Riding the high of a 47-yard, game-winning A Hail Mary@ pass play and a 35-34 win over Cal last Saturday night, the Golden Eagles turn their attention to Edinboro this Saturday and a very important game in the PSAC-West. Kickoff at Clarion= s Memorial Stadium is set for 2pm in a game that will also serve as the Homecoming Day game. It is ALF week in Clarion.

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.

Glenn Lovelace, a 6-1, 185-pound, senior, running back from Leechburg, was named today as the PSAC-West offensive A Player of the Week@ for his efforts in helping Clarion defeat Cal. He had 23 carries for 164 yards and 2 td= s, including a 61-yard td run.

Clarion is riding the crest of a three-game winning streak as the PSAC-West schedule enters its second week. The Golden Eagles are 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the tough PSAC-West. Last Saturday Clarion defeated Cal 35-34, as QB Brandon Dando hit receiver Joe Farkas on a 47-yard A Hail Mary@ td pass on the final play of the game. Clarion has also defeated Glenville 21-7 and Mansfield 34-20 in the streak. Clarion opened 2004 with a tough 20-17 loss in the final minutes to highly regarded West Chester and then dropped a 25-14 encounter at Kutztown. Coach Luke is in his 11^th season at Clarion and has a 54-60 record at Clarion and a 28-33 mark in the PSAC-West. During his career he has led Clarion to PSAC-West titles in 1996 and 2000, while the 1996 squad advanced to the NCAA semifinals. In his 17 years as a collegiate head coach, he has an overall record of 90-81, including a 37-21 record at Defiance.

Edinboro head coach Lou Tepper is in his fifth year at Edinboro and brings his Fighting Scots to Clarion with a 2-2 overall record and an 0-1 mark in the PSAC-West. The Scots lost their PSAC-West opener last Saturday to #10 rated Shippensburg 17-10. Edinboro started the 2004 season with a 20-7 loss to East Stroudsburg, then defeated West Virginia Tech (54-12) and Tiffin (48-21).

Last year Edinboro posted a 9-3 overall record, including being selected for the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Edinboro lost to Saginaw Valley 33-9 in first round of the playoffs.

Tepper, in his fifth season at Edinboro, has an overall record of 25-23. Formerly the head coach at Big Ten Illinois, Tepper had a 25-31-2 record from the Sun Bowl Game in 1991 through the 1996 season.

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 38-34-2 margin dating back to 1926. Edinboro won last year= s meeting 35-6, while Clarion won the 2002 meeting 24-18. In the last ten meetings both teams have won five games each. The Eagles posted wins in 1994 (24-20), 1997 (28-0), 1998 (33-20), 2000 (7-0) and 2002 (24-18). The Fighting Scots five victories came in 1995 (28-6), 1996 (48-35), 1999 (30-29), 2001 (24-12) and 2003 (35-6).

Clarion= s offense put a season high 35 points up last week. The Eagles are averaging 318.8 (#9 in PSAC) yards per game, including 196.4 rushing yards (#5 in PSAC) and 122.4 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.

Clarion sophomore Brandon Dando has started the last four games and has completed 46 of 87 passes (52.9%) for 501 yards and 4 td= s, plus has rushed for 86 yards and 2 td= s. Freshman Erik Yonish started against West Chester and played in the fourth quarter against Mansfield. He has completed 12 of 17 passes for 111 yards and has 18 carries for 67 yards and 1 td.

The running game features the hard running of tailback Marcus Lowe and halfbacks Glenn Lovelace and Lance Fink. Lowe has 78 carries for 437 yards and 6 td= s on the season and is ranked #8 in the PSAC in rushing (87.4 y/g). Lowe also has 6 receptions for 43 yards and 1 td. Lovelace has 56 carries for 292 yards and td= s. He has 1,371 career rushing yards at Clarion on 240 carries with 9 td= s. Fink meanwhile has 16 carries for 63 yards and 1 td, with 7 catches for 81 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Pierre Odom (13 grabs, 143 yards, 1 td), Ron Rivage (8 catches, 93 yards) and Joe Farkas (11 grabs, 177 yards, 1 td) at the wideouts, with Dan Tucker (10 catches, 66 yards, 1 td) at tight end.

Clarion= s defense is giving up 21.2ppg (#7 in PSAC) and 295 yards of total offense per game (#6 in the PSAC). The Eagles rank #10 in the PSAC in pass defense (181.6 ypg), #6 in rushing defense (113.4 ypg). Unfortunately, four of the opponents 15 td= s scored against Clarion have not come against the A D@ .

The defensive line will be led by noseguard Tim Connolly (10 hits, 5 tfl= s) who has 114 career tackles, 29 tfl= s, 10 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and recovered, plus 4 break-ups. Also leading the way up front are Ben Heisel (21 tackles, 10 tfl= s, 3 sacks), Corey Shaner (12 stops, 2 tfl= s), Mike O= Brien (3 hits, 2 tfl), Matt Niedbala (7 jolts) and Cedric Bowling (8 tackles, 1 tfl).

The linebacking corps will feature Matt Morris (31 stops, 5 tfl= s, 1 int.), Zach Gourley (28 jolts, 8 tfl= s) and Brock Luke (8 stops, 1 tfl) in the middle, with Kevin Rigby (18 stops, 5 tfl= s, 1 int) and Brandon Whitman (16 tackles, 1 sack, 4 tfl= s) on the outside.

The secondary will have leading tackler Bo Busch (45 hits, 2 int= s, 3 break-ups) at free safety and Jhermel Goss (20 stops, 3 tfl= s, 1 fumble rec. 1 int) at strong safety. The corners will have James Charles (12 stops, 2 int), Dwaon Woodard (22 tackles, 2 int) and Elijah Evans (2 int= s) at the corners.

Edinboro has the #4 ranked total offense in the PSAC with the Fighting Scots getting 366 yards per game and the #5 scoring offense with 29.8 points per game. The Scots are getting 159 rushing yards (#7 in PSAC) and 207 passing yards (#5 in PSAC).

Calling the signals will be junior qb Justin Bouch. He has completed 55 of 90 passes (61%) for 802 yards and 4 td= s with 5 interceptions. Bouch, who ranks #5 in the PSAC in passing efficiency, has also run for 10 yards and 1 td.

The running game is paced by tailback Andre Burke. The junior has 75 carries for 477yards and 7 td= s (6.4 p/c) and ranks #4 in the PSAC with 119.2 yards per game. He is joined in the backfield by fullback Matt Phillips (20 carries, 79 yards, 2 td= s).

The receivers are talented with Justin Lipscomb (19 catches, 326 yards, 1 td) and Jeff Dinger (12 grabs, 132 yards, 1 td) getting most of the receptions. Ryan Valasek (7 grabs, 164 yards, 1 td) and tight end Nate Eimer (6 receptions, 82 yards, 1 td) also figure to grab aerials.

Edinboro= s defense is yielding only 17.5 points per game (#4 in PSAC) and a total offense of 361.2 yards per game (#8 in PSAC). Opponents are getting only 99.2 rushing yards (#4 in PSAC) and 262 passing yards (#13 in PSAC) per game.

Up front the Scots are led by noseguard A.J. Cousins (13 stops, 3 tfl= s) and tackles Chris Amico (17 hits, 3 tfl= s) and Greg MacAnn (18 tackles, 4 tfl= s, 1.5 sacks).

The inside linebackers are active with Dylan Wessel (32 hits, 3 break-ups) the leading tackler and Brandon Banas (16 jolts) leading the way.

The outside linebackers are led by Seth Fragale (30 stops, 2 tfl= s, 1 int) and Jim Soltis (13 tackles, 2 int= s).

The secondary will be led by corners Chris Avery (13 jolts, 2 int= s) and Elliott Page (12 hits, 2 int= s), along with strong safety Tim Hyde (26 tackles, 4 tfl= s) and free safety Tom Davidson (16 stops, 1 int).

CLARION NOTES: Clarion= s 35-34 win on the A Hail Mary@ last week against Cal was reminiscent of Clarion= s 15-14 win at Central State in 1981... Then qb Dave Dragovich hit Bob Betts on a 39-yard pass play on the game= s final play in the left corner of the endzone... Betts tipped the ball in the air to himself to make the game-winning catch ... Dwaon Woodard is the #1 punt returner in the PSAC averaging 15.3 per return ... Edinboro won last year= s game 35-6 at Clarion= s Memorial Stadium... Edinboro led 14-3 at halftime and Clarion narrowed the game to 14-6 with a Mark Hofmeister 33-yard field goal at 8:34 of the third... Edinboro followed with 1 td in the third and two in the fourth for the win ... Edinboro had 191 rushing and 226 passing yards ... Matt Phillips had 72 yards and 2 td= s ... Bouch completed 12 of 18 for 184 yards ... Clarion had 111 rushing yards and 149 passing yards ... Felton Woulard gained 59 rushing and completed 5 of 9 for 97 yards... Pierre Odom grabbed 5 passes for 84 yards... In the 2002 game Clarion bounced out to a 24-0 lead and then held on for a 24-18 win at Edinboro ... The Eagle final score was a 12 yard pass from Adam Almashy to Chad Thompson on a fake field goal early in the third quarter... Clarion rushed for 307 yards and passed for 31 ... Robert Walker had 116 on 14 carries, while Lovelace had 72 and 1 td on 7 tries (10.3 p/c)... Edinboro had 392 yards of offense including 184 rushing and 208 passing ... Alonzo Roebuck had 24 carries for 146 yards and 2 td= s ... Justin Bouch completed 6 of 12 passes for 104 yards in relief of Cam Marsh (10 of 27 - 104 yards)... Sean Hess had 6 catches for 96 yards ... In 2001 Edinboro won 24-12 also at Sox Harrison Stadium ... Clarion= s Demetric Garnder scored on a 19-yard run but the PAT was blocked and Clarion led 6-0... The Boro scored 17 unanswered points before halftime to lead 17-6 and went on to the win ... Clarion rushed for 195 and passed for 147 for 342 yards ... Edinboro rushed for 189 and passed for 155 for 344 yards