With a 3-4 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the rugged PSAC-West, Clarion will hit the road this Saturday to battle Lock Haven. Kickoff is set for 2:00pm at Hubert Jack 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 Golden Eagles are coming off a deceptive 38-24 loss at East Stroudsburg last Saturday. The Golden Eagles led 17-14 at halftime and had the scored tied 24-24 in the fourth quarter, before the Warriors scored two late td= s to win th game. ESU is ranked #1 in the Northeast Region. The Golden Eagles also lost a 21-10 decision to Edinboro two weeks ago. The Golden Eagles are 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the tough PSAC-West. Three weeks ago 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. The 2004 season opened 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 54-62 record at Clarion and a 28-34 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 90-83, including a 37-21 record at Defiance.

The Bald Eagles are 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC-West entering Saturday= s contest. The two wins came in the season opener against Cheyney (35-19) and two weeks ago with a 33-30 overtime win over Mansfield. The PSAC-West losses have come against Shippensburg (45-7) and Slippery Rock (31-3). Other losses are against James Madison (62-7), Kutztown (28-20) and Bloomsburg (54-0).

Head coach Mark Luther is in his fifth season and has a career record at Lock Haven of 15-36.

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 39-13-1 margin dating back to 1928, including a 22-9 win last year. In the last ten seasons Clarion leads by an 8-2 margin and has won the last five straight meetings. Clarion wins over that span came in 2003 (22-9), 2002 (34-31), 2001 (13-0), 2000 (42-20), 1999 (44-41 overtime), 1996 (57-3), 1995 (49-32) and 1994 (41-20). Lock Haven wins came in 1998 (35-28) and 1997 (33-32).

Clarion= s offense is averaging 299 (#10 in PSAC) yards per game, including 170.3 rushing yards (#8 in PSAC) and 128.7 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.

Clarion sophomore Brandon Dando has started the last six games and has completed 73 of 140 passes (52%) for 790 yards and 5 td= s, plus has rushed for 84 yards and 4 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 102 carries for 598 yards and 7 td= s on the season and is ranked #7 in the PSAC in rushing (85.4 y/g). Lowe also has 12 receptions for 74 yards and 1 td. Lovelace has 61 carries for 336 yards and 2 td= s. He missed the Edinboro game, but logged 44 yards at East Stroudsburg last week. He was PSAC-West A Player of the Week@ against Cal three weeks ago with 23 carries, 164 yards, 2 td= s. He has 1,415 career rushing yards at Clarion on 245 carries with 9 td= s. Fink meanwhile has 22 carries for 66 yards and 1 td, with 11 catches for 116 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Pierre Odom (19 grabs, 243 yards, 2 td= s), Joe Farkas (12 catches, 187 yards, 1 td) and Ron Rivage (13 catches, 145 yards) at the wideouts, with Dan Tucker (12 catches, 95 yards, 1 td) at tight end.

Clarion= s defense is giving up 23.6ppg (#7 in PSAC) and 331.7 yards of total offense per game (#6 in the PSAC). The Eagles rank #7 in the PSAC in pass defense (181.4 ypg), #8 in rushing defense (150.3 ypg).

The defensive line hopes to return noseguard Tim Connolly (10 hits, 5 tfl= s), who has missed two games. He 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 (30 tackles, 11 tfl= s, 3 sacks), Corey Shaner (18 stops, 3 tfl= s), Mike O= Brien (6 hits, 2 tfl), Matt Niedbala (10 jolts) and Cedric Bowling (10 tackles, 1 tfl).

The linebacking corps will feature Matt Morris (52 stops, 8 tfl= s, 2 int= s.), Zach Gourley (44 jolts, 9 tfl= s) and Brock Luke (12 stops, 2 tfl= s) in the middle, with Kevin Rigby (30 stops, 6 tfl= s, 1 int) and Brandon Whitman (22 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tfl= s) on the outside.

The secondary will have leading tackler Bo Busch (74 hits, 2 int= s, 3 break-ups) at free safety and Jhermel Goss (23 stops, 3 tfl= s, 1 fumble rec. 1 int) and Jordan Hicks (23 hits, 2 tfl= s) at strong safety. The corners will have James Charles (15 stops, 2 int), Dwaon Woodard (38 tackles, 2 int, 9 break-ups), Herb Carraway (3 break-ups) and Elijah Evans (2 int= s) at the corners.

Lock Haven= s offense is ranked #13 in the PSAC in scoring (15ppg) and 11 in total offense with 269.6 yards per game. The Bald Eagles are getting 115.1 (#12 in PSAC) yards rushing and 154.4 (#9 in PSAC) passing yards per game.

Calling the signals will be veteran qb Tim Storino. Playing in 3 games this year, he had his best start in LH= s win over Mansfield in passing for 319 yards and 3 td= s. This season he has completed 33 of 87 passes for 491 yards and 3 td= s with 5 interceptions. Also tossing passes are Brian Camberg (32 of 69 - 401 yards, 2 td= s) and Rob Kristiniak (14 of 39 - 149 yards, 1 td).

The running game is led by Maurice Walker who has 142 carries, 563 yards and 4 td= s this season. Walker ranks 9^th in the PSAC. Derek Marshall (29 carries, 93 yards) will also carry the pigskin.

Ready to catch passes are wideouts Rafael Smith (24 catches, 320 yards, 5 td= s), Justin Marshall (17 grabs, 150 yards, 1 td), Adam Lawrence (9 catches, 132 yars, 1 td) and Kellen Bush (9 receptions, 156 yards).

Lock Haven= s defense has given up 38.4ppg (#13 in PSAC) and 423.3 yards per game (#12 in PSAC) this season. The Bald Eagles are yielding 253.9 rushing yards (#13 in PSAC) and 169.4 passing yards (#6 in PSAC) per game.

Leading the way up front are tackles Warren Whitaker (25 hits, 3 tfl= s), Brian Johnson (15 tackles) and Jarrod Hendricks (8 stops), along with ends Brad Sones (28 jolts, 6 tfl= s) and Ryan Bickel (14 tackles, 1 sack).

The linebacking corps is solid with Jon Nalewak (49 stops, 1 int), Mike Slatcoff (39 jolts, 3 tfl= s) and Deek Harsch (23 hits) anchoring the middle.

The secondary will be led by top tackler David Show (55 stops, 1 int) at strong safety and Corey Gildea (17 tackles) at free safety. The corners include Mike Nesby (25 jolts, 2 int= s) and Sheldon Gray (24 hits, 1 tfl).

CLARION NOTES: In the latest PSAC statistics, Dwaon Woodard leads the conference averaging 13.1 yards per return... Pierre Odom ranks #2 in kickoff return (23.1), Marcus Lowe #7 in rushing (85.4) and qb Brandon Dando #9 in QB Efficiency (101.3) and #8 in total offense (145.7)... On defense Bo Busch is #1 in total tackles (74) and #2 in tackles per game (10.6)... Ben Heisel leads the PSAC in tfl= s with 11, while Zach Gourley is tied for second with 9... Dwaon Woodard is tied for 3^rd in passes defended (11)... Last year Clarion won 22-9 over Lock Haven... The defense had a big game posting 6 interceptions... Troy Bowers returned an int 22-yards for a score... With the game tied 9-9 in the fourth, Marcus Lowe scored on a 1-yard run (4:59 left) and Felton Woulard scored on an 8-yard run (0:44 remaining)... Bo Busch and Jabari Weatherspoon had 2 interceptions each... Two years ago Clarion topped Lock Haven 34-31 at Lock Haven... Clarion scored 27 second half points including 20 in the fourth to seal the win... QB Adam Almashy ran for 163 yards and 1 td, plus passed for 66 yards... Robert Walker also ran for 151 yards and 1 td as Clarion rushed for 468 yards, the second most in school history... LH QB Tim Storino passed for 290 yards and 2 td= s ... Burkely grabbed 5 passes for 124 yards and 1 td.... In 2001 Clarion topped Lock Haven 13-0 at Lock Haven ... Demetric Gardner ran for 112 yards and 1 td ... Adam Almashy completed 13 of 20 passes for 164 yards ... Clarion had 427 yards, while Lock Haven had 106 yards of offense ... Clarion won (42-20 in 2000) and (44-41 in 3 overtimes in 1999) - Both games were in Clarion due to new PSAC schedules taking over ... In 2000 Clarion rushed for a school record 443 yards including 177 and 2 td= s by Robert Walker and 169 by fullback Tab Musser ... Almashy completed 8 of 14 for 104 yards and 2 td= s... LH QB Ed Galiczynski completed 19 of 35 for 248 yards and 1 td... In 1999's Senior Day game, Clarion placekicker Frank VanWert booted a 34-yard field goal in the third overtime to give Clarion a 44-41 lead ... On Lock Haven= s possession LHU runner Jamie Allen fumbled at the 10 yard line and Clarion corner Kervin Charles recovered to preserve the victory ... Clarion had 356 total yards including 210 rushing ... Gardner had 61 rushing and 1 td, while Almashy completed 12 of 24 passes for 146 yards and 2 td= s... Lock Haven had 420 yards of total offense including 201 rushing and 219 passing... Clarion returns home to host powerful Shippensburg on October 23^rd at 6pm, then hits the road for the final two weeks including games at IUP and at Slippery Rock.