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udchuck
November 25th, 2009, 11:55 PM
Pioneer Football League announces postseason honors, 17th 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.

Butler and Dayton each won a share of the 2009 PFL regular-season title in a race that came down to the season’s final
weekend. It is Butler’s second league title and first since 1994. Dayton wins at least a share of the title for the 10th time and
first since 2007.

Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, while Butler head coach Jeff
Voris was named the league’s Coach of the Year. Morehead State linebacker Wes McDermott received the league’s Defensive
Player of the Year honor. The league’s freshman awards went to San Diego wide receiver Kyle Warren and Drake
defensive back Tyler Moorehead, who were named the league’s Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year, respectively.

Valentino, a first-team All-PFL wide receiver last season, became Dayton’s starting quarterback in the season’s second
week and promptly led his team to seven consecutive victories overall en route to a share of the league’s regular-season
title (7-1) and a 9-2 overall mark. He finished the regular-season averaging a league-best 281.6 yards total offense and led
all quarterbacks in rushing, with 65.6 yards per game to rank fourth among the league’s rushers. He also ranked second
among the league’s quarterbacks in yardage (216.0 ypg) and pass efficiency rating (139.8).

McDermott wins the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honor after finishing the regular-season ranked second in
tackles (9.9 pg) and third in tackles-for-loss (1.50 pg). He led all linebackers in tackles (109), posting 14 more than the next
closest follower. McDermott led a Morehead State defense that finished the season ranked second in total defense, allowing
just 266.3 yards per game, and led the league in rushing defense, permitting a paltry 72.5 yards per game on the ground.

Warren was San Diego’s big-play receiver, posting 11 catches for 338 yards – a 30.7 yards per catch average. Of his 11
receptions, six went for touchdowns, including an 82-yard touchdown catch-and-carry against Dayton. He had five touchdown
catches on nine total receptions in PFL play alone.

Moorehead ranked among the league’s top 30 in tackles (6.1 pg) in his first season of action. He also ranked sixth in
tackles-for-loss (1.32 pg) and was one of three players to lead the league with four forced fumbles this season. Moorehead
was a key component of a defensive unit that ranked second in rush defense, surrendering 90.5 yards per game, and fourth
in total defense, allowing 276.5 yards per contest.

Voris wins Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his fourth season at Butler. He led the Bulldogs from a 4-4, fourthplace
PFL finish, in 2008 to a share of the league title (7-1) in 2009. Butler posted a school-record 10 wins this season, won
nine consecutive games to start the campaign and was the next-to-last unbeaten FCS team.

The 17th All-PFL squads are highlighted by four unanimous selections. Jacksonville had three players receive unanimous
acclimation, including junior running back Rudell Small who was a unanimous first-team All-PFL selection for the second
consecutive season. Other unanimous first-team honorees were Jacksonville wide receiver Josh Philpart, Jacksonville offensive
lineman Leonard Payton and Marist wide receiver James LaMacchia.
Additionally, the All-PFL first-team selections include eight repeat honorees from the 2008 All-PFL first team, as denoted
in the following listing.

Here's a link to the listing: http://www.pioneer-football.org/media/pdf/2009%20All-PFL%20Release.pdf
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DetroitFlyer
November 26th, 2009, 12:50 AM
Who is this Valentino kid? I do not recall reading much about him in the "traditional" FCS media all season long.... Hmmmm.... I wonder why? It is certainly not a bias against the PFL....xrolleyesx

DJOM
November 26th, 2009, 02:31 AM
Quickest, most ellusive quarterback I saw all season. He was the main reason Dayton beat Drake.

udchuck
November 26th, 2009, 08:34 AM
Valentino is the first position player in PFL history to be named first-team all-league at two different positions.

Flyer Gramps
November 26th, 2009, 09:18 AM
Valentino is a great athlete who put team first and moved to QB after the first week of this season. His 5 receptions with one being the only TD, the 3 punt returns and 2 KO returns, solo tackle as KO safety all in the opener still remain in the stats. But that was then.

So he made the best of the predicament, stayed at QB, improved from an "emegency" player to the opponents target. And he repeated as All-League at a second position and Player of the Year to boot.

This can be a lesson for athletes to strive for the best they can do regardless of the situation encountered in sport or life.

Flyer Gramps
November 26th, 2009, 09:23 AM
Valentino is a great athlete who put team first and moved to QB after the first week of this season. His 5 receptions with one being the only TD, the 3 punt returns and 2 KO returns, solo tackle as KO safety all in the opener still remain in the stats. But that was then.

So he made the best of the predicament, stayed at QB, improved from an "emegency" player to the opponents target. And he repeated as All-League at a second position and Player of the Year to boot.

This can be a lesson for athletes to strive for the best they can do regardless of the situation encountered in sport or life.