CLARION – The PSAC announced its Western Division football post-season honors today and Clarion University Running Back/All-Purpose Back Alfonso Hoggard (Jr. Philadelphia – Caravel Academy) was named the PSAC-West Offensive \”Player of the Year\” and head coach Jay Foster earned West \”Coach of the Year\” honors.
In addition, Hoggard, wide receiver Jacques Robinson (Jr. Pgh. – Oliver), tight end Matt Foradora (Sr. Falls Creek – Brockway) and defensive lineman Ben Maund (Jr. Canonsburg – Canon McMillan) were named to the first team, while linebacker Joe Fox (Jr. Murrysville – Franklin Regional), Nick Sipes (Jr. Curwensville), freshman corner Daily Whitten (Darlington, S. C.) and Hoggard as a return specialist were named to the second team.
\”This is an exciting day for Clarion football,\” said Clarion head coach Jay Foster. \”I’m so happy for Alfonso to win his award. He’s a great team leader, has a great work ethic, and has a special quality about him that not only elevates his game, but helps elevate the players around him. He had a great season and is really deserving of this honor.\”
\”I’m also happy for the players that earned All PSAC-West honors. They have helped us restore Clarion as a quality football program. They, along with all their teammates, share in these awards today. It was definitely a true team effort in 2009.\”
Clarion University’s 2009 football team finished the season with an 8-3 record, winning its final 6 games in a row. The Golden Eagles last had a 6-game winning streak in 1992, when Clarion won its final 6 games of the season to win the PSAC-West on the field.
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.
Coach Jay Foster, 49, in his fourth season as Clarion’s head coach, dedicated his first three years at Clarion to rebuilding the team from the ground up. Two years ago he started up to 35 freshmen through a winless season. In 2008 those players gained experience and helped Clarion to a 3-8 record. In 2009 Clarion posted an 8-3 overall record, its best season since going to the NCAA Semifinals in 1996 (11-3). Clarion won its final 6 games this season, marking its longest winning streak since 1992.
\”I accept this award on behalf of our entire football staff,\” stated Foster. \”We had a plan when we came to Clarion and we stuck to that plan. It is very rewarding to be honored by your peers with an award like this. I am very grateful to my colleagues for this recognition. I would also like to thank Dr. Grunenwald and Dave Katis for the opportunity to coach here at Clarion, and for their continued support and encouragement during my four years.\”
Foster, spent the 18 years prior to being at Clarion at nearby Slippery Rock, where he was the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
A native of Berwick, Maine, he graduated from Noble High, went on to play football and graduate from Plymouth State College in 1985, and spend two years as a G.A. at West Chester under Danny Hale, before going to SRU.
Foster resides in Grove City with wife Dorry. The couple have three children including sons Zach and Thom and a daughter Brogan.
Robinson, a 6-3, 180-pound, junior, wide receiver, earned first team honors with his second great season at Clarion. In 2009 Jacques grabbed 70 passes for 819 yards and 5 td’s. He ranked second in the entire PSAC in catches, and fifth in receiving yards per game (74.5). Top games this season included 10 catches against Kutztown for 84 yards, 9 grabs in the rain at California for 123 yards and 1 td, 9 against Gannon (83 yards) and 8 for 104 yards and 1 td at Cheyney.
Last year Robinson had 70 catches for 849 yards and 8 td’s, while being named third team FB Gazette All-Region and an All-PSAC West choice. In his career he now has 163 catches for 1,899 yards and 13 td’s. His 163 catches are third in Clarion history behind only Alvin Slaughter (195; 1995-98) and Tim Brown (169; 1990-93). His 1,899 yards are 7th all-time. He is the son of Dennis Robinson & Joyce Whitehead.
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.
Maund, a 6-2, 245-pound, junior defensive end, had a strong season up front for the Golden Eagles. Ben contributed 38 tackles (18 solo), 7 tfl’s for -28 and 5 sacks for -24 yards. He had 9 tackles and 2 sacks versus Fairmont, 2 tfl’s against against Slippery Rock and 1 each against East Stroudsburg and Cal.
In 2008 he posted 42 hits, 11 tfl’s and 3 sacks. He is the son of Jim & Jan Maund and is a Business major at Clarion.
Fox, a 5-10, 215-pound, junior linebacker, was a big factor in Clarion’s defense in 2009. He had 62 tackles (27 solo), 9 tfl’s for -34, 3 sacks for -23, 2 fumbles caused and 2 fumbles recovered. Hi stop game included 15 tackles, 3 tfl’s, 1 sack and 1 fumble caused against IUP and 10 hits, 3 tfl’s versus Mercyhurst.
Last season Fox had 55 tackles, 9 tfl’s and 1 sack, while in 2007 he posted 39 hits, 7 tfl’s and 1 sack as a true freshman.
Joe is the son of Tim & Chris Fox and is a Business major at Clarion.
Sipes, a 5-11, 215-pound, junior defensive back, 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.
Whitten, a 5-10, 175-pound, freshman corner back, had an outstanding first season at Clarion. Whitten had 32 tackles, with 8 pass break-ups and 5 interceptions. Of his interceptions, he returned one 57-yards for a touchdown against Fairmont State, and also returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown against Slippery Rock.
He is the son of Daily McCullum and Pamela Whitten and is a Business major at Clarion.
CLARION NOTES: The last Clarion \”Player of the Year\” award was to noseguard Troy Bowers, who was the West \”Defensive Player of the Year\” in 2002 and 2003…. The last offensive player of the year was Steve Witte in 1996 …. The last coach of the year award was Malen Luke in 2000.