EMANUEL, SIMMONS & WOODARD FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS
CLARION GRIDDERS PLACE 7 ON ALL-PSAC-WEST SQUAD
Clarion had a solid representation on the 2006 PSAC-West All-Conference team which was announced recently. Seven total players were named to the team including three first team selections.
Selected to the first team were running back Eddie Emanuel (Jr. Hempstead, N.Y.), defensive lineman Jimmy Simmons (Jr. Huntland, Tenn.) and defensive back Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie/Central).
Honored with second team selections were linebacker Matt Morris (Sr. Boiling Springs), tight end Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek/Brockway), wide receiver Pierre Odom (Jr. Trenton, N.J./Hamilton –West) and offensive tackle Zack Snyder (Sr. Akron, Oh./St. Vincent-St. Mary). The team was selected on a vote by the coaches.
“We want to congratulate these players on their awards,” said first year head coach Jay Foster. “They are all well deserving of All-Conference honors and had very good seasons.”
Emanuel, a 5’9”, 200-pound, junior running back from Hempstead, N.Y., had a strong season toting the pigskin. He had 204 carries for 967 yards and 3 td’s, plus caught 4 passes for 23 yards. His 967 yards was the 6th highest single season rushing in Clarion history. He had four 100-yard games including 170 versus Slippery Rock, 150 against Cheyney, 136 versus Cheyney and 122 against Lock Haven. He is a Sociology major at Clarion.
Simmons, a 6’2”, 245-pound, junior defensive tackle from Huntland, Tennessee, had an amazing year on the defensive line. Simmons totaled 70 tackles, ranked #2 in the NCAA with 27 tfl’s (-100 yards), led the PSAC and NCAA in solo tfl’s with 21, recovered and caused a fumble. His season was very consistent including 10 tackles and 5 tfl’s against Edinboro, along with 3 tfl’s against Tiffin, Slippery Rock, Lock Haven and California. Simmons had 23 tackles and 8 tfl’s in the 2005 season. He is a Rehab Science major and is the son of James and Pam Simmons.
Woodard, a 5-10, 170-pound, senior defensive back from Erie, Pa. and Central High, has been a 4-year starter with the Golden Eagles. In 2006 he posted 40 tackles, 4 interceptions, 7 break-ups and blocked a kick. He was named the D-II National “Defensive Player of he Week” for his performance against Cheyney that included 3 interceptions, 1 returned for a td, 4 tackles and 2 break-ups. In his career he finished with 166 tckles, 10 interceptions, 26 break-ups and 7 blocked kicks. He was also a strong punt returner. He was a third team All-Region selection in 2004. He is the son of Pamella Ford and Math major at Clarion.
Morris, a 6’1”, 215-pound, senior, linebacker from Boiling Springs, had great career on the Clarion defense. Also a 4-year starter, Morris led the 2006 squad with 91 tackles, 9 tfl’s, 2 interceptions, 3 break-ups and caused a fumble. Last year he was a third team FB Gazette All-American with 102 tackles, 22 tfl’s. In his career he finished with 340 tackles, 54 tfl’s, 9 sacks, 4 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries. He is the son of Diane and William Morris and is a Management major at Clarion.
Foradora, a 6’5”, 225-pound, sophomore, tight end from Falls Creek, Pa, and Brockway High, moved to tight end this season from quarterback in 2005. This year he grabbed 24 passes for 295 yards and 4 td’s. His top game was 4 catches for 75 yards and 1 td against Cheyney. He also had 4 grabs for 60 yards against Ship and 4 for 47 and 1 td versus IUP. In 2005 at qb he completed 4 of 8 passes for 27 yards, and as a receiver caught 3 aerials for 33 yards. He is the son of Mark and Darla Foradora and is a Management major.
Odom, a 5’10”, 190-pound, junior, wide receiver from Trenton, N.J. also had a quality season. He caught 46 passes for 798 yards and 3 td’s, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. He was the Division II Offensive “Player of the Week” for his performance against West Chester. He caught 6 passes for 246 yards and 1 td. His 246 yards were the second most in Clarion history behind Terry McFetridge’s 251 in 1982 against Kutztown. Odom, a three-year starter, has 107 career grabs for 1,482 yards. He is 12th in catches and 11th in receiving yards at Clarion. Pierre is the son of Jennifer Odom and is a Management major at Clarion.
Snyder, a 6’5”, 310-pound, senior offensive tackle from Akron, Ohio, finished a strong career on the offensive line. A 4-year starter, he did not miss a game in four seasons and that included 43 games. In 2005 at center he was named third team FB Gazette All-Region at center, and in 2004 he was second team All-Region at center. He was a starting tackle in 2003. Snyder is the son of Dan and Noleen Snyder and is a History major at Clarion.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion finished its first season under new head coach Jay Foster … The Golden Eagles were 1-10 overall, but the Eagles played some very good games. Clarion led #2 ranked Bloomsburg 10-7, #7 ranked IUP 7-6 and Ship 3-0 at halftime before losing those games… Clarion also was within 3 points at half to SR and Kutztown, and pulled to within 21-14 of #6 ranked Cal in the fourth quarter before bowing in those games.