The Voice of the Gators, Ray Reisdorph has prepared a look back at Gator Football this year.

2009 Football Season in Review Part 1

By Ray Riesdorph

What a year for High School & College football on the Allegheny News-Talk-Sports-Network. Part 1 will focus on the Gators season. Allegheny College was coming off of back to back 5-5 finishes the past 2 seasons. The standards are much higher for head coach Mark Matlak & company. However coach Matlak was cautiously optimistic as the season began with concerns about depth, in particularly the offensive line. But what would transpire in 09’ would exceed everyone’s expectations, including coach Matlak’s.
The Gators would wind up 8-2 overall, with a record of 5-2 in the NCAC, good enough for 3rd place in the conference (their 1st 8 win campaign since 1998). Allegheny was an impressive 4-1 on the road, 4-1 at home, and 3-0 in non-conference games. The signature win coming on Halloween against arch rival Wooster, on Senior Day at Frank Fuhrer Field. The Gators trailed 21-7 at the half, but would rip off 17 unanswered in the 2nd half. The Fighting Scots game tying field goal attempt would sail wide right late in the game to seal a 24-21 win in the home finale.
There are almost too many key players to mention for the Gators, I will mention a few. As far as the offense is concerned it starts with quarterback T.J. Salopek, who completed 65% of his passes for 2,374 yards and 19 total touchdowns as a dual threat. He also cut down his turnovers in 09’ (there is speculation that he may return as a 5th year senior). The Gators also possessed one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NCAC. Senior Jake Vite and junior Terry Hartford combined for over 100 catches, 1,300 yards and 8 touchdowns. Vite would wow Vic Kress and me with highlight reel catches, seemingly on a weekly basis. Including the play of the year, a one handed grab in the back of the end zone, in a come from behind win against Carnegie Mellon.
Defense & special teams would play a huge role in the Gators success. Seniors Nick Silva and Andy Schleihauf excelled on the D-line and line-backing core. In the secondary, senior corner Kyle Wilson and junior safety Sid Facaros led a secondary that seemed to come up with a clutch turnover whenever needed. Special Teams wise, two super sophomores, kicker Ryan Zipf and punter Andrew DeJong delivered all year. Zipf won the Fred Mitchell award in October, and only missed 2 field goals in 09’. While DeJong, was ranked in the top 10 in punting in all of Division III football throughout the season. The Dutchman was also a master at pinning opposing teams inside the 20, helping the Gators control field position.
About the only disappointing thing for the Gators this year was their two lopsided losses to perennial NCAC powers Wabash and Wittenberg. Both teams made the D-III postseason (as of the writing of this blog entry, Wittenberg won big in round 1, and Wabash lost in double OT). So there is still work to be done as coach Matlak would elude too during many of his entertaining post game interviews. Coach is very clear about his intentions, to return Allegheny football to the top of the NCAC and back into the NCAA playoffs. Don’t bet against it……as the coaching staff hits the recruiting trail.
All in all this team took huge steps in 2009. It was so much fun to be a part of. All of those sea-saw battles and exciting plays. Vic Kress (who buy the way just finished his 20th season in the booth for Gator football, WOW!), and myself look forward to next year already………can’t wait.