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Nov. 25, 2009
(West Chester, Pa.): Clarion University running back Alfonso Hoggard (Jr. Philadelphia - Caravel Academy) and strong safety Nick Sipes (Jr. Curwensville) were named today to the 2009 Daktronics Super Region 1 (East Region) first team, as selected by the region's Sports Information Directors. Hoggard also earned a second team selection as a return specialist, while teammate Matt Foradora (Sr. Falls Creek - Brockway) earned second team honors at tight end. "This is a very well deserved honor for these three players," said Clarion head coach Jay Foster. "We are proud to have them representing Clarion University." Hoggard was previously named to the PSAC-West first team at running back, second team at return specialist and the PSAC-West "Offensive Player of the Year" for 2009. Foradora was a first team PSAC-West selection and Sipes a second team choice. Hoggard, a 5-4, 150-pound, junior, running back, all-purpose player, had a dynamite season for the Golden Eagles. He finished the year ranked #1 in the entire PSAC in rushing, scoring, rushing td's and all-purpose yards. Hoggard rushed for 1,046 yards in only 10 games (104.6 per game), 17 rushing td's, 19 total td's, (11.8 points per game), and 179.8 All-Purpose yards per game. Along with his 1,046 rushing yards, Hoggard had 587 kickoff return yards (returned 1 k.o. 87 yards for a td), 15 punt returns for 79 yards, and caught 5 passes for 86 yards and 1 td. His 17 rushing td's was a new Clarion record, breaking the old record of 16 held by Mickey Catello (1966) and Steve Witte (1996). His 1,046 yards is the fourth highest in school history behind Steve Witte (1,352 - 1996), Ron DeJidas (1,231 - 1996) and Elton Brown (1,214 - 1983). Top games for Hoggard included 292-All-Purpose yards against IUP. In that game he rushed for 162 yards and 2 td's against the top defense in the PSAC. He had 257 yards against Gannon, rushing for 134 yards and 3 td's, plus an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Versus Slippery Rock he rushed for a personal best 205 yards and 2 td's, while scoring three td's against Mercyhurst and Cheyney. Alfonso is 5th in the latest NCAA D-II Stats in scoring, 10th in All-Purpose Yards, 17th in rushing yards and 21st in kickoff return yards. In 2008 Hoggard was a 2nd team FB Gazette All-American as an All-Purpose Back and was the 2007 PSAC-West "Rookie of the Year. His first two seasons he was a wide receiver catching 89 passes for 977 yards and 5 td's, along with punt and kickoff returns. He is the son of Jaqueline Speaks and Alfonso Hoggard, Jr. He is a Business major at Clarion. Sipes, a 5-11, 215-pound, junior strong safety, had a very strong season for the Golden Eagles in 2009. The defensive leader, Sipes led the entire PSAC with 112 tackles (52 solo), with 6 sacks for -23 yards and 12 tfl's for -36 yards. He had 1 fumble caused and 1 pass break-up. He is currently ranked 25th in the nation in tackles per game. Top individual performances included 19 hits, 2 tfl's, 1 sack against IUP, 14 stops and 1 sack versus Cal, 13 jolts and 1 sack at Fairmont and 12 stops at Edinboro. Last year Nick played running back on offense and had 29 rushing yards and 3 td's, and 12 receptions for 104 yards. In 2007 he was a defensive safety and had 71 tackles with 4 tfl's. Nick is the son of Leland and Tammy Sipes and is a Biology/Pre-Med major at Clarion. Foradora, a 6-5, 250-pound, senior tight end, had his best season in the Clarion blue and gold. He caught 39 passes for 469 yards and 3 td's. His top games of 2009 included 7 catches for 76 yards against Fairmont State, 6 grabs for 70 yards and 1 td at Cal and 4 catches for 76 yards and 1 td against East Stroudsburg. Last season he grabbed 37 passes for 367 yards and 3 td's, while red-shirting the 2007 season. In 2006 he was a third team East Region selection as he caught 24 passes for 295 yards and 4 td's. In his career he finished with 103 catches for 1,164 yards and 10 td's. He is the son of Mark Foradora & late Darla Foradora and is a Management major at Clarion. CLARION NOTES: Clarion was 8-3 overall in 2009 and 6-1 in the PSAC-Western Division. Clarion ranked 8th in the final Super Region 1 (East Region) poll, just missing the D-II Playoffs. Clarion won its final 6 games of the year. Super Region 1 Offensive Player of the Year Zach Amedro - West Liberty St., Jr. (Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall) First Team Offense Pos. Name School Yr. WR *Mike Harris Shippensburg Sr. WR Kashif Walls West Liberty St. Jr. TE Ryan Travis West Liberty St. Jr. OL *Ben Staggs West Liberty St. Sr. OL Dan Jordan California (Pa.) Jr. OL Greg Tuba Southern Conn. State Sr. OL Brandon Fusco Slippery Rock Jr. OL Cha'Mar Jones California (Pa.) Gr. QB Zach Amedro West Liberty St. Jr. RB *Alfonso Hoggard Clarion Jr. RB Brian Kennedy Concord So. RET SPC. Deante Steele Shepherd Jr. PK Craig Burgess Indiana (Pa.) Jr. Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year Matt Freed - East Stroudsburg, Jr. (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) First Team Defense Pos. Name School Yr. DL *Willie Walker California (Pa.) Sr. DL Darryl Laforest Bentley Sr. DL Chris Almonte Charleston (W.Va.) Sr. LB# *Anthony Smith Bloomsburg Sr. LB# Matt Zahoruiko Bentley Sr. LB# Matt Freed East Stroudsburg Jr. LB# Dontay Brown California (Pa.) Gr. LB# Andrew Eggleton West Virginia St. Sr. CB# *Derrick Evans West Liberty St. Sr. CB# Quintez Smith Shaw Sr. CB# Terrence Johnson California (Pa.) Sr. S *Nicholas Arti nger East Stroudsburg Sr. S *NIck Sipes Clarion Jr. P Kyler Ford Shippensburg Sr. Second Team Off ense Pos. Name School Yr. WR Chris Laham Merrimack Sr. WR A.J. Jackson California (Pa.) Sr. TE Matt Foradora Clarion Sr. OL# Tim Ickes West Liberty St. Sr. OL# Nick Madia West Liberty St. Jr. OL# David Bellmont Merrimack Jr. OL# Mike Fazio Edinboro Sr. OL# Morgan Thomas East Stroudsburg Sr. OL# Rob Stoner Edinboro Jr. QB Trevor Harris Edinboro Sr. RB Kevon Calhoun West Liberty St. Jr. RB Herb Woodard Assumpti on Jr. RET SPC. Alfonso Hoggard Clarion Jr. PK Tyler McNamara Bentley Sr. Second Team Defense Pos. Name School Yr. DL Jashawn Williams American Int'l College Sr. DL Luke Black Fairmont St. So. DL Marcus Crump St. Augusti ne's Sr. LB Dusti n Zitzmann Assumpti on Sr. LB Mike Dell West Chester Sr. LB Kaleb Lawrence Glenville St. Sr. LB Clay Beeler West Liberty St. Jr. CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah Indiana (Pa.) Sr. CB Branden Williams Edinboro So. S Chris Carroll Bentley Sr. S Jeff rey Gowdy Fayett eville St. Sr. P Derek Fiorenza California (Pa.) Gr. |
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