PSAC-WEST GAME
CLARION VISITS # 21 EDINBORO SATURDAY AFTERNOON
With a 2-2 overall record, Clarion
will travel to #21 ranked Edinboro this Saturday looking for its first win in
the rugged PSAC-Western Division.
Kickoff at at Edinboro’s Sox Harrison
Stadium is set for 2pm. The game will also serve as Edinboro’s Homecoming.
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 and Pat Kahle providing the color commentary.
CLARION 2-2 IN 2005
Clarion enters the game with an 2-2
record in 2005 after losing last Saturday’s PSAC-West opener at Clifornia by a
43-7 score. The Golden Eagles opened the season with a 43-14 loss at #7 ranked
West Chester, then returned home to defeat Kutztown 29-23 in a PSAC record four
overtime game, and won he next Saturday over Mansfield 15-12 when running back
Dave Murzynski scored on a 1-yard run with 22-seconds remaining to claim
victory.
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 56-68 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 93-89.
EDINBORO 3-1; 1-0/ LOU TEPPER IN 6TH YEAR
Edinboro head coach Lou Tepper is in
his sixth year at Edinboro and is hoping to direct his Fighting Scots to a PSAC-West
crown and a third straight year in the NCAA Playoffs. Edinboro started the 2005
season with an impressive 47-0 win over West Virginia Tech, then lost in the
final seconds at East Stroudsburg 23-21. The Scots came right back and defeated
Tiffin 42-7 and last week topped Shippensburg 16-0 in their PSAC-West opener.
The Scots are ranked #21 by both the AFCA and D-2 Football.com.
Last year Edinboro posted a 9-3
record and made it to the second round of the NCAA D-II Playoffs before losing
to East Stroudsburg 36-32.
In 2003 Edinboro also posted a 9-3
overall record, including being selected for the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Edinboro lost to Saginaw Valley 33-9 in first round..
Tepper, in his sixth season at
Edinboro, has an overall record of 35-24. Formerly the head coach at Big Ten
Illinois, Tepper had a 25-31-2 record from the Sun Bowl Game in 1991 through the
1996 season.
CLARION LEADS SERIES 38-35-2 DATING BACK TO 1926
Clarion leads the overall series
between the two schools by a 38-35-2 margin dating back to 1926. Edinboro won
last year’s meeting 21-10 and the 2003 battle 35-6. Clarion most recently won
the 2002 meeting 24-18. In the last eleven meetings both Edinboro has won six
and Clarion five. The Eagles posted wins in 1994 (24-20), 1997 (28-0), 1998
(33-20), 2000 (7-0) and 2002 (24-18). The Fighting Scots five victories came in
1995 (28-6), 1996 (48-35), 1999 (30-29), 2001 (24-12), 2003 (35-6) and 2004
(21-10).
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGING 311.8 YARDS T.O.
Clarion enters Saturday’s game
against Edinboro ranked #9 in the PSAC in total offense getting 311.8 yards per
game and #11 in scoring with 16.2 points per game. The Eagles rank #8 in rushing
offense with 145.5 yards per game and #8 in passing with 166.2 yards per
contest.
BRANDON DANDO READY TO START 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, and played some against Mansfield and
California, will also likely be ready for duty.
Dando, the PSAC-West “Offensive
Player of the Week” against Kutztown, has completed 52 of 106 passes for 527
yards and 1 td. He has also run for 91 yards and 2 td’s.
Yonish meanwhile has connected on 11 of 24 aerials for 138 yards and 1 td. He
has also rushed for 40 yards this season.
BUCKNER & MURZYNSKI CLARION’S TOP RUNNERS
The running game will likely fall on
the shoulders of sophomore Tyrone Buckner and freshman Dave Murzynski. Buckner
leads the way with 209 yards and 2 td’s on 73 attempts, while Murzynski has 177
yards and 2 td’s on 39 attempts. Also expected to tote the pigskin will be Josh
Province (15 rushes, 49 yards, 9 catches, 67 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 16 catches for 182 yards and 1 td. Coyle has 4
rushes for 20 yards.
YOUNG RECEIVING CORPS READY TO CONTRIBUTE
The receiving corps will likely have
red-shirt freshman Anthony Easterling (13 catches, 171 yards, 1 td), junior
Jewell Stephens (8 catches, 70 yards), transfer Vince Kirk (2 grabs, 23 yards)
and freshman Matt Foradora (3 receptions, 33 yards), all ready to catch passes.
Junior John Dominic (2 catches, 20 yards) and senior Greg Mahaffey (4 grabs, 37
yards) expect to see time at tight end.
CLARION DEFENSE BRACES FOR EDINBORO
In 2005 Clarion’s defense is ranked
#11 in total defense giving up 402 yards per game, while ranked #11 in scoring
defense yielding 30.2 points per game. The Eagles are permitting 174 yards per
game rushing (#9 in PSAC) and 228.2 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.
NIEDBALA ANCHORS DOWN LINEMEN
Up front senior Matt Niedbala (9
tackles, 1 tfl), red-shirt freshman Deonte Cooley (3 hits), plus sophomores
Cedric Bowling (5 stops) and Matt Ritter (20 tackles, 5 tfl’s, 2 sacks) are
ready to lead the way.
RIGBY LEADS OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Guarding the perimeters will be
junior Kevin Rigby (24 stops; 1 int, 4 beak-ups), senior Conrad Warner,
red-shirt freshmen Jim McHale (4 stops, 1 int), Corey Giles (17 stops, 4 sacks)
and sophomore transfer Jimmy
Simmons (4 stops). 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 36 tackles and 98 tfl’s. Gourley
has 24 stops and 3 tfl’s, while Luke has 11 tackles.
SECONDARY MISSING BUSCH
Senior free safety Bo Busch will miss
the remainder of the season due to a leg injury. He had 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.
Replacing Busch in the secondary will
be Elijah Evans, who has 6 tackles and 1 beak up this season.
Senior Jordan Hicks (32 tackles, 3
tfl’s) returns at strong safety, while senior James Charles (10 hits, 1 int),
junior Dwaon Woodard (14 tackles, 4 break-ups, 4 blocked kicks, 1 int) and
freshman Brian Edwards (5 stops) are back at the corners.
EDINBORO OFFENSE IS VERY POTENT
The Edinboro offense is ranked #7 in
the PSAC with 361.8 yards per game and #5 in scoring with a 31.5 point per game
average. The Scots are getting 214.5 yards rushing per game (#3 in the PSAC) and
147.2 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per contest.
BOUCH RUNS THE OFFENSE
Senior quarterback Justin Bouch
directs the offense. Bouch has completed 48 of 84 passes for 493 yards and 5
td’s. Against Ship last week he was 7 of 19 for 81 yards.
DAVIS RUNS THE PIGSKIN
Freshman running back Ulysee Davis
will run the pigskin for he Scots. Davis has scampered for 408 yars and 7 td’s
on 85 carries this season and ranks #5 in the entire PSAC averging 102 yards per
game.
Also expected to carry the ball are DeMarkus Robinson (32 rushes, 165 yards, 1
td) and Kelvin Collins (37 carries, 213 yards).
RECEIVERS SPREAD OUT CATCHES
Edinboro’s passing game features a
bevy of talented receivers including Ryan Valasek (9 grabs, 127 yards, 1 td),
Jordan Bobitsky (7 receptions, 88 yards, 1 td), Kyle Witucki (6 catches, 69
yards, 1 td) and Jeff Dinger (7 grabs, 71 yards, 2 td’s).
The tight ends can also be threats with Nate Eimer (9 grabs, 78 yards, 1 td) and
C.J. Trivisonno (5 receptions, 40 yards, 1 td).
EDINBORO DEFENSE TOP RANKED IN PSAC
Edinboro’s defense ranks #1 in total
defense yielding only 207.5 yards per game and #1 in scoring defense giving up
only 7.5 points per game. The Scots are yielding only 53 rushing yards (#1 in
PSAC) and 154.5 passing yards (#6 in PSAC) per outing.
Up front the Scots are led by nose
guard A.J. Cousins (12 hits, 4 tfl’s), tackle Chris Amico (10 hits) and end Greg
MacAnn (13 stops, 7 tfl’s). MacAnn was the PSAC-West Defensive “Player of the
Week” when he had 6 tackles, 3 tfl’s and a blocked field goal.
The linebacking corps is very good
with outside backers Seth Fragale (12 stops, 6 tfl’s) and Jim Soltis (22 jolts)
guarding the perimeters, with Ben Stroup (30 tackles, 9 tfl’s) and Dave Jazenski
(13 stops, 2 tfl’s) in the middle.
The secondary features Chris Avery (4
int’s) and Rodney Stevenson (10 hits) at the corners, with Tom Davidson (9
tackles, 2 int’s) at strong safety and Damion Malott (15 jolts, 1 int, 4
break-ups) at free safety.
CLARION NOTES: Edinboro won last year’s game 21-10 at Clarion’s Memorial
Stadium... Clarion led 3-0 at halftime and it could have been more as Clarion
traveled into Edinboro territory 5 times without getting a score... Kyle Snoke
booted a 29-yard field goal late in the second ... Edinboro took the lead for
good on an Andre Burke 1-yard run with 26-seconds left in the third, then scored
on a Burke 21-yard run early in the fourth to pull away... Clarion had 169 yards
of offense... Brandon Dando was 9 of 23 passing for 129 yards and 1 td... Bo
Busch had 18 tackles and Matt Morris 14 to lead the defense... Burke ran for 173
yards on 40 carries with 3 td’s ... Bouch was 12 of 21 for 143 yards with 2
int’s ... In the 2002 game Clarion roared out to a 24-0 lead and then held on
for a 24-18 win at Edinboro ... The Eagle final score was a 12 yard pass from
Adam Almashy to Chad Thompson on a fake field goal early in the third quarter...
Clarion rushed for 307 yards and passed for 31 ... Robert Walker had 116 on 14
carries, while Lovelace had 72 and 1 td on 7 tries (10.3 p/c)... Edinboro had
392 yards of offense including 184 rushing and 208 passing ... Alonzo Roebuck
had 24 carries for 146 yards and 2 td’s ... Justin Bouch completed 6 of 12
passes for 104 yards in relief of Cam Marsh (10 of 27 - 104 yards)... Sean Hess
had 6 catches for 96 yards ... In 2001 Edinboro won 24-12 also at Sox Harrison
Stadium ... Clarion’s Demetric Garnder scored on a 19-yard run but the PAT was
blocked and Clarion led 6-0... The Boro scored 17 unanswered points before
halftime to lead 17-6 and went on to the win ... Clarion rushed for 195 and
passed for 147 for 342 yards ... Edinboro rushed for 189 and passed for 155 for
344 yards.