Trib~ Democrat names their team..
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Trib~ Democrat names their team..
T~D Names All-Area Football team.. ( Congrats) !!!
Tribune-Democrat names 2005 All-Area football team
By CORY ISENBERG
The Tribune-Democrat
The publication of the 14th annual Tribune-Democrat all-area football team officially brings the 2005 scholastic season to a close.
Some of the storylines this year followed the unbeaten regular-season campaigns of perennial power Bishop Carroll in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference play and Portage in the WestPAC.
The Huskies claimed the District 6 Class A title, their third in four years, while Forest Hills won the District 5-6 Class AA crown and Windber, the District 5-A championship.
The highlights of gridiron greatness lead to The Tribune-Democrat once again naming its Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
First- and second-team selections and honorable mention candidates also have been tabulated.
The offensive and defensive players of the year are the statistical leaders in their respective categories.
The all-area first team includes three juniors and a sophomore, and the Defensive Player of the Year is a junior.
Also, four players on this year’s first team were first-team selections last year.
o o o
Coach of the Year: What was supposed to have been a rebuilding year for the Forest Hills program turned into another successful season in the Rangers’ legacy.
The team finished 11-2, claiming its seventh district title.
Forest Hills coach Don Bailey was accorded the honor of coach of the year ahead of Phil DeMarco of Windber, Ernie Fetzer of Penn Cambria, Gary Gouse of Portage, Chris Matava of United, Ken Salem of Bishop McCort, Craig Sponsky of Bishop Carroll, Andy Stahl of Meyersdale, Wes Swaim of Bedford and Dan Wilkins of Chestnut Ridge.
It’s the third time that Bailey has been selected as coach of the year.
o o o
Offensive Player of the Year: The Force was definitely with Bishop Carroll’s Paul Forcellini, one of the most talked-about athletes in the area.
Despite playing with injuries that might have sidelined others, the Huskies’ senior continued to grind it out on the gridiron, ending up as the area’s top rusher with 1,739 yards on 204 carries. He also scored 22 touchdowns for 136 points, also the area’s leader.
In his four-year career at Bishop Carroll, Forcellini has also been a force to be reckoned with on defense.
He was selected as an Associated Press first-team Class A member at linebacker this year and was a second-team defensive specialist last season.
o o o
Defensive Player of the Year: Windber’s Josh Kotula didn’t have the typical stature for a fiercesome linebacker – he stands just 5-foot-8 and weighs 152 pounds – but he certainly had the characteristics.
Kotula, a junior, topped the Ramblers squad in tackles for the second straight season.
He also led the area in stops with 156 including 111 solo tackles during the team’s playoff season.
Kotula was an Associated Press all-state Class A selection as a second-team defensive specialist.
Note: For profiles of this year's Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, please visit our high school sports section.
"THE CHOPS".
Tribune-Democrat names 2005 All-Area football team
By CORY ISENBERG
The Tribune-Democrat
The publication of the 14th annual Tribune-Democrat all-area football team officially brings the 2005 scholastic season to a close.
Some of the storylines this year followed the unbeaten regular-season campaigns of perennial power Bishop Carroll in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference play and Portage in the WestPAC.
The Huskies claimed the District 6 Class A title, their third in four years, while Forest Hills won the District 5-6 Class AA crown and Windber, the District 5-A championship.
The highlights of gridiron greatness lead to The Tribune-Democrat once again naming its Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
First- and second-team selections and honorable mention candidates also have been tabulated.
The offensive and defensive players of the year are the statistical leaders in their respective categories.
The all-area first team includes three juniors and a sophomore, and the Defensive Player of the Year is a junior.
Also, four players on this year’s first team were first-team selections last year.
o o o
Coach of the Year: What was supposed to have been a rebuilding year for the Forest Hills program turned into another successful season in the Rangers’ legacy.
The team finished 11-2, claiming its seventh district title.
Forest Hills coach Don Bailey was accorded the honor of coach of the year ahead of Phil DeMarco of Windber, Ernie Fetzer of Penn Cambria, Gary Gouse of Portage, Chris Matava of United, Ken Salem of Bishop McCort, Craig Sponsky of Bishop Carroll, Andy Stahl of Meyersdale, Wes Swaim of Bedford and Dan Wilkins of Chestnut Ridge.
It’s the third time that Bailey has been selected as coach of the year.
o o o
Offensive Player of the Year: The Force was definitely with Bishop Carroll’s Paul Forcellini, one of the most talked-about athletes in the area.
Despite playing with injuries that might have sidelined others, the Huskies’ senior continued to grind it out on the gridiron, ending up as the area’s top rusher with 1,739 yards on 204 carries. He also scored 22 touchdowns for 136 points, also the area’s leader.
In his four-year career at Bishop Carroll, Forcellini has also been a force to be reckoned with on defense.
He was selected as an Associated Press first-team Class A member at linebacker this year and was a second-team defensive specialist last season.
o o o
Defensive Player of the Year: Windber’s Josh Kotula didn’t have the typical stature for a fiercesome linebacker – he stands just 5-foot-8 and weighs 152 pounds – but he certainly had the characteristics.
Kotula, a junior, topped the Ramblers squad in tackles for the second straight season.
He also led the area in stops with 156 including 111 solo tackles during the team’s playoff season.
Kotula was an Associated Press all-state Class A selection as a second-team defensive specialist.
Note: For profiles of this year's Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, please visit our high school sports section.
"THE CHOPS".