Clarion travels to Mansfield this Saturday in the hopes of collecting its first victory of the 2004 season. Kickoff at MU= s Karl Van Norman Field is set 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 an 0-2 record, having lost last Saturday at Kutztown by a 25-14 margin, and lost the season opener to West Chester 20-17 at Memorial Stadium. Last year the Golden Eagles were 3-8 overall and 2-4 in the PSAC-West. Clarion won its final two games of the season defeating Lock Haven (22-9) and Slippery Rock (19-17). Coach Luke is in his 11^th season at Clarion and has a 51-60 record at Clarion. He has led Clarion to PSAC-West titles in 1996 and 2000 under Luke, while the 1996 squad advanced to the NCAA semifinals. In his 17^th year as a collegiate head coach, he has an overall record of 88-81, including a 37-21 record at Defiance.

Mansfield enters the game with an 0-2 record, having lost their season opener 63-6 at California, then returned home last Saturday to lose a 27-14 decision to two-time WVIAC Champion West Virginia Wesleyan. The Mountaineers are led by first year head coach Jim Shiffer, a 1988 Mansfield grad who played at Mansfield from 1986-88. His assistant coaching stints prior to Mansfield include 1993 at Pitt, 1994-2001 at Millersville and 2002-2003 at Kutztown. Last year Mansfield exploded onto the PSAC-East scene with an 8-3 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the East. Big wins were registered over Millersville (39-27), Kutztown (45-24) and Cheyney (48-24), along with wins over Cal (14-7) and Lock Haven (27-23).

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by an 8-2 margin dating back to 1928. Clarion lost the 1928 game (20-0) and in 1929 (13-0), and then have reeled off eight straight wins. More recently the Eagles won big in 1996 and 1997. In 1996 the Eagles rolled 69-26 at Mansfield, then returned to Memorial Stadium in 1997 and handed the Mountaineers a 17-0 defeat in the final game of the year.

Clarion= s offense has been seeking more balance in 2004. After two games the Eagles are averaging 254.5 (#9 in PSAC) yards per game, including 128.5 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC) and 126 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.

Clarion has used two qb= s in its first two contests. Sophomore Brandon Dando completed 11 of 22 passes for 141 yards on Saturday against Kutztown. Freshman Erik Yonish was impressive in his first collegiate start against West Chester completing 12 of 17 passes for 111 yards. He also ran for 39 yards and 1 td on 14 carries.

The running game will be paced by halfbacks Glenn Lovelace and Lance Fink, along with tailback Marcus Lowe. Lovelace has gained 51 yards on 13 carries and now has 1,130 career rushing yards on 197 carries with 7 td= s. Lowe leads the Golden Eagles in rushing with 145 yards and 3 td= s on 32 carries. Fink, meanwhile, has 23 yards on 7 carries along with 5 catches for 35 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Pierre Odom (4 grabs, 74 yards), Ron Rivage (2 catches, 17 yards) and Joe Farkas (3 grabs, 72 yards) at the wideouts, with Dan Tucker (4 catches, 29 yards) at tight end. Odom had 29 grabs, 366 yards, 1 td in 2003 while Rivage posted 13 catches, 210 yards.

Clarion= s defense is giving up 22.5ppg (#7 in PSAC) and 246 yards of total offense per game (#3 in the PSAC). The Eagles rank #3 in the PSAC in pass defense (135.5 ypg), #4 in rushing defense (110.5 ypg). Unfortunately, three of the 7 td= s scored against Clarion have not come against the A D@ .

The defensive line will be led by noseguard Tim Connolly (8 hits, 4 tfl= s) who has 112 career tackles, 28 tfl= s, 10 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and recovered, plus 4 break-ups. Also leading the way up front are Ben Heisel (11 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 tfl= s), Mike O= Brien (2 hits, 1 tfl) and Matt Niedbala (2 jolts).

The linebacking corps will feature Matt Morris (14 stops, 2 tfl= s), Zach Gourley (12 jolts, 3 tfl= s) and Brock Luke (2 stops) in the middle, with Kevin Rigby (3 stops, 2 tfl= s, 1 int) and Brandon Whitman (8 tackles, 1 sack, 3 tfl= s) on the outside.

The secondary will have leading tackler Bo Busch (18 hits, 2 break-ups) at free safety and Jhermel Goss (9 stops, 1 sack, 1 fumble rec. 1 int) at strong safety. The corners will have James Charles (8 stops, 1 int), Dwaon Woodard (8 tackles) and Elijah Evans (2 int= s) at the corners.

Mansfield returns an All-America tailback and receiver from a 2003 squad that averaged 27.5ppg, 196.3 rushing yards and 180 passing yards for a total offense of 376.3 yards per game. In the first two games the Mountaineers are averaging only 10ppg, 86.0 rushing yards (#11 in PSAC), 33.5 passing yards (#14 in PSAC) and 119.5 yards of total offense per game (#14 in PSAC).

Ready to toss the pigskin is quarterback David Fetzer. The sophomore has completed only 6 of 25 passes for 56 yards and 1 td.

The running game is paced by talented All-America tailback Earnest A Poohbear@ McNeal. In 2004 McNeal has rushed for 142 yards and 1 td on 53 carries. Last year he rushed for 1,684 yards and 17 td= s on 279 carries to average 153.1 yards per game. Also ready to tote the pigskin is Paul Garofolo (16 yards, 8 carries).

The receiving corps is led by All-American Joe Bennett. In 2004 he has 5 catches for 34 yards and 1 td. Last year he grabbed 53 aerials for 1,184 yards and 17 td= s. Also ready to grab passes are Corey Mishura (2 catches, 21 yards) and tight end Eddie Van Buren.

Mansfield= s defense is giving up 45 ppg, along with 468 yards of offense (#12 in PSAC) per game. Opponents are getting 213.5 yards on the ground (#12 in PSAC) and 254.5 passing yards (#12 in PSAC).

The defensive front features noseguard Brian DeCecco (9 hits), tackle Drew Grieshober (5 tackles, 1 fum. rec.) and ends Keith Slezak (10 stops, 1.5 tfl= s) and Jason Twedt (4 tackles, 1 tfl).

Top tackler and middle linebacker Andre Turner has 19 stops and 1 tfl. Outside linebackers include Rob Smiley (7 hits, 1 sack) and William Clarke (10 jolts, 2.5 tfl= s).

The secondary has Daricus Haynes (13 stops) at free safety and Joe Frick (15 hits, 1 sack, 1 int) at strong safety. The corners include Mike Reed (7 jolts) and Ronnie Montgomery (15 stops, 3 break-ups).

CLARION NOTES: Clarion= s 1996 win at Mansfield (69-26), was the final regular season game of that year which Clarion finished 9-2... An invitation awaited the Eagles to the NCAA Div.II Playoffs including wins over Bloomsburg and Ferris State, before losing in the NCAA semifinal against eventual national Champion Northern Colorado... In the win at Mansfield Clarion posted a single game high of 69 points, matched only 69 the Eagles posted in 1987 at Lock Haven... Clarion was ahead 35-0 at the end of the first quarter... Clarion had 524 yards of offense in that game which included 378 rushing yards ...Steve Witte had 173 rushing yards and 3 td= s on 16 carries, while Ron DeJidas had 131 yards on 16 tries... Chris Weibel, current backfield coach, completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and 3 td= s... Current A D@ Coordinator Kim Niedbala had 8 tackles, 1 tfl and 1 sack in the contest ... Mansfield gained 407 yards including 312 passing yards... In 1997 Clarion won 17-0, also the season finale where the Eagles finished 3-7 after losing qb Weibel early inthe season with a knee injury... QB Jeff Cappa completed 14 of 19 passes for 161 yards, while Keonte Campbell and Kervin Charles rushed for td= s ... Tyler Palisin booted a 30-yard field goal... Clarion had 232 yards of offense to Mansfield= s 211... Clarion returns home to play Glenville State on September 18^th in a 6pm start. That will also be Family Day... Clarion will have three straight home games including the PSAC-West opener against Cal on September 25 at 6pm and the annual Homecoming Day game against Edinboro on October 2^nd at 2pm.