Clarion noseguard Troy Bowers (Sr. Columbus, Ohio, Westerville South HS) was named today to the Football Gazette and CoSida/Daktronics First Team Northeast Region squads at defensive line.

It is the second straight year Bowers has been named as a first team selection on both squads. The All-America teams for both teams are expected to be named in the next two weeks.

Also earning honors on Don Hansen’s Football Gazette squad were linebacker Jabari Weatherspoon (Sr. Pensacola, Florida; Booker T. Washington High) and defensive free safety Robert "Bo" Busch (So. Vandalia, Ohio; Butler High). Weatherspoon joined Bowers on the first team, while Busch was honored with a third team award.

Bowers, a 6-0, 290-pound, senior, noseguard, earlier this year earned his second straight PSAC-West "Player of the Year" award by posting 65 tackles (35 solo), leading the entire PSAC with 24 tackles for loss for -60 yards, secon din the PSAC in sacks with 9 (-34 yards), intercepted a pass against Lock Haven at returned it 22 yards for a touchdown, 1 fumble caused and recovered, 1 blocked kick and 1 break-up.

Last year Bowers collected 70 hits, 27 tfl’s for -109 yards, 12 sacks for -77 yards, 2 fumbles caused and a blocked kick. In his illustrious career Bowers finished with 209 tackles (105 solo), 77 tfl’s for - 278 yards, 33 sacks for -183 yards, 6 fumbles caused, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 int.

A three-time first team PSAC-West selection, last year Bowers was a first team Football Gazette and D-2 Football All-America selection and a second team Associated Press. Troy is the son of Deborah Bowers and is a Liberal Studies major at Clarion.

Weatherspoon, a 6-3, 245-pound, senior, outside linebacker, earlier was named to thePSAC-West first team for the second straight year. Weatherspoon led the Golden Eagle defense in tackles with 88 (48 solo), 14 tfl’s for -39, 3 qb sacks for -16, 3 interceptions including one returned for a touchdown against Glenville, 3 break-ups and 1 fumble recovery.

Last year Weatherspoon collected 57 hits, 15 tfl’s, 6 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and 1 int. His career numbers include 185 tackles, 31 tfl’s for -97 yards, 9 sacks for -50 yards, 4 interceptions, 3 fumbles caused and 1 recovery. The son of Patsy Weatherspoon, he is a Management major at Clarion.Busch, a 5-11, 190, sophomore from Vandalia, Ohio, is a two year starter at free safety. Calling the deep signals, Busch in 2003 made 80 tackles (36 solo), 2 tfl’s, 1 sack, 3 interceptions and 4 fumbles caused, plus a key blocked punt. In two seasons he has 155 tackles (77 solo), 1 sack, 2 tfl\'s, 4 interceptions, 1 int ret for td; 6 fumbles caused, 2 fumbles recovered, 8 break-ups.

Busch is the son of Luci Busch and is a Business major at Clarion. CLARION NOTES: Late last week the publication D2 Football announced its All-Region teams and also named Bowers as a first team All-Region selection with Weatherspoon earning second team honors... Named to the All Northeast Freshman team was freshman offensive tackle Zach Snyder, a 6-5, 310 player from Akron, Ohio and St. Vincent/St. Mary high School... The Golden Eagles, under tenth year head coach Malen Luke, were 3-8 overall and 2-4 in the PSAC-West this season... Coach Luke has a 10-year record of 51-58... Clarion won its final two games of the year defeating Lock Haven 22-9 and Slippery Rock 19-17... The Eagles had a young team... Of the 44 lettermen this year, 32 were underclassmen, 17 were freshmen... Clarion opens the 2004 season hosting West Chester on Saturday, August 28^th at 6pm... The Golden Eagles will be at home in four of its first five games including hosting Glenville Sept. 18, California Sept. 25 and Edinboro October 2^nd... Ten games currently dot the overall schedule... The Eagles are seeking an 11^th game on September 11th.