After losing a heart-breaking 24-20 game to #4 ranked IUP last Saturday, the Golden Eagles look to rebound this week as Clarion hits the road to battle PSAC-East rival West Chester. The game will be played at John A. Farrell Stadium with kickoff slated for 1pm.

The game can be heard on WCCR-FM, 92.7 and on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski and Dave Katis describing the action.

Clarion enters the game with a very deceiving 1-4 overall record in 2003 having lost four games by a total of 18 points. Clarion opened the season with a 31-21 loss to East Stroudsburg, then lost a 13-10 overtime decision to Millersville. Bouncing back to defeat Glenville 23-20, the Eagles lost a gut-wrenching 20-19 game against Kutztown and then last Saturday’s loss in the final minutes to #4 ranked IUP 24-20. Head coach Malen Luke has a ten year record of 49-54 at Clarion and is in his 16^th year overall as a head coach with a record of 86-75. Clarion has won the PSAC-West in 1996 and 2000 under Luke, while the 1996 squad advanced to the NCAA semifinals.

West Chester has played very good football in 2003. The Rams opened the year with an impressive 28-17 win at New Haven, then trounced Glenville State 56-7. After losing 49-7 to #8 ranked Delaware (NCAA Div. I-AA), WC defeated Shippensburg 33-20 before dropping a last second decision to Kutztown last Saturday 17-16.

The Golden Rams are coached by first year mentor Bill Zwaan. The new Ram head coach was the mentor at Widener the previous six season and compiled an impressive record of 54-14. He took Widener to the NCAA Division III Playoffs the last three seasons and the Division III Semi’s in 2000.

The two schools have played a total of 16 times dating back to 1960. Clarion’s three wins came in 1966 (28-26), 2000 (28-21) and 2002 (34-28). The 1966 win was the PSAC title game. The win in 2000 and in 2002 were both at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium. Last year a Homecoming Day Crowd of 6,500 saw Clarion rush for 344 yards to gain the win. West Chester’s most recent wins were at home at Farrell Stadium including a 16-14 win in 2001 and a 62-20 victory in 1999.

Clarion’s offense is getting a total of 310.8 yards per game (#8 in PSAC), including a #3 ranking in rushing with 218.8 yards per game and 14^th ranking in passing with 92 yards per game.

Directing the offense the offense will either be senior Frantz Charles or freshman Felton Woulard. Charles, who has been injured during the season, came on in the IUP game and ran for 64 yards on 16 carries, plus was 1 of 1 passing for 30 yards. For the year Charles has collected 147 rushing yards on 39 carries. Woulard, a true freshman, has rushed for 279 yards and 2 td’s on 91 tries, He has also completed 27 of 53 passes for 398 yards and 2 td’s.

The top receiving targets include wideouts Ron Rivage (8 catches, 160 yards), Pierre Odom (7 catches, 115 yards, 1 td) and Ed Rivers (3 grabs, 25 yards).

The running game will be led by halfbacks Brandon Sweeney and Glenn Lovelace, with fullbacks Jason Warner and Marcus Lowe also toting the pigskin. Sweeney ran for 117 yards against IUP last week and now has 286 yards and 4 td’s on 41 tries (7.0 p/c), and combined with last year, now totals 790 career yards and 8 td’s on 123 rushes (6.1 p/c). Lovelace has 143 yards on 35 carries and now totals 953 career rushing yards and 7 td’s on 157 carries (6.2 p/c). Warner has 136 yards this season on 30 carries, while Lowe has 93 yards and 1 td on 33 rushes.

Clarion’s defense has played steady this season. The Golden Eagles are giving up 330.6 yards per game (#7 in the PSAC), including only 129.8 against the run (#5 in the PSAC) and 200.8 in the air (#12 in the PSAC).

Leading the way up front is All-America noseguard Troy Bowers. The 2002 PSAC-West Defensive "Player of the Year", Bowers has made 37 tackles leads the entire PSAC with 8 qb sacks and 15 tfl’s. In his career he now totals 181 tackles, 68 tfl’s and 32 qb sacks. He is joined up front by Tim Connolly (25 hits, 6 tfl’s, 4 sacks, 1 int), Ben Heisel (15 stops, 4 tfl’s, 2 sacks), Matt Niedbala and Corey Shaner (1 sack).

The perimeter is guarded by outside linebacker Jabari Weatherspoon. In 2003 Weatherspoon leads the Eagle defense with 40 stops, 1 interception for a td, 2 break-ups, 4 tfl’s and 1 sack. Anchoring the inside are Matt Morris and Brock Luke. Morris has 37 jolts and 3 fumble recoveries, while Luke has 10 stops.

The secondary is led by corners Myron Hargon (12 hits, 2 tfl’s, 4 break-ups), James Charles (14 stops, 1 int for a td) and safeties Bo Busch (35 tackles, 1 sack, 1 int, 3 fumbles caused) and Emil Johnson (26 stops, 4 tfl’s, 1 int).

West Chester’s offense is very strong again this season. The Rams are averaging 28.0 points per game, along with 439 yards per game (#2 in PSAC). They are getting 233.8 rushing yards (#1 in PSAC) and 205.2 passing yards (#3 in PSAC) per game.

Calling the shots for the offense is quarterback Bob Findora. The veteran has completed 64 of 117 passes for 1,015 yards an 7 td’s with 6 interceptions.

His main targets include wideouts George Caroulis (21 grabs, 232 yards, 1 td) and Cory DeForrest (16 catches, 328 yards, 3 td’s) and tight end Joe Bernatowicz (5 grabs, 55 yards, 1 td).

The running game is very potent with tailbacks Mike Eckmeyer and Osagie Osunde toting the pigskin with fullback Josh Fidler. Eckmeyer has 513 yards and 2 td’s on 79 carries, while Osunde has 357 yards and 8 td’s on 62 tries. Fidler meanwhile also has 26 carries for 139 yards.

The offense also has former Clarion-Limestone star Rocky Davis doing the placekicking chores. Davis has hit on 18 of 19 PAT’s and has yet to try a field goal.

The West Chester defense is permitting 22 points per game (#10 in PSAC) this season. They are yielding 131.2 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC) and 222 passing yards (#14 in PSAC) per game for a total offense of 353.2 yards per game (#12 in PSAC).

Leading the way up front are noseguard Eric Maynard and ends Jake Walker (12 tackls, 5 tfl’s, 2.5 sacks) and Graham Eggleston (2 tfl’s).

The linebacking corps features Chris Tagye (24 stops) and Dan Faubel (10 hits) on the inside and Marc Statler (19 stops, 3 tfl’s) and Scott Linus (15 tackles, 2 tfl’s) on the outside.

The secondary has leading tackler Jim McCullough (27 hits, 1 int) at free safety and Chad Weaver (14 hits) and Joe Brooks (12 tackles, 3 int’s) at strong safety. The corners are Isaiah Harrison (20 tackles) and Calvin Braxton (19 jolts, 1 int).

CLARION NOTES: In the Clarion 34-28 win over West Chester last year, the Eagles rushed for 344 yards including 181 and 2 td’s by Glenn Lovelace and an even 100 by qb Adam Almsahy... Eckmeyer has 104 yards and 1 td on 29 carries for WC, while Findora completed 18 of 30 for 300 yards and 2 td’s... DeForrest had 4 catches for 43 yards... In 2001 WC won 16-14 on a Dan Wilbourne 26-yard field goal with 10:26 left in the fourth quarter ... Clarion’s Jason Flora missed a 43-yarder with 3:55 left to win the game ... Clarion hd 260 yards (155 rushing, 105 passing) ... Lovelace ran for 76 yards on 8 carries ... WC had 244 yards of offense ... Eckmeyer ran for 119 yards on 23 carries ... In 2000 (Clarion won 28-21) Clarion rushed for 378 yars and passed for 141 for a total of 519... Robert Walker rushed for 211 and 1 td to lead the way ... That game was the season finale of 2000, a season which Clarion finished 7-4 and tied for first in the PSAC-West... Clarion returns home October 18^th to host Edinboro at 1pm.