CLARION-LIMESTONE'S JOHNSTON D9SPORTS.COM DISTRICT 9 FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK EIGHT 2004
15 additional players on Honor Roll
SHIPPENVILLE – Some times an athlete does something that is so extraordinary on the field of competition, something so far above the expected that words alone cannot describe the actions.

That is why Clarion-Limestone’s Hayden Johnston is the District 9 Player of the Week sponsored by D9Sports.com for the Eighth Week of the 2004 season.

Johnston’s numbers alone warranted Player of the Week consideration. After all he went 9-for-18 passing for 235 yards and four touchdowns while running 11 times for 96 yards and a score in C-L’s 42-41 overtime win at Redbank Valley Friday night, the Lions state-leading 34th straight regular-season win. Johnston also threw the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to Erik White.

But what makes Johnston’s performance stand out above everything else is the fact that he played the entire second half with a torn spleen.

Johnston, who injured his spleen on his touchdown run at the end of the first half, played the second half thinking it was just the flu catching up to him. It turned out to be much more serious, and the injury will force him to miss the remainder of his senior season.

Despite the injury, Johnston was able to rally the Lions to the lead late in the fourth quarter with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Scott Davis and then bring the victory home with the overtime strike after Redbank Valley had forced the extra session.

Johnston, who was taken to a local hospital Saturday and transferred to a Pittsburgh facility late in the day, was doing fine Monday according to his father Mike, and should be back and ready for baseball season come the spring.

It is the third time this season Johnston, the defending D9Sports.com District 9 Football Player of the Year, has been named Player of the Week.

Joining Johnston in being honored this week are 15 additional players on the District 9 Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recipients are listed below in alphabetical order by school.

D9Sports.Com is a web site in its fifth year of existence located at www.d9sports.com that covers athletics within the PIAA’s District 9. The site is not affiliated with the PIAA in any way. For more information on the site, please visit it or e-mail the staff at d9sportscom@hotmail.com.

The Player of the Week award and the Honor Roll are chosen by D9Sports.Com’s editors.

The awards, which are given from Week One through Week Nine, are the only weekly awards given out in the District that represent the district as a whole.

Honor roll members are listed alphabetically by school.

D9 SPORTS.COM DISTRICT 9 PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hayden Johnston – Clarion-Limestone: 9-of-18 passing, 235 yards, 4 touchdowns; 11 carries, 96 yards; Threw game-winning touchdown pass in overtime; Played second half with a torn spleen. – Clarion-Limestone 42, Redbank Valley 41, OT.

HONOR ROLL

Morgan O’Brien – Bradford: 9 carries, 123 yards, 2 touchdowns. – Bradford 49, Karns City 10.

Matt Foradora – Brockway: 8-for-10 passing, 178 yards, 3 touchdowns. – Brockway 64, Ridgway 12.

Andy Fremer – Brockway: 11 carries, 116 yards, 2 touchdowns; 1 catch, 5 yards, 1 touchdowns; 1 interception. – Brockway 64, Ridgway 12.

Nick Heschke – Brookville: 6-for-16 passing, 131 yards; 6 carries, 27 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 sack. – Brookville 22, Punxsutawney 16.

Chris McSwain – Clarion: 30 carries, 154 yards, 3 touchdowns; 1 catch, 21 yards, 1 sack. – Clarion 35, Moniteau 7.

Scott Davis – Clarion-Limestone: 3 catches, 114 yards 2 touchdowns; 9 carries, 11 yards; 1 interception. – Clarion-Limestone 42, Redbank Valley 41, OT.

Erik White – Clarion-Limestone: 6 catches, 121 yards, 2 touchdowns; 6 carries, 82 yards, 1 touchdowns; Caught game-winning touchdown in overtime. – Clarion-Limestone 42, Redbank Valley 41, OT.

Josh Harbold – Clearfield: 10 carries, 89 yards, 1 touchdowns; 2 catches, 100 yards, 1 touchdowns. – Clearfield 42, St. Marys 0.

Tanner Kelly – Clearfield: 5-for-8 passing, 220 yards, 2 touchdowns. – Clearfield 42, St. Marys 0.

Nate Sipes – Curwensville: 21 carries, 211 yards, 4 touchdowns. – Curwensville 70, Elk County Catholic 0.

Nick Sipes – Curwensville: 15 carries, 187 yards, 2 touchdowns. – Curwensville 70, Elk County Catholic 0.

Sam Swartzfager – Keystone: 26 carries, 120 yards, 1 touchdowns; Became Keystone’s All-time leading rusher with 2,234 yards; 14 tackles on defense, 1 interception. Returned interception 55 yards for touchdown. – Keystone 21, A-C Valley 0.

Brandon Johnston – Redbank Valley: 12 carries, 103 yards, 3 touchdowns; 1 catch, 2 yards; Scored touchdown in overtime to get Bulldogs to within a point. – Clarion-Limestone 42, Redbank Valley 41, OT.

Cody Anderson – Port Allegany: 32 carries, 196 yards, 2 touchdowns;

Brett Moore – Union: 3 catches, 124 yards, 2 touchdowns. – Kennedy Catholic 46, Union 25.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK BY WEEK

WEEK ONE

Hayden Johnston – Clarion-Limestone

WEEK TWO

Hayden Johnston – Clarion-Limestone

WEEK THREE (Tri-Players)

Nate Sipes – Curwensville

Nick Sipes – Curwensville

Mike Mitchell – Smethport

WEEK FOUR

Josh Harbold – Clearfield

WEEK FIVE (Co-Players)

Chris McSwain – Clarion

Nate Sipes – Curwensville

WEEK SIX

Cody Anderson – Port Allegany

WEEK SEVEN

Josh Harbold - Clearfield

WEEK EIGHT

Hayden Johnston – Clarion-Limestone