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Pioneer Football League announces postseason honors, 18th All-PFL squad
ST. LOUIS – Pioneer Football League officials announced Tuesday the winners of its postseason honors and the All-Pioneer Football League first and second teams. All selections were made by the league’s coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Dayton and Jacksonville each won a share of the 2010 PFL regular-season title after surviving scares in their final regular-season contests. It is Jacksonville’s second league title after winning the 2008 title outright. Dayton wins at least a share of the title for the 11th time, repeating as league champions after sharing the 2009 title.
Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, Drake defensive lineman Dain Taylor was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and Dayton head coach Rick Chamberlin was named the league’s Coach of the Year. The league’s freshman awards went to Davidson quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff and Jacksonville linebacker Mike Klein, who were named the league’s Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year, respectively.
Valentino becomes just the second player in league history to be named its Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, joining San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson who accomplished the feat in 2005-06. A three-time All-PFL first-team selection, he led Dayton to an 8-0 mark in PFL play – he was 15-1 in his two seasons as a starter in PFL contests – to earn a share of the league’s regular-season title and a 10-1 overall mark. Valentino finished the regular season ranked 14th among FCS players with 266.4 total offensive yards. He was Dayton’s top rushing threat and ranked seven nationally among FCS quarterbacks with 64.7 rushing yards per game. Valentino also ranked fourth in both passing yardage (201.6 ypg) and pass efficiency rating (135.0).
Taylor wins the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honor after leading a Drake defensive front line that limited opponents to less than 100 rushing yards per game. The Bulldogs held opponents to 94.2 rushing yards and 20.5 points per game this season, both ranking second among PFL defensive units. Taylor finished just 30th in total tackles (5.4 pg) but made a number of those tackles in the backfield. He ranked second in tackles for loss (2.18 pg) and third in quarterback sacks (1.23 pg) this season.
Carkhuff took over at starting quarterback in week three, becoming the first true freshman to lead Davidson since the 2004 campaign. He became the ninth Wildcats quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards, finishing with 197 completions for 2,002 yards.
Klein ranked among the league’s top 50 in tackles (4.3 pg) in his first season of action. He finished the season with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks in nine games. Klein was part of a defensive unit that ranked second in scoring defense (20.5 ppg) and rushing yards allowed (106.5 ypg).
Chamberlin wins Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his third season at Dayton. He led the Flyers to a share of their 11th PFL title, posting an 8-0 PFL record and a 10-1 overall finish. In his three seasons at the helm, Dayton has posted a better PFL record each season, starting at 6-2 in 2008, improving to 7-1 with a share of the PFL title in 2009 and this season’s 8-0 mark.
The 18th All-PFL squads are highlighted by six unanimous selections. Jacksonville had three players receive unanimous ac- climation, including senior running back Rudell Small who was a unanimous first-team All-PFL selection for the third consecutive season. Jacksonville junior wide receiver Josh Philpart was a unanimous first-team All-PFL selection for the second consecutive year. Other unanimous first-team honorees were Jacksonville offensive lineman Leonard Payton, Drake fullback Steve Platek, Valparaiso punter Greg Wood and San Diego defensive lineman Mario Kurn.
Additionally, the All-PFL first-team selections include 10 repeat honorees from the 2009 All-PFL first team, as denoted in the following listing.
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www.pioneer-football.org 2010 Pioneer Football League Postseason Awards
Steve Valentino Dain Taylor Rick Chamberlin Jonathan Carkhuff Mike Klein Dayton Drake Dayton Davidson Jacksonville OFFENSIVE DEFENSIVE COACH FRESHMAN FRESHMAN PLAYER PLAYER OF THE YEAR OFFENSIVE PLAYER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR 2010 All-Pioneer Football League First Team as selected by the league’s coaches Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (Previous School) OFFENSE WR James LaMacchia (1) Marist 6-0 175 Sr. Bronx, N.Y. (Fordham Prep) WR Josh Philpart (U, 1) Jacksonville 6-1 175 Jr. Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach) WR Godfrey Smith San Diego 6-2 195 Sr. Oakland, Calif. (Oakland Tech) TE Mike Stryffeler (2) Campbell 6-0 240 R-Sr. Sanford, N.C. (Lee County /Averett) QB Steve Valentino (1, 3) Dayton 5-10 172 R-Sr. Solon, Ohio (Solon) FB Steve Platek (U, 1, 3) Drake 6-2 235 R-Sr. Arlington Heights, Ill. (John Hersey) RB J.J. Laster Jacksonville 5-6 180 Jr. Graceville, Fla. (Graceville) RB Rudell Small (U, 1, 3) Jacksonville 5-10 205 Sr. Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic) OL Christian Fetters San Diego 6-1 245 Jr. Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West) OL Tyler Friedrich (1) Dayton 6-6 275 R-Sr. Powell, Ohio (Dublin Jerome) OL Evan Lawrence (H) Drake 6-5 300 Jr. Moline, Ill. (Moline) OL Leonard Payton (U, 1) Jacksonville 6-3 295 Sr. Jacksonville, Fla. (Sandalwood) OL Dustin Robinson (H) Jacksonville 6-1 305 Sr. Belleview, Fla. (Belleview)
DEFENSE DL Mario Kurn (U) San Diego 6-2 220 Jr. Encinitas, Calif. (Santa Fe Christian) DL Devon Langhorst Dayton 6-3 225 Sr. Sidney, Ohio (Sidney) DL Dain Taylor (1) Drake 6-3 251 R-Sr. Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista) DL Brandon Wingeier Dayton 6-3 241 R-Sr. Newark, Ohio (Newark) LB Joseph Fennell (2) Jacksonville 5-10 222 Sr. Palm Coast, Fla. (Flagler Palm Coast) LB Tyler Moorehead (H) Drake 6-1 223 Jr. Mason City, Iowa (Newman Catholic) LB Jordan Ridley Butler 5-11 230 So. Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence Central) LB Joe Ries (1, 3) Dayton 6-1 210 R-Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Xavier) DB Al-Rilwan Adeyemi San Diego 5-10 187 Jr. Santa Monica, Calif. (Santa Monica) DB Jordan Dewhirst Jacksonville 6-3 205 So. Fort White, Fla. (Fort White) DB Rory Foley (H) Marist 5-10 204 Sr. West Roxbury, Mass. (Boston Latin School/Canterbury) DB James Vercammen (1) Dayton 5-10 192 R-Sr. Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Groves)
SPECIAL TEAMS PK Rainer Duzan Morehead State 5-11 165 So. Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Scioto) P Greg Wood (U) Valparaiso 6-1 165 So. Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville) RS James LaMacchia Marist 6-0 175 Sr. Bronx, N.Y. (Fordham Prep)
Notes in parentheses: U-indicates a player was a unanimous selection, 1-was a first-team selection in 2009, 2-was a second-team selection in 2009, H-was a honorable mention selection in 2009, 3-is a three-time first-team All-PFL selection 2010 All-Pioneer Football League Second Team as selected by the league’s coaches Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (Previous School) OFFENSE (Seven offensive linemen due to a tie in the voting) WR Lanny Funsten Davidson 6-2 185 So. Raleigh, N.C. (Ravenscroft) WR Justin Watkins Dayton 5-11 185 R-Sr. Englewood, Ohio (Northmont) WR Zach Watkins Butler 6-2 205 Jr. Chicago, Ill. (St. Ignatius) TE Chris Kuck Jacksonville 6-1 220 Sr. Marathon, Fla. (Marathon) QB Josh McGregor Jacksonville 6-2 200 Jr. Belle Glade, Fla. (Glades Day) FB Ronnie McDermott Morehead State 5-9 175 Jr. Louisville, Ky. (Holy Cross) RB Kenny Mantuo Davidson 6-2 185 So. Weston, Fla. (Cypress Bay) RB Phil Morelli San Diego 5-11 195 Sr. Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen/Colorado State) OL Chad Cypher Jacksonville 6-6 310 Jr. Fort Myers, Fla. (Bishop Verot) OL Steve Flynn Drake 6-3 323 Sr. Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf) OL Kevin Halverson Jacksonville 6-1 290 Jr. Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Lake Brantley) OL Sam Issermoyer Campbell 6-3 314 Jr. Eldersburg, Md. (Liberty) OL Ian Osking Jacksonville 6-5 310 Jr. Fort Pierce, Fla. (Westwood) OL Mike Staniewicz Butler 6-6 285 Sr. Hebron, Ind. (Lowell) OL Eric Studt Dayton 6-1 280 R-Sr. Bethel Park, Pa. (Bethel Park)
DEFENSE (Six defensive linemen due to a tie in the voting) DL Andrew Asbell Drake 6-5 264 R-Sr. Machesney Park, Ill. (Harlem) DL Bradley Burns Jacksonville 6-2 210 Sr. Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic) DL Randel Herring Campbell 6-3 278 R-Jr. Benson, N.C. (West Johnson) DL Morgan Popham Davidson 6-2 240 Jr. Marietta, Ga. (Sprayberry) DL Jerome Raymond Morehead State 6-3 224 Jr. Lawrenceville, Ga. (Berkmar) DL Ross Teare Butler 6-1 290 Jr. Sammamish, Wash. (Eastlake) LB Tony Bachman Morehead State 5-11 220 Jr. Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg) LB John Behm Davidson 6-1 215 Jr. Chagrin Falls, Ohio (Kenston) LB Benny Morrison Drake 6-2 226 R-Sr. Long Grove, Ill. (Stevenson) LB Will Perry Jacksonville 6-4 218 Sr. Panama City, Fla. (Mosley) DB Tadd Dombart Butler 5-10 185 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Lakota West) DB Jared Hart Campbell 6-1 194 R-Jr. Durham, N.C. (North Raleigh Christian Academy) DB Loka Kanongaata San Diego 5-11 215 Sr. Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue Senior) DB Pete Kidwell Davidson 6-0 210 Jr. Marshall, Va. (Fauquier)
SPECIAL TEAMS PK Ben Behrendt Davidson 5-8 165 Sr. New Philadelphia, Ohio (New Philadelphia) P Michael Wilson Butler 6-0 180 So. Grand Rapids, Mich. (East Grand Rapids) RS Justin Williams Davidson 5-9 185 Sr. Laurinburg, N.C. (Scotland) 2010 All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention Squad as selected by the league’s coaches Pos. Players OFFENSE WR Drew Blackman (DRA), Sean McCarty (VAL), Anthony Papp (DAY), Michael Rios (MAR), Donte Sawyer (MOR), Rodney Sumter (JAC), Larry Thompson (JAC) TE Chris Ortner (MAR), Carter Walley (BUT) QB Mason Mills (SAN), Mike Piatkowski (DRA), Daniel Polk (CAM) RB Scott Gray (BUT) OL Nate Blair (VAL), Branden Burt (CAM), Phede Celestin (MAR), Dan Fornek (DAY), Jeremy Hill (CAM), Eric Matteson (MOR), Pete Mattingly (BUT), Brad Seger (MOR), Ferdinand Velez (VAL), Zenus Wilson (DAV)
DEFENSE DL Grant Bushong (VAL), Rolando Fines (JAC), Dustin Geyer (SAN), Mark Hall (MOR), Mike Mayoral (JAC), Brian Plachinski (VAL), John Sawhill (DRA), Josh Walkup (DRA) LB Daniel Astrop (DAV), Nick Caldicott (BUT), Mike Callahan (SAN), Cody Gokan (VAL), Tyler Ramsey (MAR), Lee Stanley (CAM) DB Jaquan Bryant (MAR), Adrian Gober (VAL), Michael Lahart (DRA), Fred Obi (SAN), Leonard Smith (JAC), Colby Walden (JAC)
SPECIAL TEAMS PK David Lang (BUT), Stanley Shurson (SAN), Josh Hostetler (JAC), Jason Myers (MAR), Nick Glavin (DAY) P Ted Moore (CAM), Kevin Pauly (MAR), Billy Janssen (DRA) RS Elliot Finkley (JAC), Michael Lahart (DRA), Sam Hoekstra (SAN), Trae Heeter (BUT)