WEEK 5

Clarion University’s very young 2007 football team travels to California this Saturday, September 29^th, to take on the #13 ranked Vulcans in the PSAC-West opener for both schools. Kickoff is set for 3pm at Adamson Stadium.

The game can be seen on SportsFever Television around the state. It can also 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 doing the play by play and Pat Kahle offering color commentary.

Clarion head coach Jay Foster is in his second season leading the Golden Eagles. Foster came to the Golden Eagles after coaching 18 seasons at Slippery Rock, including the last 17 as defensive coordinator. He helped the Rock compile a 120-73-4 record, 3 NCAA Division II Playoff appearances and four straight PSAC-West crowns (1997-2000).

Clarion’s 2007 squad has a total of 15 starters and 25 lettermen returning back from 2006, but has played as many as 25 freshmen in each of the Eagles first four contests. Clarion enters this week’s California game with an 0-4 overall record, having lost the opener to #28 Tiffin (38-10), Kutztown 35-13, at #23 West Chester (49-21) and to previously ranked Bloomsburg (52-10). Four of Clarion’s first five opponents have been nationally ranked this season.

Clarion was a deceiving 1-10 overall in 2006 and 0-6 in the PSAC-West. Clarion’s lone victory came against Cheyney in a 21-18 thriller at Memorial Stadium. The Golden Eagles lost 21-13 to a 10-1 Tiffin squad, led NCAA East Region champion Bloomsburg 10-7 at halftime, led IUP 7-6 at halftime, only trailed Cal 21-14 in the fourth quarter before bowing and played a very tough Edinboro team to a 13-0 loss.

#13 ranked California was off last week, resting up for this week’s PSAC-West opener. The Vulcans opened the season with an impressive 26-3 win over East Stroudsburg, then came back and toppled Glenville State 34-13, Bloomsburg 31-13 and Cheyney 57-0.

Head coach John Luckhardt is in his sixth season leading the Vulcans and enters the game with a 36-21 record at Cal. He has led the last two Cal squads to Co-Championships in the PSAC-West. The 2005 squad tied with Edinboro and the 2006 team tied with IUP.

Luckhardt had a great 17-year career at Washington & Jefferson (1982-98) posting a 137-37-2 record while winning 13 PAC titles and 5 Regional Championships with 11 NCAA appearances. His 23-year collegiate record currently stands at 173-58-2.

Clarion leads the all-time series between the two schools by a 38-35-3 margin in games dating back to 1927. In the past 12 years Clarion leads by a 7-5 margin. 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 in 2004. The last Clarion win in 2004 came on Clarion’s version of "The Play", as qn Brandon Dando tossed a 47-yard "Hail Mary" pass on the game’s final play to win. Cal meanwhile won 41-14 last year, and 43-7 in 2005. Other Cal wins during the last 12 years came in 1997 (30-0), 1998 (30-28), 2003 (13-7).

The Clarion offense will have its sternest test to date when it goes up against Cal’s #1 defense on Saturday. Clarion is getting 310.8 yards of offense per game (#9 in PSAC). The Eagles are getting 121.8 yards rushing (#8 in PSAC) and 189 (#10 in PSAC) through the air.

The starting qb will likely be sophomore qb Tyler Huether (Penn Trafford). Huether has completed 33 of 77 aerials for 499 yards and 4 td’s. He has a qb rating of 98.85. Also awaiting action is red-shirt freshman

Gino Rometo (Plum) who has hit on 27 of 65 passes for 257 yards and 1 td.

Junior tailback Eddie Emmanuel, a first team PSAC-West choice in 2006, has gained 388 yards on 82 carries (4.7 p/c) in 2007. Last year he gained 967 yards on 204 carries with 3 td’s. He has had six, 100+ games at Clarion including 107 versus Kutztown and 104 against Bloomsburg.

Also toting the rock will be freshmen Ross Gargano (Sharon) (8 carries, 15 yards) and Dustin Dean (West Mifflin) (8 carries 27 yards).

Ready to catch passes are All-PSAC receiver Pierre Odom (Sr. Trenton, N.J.) and wideout Herb Carraway (Sr. Darlington, S.C.).

Odom, a four year starter, has 24 catches for 271 yards and 2 td’s in 2007. In 2006 he had 46 catches for 798 yards and 3 td’s, and caught 6 passes for 246 yards and 1 td against West Chester. Pierre enters the game with 132 career catches for 1,853 yards yards and 9 td’s. His 132 catches ranks 7^th and 1,853 yards ranks 6^th in Clarion history.

Carraway meanwhile has 12 catches for 166 yards and 1 td, while Alfonso Hoggard (Fr. Phila. Caravel Academy) has clutched 11 passes for 130 yards and 2 scores. Also a threat are Kyle Mahoney (So. St. Marys), Craig Bunney (Fr. Ambridge) and tight end John Dominic (Sr. Hubbard, Oh.).

Only five starters and 12 lettermen return for a Clarion defense that has led the PSAC in tfl’s in 6 of the last 7 seasons. The Eagles were 4^th in the PSAC with 80 tfl’s in 2006, while leading the league the previous six seasons with 98 tfl’s in 2005, 110 tfl’s in 2004, 106 in 2003, 113 in 2002 and 102 in 2001 and 128 in 2000.

In 2007 Clarion is yielding 511.5 yards of offense per game (14^th in PSAC) including 245 rushing yards (13^th in PSAC) and 266.5 passing yards (14^th in PSAC).

Up front sophomore Kory Kusick (E. Brady/Karns City), transfer Bob Kail (Jr. McMurray/Peters Twp.), senior Kyle Cathcart (Clarion) and junior Corey Giles (Cochranton) lead the Eagles. Cathcart has 17 tackles and 4 tfl’s, Giles 12 hits and 6 tfl’s and Kail 7 stops. Also ready up front are Jim McHale (Jr. Cortland, Oh. - 12 hits, 3 tfl’s), senior Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) who has moved to the d-line from fullback, and Jason Glass (Greensburg; 12 jolts, 2 tfl’s).

With linebackers Matt Morris, Kevin Rigby and Zach Gourley all graduated, the Golden Eagles are playing a number of candidates at all three posts. Rory Johnson (Fr. Bowmanville, Ont.; 12 tackles), Josh Rytel (So. Blackhawk; 12 hits), and freshmen Matt Giugliano (Franklin Regional- 14 tackles, 2 tfl’s), Garrett McMullin (Brookfield, Oh. - 12 jolts, 1 tfl), Chris Smeltzer (Red Lion- 8 stops), Joe Fox (Franklin Regional- 23 hits, 3 tfl’s), and Mike Verdun (Greensburg C.C. - 12 hits, 1 int.) all are ready to play.

The secondary will be anchored by returning starters Quintyn Brazil (Jr. Pgh - Oliver) and Erik Yonish (Sr. Bethel Park), who missed the West Chester game. Brazil is second on the team with 25 tackles and 1 int, while Yonish is the team leader 28 stops. Junior Dane Williams (Penn Hills- 16 tackles, 1 blocked field goal) and freshman Alex Evans (Washington- 10 hits, 2 tfl’s) will start at the corners. Also seeing plenty of time will be Nick Sipes (Fr. Curwensville - 23 tackles, 2 tfl’s) and Shawn Sopic (Fr. Curwensville- 16 hits, 1 int, & 1 fumble recovery) at the safeties, with Kyle Payne (Fr. Cocalico, 7 hits) and Patrick Pettis (Fr. Aliquippa, 7 jolts) ready at the corners.

Junior All-PSAC punter Nick Perla is back to lead the special teams. He has averaged 33.9 per boot and has a career long punt of 73 yards. Freshman placekicker Robert Mamula (Canon Mac) has made 4 of 9 field goals including a long of 37.

The Vulcans have a very balanced offense averaging 37 points per game and 367.5 yards of offense (6^th in PSAC). Cal gets 199 rushing yards per game (3^rd in PSAC) and 168.5 passing yards (12^th in PSAC).

California’s offense is directed by senior quarterback Joe Ruggiero. He has completed 59 of 100 passes for 674 yards and 6 td’s with 4 interceptions. In his Cal career he has completed 459 of 718 passes for 5,771 yards and 48 td’s.

The running game is paced by tailback Brandon Lombardy. He ranks #2 in the entire PSAC with 120.5 yards per game, gaining 482 yards and 6 td’s on 91 attempts (5.3 p/c). Last year Lombardy rushed for 1,595 yards and 19 td’s. Backup Freddie Bacco has gained 138 yards and 1 td on 31 tries.

The receiving corps is balanced with Nate Forse leading the way with 17 catches for 261 yards and 3 td’s. Jermaine Moye has grabbed 12 passes for 116 yards and 1 td, while Joe Slappy has 10 catches for 123 yards and 1 td.

California’s defense is simply stopping its opponents from gaining any yards. The Vulcans rank #1 in rushing defense yielding only 29.5 yards per game, and #1 in passing defense giving up only 114.5 yards per contest. Cal also ranks #1 in total defense yielding only 144 yards per game, which is 57 yards (average) ahead of #2 IUP (201.7). And as a group, the team has 54 tfl’s and 23 sacks in 4 games, an average of nearly 6 sacks per game.

Up front Cal is paced by Sam Fikaris (13 tackles, 4 tfl’s) at noseguard, Willie Walker (12 stops, 4 tfl’s) at tackle and Kirby Griffin (19 jolts, 8 tfl’s) at end.

Outside linebackers Gary Butler (14 tackles, 8 tfl’s, 5 sacks) and Darren Burns (20 hits, 8 tfl’s, 6.5 sacks) guard the perimeters, while Josh Zunic (31 hits, 8 tfl’s) and Brian Mohr (27 tackles, 5 tfl’s) anchor the inside.

The secondary will be led by corners Terrence Johnson (12 tackles) and Dionte Henry, while safeties Juan Butler (11 jolts) and Nate Payne (18 hits) provide the final line of defense.

CLARION NOTES: In last year’s game Cal was ahead 21-0 in the third quarter when Clarion rallied with two td’s to make it 21-14... Huether scored on a 7-yard run and Kyle Mahoney caught a 13-yard td pass from Huether ... A bad punt snap gave Cal the ball at the Clarion 4 and the Vulcans scored immediately to make it 28-14 with 11:39 left ... The Vulcans added 2 late td’s to make it 41-14... In 2005 Cal jumped out to a 43-0 halftime lead and defeat Clarion 43-7 … Antoine Bagwell rushed for 204 yard and 4 td’s to lead Cal … In 2004 when Clarion won 35-34 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 Odom 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 suffering a season ending 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... Four years ago (2001) 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.