Three local athletes have been honored for their performances on the football gridiron during the 2005 season. Senior line backer Tony DelGrosso and junior running back Josh Kleinfelter from Bellwood-Antis and junior offensive lineman Tyler Hoover continue a long line of All-State picks from both local school districts. All three won First Team selections in their respective classifications.
Tyler Hoover, a 6-3, 325-pound tackle, gained valuable experience in the Eagles’ rotation as a sophomore, but was looked on as a building block for the 2005 campaign after Tyrone graduated, possibly the five best linemen to play at one time in the long treasured history of the Tyrone football program. Hoover was a First Team Double-A pick on the defensive line.
Facing a critical situation following two straight district titles, the Golden Eagles, and especially the offensive and defensive lines began the season by dominating what was deemed a more experienced line in a big season-opening win at backyard rival Bellwood-Antis. Hoover and company would proceed to win 10 straight ballgames, before falling by upset to a tough Bishop McCort team in the district semifinals in overtime. Along the way, the Eagles’ defense allowed just 11.3 points, 107.8 rushing yards and 189 yards total offense per game. Only B-A in a 31-19 defeat was able to put more than two scores on the board during the regular season. Huntingdon was shut out and three other teams managed just one TD against the Tyrone defense, led by Tyler Hoover.
With graduation again hitting the Eagles line hard, Hoover and classmate James Updike will be asked to become the leaders of the 2006 squad.
“I was really pleased for Tyler to be chosen for the First Team All-State defensive team,” said Tyrone coach John Franco. “He played so well on both sides of the ball, he deserved the honor. That was the hardest, Tyler has ever worked. He saw how it was worthwhile. I am interested to see and hoping that this will serve as a motivation for him for the future, now that he knows what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.”
Hoover was a First Team All-Star in the Nittany Division of the Mountain Athletic Conference on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Eagles, who won their second straight MAC title, winning it outright this year, after sharing the crown with Philipsburg-Osceola and Bellwood-Antis last year.
“It means a lot to be picked to the First Team All-State squad, because I put so much hard work in, and it paid off” explained Hoover. “When I started playing football, I never thought it would, but it has.
“I would like to thank all my coaches for making me do my best. I just hope I can do it again next year. My coaches have done so much for me and believed in me. I want to thank the coaches for believing in me and for all the help they have given.”
Kleinfelter, a 5-10, 175-pound junior, rushed for 2,023 yards and scored a total of 30 touchdowns this season for the Blue Devils, smashing school records as easily as he smashed through opponents defenses. With a total of 3,643 yards rushing in two years as a starter, and over 4,000 yards total offense, Kleinfelter was called into action when the starting tailback was injured in the 2004 Tyrone game and since then Josh has made it impossible to get him out of that spot. Even with every defense stacked to stop him, Kleinfelter has amassed 18 100-yard plus rushing games, including a school record 307 yards during the 2004 district first round and also surpassed 200 yards four times in 2005. Kleinfelter was a Single-A choice at running back.
“You just can’t say enough positive things for Josh,” explained Bellwood-Antis coach John Hayes, the Blue Devils long-time head coach, who won his 200th game this season against Mount Union. “He has made an impact from the first day he stepped on the varsity field. His numbers obviously have set a new standard, new goals for future running backs. On the other hand, being an underclassman, he has created a situation where now he’s got that extra burden to live up to. With all the honor, there comes a little bit of weight to carry forth for next year.”
Kleinfelter had oßne interception and three fumble recoveries and made 43 tackles from his spot at cornerback, showing a knack of being around the ball, even on defense.
“It is a great honor to be selected to the All-State First Team,” said Kleinfelter. “I would like to thank our whole team for giving us the opportunity to be honored like this. Give them the credit to get us the chance.”
Tony DelGrosso, a 6-0, 220-pound linebacker on defense and guard/center on offense, was selected to the Single-A squad as a linebacker.
The leader in total tackles two of the last three years, since breaking into the lineup as a sophomore, and the leader in solo tackles all three years, DelGrosso has recorded a total of 361 tackles in the last three seasons. In 2005, DelGrosso also had two pass interceptions and three sacks in leading a Blue Devil defense that allowed just 115.6 yards rushing and 91.6 passing per game.
“Tony has been a three-year leader, outstanding performer for us defensively as well as offensively,” said Hayes. “As a linebacker, he has led the team in tackles two of the three years and solos all three years. He has really been a bulkhead of our defense effort. He has made picks, knocked passes down. He has been all over the field, defensively, making routine play and also making the spectacular play.”
DelGrosso has played guard for B-A on offense and in each of the last two seasons, has also moved over to play center, due to injuries at that position. Tony led the offensive line that blocked for a backfield that averaged 227.7 yards rushing and another 113 yard passing, and that scored 394 points, an average of 32.8 points per game.
“I am really honored to be selected First Team All-State,” said DelGrosso. “I think there are a lot of other guys on this team, especially some of the seniors who, I think, had just as good a season as I did. There are a lot of good players out there, I feel really fortunate to be selected.”
“Both Josh and Tony are very deserving of the honors. The honors they received are a just reward for a great deal of hard work and effort they put in, not only on the football field, but also in the preparation that goes into it,” commented Hayes. “They have been great kids to coach, great football players as well as good kids to be around. It has been a pleasure to be around and deal with them.”
