2004 FB Home Opener
                                            CLARION HOSTS WEST CHESTER SATURDAY NIGHT
    Lights and Sprinturf - “The Second Season”
    A year ago the Golden Eagles introduced lights and a new “Sprinturf” playing surface to Clarion football fans. This Saturday, the Golden Eagles open the 2004 gridiron season against highly touted West Chester at Memorial Stadium in a game that pits two traditionally tough football traditions.
    Set for Saturday, August 28th at Memorial Stadium, kickoff between Clarion and West Chester is set for 6pm. Tickets will be available at the door, while advanced Family Pass tickets remain on sale at IC School, Estadt’s Sporting Goods, S & T Bank (White Pillars), CSA Ticket Office in Gemmell Center and the Athletic Department in Tippin Gym.
2003 EAGLES 3-8 OVERALL/2-4 IN PSAC-WEST
    In 2003 Clarion was 3-8 overall and 2-4 in the PSAC-West. The Eagles lost 4 games by 13 points. 2003 started with a 31-21 loss to eventual PSAC-East first place finisher East Stroudsburg, followed by a 13-10 overtime loss to Millersville. After winning 23-20 at Glenville, Clarion lost a tough 20-19 decision to Kutztown, then a heart-breaking 24-20 loss to #4 ranked Indiana. Clarion led 20-17 late when a long IUP td pass with 2:54 remaining got them the win. The Eagles then lost 35-17 at West Chester and 35-6 against Edinboro, before dropping a 13-0 decision at Shippensburg and a 13-7 loss at California. Final season wins over Lock Haven (22-9) and at Slippery Rock (19-17) have the Eagles headed back in the right direction.
2003 RAMS 8-3 OVERALL/4-2 IN PSAC-EAST
    West Chester is under the direction of second year head coach Bill Zwaan. Zwann led West Chester to an 8-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the PSAC-East in 2003 and has high hopes for 2004. The Rams opened with a win over UNH 28-17 and Glenville State 56-7, before dropping a 49-7 game to Div.I-AA Delaware. A 33-20 win over Shippensburg, followed by a 17-16 loss at Kutztown, set the Rams up for a 35-17 win over Clarion at Farrell Stadium. After a 62-0 win over Cheyney, West Chester lost a pivotal 28-27 game at East Stroudsburg, before finishing the season with wins over Bloomsburg (35-34), Millersville (19-3) and Mansfield (55-27). Zwaan came to WC from Widener where in the previous six seasons he compiled an impressive record of 54-14 and took Widener to the NCAA Division III Playoffs the last three seasons and the Division III Semi’s in 2000.
WEST CHESTER LEADS OVERALL SERIES 14-3
    The series between the two schools has West Chester leading 14-3 in games dating back to 1960. West Chester won that first game in 1960 by a 49-14 margin. Clarion defeated West Chester in 1966 in the PSAC Championship game 28-26, then lost to the Rams the next season 27-7 again in the PSAC title game. Clarion
defeated West Chester in 2000 (28-21) and in 2002 (34-28. In the 2002 game Clarion’s Glenn Lovelace ran for 181 yards and 2 td’s.
OFFENSE LOOKING FOR IMPROVEMENT
    Clarion’s 2003 offense averaged 276.3 yards per game (#10 in PSAC) including 183.5 rushing yards (#7 in PSAC) and 92.8 passing yards (#14 in PSAC).
    Sophomore Brandon Dando returns to call the signals for the Eagle offense. He started the final three games of 2003 as a true freshman and completed 29 of 56 passes for 242 yards and 1 td. He also rushed for 165 yards on 53 carries leading a balanced attack. Also looking good in Fall camp have been junior Wayne Reed and freshman Erik Yonish.
    The backfield is talented with senior Glenn Lovelace at halfback and sophomore Marcus Lowe ready to start at tailback.
Lovelace gained 269 yards on 62 carries, while also grabbing 7 passes for 154 yards and 1 td. In his three-years at Clarion Glenn has gained 1,079 yards and 7 td’s on 184 rushes, while catching 17 passes for 254 yards and 1 td.
Lowe gained 278 yards and 2 td’s on 72 carries last season. Also ready to tote the pigskin are halfbacks Lance Fink and Tyrone Buckner.
    Sophomore Pierre Odom (29 grabs, 366 yards, 1 td) and senior Ron Rivage (13 catches, 210 yards) expect to be an exciting receiving tandem. Sophomore tight end John Dominic (4 catches, 64 yards) also returns with freshman red-shirt Dan Tucker challenging for time.
“D” POISED FOR A SOLID SEASON
    Seven starters and 18 lettermen return for a Clarion defense that has led the PSAC in tfl’s for the past four seasons. Clarion had 106 tfl’s in 2003, 113 in 2002 and 102 in 2001 and 128 in 2000. The Eagles also posted 27 sacks last year, while leading the PSAC in 2002 with 41, 2001 with 34 and 2000 with 51.
    Overall the defense limited opponents to 317 yards of offense per game (#4 in PSAC) including only 128.5 rushing yards (#4 in PSAC) and 188.5 passing yards (#10 in PSAC).
    With 2003 and 2002 consenus All-American Troy Bowers graduated, the leadership duties up front will fall to PSAC-West selection Tim Connolly. Connolly notched 44 stops with 10 tfl’s for -34 yards, 4 sacks for -26 yards, 1 interception, 2 break-ups, 1 fumble caused and 2 blocked PAT’s. In his career he now has 104 tackles, 24 tfl’s, 10 sacks, 3 fumbles caused and recovered, plus 4 break-ups.
    Also returning are linemen Ben Heisel (36 hits, 13 tfl’s, 5 sacks), Matt Niedbala (14 stops, 2 tfl’s) and Corey Shaner (6 hits, 1 tfl). A number of newcomers are giving Clarion young, but quality depth up front including Michael O’Brien and Cedric Bowling.
    With All-Region outside linebacker Jabari Weatherspoon graduated, sophomore Kevin Rigby (13 tackles, 1 int) expects to step in and fill that role. Senior Brandon Whitman will also see time.
    The inside linebacking spots return sophomore Matt Morris (59 stops, 6 tfl’s, 4 fumble recoveries) junior Brock Luke (11 jolts, 1 tfl) who started games in and sophomore Zach Gourley (21 tackles, 1 fumble return for td in 2002) who missed the 2003 season.
    Junior free safety Bo Busch (80 hits, 3 int’s, 2 tfl’s, 4 f.c., 1 blocked punt ret. td) was an All-Region selection in 2003 and anchors a quality secondary. In two seasons he has 158 tackles, 4 int’s, 6 fumbles caused, 3 fumbles recovered and 6 break-ups.
    Junior Jordan Hicks (22 hits, 3 tfl’s, 2 sacks) and senior Jhermel Goss (24 hits, 7 break-ups in 2001) return at strong safety, with junior James Charles (35 tackles, 1 int, 10 break-ups) and sophomore Dwaon Woodard (22 hits, 1 int, 3 break-ups) back at the corners.
  QB FINDORA LEADS A POTENT RAM OFFENSE
    In 2003 the Golden Rams ranked #2 in the PSAC in scoring (33.9ppg) and #1 in total offense getting 455.9 yards per game. West Chester averaged 228.6 rushing yards (#2 in PSAC) and 227.3 passing yards (#2 in PSAC) per game.
The offense is led by senior qb Bob Findora. In 2003 he connected on 140 of 264 passes for 2,464 yards and 21 td’s with only 9 interceptions. He ranked #2 in QB Efficiency (150.9), passing yards and total offense. In his career he has hit on 393 of 743 passes for 5,983 yards and 47 td’s.
    Sophomore tailback Osagie Osunde returns after a brilliant 2003. Last year he rushed for 864 yards and 13 td’s on only 120 carries (7.2 y/c). Fullback Josh Fidler (173 yards, 2 td’s) returns to block for Osunde.
    The receiving corps is talented with flanker Cory DeForrest (34 catches, 740 yards, 8 td’s), split end Brandon Simmons (8 grabs, 169 yards, 3 td’s) and tight end Joe Bernatowicz (14 catches, 222 yards, 2 td’s) all returning.
STINGY RAM DEFENSE TOUGH AGAINST THE RUN
    The Ram defense was very stingy last year giving up only 19.9ppg. On the ground the Rams were #2 in the PSAC against the run yielding only 123.3 yards per game. They were ranked #14 against the pass yielding 212 yards per game and overall ranked #6 in total defense giving up 335.3 yards per game.
    Up front the Rams are led by linemen Graham Eggleston (23 hits, 8 tfl’s, 5 sacks), Eric Maynard (13 stops) and Jared Souders (11 tackles, 1 tfl).
    The linebackers are strong on the inside with Dan Faubel (42 hits, 6 tfl’s, 1 int) and Scott Dudley (28 stops, 8 tfl’s) and on the outside with Chad Weaver (46 hits, 4 int’s) and Tim Garman (24 tackles, 6 sacks).
The secondary has Joe Brooks at free safety (3 int’s) and Isaiah Harrison (44 hits, 2 int’s) at strong safety, with Eric Engstrom (9 stops) and red-shirt freshman Rashad Grimsley at the corners.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion has a football record of 352-285-17 since 1926... Over the last 43-years Clarion has a record of 255-164-6 (60.7%) from 1961-2003... Clarion had a 27-year non-losing season streak from 1961-1987... The Eagles have won 10 PSAC-West titles ... West Chester has a career football record of 476-218-17 dating back to 1920 ... The Rams have won 16 PSAC-West titles since 1960... Clarion goes on the road the next two weeks - traveling to Kutztown on September 4th and to Mansfield on September 11th... Former Clarion Area High kicker Rocky Davis returns with West Chester on Saturday... Davis booted 43 PAT’s last year as a freshman at West Chester.