FSU's Kyle Fitzpatrick Named GLIAC Football "Defensive Player of the Week"
Photo credit - Scott Whitney
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BAY CITY, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University junior quarterback Charles Dowdell (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Indiana State) was named GLIAC Football "Offensive Player of the Week" after leading the Cardinals to a road upset of No. 8 California University of Pennsylvania. Ferris State University junior linebacker Kyle Fitzpatrick (Vestaburg, Mich.) earned "Defensive Player of the Week" honors for leading the Bulldogs to season-opening win over Tiffin University. Wayne State University junior defensive back Stan Thornton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) was named "Special Teams Player of the Week" for his efforts in WSU's win over Mercyhurst College (Pa.).
GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week:
Charles Dowdell - Saginaw Valley State
(JR, QB, 6-0, 205, Ft. Wayne, Ind./Indiana State)
Dowdell helped lead the Cardinals to an upset victory over #8 California (Pa.) in his first start as quarterback. Dowdell was 13-of-20 for 208 yards and a touchdown through the air, while rushing 14 times for 62 yards. Dowdell orchestrated two big plays, including a broken play where he scrambled and found Andrew Beaver open down the sideline for a 20-yard gain on third down to set up SVSU’s winning touchdown.
Offensive Honor Roll: David Freeman - FS, Demtrius Trapps - UF, Brad Iciek - GV, Vinnie Panizzi - HC, Joe Leach - UI, Zack George - WS.
2009 Off. Players of the Week: (8/31) C. Dowdell - SV.
GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week:
Kyle Fitzpatrick - Ferris State
(JR, OLB, 6-2, 211, Vestaburg, Mich.)
Fitzpatrick helped the Bulldogs to a 34-14 season-opening victory over Tiffin on Saturday evening. He tallied five tackles, including four solo stops, to go with a sack and a tackle for loss. He also provided one of the game’s biggest plays with a 65-yard interception return for his first collegiate touchdown late in the second quarter. The Bulldog defense limited TU to 231 total yards, including only 78 in the air for the game and forced four turnovers.
Defensive Honor Roll: Quinton Scott - AU, Brandon Cornell - UF, Jacob McGuckin - GV, Joe Stempien - HC, Collin Coffer - UI, John Jacobs - SV, Jackson Davis - TU, Nick Thomas - WS.
2009 Def. Players of the Week: (8/31) K.Fitzpatrick - FS.
GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week:
Stan Thornton - Wayne State
(JR, CB/KR, 5-10, 172, Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow)
Junior cornerback and return specialist Stan Thornton returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in WSU’s 31-13 season-opening win over Mercyhurst. It was the fifth longest kickoff return for a TD in WSU history and Thornton’s second career kickoff return for a touchdown.
Special Teams Honor Roll: Derek Reidel - AU, Shawn Snoor - FS, Brian Schmeidebusch - UF, P.T. Gates - GV, Mark Petro - HC, Jace Morrison - UI, Dustin Mayner - SV.
2009 S.T. Players of the Week: (8/31) S. Thornton - WS.
-----GLIAC Football Weekly Notes-----
Ashland - For the
second consecutive year, Ashland and Bloomsburg opened the season
as nationally-ranked teams. Bloomsburg completed a sweep of the
two-game series with a 10-7 win last Thursday at BU’s Redman
Stadium. The AU defense, which struggled last season, gave an
impressive showing, forcing three turnovers and allowing 288 yards
of total offense. The Eagles blanked the Huskies over the final
three quarters. Junior linebacker Quinton Scott (Fort Wayne,
IN/Indiana State) had six tackles (four solo), three tackles for
loss and a pair of sacks. Junior linebacker Carmon Wolfe
(Tonawanda, NY/Erie C.C.) had a career-high 11 tackles (four solo)
and senior linebacker Marcus Council (Akron, OH/Garfield) posted
nine tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss (two yards) and one
fumble recovery…the most shocking part of the opener was the
way the Eagles struggled on offense. The Eagles were 4-for-15 on
third down conversions and 0-for-6 on fourth down (three failed
fourth-and-one situations). Ashland turned the ball over just nine
times in 13 games in 2008, but had three turnovers in four quarters
against Bloomsburg. In the two games against Bloomsburg (2009,
2008), Ashland has turned the ball over six times…senior
quarterback Billy Cundiff (Uniontown, OH/Green) failed to throw a
TD pass and that snapped a streak of 22 consecutive games where the
AU signal-caller had tossed at least one touchdown pass. Before the
Bloomsburg game, the last time Cundiff failed to throw a TD pass
came on Nov. 11, 2006, at Gannon. Bloomsburg sacked Cundiff six
times…AU’s lone score against Bloomsburg was a 50-yard
run by sophomore tailback Carlin Isles (Massillon, OH/Jackson).
That is the longest run of his career. Isles had 272 all-purpose
yards, including 72 yards on three kickoff returns…the
Eagles will try and get in the win column for the first time this
coming Saturday at Ferris State. A year ago, Ashland began the year
0-2 with losses at home to Bloomsburg and FSU, then reeled off six
consecutive wins. AU has not started the season 2-0 since 2005.
Ferris State - Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris
State University football team kicked off its 2009 campaign in
convincing fashion by beating Tiffin 34-14 on Saturday (Aug. 29)
evening during “Community Football Day” activities at
FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich... The Bulldogs
jumped out to a 27-7 halftime advantage en route to the non-league
win against the Dragons in the second-ever series’ matchup
between the two schools. A crowd of 3,407 fans braved sometimes
rainy conditions to watch Ferris post the victory... The Bulldogs
scored 20 points in the final 4:24 of the second quarter to take
control of the contest... One of the biggest plays of the day came
when Bulldog junior outside linebacker Kyle Fitzpatrick (Vestaburg)
intercepted a Steve Freeman pass and raced 65-yards for a score to
push the FSU lead to 24-7 near the end of the first half... The
Bulldogs racked up 322 total offensive yards and limited Tiffin to
only 231 yards. FSU compiled 258 yards rushing on 56 attempts and
completed nine-of-26 passes for 64 yards with one interception.
Sophomore tailback David Freeman (Westland/Wayne Memorial) led the
Bulldog rushing attack with 89 yards on 13 carries, including a
TD... Ferris State continues its season-opening homestand by
hosting the nationally-ranked Ashland Eagles next Saturday (Sept.
5) evening with kickoff at 7 p.m. (EDT) at Top Taggart Field... The
Bulldogs finished five-of-six in the red zone for the game .....
Senior safety C.J. Lee (Lockport, N.Y.) also had an interception
for the Bulldogs while senior outside linebacker Chad Schoen
(Woodhaven/Gibraltar Carlson) and junior defensive tackle Jacob
Moreno (Holt) both had fumble recoveries ..... FSU’s four
touchdowns all came from four different players who tallied their
first collegiate scores in Freeman, freshman Troy McClary (Punta
Gorda, Fla./Charlotte), Fitzpatrick and redshirt freshman Tyler
Thomas (Jackson) ..... Fitzpatrick was honored as the Babb Forb
“Bulldog Player of the Game” for his performance.
Findlay - The Oilers racked up 508 total yards of
offense in their 42-21 victory at home against Urbana University on
Thursday, August 27…The yardage was the most they have piled
up since recording 534 in a 35-28 overtime victory at Wayne State
University on September 22, 2007…Findlay displayed a
balanced attack in the game, rushing for 273 yards and passing for
235…Individually, red-shirt freshman running back Demetrius
Trapps dazzled the crowd with 129 yards and two scores on only
eight carries…Trapps averaged 16.1 yards per attempt and
scored on runs of 40 and 48 yards during the game…In the
passing game, senior quarterback Andrew Beam completed 13-of-18
passes for 235 yards and a pair of scores while senior wide
receiver Mike Chambers hauled in six receptions for 131 yards and
caught both touchdown strikes… Sophomore defensive lineman
Brandon Cornell only made two tackles in the win over but
registered 1.5 tackles for a loss, 0.5 sacks and one interception
in the game… Cornell also had one quarterback hurry to go
along with a pass break-up.
Grand Valley State - Grand Valley State improved
to 23-16 in season-opening games with its 37-23 win over #11 West
Texas A&M...The Lakers 11-9 when opening the season on the road
and head coach Chuck Martin is 6-0 in season openers... Senior QB
Brad Iciek (Grandville, Mich.) moved into third all-time at GVSU in
TD passes with 66. Iciek entered the West Texas A&M game with
63 and tossed three in the season-opener... Junior RB James Berezik
(Fraser, Mich./Warren DeLaSalle) moved into 8th all-time in rushing
at GVSU with 2,519 yards...Berezik is 63 yards behind Isaiah Lipsey
(7th/2,581)...Berezik also moved into 8th in all-time all-purpose
yards with 3,467... Senior WR/RB Smolen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) is 5th
all-time in all-purpose yards (4,025) after moving past Reggie
Spearmon vs. West Texas A&M...Smolen is just the fifth player
in Laker history to go over 4,000 yards and needs 141 yards to pass
Michael Tennessee for fourth... Grand Valley State is 73-3 in its
last 76 GLIAC games. The Lakers have won a GLIACrecord record 40
straight GLIAC games dating back to the 2004 season. GVSU also held
the previous record of 29 from 2001 - 2003. The Lakers’ last
GLIAC loss was a 35-14 decision to Northwood on 10/23/04 at Lubbers
Stadium...Grand Valley State has the second longest streak for
consecutive games without being shutout at 203 games. The Lakers
were last shutout by Ferris State (23-0) in 1992. Valdosta
State’s 215 games without being shutout is the longest
streak... GVSU is 94-6 in its last 100 games with four National
Championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006). The Lakers are 109-7 in
their last 116 games and 85-3 in its last 88 regular season
games.
Hillsdale - For the fourth year in a row, the
Hillsdale College football team enjoyed a lopsided win in its
season opener…The Chargers’ 37-7 win over St.
Joseph’s was highlighted by a three-touchdown game by RB
Vinnie Panizzi and a defense that held the Pumas scoreless over the
game’s final 50 minutes…In the past four season
openers, the Chargers have outscored their opponents 180-23
… The game was Panizzi’s third career three-touchdown
game, and he has 31 rushing TDs for his career…QB Troy
Weatherhead fell just five yards shy of his fifth career 300-yard
passing game…Junior Mike Blanchard racked up 196 total yards
in the game, including 118 return yards and 69 yards
receiving… Vince Comasco had a forced fumble and a fumble
recovery in his Hillsdale College debut…Freshman RB Joe
Glendening, the Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year in
2008, averaged more than five yards per carry in his collegiate
debut Saturday…RB Brad Spencer had a touchdown run in the
game…Both of Spencer’s career touchdown runs have come
vs. the Pumas…Senior Mark Petro was named preseason
All-American by D2football.com, and did nothing to put down such
accolades, going 7-for-7 on kicks, including three field goals and
four extra points…HC will host Michigan Tech in its home
opener Saturday.
Indianapolis - UIndy improved to 2-0 all-time
against Kentucky Wesleyan, outscoring the Panthers 71-17 in those
contests … Sophomore Joe Leach, who entered the season with
just one career reception, hauled-in a game-high eight passes for
101 yards … Mar’Quone Edmonds had seven grabs for 81
yards and a score in his collegiate debut … Sophomore Rob
Doyle is 34-for-49 for 373 yards and four TD in his two wins over
KWC … Collin Coffer blocked a field goal and raced 79 yards
for a score, the first special teams TD since Stephen Geller
returned a kickoff 77 yards at Saint Joseph’s (9/22/07)
… It was the first blocked kick since Alex Byrnes blocked a
PAT on Oct. 20, 2007 … Senior Jace Morrison knocked home a
career-long 45-yard field goal Thursday, giving him nine straight
FG makes, dating back to Oct. 4, 2008 … With that FG, he
moved into the top spot on UIndy’s all-time field goal
percentage list (.714) … The Greyhounds are 12-4 in season
openers under head coach Joe Polizzi.
Saginaw Valley State - The Saginaw Valley State
University football team won its second straight season opener
under head coach Jim Collins by a score of 23-17. The win also
marks the first time a Saginaw Valley coach as won their second
year opener since 1976 (1-4 previous). The upset win marks the
first time the Cardinals have beaten a ranked opponent since they
defeated Nebraska-Omaha 24-21 in the 2005 NCAA Playoffs. John
Jacobs racked up 11 tackles (284) and moved past former Cardinal
greats Adam Wheatley and Derek Volmering on the career tackles
list. Jacobs sits just eight tackles behind Jason Battershell and
15 tackles behind former NFL great Eugene Marve. The Cardinals
improved their record against current PSAC teams to 12-6 all-time
with the win. The Cardinals will open GLIAC play on Sept. 5 when
they travel to Detroit, Mich. to play Wayne State (MI). The
Cardinals are 25-6-1 all-time against the Warriors, including 15
straight wins dating back to 1992.
Tiffin - Dragons running back Chris Ivory was the
top offensive player in TU’s 34-14 loss at Ferris State.
Ivory gained 90 yards on just 13 carries (6.9 yards per rush) while
also hauling in 3 passes for 43 more yards. Ivory was making his
Dragons debut after transferring from Washington State…Alvin
McKnight rushed for 49 yards on 8 carries (6.1 ypc), had 55 yards
in kick returns, and totaled 126 all-purpose yards…Arthur
Allen led the defense with 8.5 tackles (2.5 for loss), while
Jackson Davis had a great all-around game with 6.5 tackles, a
fumble forced, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, an 18 yard
interception return, a blocked kick, and a tackle for loss…
Courtney Embry and Rahsan Wilson each had 6 tackles, with Wilson
also registering a sack…David Rumley also had 5 tackles,
including 3 tackles for loss.
Wayne State - Junior Stan Thornton (Cincinnati,
Ohio/Withrow) took the opening kickoff 92 yards for his second
career kickoff return for a touchdown ... it was the fifth longest
kickoff return for a score in WSU history ... Thornton also moved
into 10th place on the WSU all-time kickoff return yards chart at
718 ... senior Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) moved into 24th
place on the NCAA Division II all-time scoring list with 396 points
after rushing for two scores against Mercyhurst ... Pittsburg
State’s Nathan Alleman (2003-06) is 23rd with 401 points ...
Bell also recorded his 28th 100-yard rushing effort of his
collegiate career with 135 yards on 32 carries ... senior Aaron
Higginbottom (Flint, Mich./Beecher) recorded a career-best 92
receiving yards ... he also hauled in his fifth career touchdown
catch ... senior Anthony Morasso (Detroit, Mich./Harper Woods Notre
Dame) scored a career-high seven points in the win over MC with a
26-yard field goal and a career-best four extra points made ...
junior Zack George (Deshler, Ohio/Patrick Henry), starting for the
first time since Sept. 9, 2006, completed 8-of-15 passes for 152
yards ... his second quarter TD pass put WSU ahead 21-7, while his
60-yard completion late in the third quarter set up WSU’s
final touchdown.
