FOUR D9 FOOTBALL PLAYER NAMED TO AP SMALL SCHOOLS TEAM

FOUR D9 FOOTBALL PLAYER NAMED TO AP SMALL SCHOOLS TEAM

HARRISBURG -- Four District 9 football players, Corey Bailor of Curwensville, Kyle Cathcart of Clarion, Adam Black of Keystone and Rocky Davis of Clarion-Limestone, are on the Associated Press Pennsylvania Small School all-state team for Class AA and Class AA.

Bailor and Cathcart were named to the second team, while Black and Davis were third-team selections.

It is the second straight year Cathcart, a senior running back was chosen as a second-team offensive specialist. It is his second consecutive AP all-state selection. Last year he was chosen as a second-team defensive specialist.

Bailor, a junior, was chosen to the second team as an offensive lineman, while Black, a senior, earned third-team honors as a quarterback. Davis, a junior, earned third-team honors as a kicker.

Cathcart, who was also named the D9Sports.Com District 9 Football Player of the Year for a second straight season, was the leading rusher in District 9 this season rushing for 1,822 yards and 25 touchdowns on 211 carries. He averaged 8.64 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown this season.

In his four-year career at Clarion, Cathcart finished as the school's all-time leading rusher and the second leading rusher in District 9 history with 4,449 yards. He is only the second known back in District 9 history to rush for over 4,000 yards in a career, joining former Brockway star Aaron Cantafio in the 4,000-yard club. Cathcart also became District 9's all-time career touchdown leader this season. He finished his career with 73 touchdowns.

An outstanding wrestler, as well, Cathcart has won two consecutive PIAA Class AA titles and three straight District 9 titles. He recently signed a letter of intent to wrestle at Penn State and is also considering an attempt to walk onto the Nittany Lions football team.

Bailor was a key member of Curwensville's offensive line that helped the Golden Tide to their second straight AML South title and a second straight appearance in the District 9 Class A title game. Bailor helped the Golden Tide rack up 2,141 yards rushing as a team this season and average of 194.6 yards rushing per game.

Black finished the season as the top passer in District 9 while setting numerous passing records at Keystone. He completed 140 of 271 passes (51.7 percent) for 2,342 yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. His touchdown to interception ratio in 2001 was an unbelievable 5 to 1.

Davis was a key special teams member of Clarion-Limestone's District 9 Class A playoff team constantly pinning the other team deep in its own territory with booming kickoffs. He was also the third leading scorer for the Lions this season with 44 points including one field goal and 41 extra points.