With a 3-6 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the rugged PSAC-West, Clarion hits the road this Saturday when the Golden Eagles travel to square off against a talented IUP team. Kickoff is set for 1pm at George P. Miller stadium.

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.

The 2004 season has been a series of streaks for the Golden Eagles. The season started with two tough losses including the season opener to ranked West Chester (20-17), and then to Kutztown (24-15). Then the Eagles ran off three impressive wins over Mansfield (34-20), Glenville (21-7) and nationally ranked California (35-34). The Cal game of course featured Clarion winning 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. Now the Eagles are fighting through a four-game losing streak. The first loss was a 21-10 decision to Edinboro that Clarion led 3-0 at halftime. The game wasn= t decided until Edinboro scored a td in the final two minutes. The second loss was a 38-24 decision at East Stroudsburg, the #1 ranked team in the Northeast Region. Clarion led that game 17-14 at halftime and tied the game 24-24 in the fourth quarter, before losing in the final minutes. Two weeks ago Clarion rallied to tie Lock Haven 10-10 with 20-seconds remaining before dropping at 16-13 overtime decision. Last week #17 ranked Shippensburg took advantage of Clarion turnovers to defeat the Eagles 44-0. Coach Luke is in his 11^th season at Clarion and has a 54-64 record at Clarion and a 28-36 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 90-85, including a 37-21 record at Defiance.

IUP has played a tough national schedule in 2004. The Indians opened with a 27-19 win over Millersville, then traveled to #11 ranked Nebraska-Omaha and won a big 42-21 decision. The next week IUP lost to #12 rated Catawba 52-19 and followed that with a 34-24 loss at Bloomsburg. IUP rose to the occasion at home and defeated #9 rated Shippensburg 17-0, then followed with a 34-13 victory against Slippery Rock. The toughest loss came at Edinboro (38-14), but rebounded last week to roll over Lock Haven 52-10.

Veteran head coach Frank Cignetti is in his 19^th season as head coach at IUP and has an overall record entering the game of 175-45-1, or a winning percentage of 79.4%. Cignetti has led IUP to 13 PSAC-West titles and 13 invitations to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, having advanced to the NCAA title game twice (1990, 1993).

The two schools have played a total of 74 times dating back to 1926 with IUP holding a 49-22-3 lead. Since 1996 Clarion is 3-5 against the Indians having defeated IUP 49-15 in 1996, 21-6 in 1997 and 21-13 in 2000. IUP defeated Clarion in 1998 52-14, 1999 26-0, 2001 35-34 in overtime, 2002 28-14 and last year= s come from behind 24-20 win.

Clarion= s offense is averaging 266.4 (#12 in PSAC) yards per game, including 146 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 120.4 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.

Clarion sophomore Brandon Dando has started the last eight games and has completed 95 of 190 passes (50%) for 973 yards and 6 td= s, plus has rushed for 109 yards and 4 td= s. Freshman Erik Yonish started against West Chester and played against Mansfield, Lock Haven and Shippensburg. He has completed 12 of 22 passes for 111 yards and has 23 carries for 81 yards and 1 td.

The running game features the hard running of tailback Marcus Lowe and halfbacks Glenn Lovelace and Lance Fink. Lowe has 125 carries for 668 yards and 7 td= s on the season and is ranked #11 in the PSAC in rushing (74.2 y/g). Lowe also has 18 receptions for 127 yards and 1 td. Lovelace has 66 carries for 358 yards and 2 td= s. He was PSAC-West A Player of the Week@ against Cal three weeks ago with 23 carries, 164 yards, 2 td= s. He has 1,437 career rushing yards at Clarion on 250 carries with 9 td= s. Fink meanwhile has 30 carries for 82 yards and 1 td, with 15 catches for 139 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Pierre Odom (26 grabs, 315 yards, 2 td= s), Joe Farkas (15 catches, 213 yards, 2 td= s) and Ron Rivage (14 catches, 151 yards) at the wideouts, with Dan Tucker (12 catches, 95 yards, 1 td) at tight end.

Clarion= s defense is giving up 25ppg (#8 in PSAC) and 342.6 yards of total offense per game (#7 in the PSAC). The Eagles rank #10 in the PSAC in pass defense (181.4 ypg), #7 in rushing defense (161.1 ypg).

The defensive line features noseguard Tim Connolly (16 hits, 6 tfl= s), who has missed four games. He has 120 career tackles, 30 tfl= s, 10 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and recovered, plus 4 break-ups. Also leading the way up front are Ben Heisel (38 tackles, 15 tfl= s, 5 sacks), Corey Shaner (24 stops, 3 tfl= s), Mike O= Brien (9 hits, 2 tfl), Matt Niedbala (15 jolts) and Cedric Bowling (11 tackles, 1 tfl).

The linebacking corps will feature Matt Morris (70 stops, 11 tfl= s, 2 int= s.), Zach Gourley (57 jolts, 12 tfl= s) and Brock Luke (18 stops, 3 tfl= s) in the middle, with Kevin Rigby (41 stops, 7 tfl= s, 1 int) and Brandon Whitman (26 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tfl= s) on the outside.

The secondary will have leading tackler Bo Busch (95 hits, 2 int= s, 4 break-ups) at free safety and Jhermel Goss (27 stops, 3 tfl= s, 1 fumble rec. 1 int) and Jordan Hicks (30 hits, 3 tfl= s) at strong safety. The corners will have James Charles (16 stops, 3 int), Dwaon Woodard (48 tackles, 3 int, 11 break-ups), Herb Carraway (3 break-ups) and Elijah Evans (2 int= s) at the corners.

IUP has a very balanced offense in 2004. The Indians are averaging 28.6ppg (#7 in PSAC) and 382.9 yards of total offense (#7 in PSAC) per game. IUP is getting 192.6 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC) and 190.2 passing yards (#4 in PSAC) per game.

Quarterback Kevin Weidl is having a top season completing 91 of 166 passes (54.8%) for 1,397 yards and 13 td= s with 11 interceptions.

With star running back Mike Jemison out for the season with an injury, Chris Morgan has stepped up to carry the load. He has 113 carries for 720 yards (6.4 y/c) and 6 td= s. He ranks 7^th in the PSAC in rushing. Morgan set a new IUP school single game record last week rushing for 266 yards against Lock Haven. Also

toting the pigskin will be tailback Stan Grandy (30 rushes, 265 yards, 1 td) and fullback Justin Spence (26 carries, 60 yards).

The receivers are very talented in Joe Slappy and LeRon McCoy. Slappy has 33 catches for 498 yards and 5 td= s, while McCoy has 29 grabs for 536 yrads and 7 td= s. Tight end Pat Liebert (19 catches, 313 yards, 2 td= s) is also a weapon.

IUP= s defense has been tough all season. The Indians rank #5 in total defense giving up only 333.6 yards per game and #6 in scoring defense (23.4ppg). Opponents are getting 167 rushing yards (#8 in PSAC) and 166.6 (#7 in PSAC) passing yards per game.

Up front the Indians are led by noseguard Tyre Young (29 stops, 6 tfl= s), tackle P.J. Yurt (25 hits, 3 tfl= s) and ends Matt Kirsch (17 jolts, 2 tfl= s) and Chaz Hollins (31 tackles, 5 tfl= s, 2 sacks).

The linebackers are strong with middle linebacker Kirby Griffin leading the team with 56 hits, 12 tfl= s and 6 sacks. The outside is protected by Kris Griffin (40 stops, 7 tfl= s) and Y= Hoshua Murray (48 tackles, 3 tfl= s).

The secondary is paced by free safety Mike Chiapetta (41 hits, 5 int= s), strong safety Ken Evans (30 jolts, 2 tfl= s) and corners Victor Callahan (29 stops, 1 int) and Jerrell Jackson (35 tackles, 1 int).

CLARION NOTES: Clarion safety Bo Busch leads the entire PSAC in tackles with 95, while Ben Heisel leads the PSAC in tackles for loss with 15... Linebacker Zach Gourley is tied for #2 in the PSAc in tfl= s with 12 ... Dwaon Woodard is #2 in punt returns at 11.2 and Kyle Snoke is #2 in field goal percentage at 85.7% (6 of 7) ... IUP= s placekicker Brad Whitacre is #1 in field goals made with 9 (9 for 13) and Kirby Griffin is #1 in sacks with 7 in 8 games ... Clarion lost last year= s game 24-20 when IUP scored on a Weidl 64-yard td pass to Joe Slappy with only 2:54 left in the game... Clarion led 20-17 with 4:28 to go when Brandon Sweeney scored on a 5-yard pass from Felton Woulard on fourth and 2 from the 5 ... The stat battle was very close ... Clarion had 326 yards of offense (242 rushing) and IUP had 382 yards (148 rush, 234 pass) ... Sweeney gained 117 yards and 1 td on 10 carries ... Mike Jemison had 146 rushing yards and 1 td on 25 carries ... Weidl was sacked 4 times - including 3 from All-America noseguard Troy Bowers ... Two years ago at IUP the Indians won a 28-14 decision that was much closer than the final score ... Clarion led 7-0 in the first on a Robert Walker 3 yard run... IUP tied the game when Adrew Battle recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards for a td in the second... The game was tied 14-14 at halftime on a Frantz Charles 5-yard run ... IUP led 21-14 into the fourth quarter when the Eagles made a costly fumble... Robert Walker was headed to the endzone for what appeared to be the game tying td, when Kairi Cooper caused Walker to fumble at the 2 and Walt Mosteller recovered at the IUP 5... IUP tacked on a final td with 4:50 left to clinch the game ... Clarion had 281 total offense (224 rushing)... IUP had 230 rushing yards and 197 passing for 427 total ... In 2001 the teams played an exciting game that IUP won 35-34 in overtime at Clarion ... Clarion trailed 21-6 at halftime, but rallied to tie the game 28-28 on an Adam Almashy 1 yard run with 7:45 remaining... In the overtime, IUP= s Aamir Dew rushed for the go ahead td, then Clarion came back and scored on Demetric Gardner= s 2-yard run, but the PAT missed to the right and the Indians won 35-34 ... Clarion rushed for 264 yards in that game... Almashy had 111 yards and 2 td= s rushing and 1 td passing ... IUP ran for 135 yards... Aamir Dew gained 166 for IUP with 2 td= s ... In 2000, a year that Clarion tied for first in the PSAC-West with a 5-1 mark, Clarion won at IUP 21-13 ... Clarion scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as Cori Johnson grabbed a 55-yard td pass from Almashy, Andy Pore caught a 23-yard td pass from Almshy, and with 1-minute remaining, Almashy ran in from 9-yards out ... Clarion also defeated IUP 21-6 at IUP in 1997 in a rainstorm ... Clarion= s Kervin Charles scored on 3 td= s runs of 1, 27 and 3 to lead 21-0 ... Clarion led 7-0 at halftime and scored the final two td= s at 12:51 of the third and 3:23 of the fourth ... Clarion had 277 rushing yards and 63 passing yards in that game - IUP 65 rushing and 216 passing ... Keonte Campbell rushed for 120 yards on 14 carries, and Charles 71 yards and 3 td;s on 14 tries... Chris Janson was at qb and completed 8 of 15 ... Tink Stennett had 64 yards rushing for IUP, while Terry Throm was 16 of 27 for 183 yards and 1 td... Clarion finishes its season at Slippery Rock next Saturday at 1pm.