

PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year
Willie Walker, DL, California

PSAC West Freshman of the Year
Rontez Miles, DB, California

PSAC West Coach of the Year
Jay Foster, Clarion