Chad Noce/SRU

In a continuing series of Q&As with local players who are playing area college football, Duane Rankin caught up with Slippery Rock senior tight end Chad Noce to talk about several topics.

Noce and the No. 24-ranked Rock (8-2, 6-1 PSAC West) are preparing for Saturday’s PSAC title game at Kutztown against the No. 8 Golden Bears (9-1, 6-1 PSAC East). Noce, who played defense his year at Slippery Rock in 2008, is known for his run blocking ability at tight end.

A McDowell High graduate, Noce has just two career catches for 10 yards. Both grabs came last season against Gannon, which ironically upset the Rock last week, 33-27, in Erie. With the Rock trying to rebound from that loss, Rankin caught up with Noce to talk about their playoff hopes and the chance to win a championship.

You’re coming off a tough loss, but can make amends in the PSAC championship game. How are you guys feeling right now heading into that game? We’re feeling good. We know we made a mistake. I feel like we overlooked Gannon a little bit. I feel like we were looking toward the next week. We had the Gannon game. We knew we were in the PSAC championship already so I think that played a little part in that loss. Underestimating them a little bit, we’re feeling good. We should be ready to go.”

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This season, Edinboro junior tight end Shawn Walker has caught four passes for 51 yards./Photo by Christopher Millette of the Erie Times-News

At 6-foot-4, 247 pounds, Shawn Walker looks like an NFL tight end.

Coming out of General McLane High, he was recruited like he could become one as several Division I schools wanted him. Walker was an all-state player in two sports when the Lancers won the 2006 PIAA Class AAA football title and 2007 PIAA Class AAA basketball title.

However, Walker hasn’t put up the kind of numbers you’d figure  someone of his talent would. Heading into his junior season this year, Walker had just 32 catches for 336 yards and four touchdowns, but Edinboro coach Scott Browning said Walker is having a “fine career.”

Last season, Walker was a second-team All-PSAC West pick, but didn’t catch a touchdown. He didn’t catch a pass in this season’s opener, but had four for 51 yards last week against Merrimack.

Browning said he has three tight ends in Walker, redshirt freshman Blaine Iskula (6-5, 255) and junior Seth Hembree (6-7, 250) and no one has become the” front runner.” Iskula has four catches for 16 yards while Hembree has two catches for 35 yards this season.

Browning then talked about the team having talent at the other skilled positions, but someone of Walker’s talent should be catching more passes even if there is a bunch of talent around him right?

So how does Walker feel about all this? Erie Times-News sports reporter Duane Rankin visited him at Edinboro earlier this week to find out as Scots (2-0) play PSAC East foe Cheyney (1-1) at home Saturday at 1 p.m.

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Here’s a highlight video of Alex Papson, a North Allegheny graduate who will start as a true freshman for Gannon in its 2011 season opener Sept. 1 at Lake Erie College (Ohio).

At 5-9 and 180 pounds, Papson isn’t the biggest guy, but he rushed for a whopping 2,482 yards and 32 touchdowns on 313 carries. Against McDowell, the Wexford native rushed for 275 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

For that season, Papson averaged 7.93 yards a pop for the 2010 WPIAL and PIAA Class AAAA state champions.

Alex Papson highlights from senior year at North Allegheny