PSAC-WEST OPENER
CLARION VISITS CALIFORNIA SATURDAY NIGHT
After escaping with a 15-12 win over Mansfield last Saturday night, the Golden Eagles turn their attention to California this Saturday as Clarion visits the Vulcans in the 2005 PSAC-Western Division opener for both schools. Kickoff at Cal’s Adamson Stadium is set for 6pm.
The contest can be heard on the Golden Eagle football network which includes WCCR-FM, 92.7 and WKQW-FM, 96.3, as well as on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski describing the action.
CLARION 2-1 IN 2005
Clarion enters the game with an 2-1 record in 2005 after winning Saturday’s game over Mansfield 15-12. Clarion running back Dave Murzynski scored on a 1-yard run with 22-seconds remaining to claim victory. The Golden Eagles also defeated Kutztown 29-23 in a PSAC record four overtimes and lost the season opener at #7 ranked West Chester 43-14.
LUKE IN HIS 12TH YEAR AT CLARION
Clarion head coach Malen Luke is in his 12th season directing the Golden Eagle football team. He has a career record of 56-67 at Clarion while leading the Golden Eagles to PSAC-West titles in 1996 and 2000. The 1996 squad finished 11-3 and lost in the NCAA D-II semifinal game to Northern Colorado 19-18 in the final seconds. The 1996 team was the Lambert Cup winner in the East and finished the season ranked 8th in the country. Luke’s Eagles were also a strong 7-4 in 2000 and in 2002, while Malen was voted the PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” in 1996 and 2000. Luke’s 18-year collegiate record stands at 93-88.
CALIFORNIA 2-1 OVERALL/JOHN LUCKHARDT IN 4TH YEAR AT CAL
California enters the game with an impressive 2-1 overall record in 2005. The Vulcans opened the season with a 42-6 win over Fairmont State and an 88-12 victory at Mansfield. Last Saturday the Fire Gods lost in the final minutes to NCAA Div. I-AA Monmouth 16-15.
California head coach John Luckhardt is in his fourth season at Cal and has an overall record of 18-17 entering Saturday’s contest. Coach Luckhardt had a great 17-year career at NCAA Division III Washington & Jefferson (1982-98) before being hired at Cal. He led W&J to a 137-37-2 record while winning 13 PAC titles, 5 Regional Championships and 11 NCAA appearances. W&J also was the D-III runner-up in 1992 and 1994. Luckhardt’s 21-year career record currently stands at 155-54-2.
CLARION LEADS SERIES 38-33-3 DATING BACK TO 1927
Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 38-33-3 margin dating back to 1927. In the last ten seasons Clarion leads by a 7-3 margin and has won the last four of the last five meetings. Clarion wins over that span came in 1995 (20-10), 1996 (45-14), 1999 (28-14), 2000 (32-28), 2001 (29-22), 2002 (31-6) and 35-34 last year. Cal wins came in 1997 (30-0), 1998 (30-28) and 2003 (13-7). Clarion’s win a year ago came on the game’s final play when Eagle qb Brandon Dando heaved a 47-yard “Hail Mary” pass that was successful to wide receiver Joe Farkas.
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGING 345.7 YARDS T.O.
Clarion enters Saturday’s game against California ranked #7 in the PSAC in total offense getting 345.7 yards per game and #7 in scoring with 19.3 points per game. The Eagles rank #4 in rushing offense with 163.7 yards per game and #8 in passing with 182 yards per contest.
DANDO & YONISH AVAILABLE AT QB
Junior qb Brandon Dando will likely start at qb on Saturday, while sophomore Erik Yonish, who started against West Chester and left the game with an injury, played in a series against Mansfield and is ready for duty as well.
Dando, the PSAC-West “Offensive Player of the Week” against Kutztown, has completed 42 of 88 passes for 443 yards. He has also run for 55 yards and 2 td’s. Dando completed 21 of 42 passes for 241 yards against Mansfield, all single game highs.
Yonish meanwhile has connected on 5 of 14 aerials for 103 yards and 1 td. He has also rushed for 31 yards this season.
MURZYNSKI & BUCKNER CLARION’S TOP RUNNERS
The running game will likely fall on the shoulders of freshman Dave Murzynski and sophomore Tyrone Buckner. Murzynski leads the way with 177 yards and 2 td’s on 38 attempts, while Buckner has 160 yards and 2 td’s on 57 carries. Also expected to tote the pigskin will be Josh Province (14 rushes, 54 yards).
The fullback position will see either senior Dave Coyle or talented sophomore Michael Byrd in the game. Byrd leads the Golden Eagles in receiving with 13 catches for 166 yards and 1 td. Coyle has 3 rushes for 18 yards.
YOUNG RECEIVING CORPS READY TO CONTRIBUTE
The receiving corps will likely have red-shirt freshman Anthony Easterling (10 catches, 144 yards), junior Jewell Stephens (5 catches, 50 yards), transfer Vince Kirk (2 grabs, 23 yards) and freshman Matt Foradora (3 receptions, 33 yards), all ready to catch passes. Junior John Dominic expects to start at tight end.
CLARION DEFENSE CONTINUES STRONG PLAY
Nine starters and 14 lettermen return for a tough Clarion defense that has led the PSAC in tfl’s for the past five seasons. Clarion had 110 tfl’s in 2004, 106 in 2003, 113 in 2002 and 102 in 2001 and 128 in 2000.
In 2005 Clarion’s defense is ranked #5 in total defense giving up only 350 yards per game, while ranked #9 in scoring defense yielding 26 points per game. The Eagles are permitting only 122.7 yards per game rushing (#4 in PSAC) and 227.3 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.
NIEDBALA ANCHORS DOWN LINEMEN
Up front senior Matt Niedbala (6 tackles), red-shirt freshman Deonte Cooley (3 hits), plus sophomores Cedric Bowling (3 stops) and Matt Ritter (18 tackles, 5 tfl’s, 2 sacks) are ready to lead the way.
RIGBY LEADS OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Guarding the perimeters will be junior Kevin Rigby (18 stops; 1 int, 4 beak-ups), senior Conrad Warner, red-shirt freshmen Jim McHale (4 stops, 1 int), Corey Giles (14 stops, 4 sacks) and sophomore transfer Jimmy
Simmons. Ribgy was a third team All-Region selection in 2004.
MORRIS, GOURLEY & LUKE PROVIDE LB STRENGTH
The inside linebacking spots are talented with the return of juniors Matt Morris and Zach Gourley and senior Brock Luke . Morris is the team’s leader with 33 tackles and 8 tfl’s. Gourley has 19 stops and 2 tfl’s, while Luke has 6 tackles.BUSCH HEADS VETERAN SECONDARY
Senior free safety Bo Busch missed the Mansfield game, but is hoping to make it back into the lineup this week. He has 15 stops and 1 break-up this season. In 2004 he led the PSAC with 119 tackles, 2 int’s, 4 fumbles caused, and was a third team AP and Football Gazette All-American. In three seasons he has 292 tackles, 10 fumbles caused, 6 int’s and 5 tfl’s.
Senior Jordan Hicks (26 tackles, 3 tfl’s) returns at strong safety, while senior James Charles (4 hits, 1 int), junior Dwaon Woodard (13 tackles, 3 break-ups, 4 blocked kicks, 1 int) and sophomore Herb Carraway (3 stops, 1tfl) are back at the corners. Elijah Evans (4 stops) could see time at free safety.
CALIFORNIA OFFENSE IS VERY EXPLOSIVE
The California offense is ranked #2 in the PSAC with a whopping 501.3 yards per game and #2 in scoring with a 48.3 point per game average. The Vulcans are getting 275.3 yards rushing per game (#2 in the PSAC) and 226 passing yards (#3 in PSAC) per contest.
RUGGIERO RUNS THE OFFENSE
Sophomore quarterback Joe Ruggiero directs the potent California offense. In 2005 he has completed 48 of 80 passes for 596 yards and 5 td’s. He was injured in last year’s Clarion game and missed the remainder of the 2004 season.
ALL-AMERICAN BAGWELL RUNS THE PIGSKIN
Senior running back Antoine Bagwell leads the PSAC-West and is #2 in the entire PSAC in rushing. Bagwell has rushed for 468 yards (156 p/game) and 4 td’s on only 54 carries. He is averaging an eye-opening 8.7 yards per carry. He also has 8 catches for 146 yards and 2 td’s. He was second in the country last year averaging 176 yards per game rushing the football.
Also expected to carry the ball are Robert Calhoun (15 rushes, 89 yards, 1 td), Brandon Lombardy (13 carries, 68 yards, 4 td’s) and ReMaro Rush (11 attempts, 126 yards, 4 td’s).
GARNER LEADS TALENTED RECEIVERS
Sophomore Marcellus Garner (12 catches, 103 yards, 1 td) leads a talented group of receivers. Also expected to flag down passes are Nate Forse (9 grabs, 142 yards), Mark Huddleston (7 receptions, 105 yards, 1 td) and Brandon Jackson (6 catches, 95 yards, 1 td).
CALIFORNIA DEFENSE RANKED #2 IN PSAC
The California defense has been very strong in 2005. The Vulcans are giving up only 230.7 (#2 in PSAC) yards per game including only 11.3 (#3 in PSAC) points per game. Opponents are being held to only 59 rushing yards (#2 in PSAC) per game and 171.7 passing yards (#8 in PSAC) per outing.
Up front the Vulcans depend on noseguard Anthony Rose (5 stops, 1 tfl), tackles John Testa (4 stops) and Andre Williams (10 hits, 1 tfl) and end Justin Tarovisky (5 jolts, 1 tfl).
Outside linebackers Lloyd Price (30 hits, 4 tfl’s) and Gary Butler (17 tackles, 3 tfl’s) are the team’s
leading tacklers, while inside linebackers Brian Mohr (17 hits, 3 tfl’s), Josh Zunic (12 jolts) and Will Forbes (11 stops) all will see plenty of time.
The secondary is very strong with Jaison Cook (10 hits, 1 int) and Chris Glass (6 stops, 1 int) at the corners, Jared Drumm (12 tackles, 1 int) at strong safety and Jermaine Moye (16 tackles, 1 int, 3 break-ups) at free safety.
CLARION NOTES: In last year’s 35-34 Clarion win on the final play, Clarion outgained Cal 448-442... Cal led 7-6 at halftime, but the two teams combined for 56 second half points ... Clarion scored two td’s in the final 1:13... Dando scored on a 2-yard run with 1:13 left, the “D” held on three downs, then the “O” took over at the Clarion 44 with 19-seconds left... Dando hit Pierre Odem for 9-yards to the Cal 47 setting up the game-wining td pass... Clarion had 222 rushing yards and 226 passing yards ... qb Brandon Dando completed 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards and 1 td ... Glenn Lovelace rushed for 164 yards and 2 td’s on 23 carries ... Joe Farkas had 5 grabs for 81 yards and 1 td ... Cal rushed for 170 yards and passed for 272 ... Bagwell gained 191 yards and 2 td’s on 21 attempts ... Ruggiero was 1 for 3 for -2 yards before his injury ... Matt Humbert completed 15 of 27 passes for 274 yards and 2 td’s ... Marc Huddleston had 8 catches for 92 yards, while Claude Whitacre had 5 catches for 148 yards and 2 td’s ... In 2003 at Cal’s Adamson Stadium the Vulcans rallied in the fourth quarter for a 13-7 win over Clarion ... Wes Clemons scored on a 2-yard run with 11:09 left to win the game ... Clarion outgained Cal 316-160 and outrushed Cal 250-60, but 3 lost fumbles and an interception that spelled defeat for Clarion ... Brandon Dando had his first collegiate start and rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries, and completed 9 of 22 for 66 yards... QB john Aitken was 10 of 24 for 100 yards... In 2002 Clarion rushed for 265 yards, outgained Cal 351-136 and held the ball for 39:07 in the 31-6 win over Cal... Brandon Sweeney blocked a punt in the second quarter that teammate Brandon Whitman caught in mid-air and returned 5 yards for a td to give Clarion a 14-6 halftime lead... Clarion added 17 unanswered second half points ... Robert Walker rushed for 169 yards and 2 td’s on 27 carries... Adam Almashy hit 5 of 14 passes for 86 yards and 1 td... Cal’s Wesley Clemons gained 35 yards on 12 carries... QB Brandon LeDonne completed 3 of 26 passes for 81 yards... Three years ago Clarion topped the Vulcans 29-22 at Memorial Stadium ... The Eagles rallied from a 22-14 halftime deficit with a third quarter td from Glenn Lovelace and a 2-yard run in the fourth from Demetric Gardner with 9:01 left... Clarion outgained Cal 362-292 ... Adam Almashy ran for 120 yards and 2 td’s and completed 2 of 9 passes for 52 yards ... Cal QB LeDonne completed 7 of 20 passes for 80 yards, while Strayer came on and was 2 for 2 for 78 yards and 1 td... In 2000 at Cal the Eagles won 32-28... Clarion had 422 yards to Cal’s 350 ... Almashy completed 11 of 24 passes for 177 yards ... Mike McCullum grabbed 4 for 104, including a 75-yarder to the Cal 16 with about one minute to play, setting up Almashy’s game-winning 2-yard run with 46-seconds left... Clarion’s defense caused a critical Cal fumble in that game at the Clarion 6 yard line prior to the game-winning td drive... Dennis Yu recovered the fumble with 1:50 remaining in the game ... Cal All-America running back Wesley Cates rushed for a game high 182 yards and 2 td’s on 26 carries ... Clarion also won at Cal in 1999 by a 28-14 margin... Clarion is on the road again on October 1st at Edinboro ... Kickoff at Sox Harrison Stadium will be at 2pm.