The 2004 season finale is set for this Saturday, November 6, as the golden eagles, with an overall record of 3-7 and a PSAC-West mark of 1-4 travel to Slippery Rock to battle A The Rock@ . Kickoff is set for 1pm at N. Kerr Thompson 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. Three weeks ago Clarion rallied to tie Lock Haven 10-10 with 20-seconds remaining before dropping at 16-13 overtime decision. Two weeks ago #17 ranked Shippensburg took advantage of Clarion turnovers to defeat the Eagles 44-0. Last Saturday Clarion was down 21-0 and rallied to close to within 20-13 and 30-20 before dropping a 30-20 decision.Coach Luke is in his 11^th season at Clarion and has a 54-65 record at Clarion and a 28-37 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 90-86, including a 37-21 record at Defiance.

Slippery Rock is led by 17-year head coach Dr. George Mihalik. The veteran coach enters the game with a season record of 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the PSAC-West. This is the second losing season for the Rock in 14 years. The team posted 12-straight winning seasons prior to 2003. Mihalik has a career record of 114-68-4. The 2004 season started with two losses to Bloomsburg (20-17) and Youngstown State (35-13). The Rockets then won three straight over Shepherd (30-27), Fairmont State (49-14) and Lock Haven (31-3), before dropping five straight to California (34-31), IUP (34-13), Millersville (17-14), Edinboro (38-26) and Shippensburg (35-17).

Slippery Rock leads the overall series between the two schools by a 36-23-3 margin dating back to 1928.

Clarion won last year= s meeting at Slippery Rock by a 19-17 margin. In the last ten seasons Slippery Rock leads by an 7-3 margin and has won six of the last seven meetings. SR won in 2002 (21-14), 2001 (33-24), 2000 (27-14), 1999 (45-7), 1998 (28-14), 1997 (28-7) and 1995 (41-17). Clarion has wins in 2003 (19-17), 1996 (54-28) and 1993 (29-24).

Clarion= s offense is averaging 268.8 (#12 in PSAC) yards per game, including 146.3 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 122.5 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.

Clarion sophomore Brandon Dando has started the last nine games and has completed 109 of 211 passes (50%) for 1,101 yards and 7 td= s, plus has rushed for 160 yards and 4 td= s. Freshman Erik Yonish started against West Chester and has seen playing time in the last three games. He has completed 14 of 28 passes for 124 yards and has 29 carries for 99 yards and 2 td= s.

The running game features the hard running of tailback Marcus Lowe and halfbacks Glenn Lovelace and Lance Fink. Lowe has 138 carries for 697 yards and 8 td= s on the season. Lowe also has 21 receptions for 156 yards and 1 td. Lovelace has 77 carries for 404 yards and 2 td= s. He was PSAC-West A Player of the Week@ against Cal with 23 carries, 164 yards, 2 td= s. He has ranks 9^th in career rushing with 1,483 yards at Clarion on 261 carries with 9 td= s. Fink meanwhile has 31 carries for 84 yards and 1 td, with 15 catches for 139 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Pierre Odom (31 grabs, 406 yards, 3 td= s), Joe Farkas (17 catches, 234 yards, 2 td= s) and Ron Rivage (15 catches, 154 yards) at the wideouts, with Dan Tucker (12 catches, 95 yards, 1 td) at tight end.

Clarion= s defense is giving up 25.5ppg (#8 in PSAC) and 327.8 yards of total offense per game (#5 in the PSAC). The Eagles rank #10 in the PSAC in pass defense (179.3 ypg), #6 in rushing defense (148.5 ypg).

The defensive line features noseguard Tim Connolly (23 hits, 10 tfl= s), who has missed four games. He has 127 career tackles, 34 tfl= s, 10 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and recovered, plus 4 break-ups. Also leading the way up front are Ben Heisel (43 tackles, 17 tfl= s, 6 sacks), Corey Shaner (27 stops, 5 tfl= s), Mike O= Brien (9 hits, 2 tfl), Matt Niedbala (20 jolts) and Cedric Bowling (12 tackles, 1 tfl).

The linebacking corps will feature Matt Morris (73 stops, 12 tfl= s, 2 int= s.), Zach Gourley (62 jolts, 13 tfl= s) and Brock Luke (20 stops, 3 tfl= s) in the middle, with Kevin Rigby (51 stops, 10 tfl= s, 1 int) and Brandon Whitman (31 tackles, 1 sack, 6 tfl= s) on the outside.

The secondary will have leading tackler Bo Busch (104 hits, 2 int= s, 4 break-ups) at free safety and Jhermel Goss (28 stops, 3 tfl= s, 1 fumble rec. 1 int) and Jordan Hicks (35 hits, 3 tfl= s) at strong safety. The corners will have James Charles (19 stops, 3 int), Dwaon Woodard (49 tackles, 3 int, 11 break-ups), Herb Carraway (3 break-ups) and Elijah Evans (2 int= s) at the corners.

Slippery Rock= s offense is getting 24.1ppg (#9 in PSAC) and a total offense of 332.1 yards per game (#9 in PSAC). The Rock possesses a quality running game which is getting 181.9 yards per game (#6 in PSAC) and 150.2 passing yards (#9 in PSAC) per game.

Nate Crookshank has been the starting quarterback in 2004. He has completed 110 of 215 aerials for 1,394 yards and 11 td= s with 13 interceptions. He is also a threat to run the pigskin with 270 yards and 2 td= s on 93 carries.

The running game is paced by Josh Kniess who has 1,072 yards and 10 td= s on 218 carries. Kniess ranks 5^th in the PSAC with a 107.2 average yards per game. Also toting the pigskin will be Corey Manfull (71 rushes, 355 yards, 2 td= s).

The receivers are talented with wideouts Luke Wetzel (19 catches, 372 yards, 3 td= s) and John Benca (6 grabs, 54 yards) leading the way. H-Back has top pass catcher Brandon Richardson (42 catches, 570 yards, 2 td= s) and Justin Fisher (6 catches, 67 yards), plus tight ends Valdez Hails (13 grabs, 118 yards, 3 td= s) and Steve Fullerton (9 receptions, 74 yards) all catching passes.

Slippery Rock= s defense is yielding #25.7ppg (#9 in PSAC) and a total offense of 342.4 yards per game (#8 in PSAC). Opponents are getting 186.1 rushing yards per game (#10 in PSAC) and 156.3 passing yards (#2 in PSAC).

Up front the Rockets are led by noseguard Brian Godfrey (33 hits, 8 tfl= s), tackle Robert Minnie (20 stops, 4 tfl= s) and ends Mike Jennings (24 tackles, 11 tfl= s, 7 sacks) and Josh Zeisloft (15 jolts, 3 tfl= s).

The linebackers are solid with Greg Baker (60 stops, 5 tfl= s, 2 int= s) the top tackler, and Jared Palmer (41 jolts, 7 tfl= s) and Seth Randall (14 tackles, 3 tfl= s) also making strong contributions.

The secondary features strong safety Kevin Johnston (54 hits, 5 tfl= s), free safety Asaad Allen (38 tackles, 2 int= s) and corners Aaron Berarducci (32 stops) and James Rockymore (24 hits, 2 int= s).

CLARION NOTES: Clarion safety Bo Busch leads the entire PSAC in tackles with 104, while Ben Heisel leads the PSAC in tackles for loss with 17... Linebacker Zach Gourley is tied for #3 in the PSAC in tfl= s with 13 ... 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) ... Josh Kniess is #1 in punt returns averaging 18.3 per return ... Kniess is #3 in All-purpose yardage (157.8 yards per game) ... Paul Favers is #2 in kickoff return (25.6 p/r) ... Mike Jennings leads the PSAC in solo sacks with 7 ... Clarion rallied from a 17-7 second quarter deficit last year to defeat SR 19-17 at the Rock ... Mark Hofmeister= s 49-yard field goal prior to halftime make it 17-10 ... Bo Busch returned a blocked punt 7 yards for a td, then Hofmeister booted an 18-yard field goal with 10:47 left to win the game ... Clarion posted 251 yards of offense including 141 rushing and 110 passing ... Dando completed 14 of 25 passes for 110 yards and 1 td, plus ran for 41 yards ... Pierre Odom had 7 catches for 53 yards ... the Eagles blocked 2 punts and 1 field goal attempt on the day ... SR= s Kniess had 92 yards and td on 20 carries ... Chad DeVore completed 8 of 27 passes for 161 and 1 td ... Tim Arthurs grabbed 3 passes for 107 yards and 1 td ... In 2002 Clarion lost a 21-14 game to Slippery Rock at Clarion= s Memorial Stadium... The Rock jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, then hung on to win... Clarion held SR to -18 rushing yards for the entire game on 34 carries ... In the second half Clarion outgained SR 137 to -3 yards, but Clarion just couldn= t overcome the first period deficit... Robert Walker ran for 58 yards and 1 td on 17 carries and Brandon Sweeney gained 53 on 8 tries... Adam Almashy completed 8 of 16 passes for 66yards... Clarion NG Troy Bowers had 12 tackles, 5 tfl= s and 2 sacks ... In 2001 at Clarion the Eagles lost 33-24 and outgained SR 455-267, had a 20-10 advantage in first downs and a time of possession advantage of 33:06 - 26:54... Clarion rushed for 318 yards including a single game Clarion record of 257 yards by Demetric Gardner ... Almashy hit on 8 of 19 passes for 137 yards and 1 td ... Slippery Rock got a big performance from Dorrian Glenn who gained 200 yards and 3 td= s on 28 carries ... His 44 yard td to open the game and 25 yard td run on fourth down to close the game were huge plays ... Clarion= s also won at Slippery Rock in 1996 when the Eagles notched a 54-28 victory ... In that game the Eagles rushed for 407 yards ... Ron DeJidas ran for 231 yards and 2 td, plus caught a td pass ... Steve Witte also dashed for 143 yards and 2 td= s, grabbed 4 passes for 70 yards, and returned a kickoff 43-yards late in the game for a td ... Clarion had 577 yards in that game and SR had 453 for a combined total of 1,030 yards of total offense.