With a 3-5 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the rugged PSAC-West, Clarion returns home this Saturday, October 23^rd to host #17 rated Shippensburg. Kickoff is set for 6pm at Memorial Stadium. Ten seniors, who will play in their final game (see notes), will be honored in pre-game ceremonies.

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 three-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. Last week Clarion rallied to tie Lock Haven 10-10 with 20-seconds remaining before dropping at 16-13 overtime decision. Coach Luke is in his 11^th season at Clarion and has a 54-63 record at Clarion and a 28-35 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 90-84, including a 37-21 record at Defiance.

Shippensburg sails into Clarion with a 7-1 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the PSAC-West. The Red Raiders were ranked #3 in the Northeast Region last week and #17 in Division II in last week= s AFCA poll. Head Coach Rocky Rees is in his 15^th season with Ship and has put together an overall record of 90-72-1. He is trying to lead the Raiders to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 1981. Ship opened 2004 impressively with five straight wins. They defeated Kutztown (35-0), Shepherd (35-7), Bloomsburg (48-10), Millersville (49-27) and Edinboro 17-10. Ship lost its only game at IUP (17-0), then rebounded for a 45-7 win over Lock Haven and last week silenced California 32-14.

In a series that dates back to 1955, Clarion leads the overall series 33-14-1. Clarion lost last year= s meeting 13-0 at Shippensburg and the 2002 game 20-19. Clarion last defeated Shippensburg in 2000 in a wild

56-49 contest. In the last ten years Shipp holds a 7-3 advantage over the Golden Eagles. Clarion wins were in 1995 (31-9), 1996 (59-20) and 2000 (59-46). Ship wins were in 1994 (31-21), 1997, 37-14), 1998 (38-3), 1999 (32-26), 2001 (34-29), 2002 (20-19) and 2003 (13-0).

Clarion= s offense is averaging 288.5 (#11 in PSAC) yards per game, including 162.2 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 126.2 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.

Clarion sophomore Brandon Dando has started the last seven games and has completed 89 of 173 passes (51%) for 899 yards and 6 td= s, plus has rushed for 117 yards and 4 td= s. Freshman Erik Yonish started against West Chester and played against Mansfield and Lock Haven. He has completed 12 of 17 passes for 111 yards and has 19 carries for 78 yards and 1 td.

The running game features the hard running of tailback Marcus Lowe and halfbacks Glenn Lovelace and Lance Fink. Lowe has 117 carries for 644 yards and 7 td= s on the season and is ranked #8 in the PSAC in rushing (80.5 y/g). Lowe also has 16 receptions for 102 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 26 carries for 63 yards and 1 td, with 15 catches for 139 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Pierre Odom (22 grabs, 266 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 22.6ppg (#6 in PSAC) and 338.4 yards of total offense per game (#6 in the PSAC). The Eagles rank #10 in the PSAC in pass defense (185.6 ypg), #6 in rushing defense (152.8 ypg).

The defensive line hopes to return noseguard Tim Connolly (10 hits, 5 tfl= s), who has missed three 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 (33 tackles, 13 tfl= s, 3 sacks), Corey Shaner (19 stops, 3 tfl= s), Mike O= Brien (8 hits, 2 tfl), Matt Niedbala (14 jolts) and Cedric Bowling (10 tackles, 1 tfl).

The linebacking corps will feature Matt Morris (59 stops, 10 tfl= s, 2 int= s.), Zach Gourley (51 jolts, 12 tfl= s) and Brock Luke (14 stops, 2 tfl= s) in the middle, with Kevin Rigby (36 stops, 6 tfl= s, 1 int) and Brandon Whitman (25 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tfl= s) on the outside.

The secondary will have leading tackler Bo Busch (82 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 (26 hits, 3 tfl= s) at strong safety. The corners will have James Charles (16 stops, 3 int), Dwaon Woodard (46 tackles, 2 int, 11 break-ups), Herb Carraway (3 break-ups) and Elijah Evans (2 int= s) at the corners.

Shippensburg has a very potent offense. The Raiders are averaging 32.6ppg (#5 in PSAC) and 417.9 yards of total offense (#3 in PSAC) per game. Ship is getting 265.1 rushing yards (#2 in PSAC) and 152.8 passing yards (#9 in PSAC) per game.

Quarterback Tony Gomez is #2 in the PSAC in passing efficiency with a rating of 151.3. He has completed 48 of 105 passes (45.7%) for 1,014 yards and 9 td= s with only 2 interceptions.

The running game is led by All-America fullback John Kuhn. He has 191 carries this season for 985 yards and 7 td= s. Last year Kuhn gained 1,500 rushing yards and had 21 rushing td= s. Also toting the pigskin are halfbacks Walter Crump (52 carries, 399 yards, 4 td= s) and Andre McLaurin (39 rushes, 203 yards, 2 td= s). McLaurin also has 12 catches for 129 yards and 1 td.

The receivers are talented with Pat Ferguson (13 grabs, 455 yards, 6 td= s) and Tim Devanney (11 catches, 183 yards, 1 td), plus tight end Joel Gamble (5 receptions, 114 yards, 1 td) ready to catch passes.

Shippensburg= s defense has been tough all season. The Raiders ranks #1 in the PSAC in scoring defense (11.5ppg), rushing defense (85 yards per game) and total defense (223.2 yards per game). Ship also ranks #2 in pass defense giving up only 138.2 yards per game.

Up front the Raiders count on noseguard Demetrius Roberts (13 hits, 3 tfl= s), along with tackle Chris Minner (15 hits, 3 tfl= s, 1 sack) and ends Ryan Hoffman (31 jolts, 9 tfl= s, 4.5 sacks) and Arlan Johnson (4 tfl= s) or Kirsten Gamber.

The linebacking corps is solid with Dan Walsh (47 hits, 3 tfl= s) the leading tackler in the middle. On the outside are Frank Duffy (37 hits, 7 tfl= s, 2 int= s) and Chris Leonetti (41 tackles, 8 tfl= s).

The secondary is led by All-America corner Brent Grimes (4 int= s) and teammate Antonio Williams (19 stops, 3 int= s). The safeties are Mike Street (46 hits, 5 int= s) and John Sharbaugh (46 jolts, 3 tfl= s).

CLARION NOTES: Clarion= s ten seniors who will be honored in pre-game ceremonies include on the offense RB- Glenn Lovelace, OG- Sean Finnerty, OC- Adam Shaffer and WR- Ron Rivage, while the defense has DL- Corey Shaner, SS- Jhermel Goss, LB- Brandon Whitman, DL- Ben Heisel, DL- Tim Connolly and DL- Jared Faith... In last year= s Ship 13-0 win, Clarion was held to only 70 yards of total offense in the game including 49 rushing yards and 21 passing yards... Clarion used 3 qb= s in the game who combined to complete only 3 of 11 passes ... Marcus Lowe ran for 56 yards on 8 carries... Clarion= s A D@ also did a good job on Ship limiting them to only 303 yards ... Kuhn gained 173 yards and 1 td rushing on 33 carries ... QB Rick Henshaw completed 8 of 18 passes for 92 yards ... In Ship= s 20-19 win at Clarion in 2002, Brian Sekel= s 18-yard td catch with 6:47 left in the game provided the margin of victory... Clarion had 307 total yards with 60 on the ground and 247 through the air ... Ship had 258 overall including 185 rushing and 73 passing ...Adam Almashy passed for 247 yards and 2 td= s... Ship= s John Kuhn gained 184 yards and 1 td on 31 carries... In 2000, four years ago at Memorial Stadium the two teams combined for a Clarion record 105-points as Clarion won a 56-49 shootout ... Clarion held what looked to be comfortable leads in the third quarter of 49-14 and 56-21, before the Raiders mounted a furious comeback... Adam Almashy stole the show two years ago completing 16 of 26 passes for 282 yards and 5 td= s, while also rushing for a td... Tab Musser led the Eagle ground attack with 93 yards... Clarion outgained Shipp in that game 576 - 391... Clarion= s final 2 games of the year are on the road at at IUP on October 30 and at Slippery Rock on November 5.