By Rob Malsom
Herald Sports Writer
KENNEDY CATHOLIC High graduate Eric Rodemoyer has transferred from West Virginia University to Youngstown State.
As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Rodemoyer started 6 games and played in 10 for the Mountaineers.
Rodemoyer, who started at right guard, saw starts against Marshall, Maryland, East Carolina, South Florida, Syracuse and Mississippi State.
He took part in 425 plays last year and registered 33 knockdowns. He had a season-high 88 snaps against South Florida.
The offensive line was a huge part of WVU’s offense as Steve Slaton and Pat White both rushed for over 1,000 yards.
WVU ranked 3rd in the country in rushing offense (297.2 yards per game) and allowed just 13 sacks as the Big East champions went 11-2 and beat Oklahoma (48-28) in the Fiesta Bowl.
A son of Ron and Carol Rodemoyer, he was enrolled in a general studies curriculum at WVU.
As a senior at KC, the AP first-team all-state selection keyed Kennedy to the 2005 District 10 Class A title, a PIAA playoffs berth and a 9-3 record. KC lost to Coudersport, 48-42, that year.
He also emerged as a starter as a senior for the KC basketball team that went 22-7 before losing to eventual state champion Elk County Catholic in the western regional semifinals.
YSU opens the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes at noon on Aug. 30. The game is at the Horseshoe in Columbus.
Rodemoyer is the only player from The Herald coverage area on the Penguins’ squad.
ä A few college football teams in western Pa. have updated their 2008 rosters. Here are the locals with position and high school:
´´ Geneva — A trio of Grove City products: Austin Kimes (Fr. WR), Justin Spencer (Fr. RB) and Cody Redfoot (Soph. LB).
´´ Grove City — Pete Polesnak (Soph. OT, Kennedy Catholic), Jake Priester (Fr. DE, Mercer) and Danny Van Dyke (Jr. TB, Lakeview).
´´ Slippery Rock — Jason Lane (Fr. OL, Kennedy Catholic), Richie Burnworth (Fr. WR, Reynolds) and Billy Altman (Fr. WR, Sharon).
´´ Thiel — K.J. Smith (Soph. WR, Sharon), Justin Angermeier (Fr. FB, Mercer), Ryan Dawes (Fr. LB, Reynolds), Tom Besser (Soph. DT, Brookfield), Curtis Esquibel (Fr. WR, Mercer) and Matt Turek (Sr. DT, Grove City).
´´ Westminster — A.K. Livingston (Fr. WR, Brookfield), Andrew Robison (Sr. DL, Wilmington) and Mike Kudelko (Soph. OL, Sharpsville).
Clarion, Washington and Jeffreson and Waynesburg have not updated their rosters for this year as of yet.
ä High school football is right around the corner with Pennsylvania practices officially opening on Monday. Here are the new regions for the local teams.
Region 1-A comprises Conneaut Lake, Conneaut Valley, Farrell, Kennedy Catholic, Lakeview, Linesville, Mercer, Sharpsville and West Middlesex.
Region 3-AA is Greenville, Hickory, Oil City, Reynolds, Sharon, Slippery Rock, Titusville and Wilmington.
Grove City is in Region 5-AAA with Corry, Franklin, Meadville and Warren.
Here is the scrimmage schedule for all local teams:
Aug. 16
Franklin at Sharon, 10 a.m.
Farrell at Union, 10 a.m.
Karns City at Greenville, 10 a.m.
Slippery Rock, Brookville at Grove City, 10
Hickory at West Middlesex, 10 a.m.
Harborcreek Youth Services at Kennedy Catholic, 10 a.m.
Lakeview at A.C. Valley, 10 a.m.
Sharpsville at Reynolds, 10 a.m.
Shenango at Wilmington, 10 a.m.
Youngsville at Mercer, 11 a.m.
———
Aug. 22
Grove City at Titusville, 6 p.m.
Cambridge Springs, West Middlesex at Reynolds, 6 p.m.
Shenango at Farrell, 7 p.m.
Greenville at Sharpsville, 7 p.m.
Hickory at Mohawk, 7 p.m.
Mercer at Moniteau, 7 p.m.
Wilmington at Meadville, 7 p.m.
———
Aug. 23
A.C. Valley at Kennedy Catholic, 10 a.m.
Sharon vs. Strong Vincent, 11 a.m., at Veterans Stadium, Erie
Lakeview at Maplewood, 11 a.m.
