A 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker, Mauga – a Helix
High graduate – recorded a team-best 8 tackles
in the Vandals’ first intra-squad scrimmage last
weekend.
Defense figures to be Idaho’s strength this season
as 10 lettermen return from last year’s fourth-place
finish in the Western Conference. The Vandals posted
an 8-5 record and edged Bowling Green, 43-42, in the
Humanitarian Bowl last season.
High-scoring games such as that may be the exception
rather than the rule this season. The Vandals return
only one offensive lineman and must find a way to protect
a huddle full of quality skill position players.
Thus, the defense must carry the Vandals’ hopes,
especially in the early stages of the season, which
includes a road trip to Nebraska the second week of
the campaign.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Van will be eligible to play
for the Thundering Herd this season if he clears academic
tests. If he fails that test, Marshall first-year head
coach John ‘Doc’ Holiday said he will apply
for a hardship scholarship to the NCAA for Van
Van rushed for 315 yards and three touchdowns on 86
carries. Serving much of his time as a slotback at Milford,
Van also caught 24 passes for 289 yards for the Falcons.
Milford’s 13-game schedule included games against
the Army Prep squad, Yale JV and Lehigh University JV,
as well as a few junior college teams.
Over the past three years, Milford Academy located
in West Berlin, N.Y., has sent 98 percent of its students
on to colleges. Perhaps more notably, more than two-thirds
of these graduates received full four-year scholarship
offers. Van hopes to continue that tradition.
Milford Academy was opened in 1916 and has been a non-profit
institution since 1965. In that same year, the school
introduced a Division 1 level post-graduate football
program that enjoyed immense success over the years.
“Travon missed by an eyelash of passing the test
to get in at Florida,” said Helix coach TROY STARR,
a former coaching associate of Holiday. “But he’s
working hard, showing up for his classes every day at
Marshall. He is a much improved student as well as
a good football player.”
Marshall is an upcoming power that opens the 2010 season
with games against Ohio State and West Virginia.
A three-year starter at Helix High and an all-conference
pick for two seasons at Grossmont College, Mauga
recently graduated from Utah State.
A middle linebacker in high school and a defensive
lineman in college, Mauga will make the transition
to the offensive side of the ball coaching the
Jaguars’ running backs in his first assignment.
He will also work as the director of Southwestern
College’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Huddle on campus.
Adam Clark
Former Griffins standout Clark
makes contact in New Mexico
Originally, Clark was hired to be the Mustangs’
defensive coordinator in February of this year before
being elevated to the top post.
Clark has spent his football career as both a player
and a coach with winning programs. He has won eight
or more games nine out of the last 10 years at the college
level. He has also won seven conference championships
and had two runner-up conference finishes as a player
and as a coach during that span.
Clark came to WNMU after back-to-back second-place
finishes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at
the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colo.), where
he was the defensive line coach and strength and conditioning
coordinator.
Clark helped build the Orediggers to an RMAC powerhouse,
finishing just one game behind conference champion Neb.-Kearney
last season. While at Mines, Clark coached the RMAC
Defensive Player of the Year and three all-conference
defensive linemen selections in 2009. The team also
finished ranked in the top 25 in the nation in run defense
the past two seasons. Mines head coach Bob Stitt credited
Clark’s strength program as a major reason for
Mines’ success.
“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity
to be the head football coach at Western New Mexico
University,” Clark said. “I see so much potential
in this program, and I believe we will turn this program
into something the entire WNMU community and Silver
City will be proud of.”
Prior to tending to the Mines, Clark spent the 2007
season as the defensive coordinator/assistant head coach
at St. Ambrose University, where he was selected as
the MSFA Assistant Coach of the Year. Clark's 2007 defense
was ranked in the top five nationally in four categories,
including scoring (fourth, 12.8 points per game), pass
defense (second, 134 yards per game), pass defense efficiency
(second, 80.6) and turnovers forced (fourth, 38). Clark
helped guide the Fighting Bees to a final national ranking
of No. 9 in the country.
Clark also spent three seasons (2004-06) as the defensive
secondary and strength and conditioning coach at Graceland
University (Lamoni, Iowa). In 2005, the Jackets finished
9-3, won the school’s first conference championship
in 30 years, and advanced to their first-ever national
playoff. Clark also coached the Defensive Player of
the year in the Heart of America Conference in 2005.
A 2002 graduate of St. Ambrose University, Clark earned
his bachelor's degree in sociology. Clark, who went
on to earn his Master's in organizational leadership
from St. Ambrose, also served as a graduate assistant
for his alma mater from 2002-04.
Clark was a two-year letter winner on the St. Ambrose
football team during his undergraduate career. During
his time with the Fighting Bees, Clark raked in all-conference
and all-American honors. Prior to attending St. Ambrose,
Clark played football at Grossmont College (1997-98)
for two years, earning all-conference and all-state
accolades.
While at West Hills (1994-96), Clark set a Wolf Pack
career record with 9 interceptions. He also owns the
Pack’s season mark of six thefts in 1996. Although
the exact number was not available Clark also paced
the Wolf Pack in tackles as a junior and a senior.
The same process holds true across the nation, including
Nebraska, where the Omaha World-Herald named
the state's All-NAIA college team.
Two former East County standouts were honored.
Named to the World-Herald's first team were running
back KHALID WATERS (Grossmont HS) and BRANDEN BROWN
(Steele Canyon), a defensive back. The La Mesa residents
are both sophomores for Midland Lutheran University.
Only three other sophomores were named to the 25-man
squad by the publication.
Brown registered a pair of interceptions while finishing
third in tackles and second in forced fumbles for MLU
(6-5). Waters rushed for 591 yards in 9 contests, losing
the team rushing title by a mere 4 yards despite playing
in two fewer contests.
Brown was also one of three Warriors named by coaches
to the All-Great Plains Athletic Conference football
team.
Other East County products on the MLU roster include
sophomore defensive back MICHAEL GRAHAM (Grossmont HS),
sophomore running back JEFF WATERS (Grossmont HS), freshman
wide receiver DERRICK BEEBE (Christian HS), and sophomore
linebacker A.J. VINES (Horizon).
If you're former West Hills High quarterback PHILIP STABACK,
perhaps all you can do is shrug your shoulders when the
opposing placekicker Braden Wieking of Sioux Falls won
the award.
On Saturday (Dec. 19), Staback threw for 144 yards and
a pair of touchdowns against the top-rated defense in
NAIA football. Then the defensive unit of his Lindenwood
(Mo.) University Lions limited top-ranked and undefeated
Sioux Falls (S.D.) to just a single trip into the end
zone.
However, special teams proved to be the difference after
Wieking booted three field goals and sophomore Adam Lopez
returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown,
as Sioux Falls (15-0) successfully defended its NAIA national
championship after nipping Lindenwood, 25-22, at Barron
Stadium.
Staback completed 16-of-26 passes for the Lions, while
running back Denodus O'Bryant rushed for 60 yards on just
six attempts, just enough to finish his season with exactly
1,000 rushing yards.
The contest featured five lead changes, but despite collecting
142 yards in the fourth quarter, Lindenwood never could
regain the advantage after Wieking booted a tie-breaking,
42-yard field goal with 9:50 remaining.
Sioux Falls, in winning its fourth national title in its
history, has now captured 29 consecutive ballgames.
After trailing at halftime for the first time all season,
Lopez' runback gave the Cougars a 15-14 lead.
Staback directed the Lions back in front in short order
on a 6-play, 63-yard march. O'Bryant found the end zone
on a 45-yard run at the 11:39 mark of the third quarter,
then Staback ran in the two-point conversion for a 22-15
lead.
However, Sioux Falls running back Ryan Lowmiller made
it a 22-22 deadlock after a 2-yard rushing score at the
9:45 mark of the third, then Wieking's third field goal
gave the Cougars their final margin of victory.
Earlier, Staback, who passed for over 3,300 yards and
34 touchdowns this season, hit Matt Bramow on a 19-yard
touchdown strike with 7:30 to go in the second. The
catch was Bramow's 11th touchdown catch of the year,
which tied the single-season Lindenwood record.
Villanova wide receiver Brandyn
Harvey (3, left) was
utilized mostly as a decoy, yet the Wildcats still
captured
the FCS championship by topping No. 1 Montana. (Courtesy photo from Villanova University website)
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE
and HERE
/ VIDEO
Instead, Villanova (14-1) went with short passes and
the ground game to rally past top-seeded and undefeated
Montana, 23-21, for its first NCAA Football Championship
Subdivision title at Finley Stadium. MORE
Matt Szczur rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns
and had another 68 yards receiving, as the Wildcats
rallied from a 14-3 deficit by scoring 20 straight points,
then held on after a late Grizzlies TD and an onside
kick. STATS
The title was especially welcomed by Nova head coach
Andy Talley, who had friends warn him about undergoing
heart tests a few days before traveling to the national
championship game. They didn’t want the Villanova
coach to suffer complications before the big game.
Villanova head coach Andy Talley. (Courtesy photo from
Villanova University website)
After waiting 25 seasons for his first shot at a title,
Talley didn’t heed their warnings.
“If I died here winning the national championship,
that would be a pretty good death,” Talley told
reporters following the contest. “Does that tell
you how much it means to me?”
Brandyn Harvey
Chidozie
Ekwoezor
Meanwhile, Montana (14-1), making its record 17th consecutive
postseason appearance, fell to 2-5 in the title game,
including a loss to Richmond last season.
Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney directed an 81-yard
drive, running for 22 yards on one play and connecting
with Szczur for 26 yards on another. Whitney hit Chris
Farmer with a 3-yard TD pass to give Villanova 16-14
lead with 5:26 left in the third quarter.
Whitney directed an attack of short passes, going 10
for 13 for 142 yards, even with Harvey, the Wildcats'
leading receiver getting shutout. Whitney also rushed
for 102 yards.
Also on the Villanova roster is redshirt freshman CHIDOZIE
EKWEOZOR, an offensive tackle out of Mount Miguel
High, who was named to the 2007 All-East County second
team.
Montana’s Andrew Selle threw a 53-yard touchdown
pass to Jabin Sambrano to pull the Grizzlies to 23-21
with 1:07 left, but the onside kick attempt went out
of bounds. Nova then regsitered a first down before
running out the clock.
Szczur racked up 270 all-purpose yards, including a
career-high 159 rushing, en route to being named the
championship game's Most Outstanding Player.
The title is the 18th national championship in Villanova
history, and the second in the last four weeks. Villanova
claimed the women's cross country national title in
Terre Haute, Ind. last month.
Villanova wide receiver Brandyn
Harvey (3) eludes
William & Mary's Robert Livingston on a 40-yard
catch
in the FCS semifinals. Nova won, 14-13, to advance
to Friday's championship game vs. No. 1 Montana. (Photo by David Swanson, courtesy, Phila. Daily
News)
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE
AND HERE
Harvey, the starting wide receiver for Villanova,
will play for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision
(formerly Division I-AA) crown against No. 1 Montana.
In the semifinals, Nova scored late to nip William &
Mary, 14-13, while the Grizzlies eliminated Appalachian
State, 24-17.
It's the first title game appearance for Villanova (13-1),
the second seeds. The Wildcats have won 8 straight contests
to set a school single-season record for victories.
Harvey was instrumental on the game-winning drive with
a key third-down reception. He was initially ruled out
of bounds, but the call was overturned based on an official
review in the booth, giving him a 16-yard completion
to the Tribe-6. Nova would score moments later.
Harvey paced the Wildcats with three catches for 65
yards, including a 40-yard reception in the first half.
The senior leads Nova with 53 grabs fror 694 yards and
5 touchdowns.
Earlier in the season, Harvey made a one-handed grab
of Chris Whitney’s fourth-down pass for a 29-yard
touchdown with 59 seconds left to stun defending FCS
national champion Richmond, 21-20, ending the Spiders
17-game win streak on Nov. 7.
NAIA National Semifinals: Game-winning
touchdown pass by
Philip Staback to lead Lindenwood University over
host Carroll College.
Vowing for such a debacle to never occur again, Staback
is now within one game of capturing a national championship.
Now the starting quarterback for Lindenwood University
of St. Charles, Mo., Staback threw for 374 yards and
three touchdowns Saturday (Dec. 5) to lead the
3rd-ranked Lions past No. 2 Carroll College, 42-35,
in the NAIA national semifinals.
The winning touchdown came with 49 seconds remaining
when Staback capped an 88-yard drive with a 10-yard
scoring pass to senior receiver Matt Bramow. The Lions
offense finished with 568 total yards against the second-rated
defense in the NAIA, as Staback, a criminal justice
major, completed 25-of-35 passes.
Lindenwood Univeristy quarterback
Philip Staback (11) surprised Carroll College
with this run.
The West Hills High product threw for three touchdowns,
including the game-winner with
10 seconds remaining to lead the Lions to a 42-25
win in the NAIA national semifinals. (Lindenwood University courtesy photo)
The triumph snapped a 24-game home winning streak for
Carroll, the Frontier Conference champions.
Lindenwood (13-0) will face top-ranked and defending
champion Sioux Falls (S.D.) in the 54th Annual Russell
Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship in Rome,
Ga., on Dec. 19. Kickoff is set for 9 a.m. PT, and broadcast
nationally on the CBS College Sports (Chl. 321 on Cox
Cable).
Sioux Falls, a 3-time national titlists (1996, 2006
and 2008) won its 28th straight game and 42nd straight
home contest following a 48-6 triumph over St. Xavier
(Ill.) in the other semifinal. The Cougars will make
their sixth title game appearance; it's the first trip
for the Lions.
After capturing the Heart of America Conference crown
with a clinching 73-6 pasting over William Jewell (Mo.)
to close the regular season on Nov. 14, Lindenwood captured
home playoff victories over Langston (Okla.), 42-14,
and Ottawa (Kan.), 64-26.
For the season, the Lions have scored an amazing 722
points (55.5 per game) with Staback barely playing into
the second half of most ballgames. Still, the junior
threw for 3,229 yards on 67.9 percent accuracy (220-for-324)
with 34 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions.
Memorial for Hoover, former Monarchs standout
Courtesy, Eastern
Illinois University
CHARLESTON, Ill. (12-6-09) — A memorial service
to honor the life of Eastern Illinois assistant
football coach Jeff Hoover was held Saturday (Dec. 5)
afternoon in the Grand Ball Room of the Martin
Luther King Jr., Student Union on the EIU campus.
Hoover, 41, a 1986 graduate of Monte Vista High
School, where he was a standout football player
and wrestler, will also be honored with a a memorial
service on Dec. 13 at Portland State University,
where Hoover coached previously to joining the
EIU staff.
Hoover lost his life in a tragic car accident
when returning from the Panthers first round FCS
playoff game in Carbondale, Ill. Hoover had just
completed his third season as a member of the
EIU coaching staff.
Currently, EIU strength coach Eric Cash and his
wife Sherri are currently in fair condition at
Carle Hospital in Champaign, Ill., after also
being injured in the accident. The Cash’s
child and all three members of the Hoover family
have been released from the hospital. As further
updates on the Cash family are available they
will be posted.
In lieu of flowers, a Jeff Hoover Children’s
Education Memorial Fund has been established through
First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust.
Jeff Hoover Children's Education Fund
c/o First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust
701 Sixth Street
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 345-8325
The EIU football team is also accepting gift
card donations to help both the Hoover and Cash
families. Donations can be sent to:
EIU Football Office
Attn: Hoover/Cash Family Donations
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
Please do not send cash donations to the EIU
football office.
LOCAL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2009 Click on
Logo for further information
The Eagles will meet the USC Trojans (8-4) at AT&T
Park on Sat., Dec. 26, with kickoff on ESPN set
for 5 p.m. PT. Executive director Gary Cavalli extended
the Emerald Bowl bid to each team today (Sun., Dec.
6).
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Davis was recognized
at BC's annual Scanlan Awards Banquet, the recipient
of the Jay McGillis Scholarship Award.
Davis overcame a potential career-threatening injury
in 2007 to become one of the top defenders for BC.
The free safety ranked fifth on the Eagles in tackles,
second in interceptions (1st in return yards), starting
in 11 of 12 ballgames this season.
In 2008, Davis ranked fourth on the ballclub in
tackles. His on-field and classroom excellence earned
him The Devlin Family Athletic Scholarship that
season.
Boston College continued its amazing run of consecutive
bowl appearances, going to postseason play for the
11th straight year dating back to 1999. The Emerald
Bowl appearance marks USC's ninth consecutive bowl
game appearance dating back to 2001, which includes
four straight Rose Bowl contests [2005-08] plus
the 2004 National Championship game in the Orange
Bowl.
In preseason polls, Boston College was selected
to finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
But the Eagles were undeterred under Frank Spaziani,
in his first year as head coach but with 13 overall
in the BC program. Season highlights included home
wins over Wake Forest, Florida State and N.C. State,
and two road victories at Virginia and Maryland
late in the season.
Taylor, a junior strong safety, was chosen to the all-first
team defense. He made 33 tackles for the Bearcats while
starting all 10 games this season. Sixteen of his tackles
were solo stops. He also intercepted one pass, giving
him three interceptions the past two years.
During his three seasons with the Bearcats, Taylor
has played in all 32 games, while achieving 128 total
tackles. He has broken up 10 passes, forced four fumbles,
recovered five fumbles and intercepted three passes.
He scored on a 37-yard fumble recovery against Southern
Oregon University on Sept. 19. He also earned first
team All-NWC honors in 2008.
Willamette University was represented on the second
team offense by Guerra, a junior offensive guard, who
started each of the past two seasons.
Guerra helped the Bearcats run 458 times for 2,344
yards, an average of 5.1 yard per carry. Willamette
completed 56.7 per cent of its 203 passes and the Bearcats
quarterbacks were sacked only 13 times.
Guerra received honorable mention All-NWC in 2008.
The Bearcats finished the regular season ranked 20th
nationally in the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll released
by the American Football Coaches Association.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (11-20-09) – Coaches from the
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference named former
El Capitan standout JEFF SCHILLER (OL, 6-6, 300,
So.) of Minnesota-Crookson to the All-NSIC team.
Schiller, the center for the Golden Eagles, made
nine starts this season, gaining an NSIC second-team
berth. He was a leader on the offensive line that
helped Golden Eagles running backs average 99.4
yards/game.
He was an All-East County pick as a Vaqueros
senior in 2007.
In 2009, as a senior at Cal Lutheran University, Toilolo
feels fortunate to even having played in Saturday (Nov.
21) NCAA Division III playoffs. Never mind that the
Kingsmen lost the game 38-17 to Linfield (Ore.) in McMinnville,
Ore. Toilolo completed 18 of 34 passes for 155 yards
in the defeat.
Earlier this season, feeling weak following several ballgames,
it was Kingsmen teammate Ebere Winston who convinced Toilolo
to head for the hospital after he had passed out.
Doctors report the decision came just in time.
Toilolo not only suffered a broken rib, the bone punctured
a lung and caused internal bleeding; he easily could've
died without seeking immediate treatment.
“Probably one of the dumbest things I’ve ever
done in my life,” Toilolo told the Ventura County
Star, noting he simply believed he was dehydrated. "I
ended up getting yelled at by almost every nurse and doctor
in the hospital for not going to the hospital sooner.
And our trainers yelled at me, too.”
Now, Toilolo has guided Cal Lutheran (8-1) to its first
postseason appearance in 27 years.
Toilolo's resume includes a 14-1 career mark as CLU's
starting quarterback (8-1 in SCIAC conference play). Included
was a mammoth 464-yard, 6 touchdown effort in his second
collegiate outing as a sophomore, then a 4 TD performance
against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the game he was injured.
Former Grossmont High standout
Khalid Waters rushed for 143 yards vs. Concordia
in Week 1. (MLC courtesy photo) MORE HERE
For the third time this season, MLC held a lead against
a Top 25 foe. But this latest time, a 21-6 halftime lead
disappeared in a 38-27 setback to 5th-rated Morningside
College. The loss dropped the Warriors to 5-3 overall
– they are 0-3 against ranked teams, yet a perfect
5-0 against all others.
Grossmont High grad KHALID WATERS is the top ball-carrier
for Midland Lutheran. Through 8 contests, Waters, a
member of the 2007 All-East County team, owns 559 rushing
yards this season.
On defense, Steele Canyon High alum BRANDEN BROWN ranks
second on the Warriors in interceptions and third in
total tackles.
Midland also features former Grossmont High standouts
MICHAEL GRAHAM and JEFF WATERS.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound sophomore also leads
the Dakota Athletic Conference in all purpose
running with 1,042 yards (173.7 ypg) and scoring
with 42 points (7 TD). Dale was selected to the
2008 All-DAC team.
The Hardrockers (3-3, 2-3 DAC) pride themselves
as “the only university in the nation where
starting salaries average more than total costs.”
The 2007 Grossmont South League Offensive Player
of the Year, Dale was also selected to the 2007
All-East County Football Team.
The triumph raised the Tigers' record to 4-0, with
JEREMY YOUNG, a senior standout out of El Cajon Valley
High, at center stage.
Young put together another stellar night receiving
with 151 yards on 12 catches. Young also added three
rushes for 39 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run.
He totaled 240 yards of all-purpose yardage on the night.
In his last two games, Young, the NCAA Division II
Player of the Week, has reeled in 24 passes for 412
yards.
Young leads the 11-team GSC circuit with 32 receptions
for 417 and ranks third in all-purpose yards with 749
yards (187.2 ypg).
For the second consecutive week, Ouachita Baptist (4-0,
3-0) defeated a top-25 Gulf South Conference opponent
after a 24-14 victory over former top-25 member Valdosta
(Ga.) State in week three. The victory extends the current
winning streak to nine games to set a new school record
that stretches back to the final five games of 2008.
The Tigers’ victory over Delta State (Miss.)
snapped the 25-game Gulf States Conference winning streak
that the Statesmen compiled in the last 3.5 years of
GSC play.
The University City crowd was raucous to say the least,
holding up placards bearing Snyder’s face and continually
hollering at him. Although he was angry, Snyder kept
his emotions hidden.
Now the Cardinal defensive leader, Snyder, a 6-foot-4,
240-pounder, has a fumble recovery and made 21 tackles
– 15 solo – in the three games. Stanford (2-1)
claims victories over Washington State (39-13) and San
Jose State (42-17), losing only to Wake Forest (24-17).
A candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik
Award, Butkus Award, and a Lombardi Award Candidate,
Snyder will lead the Cardinal into Saturday’s (Sept.
26) host encounter against Washington, which is coming
off a 16-13 upset of USC a week ago.
The leader of a talented group of linebackers, the
fifth-year senior has started 34 of 36 games over the
last three seasons. He will transition from "sam"
to "mike" linebacker this season. He is one
of the players who sets the tone for the Stanford defense
with his physical presence and leadership skills.
From 2006: Video of Jeremy Young
setting a Grossmont College record
with 100-yard kickoff return HERE.
A former El Cajon Valley High standout, Young earned
his first-ever honor, leading the OBU offense in a 24-14
home upset of No. 16 Valdosta (Ga.) State. The senior
caught 13 passes for 261 yards and a 20.1 per catch
average along with touchdowns catches of 60 and 56 yards.
He didn’t stop there, also returning three punts
for 32 yards and three kickoffs for 46, upping his all-purpose
yardage to 339.
Young set the school record for receiving yards in
a game which also placed him sixth on the all-time GSC
list. His receptions and yards were also the most by
any GSC player this season.
With the victory, Ouachita improves to 3-0 on the season
and 2-0 in Gulf South Conference play. The Tigers are
riding a current winning streak of eight games dating
back to last season. It is the longest win streak by
OBU since 1968.
The victory was OBU’s first in 10 meetings against
Valdosta State since Ouachita joined the Gulf South
Conference in 2000. It also was the first victory over
a top-25 opponent since the 2003 season, when the Tigers
defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State and Central Arkansas.
Poinsettia Bowl extends contract with sponsor Local company to continue support of community enhancement
event
Courtesy, Poinsettia Bowl committee
SAN DIEGO (9-15-09) — San Diego County Credit Union
has extended its title sponsorship of the San Diego
County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 2009 Bowl President
Barbara Warden announced today. The extension is for
sponsorship through the 2010 contest, with options for
2011 and 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed. San
Diego County Credit Union served as title sponsor since
the game’s inception in 2005.
“The entire San Diego community owes San Diego
County Credit Union a great deal of thanks for their
name-in-title partnership,” said Warden. “Their
investment makes it possible for the game to annually
attract thousands of fans to the region and produce
millions of dollars for the San Diego economy.”
We are excited to extend our title sponsorship of the
Poinsettia Bowl,” said Irene Oberbauer, President
& CEO of San Diego County Credit Union. “We
are committed to the success of this great event and
proud to continue the partnership with this game’s
beneficiary, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego.”
In what was widely recognized as one of the premier
bowl match ups last season, the 2008 San Diego County
Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl saw the 11th-ranked TCU
Horned Frogs upset the 9th-ranked and previously undefeated
Boise State Broncos 17-16 in front of 34,628 fans at
San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. The game garnered
a 3.74 television rating on ESPN, the highest ever for
a pre-Christmas bowl game on the all-sports network.
The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl was
established in 2005 and is produced by the non-profit
San Diego Bowl Game Association. The mission of the
Association is to generate tourism, exposure, economic
benefit and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens
by producing the nation’s most exciting bowl games
and festivals of events. The San Diego Bowl Game Association
also produces the annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.
In 2008 the two games combined to produce $52.3 million
for the regional economy.
The 2009 San Diego County Credit Union will be played
at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 23rd at Qualcomm Stadium.
The game will pit the second selection from the Mountain
West Conference against a Pacific-10 or Western Athletic
Conference opponent.
For ticket and event information, call the San Diego
County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl ticket office at
(619) 285-5039 or visit www.PoinsettiaBowl.com.
El Capitan High graduate TOMMIE DRAHIEM (6-4,
285) is slated to start at left tackle, while
his highly-touted El Capitan teammate RYAN LINDLEY
handles the quarterbacking chores.
The Aztecs, who open the season at UCLA on Saturday
(Sept. 5) at 4:45 PDT in Pasadena’s Rose
Bowl, also welcome two East County transfers to
their lineup.
JACOB TAUANUU, a product of Helix High and Grossmont
College, was a defensive stalwart at Alabama-Birmingham
last season as a sophomore. The 6-2, 240-pound
defensive end played in all 12 games for the Barons,
racking up 48 tackles, including two sacks.
Grossmont College transfer LARRY PARKER should
make an impact in the Aztecs secondary after leaving
St. Augustine to spend his freshman year with
the Griffins. Parker was recruited by Houston,
BYU and Michigan as well as the Aztecs.
A 5-foot-9, 170-pound sophomore wide receiver,
Fiege saw limited playing time for the Western
Athletic Conference Bulldogs as a freshman. The
versatile Fiege mustered 1,424 all-purpose yards,
collecting 10 touchdowns while earning 2007 All-East
County offense and defense.
Fiege is one of three East County products –
which includes Helix quarterback TY CULVER and
Grossmont defensive back KEVIN WRIGHT – ticketed
to play for the Toreros.
Another East County touch is USD quarterbacks
coach TANNER ENGSTRAND, who begins his fifth season
on the Toreros coaching staff. He is a former
Grossmont, Grossmont College and SDSU quarterback.
CHIDOZIE EKWEOZOR, a redshirt freshman out of
Mount Miguel High, has earned his first collegiate
start for Villanova. He’ll be the Wildcats’
starting right offensive tackle, with four returning
veterans making up the remainder of the Wildcats’
offensive blocking wall.
“I guess you could say I’m kinda in
shock,” said the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Ekweozor.
“But I’ve been waiting a year to get
this chance.”
Monte Vista High product BRANYDN HARVEY will
begin his senior season as a starting receiver.
A year ago, Harvey ranked second in receiving
for Villanova with 43 receptions for 552 yards
and three TDs.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 5 in the Collegiate
Commissioner's Association Coaches Poll released
this week and are one of eight teams from the
Colonial Athletic Association listed in the top
25.
Villanova returns 15 starters and 31 letter winners
from last year's NCAA quarterfinal team that went
10-3 overall and 7-1 in CAA play. The Wildcats
have been picked along with defending national
champion Richmond to win the CAA in 2009.
ANOTHER MATADOR STUCK IN PAUSE MODE
DAVIS – Former Mount Miguel southpaw quarterback
JEFF FREEMAN has made a smooth transition converting
to a full time free safety at UC Davis. His biggest
problem has been injuries.
Freeman appeared in seven games as a reserve
in 2007 as a reserve, recording five tackles.
A year ago Freeman played in four games –
three starts – but missed the rest of the
season after suffering a broken arm against Northeastern
University of Boston.
“I guess you’d say I’m not very
lucky,” Freeman said.
Freeman was ticketed to be the Aggies starting
safety this season, but was knocked out of the
box when he suffered a torn meniscus early in
camp. If all things go his way, Freeman will return
to the UC Davis starting lineup when the Aggies
travel to Boise State on Oct. 3.
Lindley Named to Manning Award Watch List for Nation’s
Top QB Quarterback is one of just 38 players on the list and
one of only six sophomores
Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
SAN DIEGO (8-18-09) – San Diego State sophomore
RYAN LINDLEY (El Capitan HS) has been named to the preseason
watch list for the Manning Award, presented to the nation’s
top collegiate quarterback. Lindley, who set school
and Mountain West Conference records last season for
passing yards by a freshman, is one of 38 quarterbacks
on the list and one of just six sophomores.
Lindley becomes the second Aztecs player to be named
to a national award watch list this season, joining
center Trask Iosefa (Rimington Trophy watch list). He
is one of three MWC quarterbacks on the Manning Award
Watch List along with TCU senior Andy Dalton and Brigham
Young senior Max Hall.
A native of Alpine, Lindley earned team offensive most
valuable player honors last season as a redshirt freshman.
He started 10 games, completing 242-of-427 passes for
a 56.7 completion percentage with 16 touchdowns and
2,653 yards. Lindley ended the season ranked 24th nationally
in passing average, including second among freshmen,
and 42nd in total offense (fourth among freshmen). He
also had the seventh-best passing efficiency among all
freshmen at 117.01. He also became just the second freshman
in school history to start a season-opening game for
the Aztecs, joining two-time All-American and the school’s
all-time career passing leader, Todd Santos.
Against Idaho last year, Lindley threw for a career-high
433 yards to become the 14th quarterback in school history
to record a 400-yard passing game. Lindley, who also
had four 300-yard passing days on the season, finished
his freshman campaign on a high note, completing 35-of-50
passes for 387 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions
in San Diego State ’s 42-21 victory over UNLV.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar
Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments
of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. Ten finalists will
be determined by a selected panel of national media
covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings.
That list will be released on Monday (Nov. 30). The
winner will be announced by the Allstate Sugar Bowl
on Jan. 14.
The first four winners of the Manning Award reads like
a Who's Who list at the quarterback position. USC's
Matt Leinart was the inaugural winner of the award in
2005, followed by Texas ' Vince Young in 2006. Both
went on to be top-10 NFL draft picks. In 2007, LSU's
JaMarcus Russell earned the award and was the NFL's
No. 1 draft pick. Boston College's Matt Ryan claimed
the award in 2008 and was drafted No. 3, quickly becoming
the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.
The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Sutton, formerly of West Hills
High, led an offensive line that helped SAU average
27.2 points and 380.7 yards of total offense per game
this season.
St. Ambrose won its third straight Mid-States Football
Association Midwest League title, and led the 2008 MWL
selections with five first-team players. Included was
wide receiver Michael Hayward, who was named the league's
Player of the Year.
The defending
NCAA Division III
champs end the
Bearcats' season
by handing WU
(11-1) its lone
setback of 2008.
Arlin Taylor led
WU: 11 tackles.
Former Steele Canyon High standouts
Arlin Taylor
(left), Luis Guerra and Scott Perlin now compete
for
undefeated Willamette University (10-0) in Oregon.
The Bearcats host Occidental in their playoff
opener. (Photos courtesy of Willamette media relations)
And the Bearcats, undefeated in the regular season
at 10-0, have a boatload of East County talent on their
roster, which also helped them capture the Northwest
Conference crown and gain a No. 6 national ranking.
Willamette is one position behind defending national
champion Wisc.-Whitewater.
Among the locals succeeding in southern Oregon include
a trio of Steele Canyon High products: sophomore guard
LUIS GUERRA, sophomore defensive back ARLIN TAYLOR,
and freshman running back SCOTT PERLIN,
Taylor, who plays at strong safety, was tabbed to the
All-NWC first team, along with five other Bearcats
defenders.
Taylor ranked fourth on the team during the regular
season with 45 total tackles. He earned 21 unassisted
tackles and was credited with 24 assists. He forced
two fumbles and recovered three fumbles for the Bearcats.
He also intercepted one pass and returned it 18 yards
for a touchdown against Cal Lutheran in a 31-17 win
on Sept. 13.
Taylor has not missed a game in his two seasons with
Willamette.
Guerra made the All-NWC team as an honorable mention
selection. His efforts have helped WU average 398.5
total yards per game, with at least 400 yards in six
games, including each of the last five games. Guerra
and the rest of the line also have allowed the Bearcats
to complete 58.4 percent of their passes this fall.
Perlin played in just two games in his first season,
yet did register a special teams tackle against Lewis
& Clark.
Cougars help Willamette into D-3 national rankings
Fresh off a 31-23 upset of rival Southern Oregon,
the Bearcats are rated 25th in the nation according
to D3Football.com,
while picking up several votes to rank among the honorable
mention in the regular NCAA listings.
Willamette features a trio of Steele Canyon High products
in sophomore strong safety ARLIN TAYLOR, sophomore offensive
guard LUIS GUERRA, and freshman fullback SCOTT PERLIN.
Taylor finished fourth on the team in tackles against
Southern Oregon, as Willamette scored 14 unanswered
points in the fourth quarter to rally past the Raiders.
Meanwhile, Guerra starts on the right side of the Bearcats'
O-line, while Perlin is on special teams.
Willamette makes its final Southern California appearance
this week, meeting University of La Verne at 1 p.m.
Saturday (Sept. 27)..
Schiller, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound center, earned NSIC
North Division All-Conference honors as a member
of the University of Minnesota-Crookston (2-9).
As a Vaqueros senior, Schiller – one of the top
pass protectors in the Grossmont North League –
was named to the All-GNL first team and to the All-East
County second team in 2007.
Other East County players on the Golden Eagles roster
include: OL Dominic LaRussa (West Hills), WRs Anthony
Conti and Garrett Jarvis (El Capitan), and RB Ben Wilkins
(El Capitan).
Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley
(left);
Colorado State Rams at San Diego State Aztecs (Slideshow by Tori Mills)
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior leads the Tigers
(3-3) in all-purpose running (155.5 ypg) and tops
his team in kickoff returns (24.1 avg on 18 chances).
To boot, he’s Ouachita’s No. 2 receiver
(32-327 yards, two TDs). Young was a key member
of the El Cajon Valley squad that reached the
Division II section finals against Oceanside in
2005. He also helped the Griffins reach the SoCal
semifinals as a freshman a year later.
Dale leads the eight-team Dakota Athletic Conference
in all-purpose running (178.4 ypg) and in scoring
(76 points, 12 TDs, 4 PATs). A 5-foot-9, 165-pound
freshman, Dale also heads the Hardrockers (4-1)
in rushing (76-548, 10 TDs).
Dale earned DAC Player of the Week honors on
Sept. 22 against Dakota State.
Lindley established MWC and SDSU records for most passing
yards (433) and touchdowns (four) by a freshman in a
45-17 triumph over Idaho. He is the first frosh to capture
the award since 2006. His passing rating of 198.87 is
the high among all qualifying frosh, ranking 18th overall.
The Aztecs (1-3) travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to meet
TCU in their conference opener on Saturday. Kickoff
is at 3 p.m. PT.
Lindley not blamed for embarrassing Aztecs loss Pair of school frosh passing records not enough
to avoid last-second 29-26 failure to Cal Poly
Lindley, an all-state performer for El Capitan in 2006,
established a pair of school records for passing yardage
and touchdowns by an SDSU quarterback in his freshman
debut. However, Cal Poly bounced back on a 20-yard field
goal by Andrew Gardner on the game's final play to secure
another shocker over the Aztecs, 29-27, Saturday (Aug.
30) at Qualcomm Stadium.
The victory was the Mustangs' second over San Diego
State in three seasons.
Following a slow start in the first quarter, Lindley
settled in and tossed for records of 352 yards and three
touchdowns. He completed 27-of-45 passes.
"I think I was just rushing a little bit in the
first quarter," Lindley explained. "Probably
at the end of the first quarter I felt like the whole
offense was clicking. The (offensive) line was picking
up stuff very well all game. I think that everybody
just got in a groove. Then we kind of kicked it up.
We just need to go that extra yard, that extra inch
to get what we need in the next game."
Just think how well the former Vaqueros standout could've
done with some assistance from his teammates. Lindley
was intercepted twice, both times on tipped passes off
the hands of his receivers. The Aztecs also dropped
no less than a half-dozen passes.
Lindley, in his first collegiate appearance, refused
to point fingers.
"Any one play could've turned this thing around
and it obviously did for them unfortunately," said
Lindley. "There were a couple of good plays where
we would build momentum and build momentum, then all
of the sudden we slipped up. It happens, but I feel
extremely confident that we can turn it around next
week."
Cal Poly led throughout by taking advance of five San
Diego State turnovers. Meanwhile, the Aztecs defense
was burned for 480 total yards.
Lindley led the comeback with TD tosses to Brand Sullivan
(16 yards), Robert Wallace (30) and Vincent Brown (23),
then he directed a 77-yard scoring drive to finally
give the Aztecs the lead at 27-26 with 6:51 remaining
on a 5-yard TD rush by Sullivan. SDSU failed on a 2-point
conversion attempt to leave the door open for the Mustangs,
who capped a 9-play, 63-yard drive with Gardner's second
field goal of the contest at the gun.
“The silver lining in there was Ryan Lindley,"
said head coach CHUCK LONG. "He really threw the
ball well after a rough start. He really came on and
showed a lot."
Up next for San Diego State (0-1) is a nationally televised
contest at Notre Dame on Sept. 6. The Aztecs return
home to meet Idaho on Sept. 27.
Grossmont HS alum Khalid Waters
records his first collegiate TD on this 11-yard
run to give Midland Lutheran an early 7-0 lead. (Midland Lutheran courtesy photo) DOUBLE-CLICK TO ENLARGE
Midland Lutheran honored Larry
the Cable Guy
with his own team jersey, then the Warriors beat
Doane, 27-26, on a 2-point PAT with 1:06 left. (Midland Lutheran College courtesy photo)
Aided by the efforts of running back KHALID WATERS
(Grossmont HS) and safety BRANDON BROWN (Steele Canyon),
the Warriors are ranked 23rd nationally after nipping
Doane College (Neb.), 27-26, last Saturday. MLC scored
a touchdown with 1:06 to play, then completed a
2-point conversion for the dramatic victory at Memorial
Field.
Stand-up comedian Larry the Cable Guy was in attendance
to make sure the Warriors "Get'r Done." Waters
did by finishing the contest with 109 all-purpose yards,
scoring the game's opening touchdown on an 11-yard rush.
Meanwhile, Brown was the Warriors' second-leading tackler,
which included a shared quarterback sack.
For their efforts, both freshmen are expected to gain
their first starts of the season this Saturday, when
Midland Lutheran, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary,
travels to Sioux City, Iowa, to meet Briar Cliff University.
El Cap’s Conti has crisp debut for Golden Eagles Receiver joins four East County products at Minn.-Crookston
The lone bright spot for the team was provided by ANTHONY
(A.J.) CONTI of El Capitan High, who reeled in six passes
for 52 yards and kicked two conversions.
In addition to Conti, El Capitan grad JEFF SCHILLER
started at center and West Hills product DOMINIC LaRUSSA
started at left guard for the Golden Eagles. GARRETT
JARVIS, a wide receiver/tight end out of El Capitan,
and former Vaqueros running back BEN WILKINS are also
on scholarship to Minnesota–Crookston but did not
play in the opener.
Clinton Snyder on Bronko Nagurski watch list Award Honors College Football's Top Defensive Player
Clinton Snyder (Stanford photos)
Special to East County Sports.com
STANFORD (7-7-08) – Former Monte Vista High standout
and Stanford outside linebacker CLINTON
SNYDER has been included on the watch list for the
2008 Bronko Nagurski Award, which goes to the best defensive
player in college football. There are 88 candidates nationwide
nominated for the award, which is sponsored by the Charlotte
Touchdown Club.
The Football Writers Association of America All-America
Committee selects the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner
from the association's 11-man All-America defensive
team in November. The watch list was developed by the
FWAA All-America committee with the help of schools
and conferences.
Snyder, who earned second team All-Pac-10 Conference
honors last season, ranks as Stanford's active career
leader in tackles (179), sacks (10.0), fumbles forced
(7) and is tied for first in fumbles recovered (3) and
tackles for loss (18). He ranked among the Pac-10 leaders
in virtually every defensive category in 2007, including
fumbles forced, tackles for loss, fumble recoveries,
sacks and tackles.
As a senior at Monte Vista, Snyder was the East
County Sports.com Defensive Player of the Year in
2004. He was also a first-team tight end in the East
County Sports.com selections.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented since
1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski,
a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29
who went on to star for the Chicago Bears in the 1930s.
Stanford linebacker
Clinton Snyder (Stanford Univ. photo)
In
Thursday's (Aug. 28) NCAA opener, former Monte
Vista standout CLINTON SNYDER, now a starting
linebacker for Stanford, helped lead the
Cardinal over visiting Oregon, 36-28,
placing Stanford as the early leader in the
Pacific 10.
"It's more than a landmark. It's a great step
for us that we need as a program to show people that
we're not the old Stanford," said Snyder, one of
three Cardinal defenders with 10 tackles. "I didn't
know how it would feel. We haven't done this in a long
time."
Under the leadership of former University of San Diego
head coach JIM HARBAUGH, the rebuilding process seemed
headed for a long, bumpy road following embarrassing
Pac-10 Conference losses to UCLA (45-17), Oregon (55-31)
and Arizona State (41-3) – all at home – earlier
in the season.
Perhaps playing on the road is the ticket for the Cardinal,
which snapped USC’s 35-game home winning streak.
Oh yeah, the last time the Trojans were toppled in the
Coliseum was at the hands of Stanford in 2001. That
was USC coach Pete Carroll’s first year as the
Trojans' head man.
"It's incredible. We came into this game with
only a win against a WAC team ( San Jose State ), and
we weren't performing like we knew we could," added
the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Snyder, Stanford’s top
returning tackler from a year ago. "This game,
we came out and ground it out, and performed the way
the Stanford Cardinal needs to perform in the future."
The youthful Cardinal committed mistake-after-mistake,
but switching to Tavita Pritchard at quarterback last
week against Arizona State seemed to be the catalyst,
as the offense took giants steps forward while Snyder
& Co. held the line on defense.
"All the little mistakes we were making in the
other games didn't happen," noted Snyder, a redshirt
sophomore. "We got some good breaks on defense
with all the turnovers. It's a game of turnovers. Whoever
wins the turnover battle usually wins the game."
Snyder, the 2004 East County Defensive Player of the
Year who set a Grossmont Conference record of 44 sacks,
went on to say:
"We got those turnovers on defense and helped
the offense out by giving the offense good field position,
and they made good adjustments. They moved the ball
down the field and scored some points for us, and we
came out on top."
Snyder, who made 61 tackles for losses during his Monte
Vista career, came through with several of those key
plays. He forced a fumble which led to a turnover, then
he registered one of three sacks on Trojans quarterback
J.D. Booty late in the 4th quarter which led to Stanford
getting the ball back for its game-winning drive.
The Cardinal offense rebounded with the game-winning
touchdown in the final 2:50. Included was a 4th-down
reception by Richard Sherman to the USC-9, then Pritchard
found Mark Bradford on the left-side of the endzone
with 49 seconds remaining for another 4th-down conversion.
"We said focus and finish, which is what we've
been saying all year,” Snyder said. “Focus
and finish is a big thing for us. That's what we stress,
finishing in the fourth quarter. We went out there and
got a good stop on defense."
USC, ranked No. 1 in one major poll and No. 2 in the
other, had one last chance, but Booty's bomb was intercepted
by Bo McNally.
"Just to see Bo catch that ball and slide down
there knowing that the game is over and we had won the
game is just great," said Snyder, who now has 117
tackles in five games this season. “It's awesome;
it's a dream. This is a great win for the program."
