SLIPPERY ROCK DEFEATS CLARION 28-10
(CLARION, PA): The Golden Eagles put up a game fight on Saturday night, but when the dust settled, Slippery Rock’s running game was just too much as SRU downed Clarion 28-10 in front of 1,200 on Senior Night.
Seven Golden Eagles called it a career with offensive players David Coyle, Greg Mahaffey and Steve McCartney, along with defensive players James Charles, Jordan Hicks, Brock Luke and Matt Niedbala plying their final game.
Slippery Rock tailback Josh Kniess rushed for 273 yards and 3 td’s on the night that was simply too much for the Eagles.
Held at Memorial Stadium, Slippery Rock finished the 2005 season with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the PSAC-West. Clarion meanwhile finished with a 3-7 overall record and a 1-5 mark in the PSAC-West.
Slippery Rock jumped to a 7-0 first quarter lead when qb Nate Crookshank ran 8 yards for the opening score at 0:34 of the first.
Clarion tied the game in the second quarter on a special teams play. SRU’s Paul Favers tried to field a Nick Perla punt at his own 4 yard line, but had the ball go off his finger tips. Clarion’s James Charles dove on the ball in the endzone for the Clarion touchdown at 12:58. Kyle Snoke’s PAT tied the score 7-7.
Clarion’s defense pinned the Rockets deep on their next possession. On fourth down punter Joe Enis’ punt traveled only 24 yards to the 30 and Clarion was in business.
An Erik Yonish pass to Michael Byrd for 7 yards on third down gave the Eagles a first down at the SRU 20. Unable to get much further, Snoke came on and booted a 37-yard field goal with 7:34 left in the second to give Clarion a 10-7 lead.
Kniess gave the Rockets the lead for good on the Rock’s next possession. On second and 10 at the Clarion 49, the Clarion defense seemed to have Kniess bottled up deep in the backfield, but he broke loose and scampered 49-yards for the SRU touchdown at 4:39 of the second. The Rock had a 14-10 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
Clarion had a great opportunity to score early in the third. Yonish hit Brandon Dando with a 60-yard pass to the SR 5. But a Clarion personal foul after the play was completed moved the ball back to the 20. After a holding call moved the ball back another 10 yards, Clarion turned the ball over on downs at the 30 and lost scoring on a key possession.
SR took the ball and went 70-yards in 10-plays to score. Kniess scored his second touchdown on a 4-yard run, capping the drive, giving the Rock a 21-10 lead.
Clarion drove to the SR 30 four more times in the third and fourth quarters, but were unable to score.
Kniess scored his third td of the game late in the fourth quarter on a 44-yard run with only 2:04 left, giving SRU a 28-10 victory.
Clarion finished the game with 274 total yards of offense, including 81 rushing yards and 214 passing yards. QB Erik Yonish completed 18 of 36 passes for 214 yards, plus rushed 10 times for 17 yards. Brandon Dando caught 6 passes for 115 yards.
Slippery Rock posted 429 yards of offense including 297 rushing yards and 132 passing yards. QB Crookshank completed 12 of 22 passes for 132 yards. Kniess carried 38 times for 273 yards and 3 td’s, plus caught 3 passes for 18 yards.
Clarion’s defense was led by linebacker Matt Morris who had 11 tackles,4 tfl’s and 1 qb sack on the night. Jordan Hicks led the team with 14 tackles, 2 tfl’s 1 fumble caused and 1 recovered. Dwaon Woodard posted 9 tackles, Zach Gourley 8 stops, 2 tfl’s and 1 interception.
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Box Score (Final)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Slippery Rock....... 7 7 7 7 - 28 Record: (5-5,4-2)
Clarion University.. 0 10 0 0 - 10 Record: (3-7,1-5)
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Scoring Summary:
1st 00:38 ROCK - Nate Crookshank 8 yd run (Ryan Daniel kick), 9-61 3:50, ROCK 7 - CLAR 0
2nd 12:58 CLAR - James Charles 0 yd fumble recovery (Kyle Snoke kick), , ROCK 7 - CLAR 7
07:34 CLAR - Kyle Snoke 37 yd field goal, 7-11 3:46, ROCK 7 - CLAR 10
04:39 ROCK - Josh Kniess 49 yd run (Ryan Daniel kick), 4-77 2:50, ROCK 14 - CLAR 10
3rd 05:36 ROCK - Josh Kniess 4 yd run (Ryan Daniel kick), 10-70 4:14, ROCK 21 - CLAR 10
4th 02:04 ROCK - Josh Kniess 44 yd run (Ryan Daniel kick), 8-68 3:43, ROCK 28 - CLAR 10
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ROCK CLAR
FIRST DOWNS................... 23 13
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 49-297 31-60
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 132 214
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 23-12-1 36-18-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 72-429 67-274
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 2-10 0-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 3-55 3-53
Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-11 1-10
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 6-26.7 7-37.6
Fumbles-Lost.................. 3-2 1-1
Penalties-Yards............... 11-101 18-150
Possession Time............... 33:13 26:47
Third-Down Conversions........ 3 of 12 3 of 15
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 1 0 of 3
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 2-4 1-2
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 2-14 1-7
RUSHING: Slippery Rock-Josh Kniess 38-273; Nate Crookshank 7-25; Bryan Dodds 3-0; TEAM 1-minus 1.
Clarion University-Tyrone Buckner 17-35; Erik Yonish 10-17; David Murzynski 2-6; David Coyle 1-3;
Michael Byrd 1-minus 1.
PASSING: Slippery Rock-Nate Crookshank 12-22-1-132; TEAM 0-1-0-0. Clarion University-Erik Yonish
18-36-1-214.
RECEIVING: Slippery Rock-Nick Carimi 4-51; Josh Kniess 3-18; Luke Wetzel 2-29; Frank Cremonese 1-19;
Jordan Sweany 1-9; John Benca 1-6. Clarion University-Brandon Dando 6-115; Michael Byrd 3-28; Jewell
Stephens 3-22; John Dominic 2-29; Tyrone Buckner 2-11; Tony Easterling 1-6; Greg Mahaffey 1-3.
INTERCEPTIONS: Slippery Rock-Jim D'Amico 1-11. Clarion University-Zach Gourley 1-10.
FUMBLES: Slippery Rock-Nate Crookshank 1-1; Josh Kniess 1-0; Paul Favers 1-1. Clarion
University-Erik Yonish 1-1.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1200
Kickoff time: 6 pm End of Game: 9:04 Total elapsed time: 3:04
Officials: Referee: James Smith; Umpire: Rob Kintee; Linesman: Ed Melillo;
Line judge: Bob Bush; Back judge: Reggie Smith; Field judge: Dan Carr;
Side judge: Chuck Costenzo; Scorer: Chris Rossetti;
Temperature: 65 Wind: None Weather: Mild
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Slippery Rock vs Clarion University (Nov 05, 2005 at Clarion, Pa.)
SACKS (UA-A): Slippery Rock-Cory Lacek 1-1; Josh Zeisloft 0-1. Clarion University-Matt Morris 1-0.
TACKLES (UA-A): Slippery Rock-Jared Palmer 5-3; Jerome Whiting 6-1; Clinton Forsha 3-4; Jim D'Amico
4-1; Seth Randall 2-3; Jake Barzen 0-5; Cory Lacek 2-2; Robert Minnie 2-1; Dom Razzano 1-2; Josh
Zeisloft 0-3; Eric Wofford 2-0; Akeem Etheridge 1-1; Matt Fontana 1-0; Clifford Simon 1-0; Andy
Valentine 1-0; M. Butterworth 1-0; Ryan Daniel 1-0; Bryan Dodds 1-0; Frank Isenberg 1-0; Grant
Hrabovsky 0-1; B. Rakszawski 0-1; Troy Stininger 0-1; A. Berarducci 0-1. Clarion University-Jordan
Hicks 8-6; Matt Morris 6-5; Dwaon Woodard 5-4; Zach Gourley 4-4; Kevin Rigby 4-4; Matt Ritter 1-6;
Brock Luke 2-4; James Charles 3-2; Matt Niedbala 0-5; Jimmy Simmons 1-2; Steve McCartney 1-0; Dejan
Stevens 0-1; Quintyn Brazil 0-1.