2004 Season Preview
Eagles Return 19 Starters & 36 Lettermen
“Sprinturf” & Night Football Returns To Clarion
Entering the second season with a new stadium playing surface and night football, Clarion gridiron fans are ready for an exciting season of Golden Eagle football. Eleventh year head coach Malen Luke returns a young squad that features 19 starters and 36 lettermen to battle in the rugged PSAC-West.
Clarion was 3-8 in 2003 and 2-4 in the PSAC-West, but the Eagles won two of their final three games and hope to use that finish to springboard into the 2004 campaign. Luke has a ten year record of 51-58 at Clarion while leading the Golden Eagles to PSAC-West titles in 1996 and 2000. The 1996 squad finished 11-3 and lost in the NCAA semifinal game, and Luke’s Eagles were 7-4 in 2000 and in 2002.
Last year’s Eagles won their final two games over Lock Haven (22-9) and Slippery Rock (19-17), and could have easily won six or seven games figuring that four games were lost by a total of 13 points. Close losses came against Millersville (13-10 ot), Kutztown (20-19), Indiana (24-20) and California (13-7).
Clarion returns 36 letterwinners. Since 12 were freshmen and 10 sophomores a year ago, with 18 first time letterwinners, you get the picture of young, developing team.
EAGLES READY FOR 2004
“We’re going in the right direction but we’re still young in spots,” said coach Luke. “We have some skill players on offense who can deliver the big plays and I expect that our defense will be a solid unit that pursues the football all over the field. We need our offensive line to come together and get the job done, plus stay away from key injuries and we could put together a very good season.”
OFFENSE ATHLETICALLY TALENTED
The offense returns 10 starters and 16 lettermen from a unit that averaged 276.3 yards (#10 in PSAC) and 14.9 points per game (#12 in PSAC). The 2003 Eagles ranked #7 in the PSAC with 183.5 yards per game and 14th overall in the passing game with 92.8 yards per game.
DANDO EXPECTED TO START AT QB
Sophomore Brandon Dando returns to call the signals for the Eagle offense. He started the final three games of 2003 as a true freshman and completed 29 of 56 passes for 242 yards and 1 td. He also rushed for 165 yards on 53 carries leading a balanced attack.
LOVELACE, LOWE & WARNER TOP RB’S
The backfield is talented with senior Glenn Lovelace and sophomore Marcus Lowe expected at halfback, with junior Jason Warner returning at fullback.
Lovelace gained 269 yards on 62 carries, while also grabbing 7 passes for 154 yards and 1 td. In his three-years at Clarion Glenn has gained 1,079 yards and 7 td’s on 184 rushes, while catching 17 passes for 254 yards and 1 td.
Lowe, who has moved to halfback, gained 278 yards and 2 td’s on 72 carries last season and Warner rushed for 283 yards and 1 td on 70 carries. David Coyle (5 runs, 13 yards) will also see time at fullback.
RIVAGE & ODOM LEAD RECEIVING CORPS
Sophomore Pierre Odom (29 grabs, 366 yards, 1 td) and senior Ron Rivage (13 catches, 210 yards) expect to be an exciting receiving tandem. Sophomore tight end John Dominic (4 catches, 64 yards) also returns with freshman red-shirt Dan Tucker challenging for time.
“O” LINE RETURNS STARTING LINE-UP
Clarion’s “O” line looks solid with the return of starting tackles Zack Snyder (So. 6-5, 310), John Bozsan (So. 6-5, 260) and Steve McCartney (Jr. 6-4, 275), along with guards Eric Deliere (Jr. 6-2, 300) and Sean Finnerty (Sr. 6-5, 280) and center Adam Shaffer (Sr. 6-1, 285). Also returning with experience is guard Anthony Marshall (So. 6-1, 270), while red-shirt freshmen Bill Johnson (6-5, 310) and Josh Vasko (6-4, 295) seem ready to challenge up front.
“D” POISED FOR A SOLID SEASON
Seven starters and 18 lettermen return for a Clarion defense that has led the PSAC in tfl’s for the past four seasons. Clarion had 106 tfl’s in 2003, 113 in 2002 and 102 in 2001 and 128 in 2000. The Eagles also posted 27 sacks last year, while leading the PSAC in 2002 with 41, 2001 with 34 and 2000 with 51.
Overall the defense limited opponents to 317 yards of offense per game (#4 in PSAC) including only 128.5 rushing yards (#4 in PSAC) and 188.5 passing yards (#10 in PSAC).
CONNOLLY LEADS EAGLES UP FRONT
With 2003 and 2002 consenus All-American Troy Bowers graduated, the leadership duties up front will fall to PSAC-West selection Tim Connolly. Connolly notched 44 stops with 10 tfl’s for -34 yards, 4 sacks for -26 yards, 1 interception, 2 break-ups, 1 fumble caused and 2 blocked PAT’s. In his career he now has 104 tackles, 24 tfl’s, 10 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and recovered, plus 4 break-ups.
Also returning are linemen Ben Heisel (36 hits, 13 tfl’s, 5 sacks), Matt Niedbala (14 stops, 2 tfl’s), Corey Shaner (6 hits, 1 tfl) and Derek Puchalsky (14 tackles, 5 tfl’s in 2002).
LINEBACKERS RETURN SOLID GROUP
With All-Region outside linebacker Jabari Weatherspoon graduated, sophomore Kevin Rigby (13 tackles, 1 int) expects to step in and fill that role. Senior Brandon Whitman will also see time.
The inside linebacking spots return sophomore Matt Morris (59 stops, 6 tfl’s, 4 fumble recoveries), senior Dale McCall (31 stops, 11 tfl’s, 4 sacks) and junior Brock Luke (11 jolts, 1 tfl) who started games in 2003. Also expected back is Zach Gourley (21 tackles, 1 fumble return for td in 2002) who missed the 2003 season.
BUSCH LEADS STRONG SECONDARY
Junior free safety Bo Busch (80 hits, 3 int’s, 2 tfl’s, 4 f.c., 1 blocked punt ret. td) was an All-Region selection in 2003 and anchors a quality secondary. In two seasons he has 158 tackles, 4 int’s, 6 fumbles caused, 3 fumbles recovered and 6 break-ups.
Junior Jordan Hicks (22 hits, 3 tfl’s, 2 sacks) and senior Jhermel Goss (24 hits, 7 break-ups in 2001) return at strong safety, with junior James Charles (35 tackles, 1 int, 10 break-ups) and sophomore Dwaon Woodard (22 hits, 1 int, 3 break-ups) back at the corners.
HOFMEISTER LEADS SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore placekicker Mark Hofmeister connected on 8 of 13 field goals last year including a school record tying 49-yarder against SR and a 48-yarder versus West Chester. Punter Joe Farkas (34.4 avg.) returns along with sophomore Kyle Snoke (32.6).
CLARION NOTES: Luke was named PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” in 2000 and 1996 ... Clarion is tradition rich in football ... 27 straight non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 43-year (1961-03) record of 255-164-6, 60.7% and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000)...The 1996 squad under coach Luke won the NCAA D-II East Region and advanced to the NCAA semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Northern Colorado 19-18..