FAIRMONT —
It won’t take long for Fairmont State’s 2010 football team to see how well it stacks up against quality competition.
That’s because right out of the gate the Falcons will face a huge test Thursday night when they travel to Clarion (Pa.) University for a 6 p.m. meeting with the Golden Eagles at Memorial Stadium.
Clarion completed a remarkable turnaround last year under Jay Foster, who is beginning his fifth year at the school. After going 4-29 in Foster’s first four years, the Golden Eagles pretty much shocked everyone but themselves in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Western Division when they finished 8-3 overall, 6-1 and in second place in the league (they were picked to finished seventh last fall) and narrowly missed the NCAA Division II playoffs.
“I said this two years ago Jay Foster is a first-class individual who does things the right way. I knew all along it was only going to be a matter of time before things would start going for him and last year, boy they pretty much put it all together,” said FSU head coach Mike Lopez. “They went from 3-8 two years ago to 8-3, darn near won the PSAC-West and almost made the national playoffs.
“He’s a defensive guy and you compare last year’s defense and this year’s defense they have to the one they had two years ago and it’s a night and day difference. That’s where he was having issues on defense and they got those ironed out last year. He’s got a ton of starters back on that side of the ball so we know going in we’ve got our hands full.”
Clarion toppled FSU 33-21 last year in the season opener and started 2009 at 2-2. Then in week five the Golden Eagles lost in the final minutes to eventual PSAC-West champion California (Pa.) University which last fall made its third straight trip to the NCAA Division II playoff semifinals.
At 2-3 and coming off a heartbreaking loss Clarion could’ve folded, but instead the Golden Eagles regrouped and won their final six games to finish at 8-3 and Foster was named the PSAC-West Coach of the Year.
This season Clarion is picked third in the PSAC-West’s preseason coaches’ poll behind Cal and Indiana (Pa.) University.
The Golden Eagles are led on offense by diminutive, but ultra-talented senior running back Alfonso Hoggard (5-2, 150). The third-team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America selection, first-team All-Region and PSAC-West Offensive Player of the Year led the conference last fall in rushing (1,046), rushing touchdowns (17), overall touchdowns (19), points scored (118) and all-purpose yards (1,798).
Hoggard started his career as a receiver/all-purpose player and was a second-team All-American selection in 2008 in that role.
Another big threat on Clarion’s offense is 6-3, 200-pound senior wide receiver Jacques Robinson, who was second in the PSAC in receiving last fall with 70 catches for 819 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Joe Fox and senior strong safety Nick Sipes return to lead a much-improved Golden Eagle defensive unit. Fox, a three-year starter and first-team all-league pick last year, was third on the team last season in tackles with 62, including nine tackles for losses and three sacks.
Sipes, meanwhile, garnered honorable mention All-America honors and was a first-team All-Region and first-team all league pick as he led Clarion in tackles with 112, including 12 for losses and six sacks.
Clarion leads the all-time series between the two schools, 10-5.
Duane Cochrane
FSU to face stern test in opener
- Duane Cochrane
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Falling short: SLIDESHOW
For Fairmont State’s men’s basketball team, the story this season has been an all-too familiar one.
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Lady Falcons top State, extend streak: SLIDESHOW
Kaitlin Snyder and Hailey Garrett combined for 43 points to help lead Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons to their third consecutive victory, 87-78, here Monday evening over visiting West Virginia State at the Joe Retton Arena.
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Lady Falcons halt UPJ’s winning ways: PHOTOS
One of the hottest teams in the West Virginia Conference paid a visit to the Joe Retton Arena on Wednesday evening and received a rude welcoming from Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons.
Pitt-Johnstown, winners of three in a row and eight of its last 10, got thoroughly dominated for 32 of the game’s 40 minutes as FSU halted the Lady Mountain Cats’ winning ways with an 88-66 victory. -
UPJ wins thriller over Falcons, 92-87
It was an electric atmosphere here Wednesday evening at the Joe Retton Arena.
Unfortunately, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team ran out of juice in the waning minutes and fell, 92-87, to visiting Pitt-Johnstown. -
Glenville completes season sweep of Falcons
Glenville State can make a living playing Fairmont State this season in men’s basketball.
That’s because half of the lowly Pioneers’ four victories this season have come at the expense of the Falcons.
Thursday evening here at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium, Glenville State completed the regular-season sweep of Fairmont State, rolling to an impressive 80-59 victory over the floundering Falcons. -
Streaking Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally
Glenville State, the second-place team in the West Virginia Conference, shook off a horrid shooting performance in the first half, caught fire from the field in the final 20 minutes and rolled to a 92-78 victory over visiting Fairmont State here Thursday evening at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium.
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Garrett, Lohr lead Lady Falcons past A-B: PHOTOS
Fairmont State possesses two of the more talented true freshmen in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season in Hailey Garrett and Emily Lohr.
Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena that duo combined for 36 points and nine rebounds to help lead FSU to 66-56 victory over visiting Alderson-Broaddus. -
Battlers top Fairmont State for 13th straight win
Despite heroic efforts from its dynamic duo of Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team couldn’t derail red-hot Alderson-Broaddus here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
The streaking Battlers posted an 81-70 victory over the Falcons for their 13th straight win. -
FSU gets much-needed win over Rams
Chris Thompson was perfect.
Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton were their usual selfs and Mike Hurd stepped up big time off the bench.
As a result, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak and got a much-needed, 80-66, victory over visiting Shepherd University Wednesday evening here at the Joe Retton Arena. -
Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally: PHOTOS
Glenville State senior guard Beth Deren buried a trio of 3-point field goals in a span of less than a minute late in the second half to help the Lady Pioneers hold off a fierce Fairmont State rally and record an 88-80 victory here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
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