Clarion University’s 2001 football team had 9 players rewarded today by being voted to the All PSAC-West squad. The voting was done by the PSAC-West coaches and the team was released by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Clarion first team selections were Chris Janson (Sr. OLB., Lansdale, North Penn) and Doug Diegelman (Sr. NG, Pittsburgh, Shaler) on the defense and Reggie Wells (Jr. OT, Library, South Park) on the offense.

Second team selections on offense included Adam Almashy (Jr. QB, Newton Falls, Oh.), Ryan Duchon (Jr. OG, Alliance, Ohio) and Demetric Gardner (Sr., RB, Middletown, N.Y., Pine Bush). The defense featured Kevin Platz (Jr., DE, Chardon, Ohio), Dennis Yu (Sr. ILB, Santa Maria, California, University HS) and Myron Hargon (So. CB, Gainesville, Fla., Bucholtz).

"I am very happy with our representation on the PSAC-West squad this year," said eighth year head coach Malen Luke. "Chris (Janson), Doug (Diegelman) and Reggie (Wells) certainly deserved their first team selections. They had great seasons and really were leaders on their respective sides of the ball. Those making second team also had very strong years and my congratulations to them as well."

IUP totaled 14 players on first and second team, Clarion and Slippery Rock had 9 each, while Edinboro notched 8, Shippensburg and Lock Haven 7 and California 5.

Clarion finished the season with a 4-7 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the PSAC-West against a very tough schedule. Of the seven losses, six were not decided until the final minutes or seconds. Clarion opened the year with a 33-27 loss at East Stroudsburg, then lost 44-0 at Div.I-AA power Youngstown State. The Golden Eagles returned home to defeat Tiffin 27-14, lost at Shippensburg 34-29 and returned hoe to post solid wins over Kutztown 36-7 and California 29-22. A 24-12 loss at Edinboro were followed by home losses to Slippery Rock (33-24) and IUP (35-34 overtime). Clarion won 13-0 at Lock Haven and closed the season with a 16-14 loss at West Chester.

Luke has an 8-year record of 41-46 at Clarion and a collegiate record of 78-67 in 14 year as a collegiate head coach.

Janson, a 6-0, 205-pound senior outside linebacker, had a tremendous season leading Clarion’s defense. He was second in the entire PSAC with 104 tackles, first in sacks with 11 (-75 yards) and in fumbles caused with 4 and second in tfl’s with 18 (-85). He also tallied 3 fumble recoveries and 3 broken-up passes. A 2000 red-shirt, he posted 90 tackles, 2 tfl’s, 3 break-ups, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble caused and recovered in 1999 at strong safety. He finished his career with 262 tackles (114 solo), 22 tfl’s, 11 sacks, 9 pass break-ups, 5 fumbles caused, 4 interceptions and 4 fumbles recovered.

Diegelman, a 6-1, 250-pound, senior noseguard, also finished a very strong career this season. He posted 55 hits, 9 qb sacks (tied for 2nd in PSAC) for -50 yards, 17 tfl’s (3^rd in PSAC) for -71 yards and 1 fumble recovery. In 2000 he had 26 tackles, 12 tfl’s and 7 qb sacks in helping Clarion to the PSAC-West title. For his career Doug compiled 134 tackles (63 solo), 44 tfl’s for - 198 yards, 23 qb sacks for -141 yards and 2 fumble recoveries. He was a 2^nd team PSAC-West choice in 2000.

Wells, a 6-4, 295-pound, junior, offensive tackle, was the leader of a very good offensive line. Clarion’s running game was one of the tops in the country, especially considering its tough schedule (including Youngstown State- ranked #6 as a team and 19^th ranked total defense). The Golden Eagles ranked 15^th in the nation in rushing offense at 240.5 yards per game while averaging 4.7 yards per rush as a team. Against NCAA Div. II Playoff bound IUP, whose defense finished the season ranked #1 in the PSAC against the run, the Eagles rushed for 264 yards and 4 rushing td’s while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Wells is a three year starter on the offensive line and is the son of former Clarion All-America basketball player Reggie Wells (1975-79). Clarion rushed for 195 yards or more in 9 of its 11 games this season.

Almashy, a 6-2, 190-pound, junior quarterback, was selected to the second team for his running and passing ability. He completed 78 of 201 passes for 1,173 yards and 8 td’s. He also galloped for 447 yards and 4 td’s on 157 carries as an option quarterback. In 2000 he passed for 1,700 yards and 16 td’s, along with running for 307 yards and 5 td’s. In his three-year career Almashy has now completed 295 of 670 passes for 4,111 yards and 36 td’s. He ranks 7^th in passing yards and td passes. He also has rushed for 826 yards and 12 td’s on 415 carries.

Duchon, a 6-3, 310-pound, junior, offensive guard, is a three year starter on Clarion’s offensive line. A very mobile lineman for his size, Duchon is a physical lineman who helped lead Clarion’s offense to a total of 353 yards per game, including 240.5 on the ground and 112.5 through the air. Ryan was a first team selection at offensive guard in the PSAC-West in 2000 and a second team selection in 1999.

Gardner, a 6-1, 215-pound, senior, fullback, had his best season with the blue and gold in 2001. Demetric rushed for 983 yards and 8 td’s on 171 carries, plus grabbed 12 passes for 128 yards and 1 td. He led the team averaging 5.7 yards per rush, and his 983 yards is the fourth highest in a single season at Clarion. Capping a strong four-year career, Gardner finished with 370 career rushes for 1,961 yards and 15 td’s. Gardner’s 1,961 yards is the 6^th highest in school history and his 15 rushing td’s places him 9^th all-time at Clarion. Gardner also finished with 69 career catches (20^th all-time) for 830 yards (24^th all-time) and 5 td’s. His 20 overall td’s ranks 10^th at Clarion.

Platz, a 6-3, 225-pound, junior, defensive end, has had two impressive seasons at Clarion in 2001 and 2000. This year he played through a shoulder surgery that was performed during Fall camp and slowed him early. Despite the surgery he played in all 11 games and totaled 39 tackles, 4 qb sacks for -23, 12 tfl’s for -46, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 fumble caused. Last year he had 38 hits, 15 tfl’s, 10 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 fumble caused. Already in his career he has totaled 87 tackles (37 solo), 29 tfl’s for -133 yards and 16 qb sacks for -99 yards.

Yu, a 6-2, 230-pound, senior inside linebacker has been a two-year player after transferring from Allan Hancock Junior College. This season Yu posted 65 tackles, 4 qb sacks for -28 yards, 8 tfl’s for -48 yards, 3 fumbles caused, 1 interception and 1 break-up. In 2000 he posted 25 tackles and 2 fumbles caused.

Hargon, a two-year starter at corner, missed two games this season with a leg injury. In 9 games Hargon totaled 22 tackles, 4 interceptions and 4 pass break-ups. He also returned 14 punts for 107 yards and 5 kickoffs for 96 yards. In 2000 he posted 26 tackles, 2 tfl’s, 1 interception and 12 pass break-ups.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion’s offense finished the season ranked 6^th in total offense in the PSAC with 353 yards per game... The running game ranked third (240.5) and the passing game ranked 12^th (112.5) ... Clarion’s defense ranked 6^th in total defense permitting 306.9 yards per game ... The Eagles ranked 8^th against the run (165.5) and 5^th against the pass (141.4) ... In 2001 junior halfback Robert Walker rushed for 504 yards and 10 td’s on 537 yards on 97 carries ... In two seasons he has run for 1,171 yards (17^th all-time) and 15 td’s (tied for 9^th all-time) ... Senior tight end Andy Pore missed the last two games of the year with broken ribs ... He finished the season with 10 catches for 205 yards and 2 td’s and a very strong career with 68 catches for 691 yards and 11 td’s... Clarion will open its 2002 season on September 7^th at Youngstown State and will be at Millersville on September 14^th, while the home opener is set against Glenville State for Sept. 21st.