2005 Season Preview
                                                       Eagles Return 17 Starters & 30 Lettermen
                                                  “Sprinturf” & Night Football Returns To Clarion
        Entering the third season with a new stadium playing surface and night football, twelfth year head coach Malen Luke returns a squad that features 17 starters and 30 lettermen to battle in the rugged PSAC-West.
                                                    LUKE 54-66 IN 11 YEARS AT CLARION
        Clarion was 3-8 in 2004 and 1-5 in the PSAC-West, but six of the Eagle losses were to nationally ranked teams, four of which went to the NCAA Playoffs. Luke has an eleven year record of 54-66 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 semifinal game, and Luke’s Eagles were 7-4 in 2000 and in 2002.
Last year’s Eagles featured wins over Mansfield (34-20), Glenville (21-7) and ranked PSAC-West rival California 35-34. The Cal win featured qb Brandon Dando hitting Joe Farkas on a 47-yard “Hail Mary” pass on the game’s final play to win.
                                                CLARION LED 3 NCAA PLAYOFF OPPONENTS
        Clarion played a tough schedule and raised its level of play against its best opponents. Clarion led in the second half of three losses to NCAA Playoff opponents including West Chester, Edinboro and East Stroudsburg, giving Eagle fans hopes that the team is ready to emerge with another quality season.
        Team strengths for 2005? The offense has a strong line and two talented quarterbacks returning, while the defense has nine starters back from a unit that ranked fifth in the PSAC in total defense.
                                                        OFFENSE RETURNS 6 STARTERS
        The offense returns 6 starters and 14 lettermen from a unit that averaged 269.5 yards and 18.4 points per game. The 2004 Eagles averaged 149.9 rushing yards and 119.5 passing yards per game.
                                            DANDO/YONISH BATTLE FOR STARTING JOB
        The quarterback spot is up for grabs between junior signal caller Brandon Dando (131 carries, 192 yards, 5 td’s; 113 of 227 passing, 1,185 yards, 7 td’s) and sophomore qn Erik Yonish (35 rushes, 133 yards, 2 td’s; 15 of 33 passing, 130 yards). Dando’s top game in 2004 was against Cal when he passed for 226 and the game-winning td on the last play of the game, plus running for a touchdown. Yonish started the West Chester game and was 12 for 17 passing with 111 yards, while running for a touchdown. Both qb’s are quality athletes with running and passing abilities.
                                                 NEW RUNNING BACKS DOT BACKFIELD
        The running game will likely fall on the shoulders of sophomores Tyrone Buckner and Josh Province. Both saw limited playing time in 2004, but with Marcus Lowe (789 rushing yards, 8 td’s) out for the season with a leg injury, the duo will look to step forward and pick up the slack.
        The fullback position will likely see senior Dave Coyle (5 carries, 14 yards - 2003) back after sitting out last season, along with talented sophomore Michael Byrd also vying for time.
                                            FARKAS & TUCKER LEAD RECEIVING CORPS
The receiving corps will likely have juniors (33 catches, 418 yards, 3 td) and Joe Farkas (17 grabs, 234 yards, 2 td’s) and Jewell Stephens ready to catch passes. Red-shirt freshman Anthony Easterling is also ready to contribute. Senior tight end Greg Mahaffey, along with junior John Dominic expect to see time.
                                                “O” LINE LED BY SNYDER & DELIERE
        Clarion’s “O” line looks very strong up front with the return of All-Region center Zack Snyder (Jr. 6-5, 310) and All-Region guard Eric Deliere (Sr. 6-2, 305). Starting tackle Steve McCartney (Sr. 6-4, 275) and sophomore guard/tackle Bill Johnson (6-5, 310) expect to start up front, along with guard Michael O’Brien (So. 6-5, 280) who moved over from the defensive line. The projected starting line would average 6'4" and 296-pounds.
                                            RUGGED DEFENSE RETURNS 9 STARTERS
        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.
Overall the defense limited opponents to 330 yards of offense per game (#4 in PSAC), including only 153.3 rushing yards (#5 in PSAC) and 177 passing yards (#5 in PSAC).
                                                NIEDBALA ANCHORS DOWN LINEMEN
        Up front the loss of All-American Ben Heisel and Tim Connolly at the down lineman spots will be filled by senior Matt Niedbala (22 tackles, 1 sack), red-shirt freshman Deonte Cooley, plus sophomores Cedric Bowling (14 hits, 1 tfl) and Matt Ritter (3 tackles).
                                                RIGBY LEADS OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
        Guarding the perimeters will be junior Kevin Rigby (54 stops, 10 tfl’s, 6 sacks), senior Conrad Warner, red-shirt freshmen Doug Woodruff, Jim McHale and Corey Giles. Ribgy was a third team All-Region selection in 2004 and was PSAC-West “Player of the Week” for his 10 tackles, 3 qb sack performance against IUP last season.
                                    MORRIS, GOURLEY & LUKE PROVIDE LB STRENGTH
        The inside linebacking spots are talented with the return of juniors Matt Morris (88 tackles, 17 tfl’s, 2 int’s) and Zach Gourley (71 stops, 16 tfl’s), senior Brock Luke (23 jolts, 3 tfl’s) and sophomore Zach Gueth (8 tackles, 1 tfl). In two seasons Morris has accumulated 147 tackles, 23 tfl’s, 5 fumble recoveries and 2 int’s. Gourley has two year totals of 92 hits, 16 tfl’s, 2 fumbles caused and recovered) and Luke has 49 hits, 4 tfl’s, 1 sack in his career.
                                            BUSCH HEADS VETERAN SECONDARY
        Senior free safety Bo Busch (119 tackles, 2 int’s, 4 fumbles caused), a third team AP and Football Gazette All-American, leads a very strong the secondary. In three seasons he has outstanding numbers including 277 tackles, 10 fumbles caused, 6 int’s and 5 tfl’s.
        Senior Jordan Hicks (39 hits, 3 tfl’s) returns at strong safety, while senior James Charles (22 tackles, 2 int’s), junior Dwaon Woodard (53 hits, 3 int’s, 11 break-ups) and sophomore Herb Carraway (10 tackles) are back at the corners. Charles, a three-year starter, has 76 tackles, 5 interceptions and 17 break ups at Clarion, while Woodard in two seasons has 75 tackles, 14 break-ups and 4 interceptions.
                                                SNOKE READY TO BOOT PIGSKIN
        Junior placekicker Kyle Snoke, who connected on 6 of 7 field goals last year including a 46-yarder against West Chester, returns to lead the special teams. Punter Joe Farkas (37.6 avg.) also returns. Freshman Chris Perla is expected to battle to start here.
    CLARION NOTES: Clarion is tradition rich in football ... 27 straight non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 44-year (1961-04) record of 258-172-6, (59.9%) and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000)...Luke was named PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” in 2000 and 1996 ... The 1996 squad under coach Luke won the NCAA D-II East Region and advanced to the NCAA semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Northern Colorado 19-18..