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California was defeated by Northwest Missouri
State on Saturday in the national semi-finals, preventing the Vulcans' from
making their first trip to the national championship game. And so, the PSAC must
wait at least one more season before it can claim its first national
championship.
Besides California's success in reaching the
national semi-finals for a third straight year, several other teams enjoyed
successful 2009 campaigns. In the Eastern Division, Shippensburg won its first
conference championship since the early 1980s and East Stroudsburg made an
appearance in the NCAA playoffs. C.W. Post enjoyed its first winning season in
the PSAC, while Bloomsburg and West Chester continued their winning traditions
even if they were not quite good enough for a playoff berth. In the West,
Edinboro joined Cal in the NCAA playoffs. Clarion enjoyed a rebirth of its
program finishing with eight wins and Gannon enjoyed a winning season.
In short, 2009 was an entertaining season and a
refreshing change from prior years in which the conference title was typically a
fight among four or five teams. I believe 2010 will be an equally entertaining
year.
James Milligan All-PSAC Team presented by
James Milligan
With the conclusion of the 2009 PSAC season, it
is time for the most coveted of all sports awards. As in the past, I have
restricted my All-PSAC team to just eleven players on offense, eleven on
defense, one coach and the specialists.
Coach
Rocky Rees (Shippensburg) - Led team to first
PSAC crown since 1981
Offense
QB - Trevor Harris (SR, Edinboro) - Led PSAC in
total offense and passing
RB - Alfonso Hoggard (JR, Clarion) - Led PSAC in all purpose yards, rushing
yards per game and scoring
RB - Jon Richardson (SR, Gannon) - He was the Gannon offense
WR - AJ Jackson (SR, California) - Led PSAC in receptions and receiving yards
per game
WR - Mike Harris (SR, Shippensburg) - Second in the conference in receiving
yards per game and third in receptions
TE - Ryan Paulson (SR, West Chester) - Capable blocker and solid pass receiver
with 28 receptions
C - Kyle O'Neill (SO, WCU) - Stalwart member of the conference's second most
productive offense
G - Dan Jordan (JR, California) - Helped pave the way for the PSAC's top scoring
offense
G - Pat Casey (JR, Bloomsburg) - Guided one of the top rushing offenses in the
PSAC
T - Kevin Martin (SO, C.W. Post) - Leader of the top ranked rushing offense in
the PSAC
T - Dave Hetrick (SR, Mercyhurst) - Anchor of line that gave up just 10 sacks in
11 games
Defense
DL - Willie Walker (SR, California) - Most
dominant defensive lineman in the PSAC
DL - Xavier Brown (JR, C.W. Post) - 13.5 tackles for a loss, including 8.5 sacks
DL - James Thorpe (SR, West Chester) - Anchor on top defense in the PSAC
LB - Matt Freed (JR, ESU) - Led PSAC in tackles (132) and solo sacks (10)
LB - Anthony Smith (SR, Bloomsburg) - Second leading tackler in PSAC (114)
LB - James Carson (SR, IUP) - Led IUP in tackles with 73
LB - Mike Dell (SR, WCU) - Forced three fumbles and recorded 72 tackles
DB - Robert Doiley (JR, Slippery Rock) - Led the PSAC in passes defended per
game (1.22)
DB - Terrence Johnson (SR, California) - 11 passes defended and excelled as a
kick returner
DB - Demel Chambers (SR, Cheyney) -Led team in tackles with 75
DB - Branden Williams (SO, Edinboro) - Had six interceptions, including one
returned for a TD
Special Teams
K - Matt Dineen (JR, Kutztown) - Led PSAC in
points per game kicking
P - Kyle Witman (SR, Slippery Rock) - Can both kick a 50+ yard punt and place
one inside the 20
KR - Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (SR, IUP) - Totaled five returns for touchdowns (2 KR/3
PR)
PR - Kevin Garland (SR, West Chester) - Averaged more than 20 yards per return
That's all from me for another season.
Congratulations to Cal on their third straight trip to the national semi-finals,
to Shippensburg on their PSAC championship and to all of the other teams in the
conference on another entertaining season. Thanks to everyone who reads the
column and have a great off-season.
If you have any questions, comments or
information that you would like me to post, feel free to email me at  .
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