CLARION (0-1) HOSTS KUTZTOWN (0-1) ON SATURDAY NIGHT

After losing a 38-10 decision to #28 ranked Tiffin last Saturday night, the very young Golden Eagles push ahead this week and host Kutztown on Saturday, September 8^th at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6pm.

The game 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 doing the play by play and Pat Kahle providing color commentary.

Clarion head coach Jay Foster is in his second season leading the Golden Eagles. The squad has a total of 15 starters and 25 lettermen returning. 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 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.

Kutztown opened its 2007 season on the road at #29 ranked Southern Connecticut State and lost to the Owls 52-30. Kutztown kept the game close at halftime trailing only 17-10, but Southern pulled away early in the fourth quarter to lead 45-17 on their way to a 52-30 victory. The Golden Bears are led by second year head coach Raymond Monica. Last year Kutztown was 4-6 in Monica’s first season with wins over Clarion (27-10), Mansfield (51-7), Cheyney (28-6) and Lock Haven (30-10). Monica came to Kutztown from Temple where he was the defensive coordinator for 8 seasons (through 2005). He also has experience on the coaching staff at North Alabama which won three straight D-II titles from 1993-95.

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools 13-5 dating back to 1941. More recently the Eagles have won five of the last nine games played from 1998-2006. In 2006 Kutztown won 27-10. In 2005 Clarion posted a 29-23 victory in 4 overtimes, setting a new PSAC record for most overtimes in a game. Clarion lost at Kutztown 25-14 in 2004, while in 2003 Kutztown edged Clarion 20-19 at Memorial Stadium on a missed Clarion fourth quarter PAT. In 2002 Clarion won a 31-7 game at Kutztown, while also posting a 36-7 victory in 2001. The Bears downed Clarion 17-14 at Kutztown in 2000, with Clarion winning 31-21 in 1999 and in 1998 by a 23-16 margin. The game between the two schools with the most on the line came in 1980 when Clarion downed Kutztown 15-14 in the PSAC title game at Clarion.

The Clarion offense posted 273 yards and 21 first downs against Tiffin last Saturday. The Eagles had 77 rushing yards and 196 passing.

The starting qb will either be sophomore qb Tyler Huether (Penn Trafford) or red-shirt freshman Gino Rometo (Plum). Huether sat out game one while connecting on 59 of 154 passes for 755 yards and 4 td’s, while also running for 142 yards and 2 td’s in 2006. Rometo, who played the entire game on Saturday night, completed 19 of 46 passes for 196 yards and 1 td with 0 interceptions.

Junior tailback Eddie Emmanuel, a first team PSAC-West choice in 2006, opened the season with 84 yards on 15 carries, an average of 5.6 per attempt. Last year he gained 967 yards on 204 carries (4.7 p/c) with 3 td’s. His 967 yards were the 6^th highest in Clarion history and he had four, 100-yard games. Also toting the rock will be freshmen Ross Gargano (Sharon) (2 carries, 5 yards) and Dustin Dean (West Mifflin) (1 carry 9 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 three year starter, posted 10 catches for 93 yards against Tiffin. 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 118 career catches for 1,675 yards and 7 td’s. His 118 catches ranks 8^th and 1,675 yards ranks 9^th in Clarion history.

Carraway meanwhile had 5 catches for 60 yards in the opener, while Alfonso Hoggard (Fr. Phila. Caravel Academy) grabbed 3 passes for 41 yards and 1 td. Also a threat are Kyle Mahoney (So. St. Marys), Fred Robinson (Jr. Belle Glade, Fla.), Craig Bunney (Fr. Ambridge) and tight end John Dominic (Sr. Hubbard, Oh.)

Only five starters and 16 lettermen return for a tough 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.

Last week Tiffin rolled up 617 offensive yards against the Eagles, including 308 on the ground and 309 through the air.

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. In the opener Cathcart posted 7 tackles and 1 tfl, Giles 2 tfl’s and Kail 1 stop. Also ready up front are Jim McHale (Jr. Cortland, Oh. - 3 tackles), senior Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) who has moved to the d-line from fullback, and Jason Glass (Greensburg; 4 hits, 1 sack).

Gone from the line is All-America defensive tackle Jimmy Simmons, who missed the Spring with an injury and will sit out the entire 2007 season. Simmons had 27 tfl’s a year ago.

With linebackers Matt Morris, Kevin Rigby and Zach Gourley all graduated, the Golden eagles ar e looking to Rory Johnson (Fr. Bowmanville, Ont.), Colin McDonough (So. State College) and Josh Rytel (So. Blackhawk) to step up. Johnson sat out the season opener, McDonough had 3 stops and 1 tfl, and Rytel 4 tackles. Freshmen also ready to step in include Matt Giugliano (Franklin Regional- 6 tackles), Garrett McMullin (Brookfield, Oh. - 3 jolts, 1 tfl), Chris Smeltzer (Red Lion- 2 stops), Joe Fox (Franklin Regional- 6 hits), and Mike Verdun (Greensburg C.C. - 1 int.).

The secondary will be anchored by returning starters Quintyn Brazil (Jr. Pgh - Oliver) and Erik Yonish (Sr. Bethel Park) leading the way. Brazil, a quality all-around player, led the team with 15 tackles against Tiffin, while Yonish posted 13 stops. Junior Dane Williams (Penn Hills- 2 tackles) and freshman Alex Evans (Washington- 5 hits, 1 tfl) will start at the corners. Also seeing plenty of time will be Nick Sipes (Fr. Curwensville - 2 tackles) and Shawn Sopic (Fr. Curwensville- 3 hits, 1 fumble recovery) at the safeties, with Kyle Payne (Fr. Cocalico) and Patrick Pettis (Fr. Aliquippa ) ready at the corners.

Junior All-PSAC punter Nick Perla is back to lead the special teams. He averaged 31.2 per boot in the opener with 1 downed inside the 20. He has a career long punt of 73 yards. Freshman placekicker Robert Mamula (Canon Mac) made 1 of 3 field goals in his debut, a 29-yarder in the first quarter.

Kutztown has a balanced offense awaiting the Eagles. In their first game the Golden Bears rushed for 171 yards and passed for 397 for a total offense of 568 yards.

Senior qb Kyle Spots will direct the Bear offense. He completed 30 of 55 passes for 389 yards and 2 td’s on Saturday. Last year he completed 156 of 271 passes for 2,155 yards and 20 td’s.

Running the pigskin will be tailbacks Ty Dinnis (16 rushes, 33 yards, 1 td), Cory McFadden (6 carries, 33 yards, 1 td) and Dontay Wilson (8 runs, 43 yards). McFadden ran for 420 yards and 3 td’s in 2006. Fullback Joe Strauss (1 rush, 21 yards), ran for 304 yards and 3 td’s a year ago.

The receiving corps is full of talent. The leader is Elfren Quiles who grabbed 12 aerials for 211 yards and 1 td against Southern Connecticut. Last year he hauled in 54 passes for 816 yards and 12 td’s. Teaming up with Quiles will be Will Brown (5 catches, 54 yards, 1 td) and tight ends Dan Onorato (5 catches, 31 yards) and Nick Aspromonte (2 catches, 28 yards).

In the season opener Kutztown gave up a total of 55 yards of offense including 290 rushing and 268 passing. Southern Connecticut averaged 7.4 yards per rush.

Up front the Bears look to Craig Moose (1 tfl), Chris Medina (1 sack), Nick Cresta (4 stops, 1 tfl), Leroy Azubuike and Scott Smith.

The linebackers are solid with Tom Cressman (10 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), Sean Alboucq (6 jolts, 1 tfl) and Mike Gardier (4 tackles) ready to hit opponents.

The secondary is led by free safety Brian Bingnear (7 hits, 1 int), who is the team’s leading returning tackler from 2006 when he collected 90 stops and 4 int’s. The strong safety is Cory Porrino (6 tackles, 2 tfl’s), while the corners include Justin Gibbs (11 tackles) and Cameron Parchment (6 jolts). Gibbs had 44 stops and 2 int’s a year ago.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion played 22 freshmen in the season opener against Tiffin and expects to play maybe up to 25 this week ... In last year’s game, a 27-10 win for Kutztown, Clarion outgained Kutztown 324 - 323 ... Clarion had 186 rushing and 138 passing - Kutztown 96 rushing, 227 passing ... Clarion took a 10-6 lead in the second quarter when qb Mark Rupert hit Dane Williams on a 25-yard td pass ... Late in the half Clarion had a 3-yard punt giving Kutztown field position at the Clarion 44, which turned into 2-yard td run by Maurice Adams with 26-seconds left before half ... Adams came out and returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for a td that proved to put the game out of reach... Emmanuel had 88 rushing yards & Odom caught 6 passes for 71 yards ... Adams rushed for 68 and 1 score, while Elfren Quiles caught 7 passes for 120 yards and 1 score... In

Clarion’s 4 overtime win in 2005 (29-23), Eagle qb Brandon Dando scored the game-winner on a 3-yard run in the 4^th OT, then the defense held… Clarion outgained Kutztown 385-188 yards… Dando completed 15 of 28 passes for 143 yards, plus ran for 2 td’s… Tyrone Buckner gained 106 rushing yards on 39 attempts … Kutztown QB Spotts completed 21 of 41 passes for 152 yards and 1 td … Maurice Adams gained 62 yards on 19 carries… In 2004’s 25-14 loss at Kutztown, Clarion made three turnovers that led directly to 21 second half Kutztown points ... Marcus Lowe rushed for 86 yards and 2 td’s on 20 carries. Brandon Dando completed 11 of 22 passes for 141 yards and Joe Farkas caught 3 passes for 72 yards. Bo Busch led the "D" with 10 tackles, Tim Connelly had 8 stops and 4 tfl’s... Kutztown’s Bria had 118 yards and 1 td rushing ... Kutztown outgained Clarion 292-251 in total yardage... In 2003's 20-19 loss to Kutztown the Golden Eagles outgained Kutztown 449-216 and outrushed the Bears 317 - 22... Clarion fumbled 8 times and lost 6, plus missed the game tying PAT, which were the keys to the game ... Felton Woulard completed 7 of 16 passes for 132 yards and Ron Rivage caught 4 passes for 102 yards... Brandon Sweeney led the team with 96 rushing yards and 2 td’s, with Woulard getting 89 and Glenn Lovelace 12 carries for 82 yards... Kutztown qb Jeremy Copeland completed 10 of 26 passes for 194 yards and 2 td’s... Bria gained 61 yards on 27 carries... Trevor Smith caught 7 passes for 174 yards and 2 td’s, including a 77-yarder... In Clarion’s 31-7 win in 2002 the Eagles rushed for 306 yards on 62 carries ... Adam Almashy rushed for 40 yards and 2 td’s, plus threw for another to lead the way ... Robert Walker gained 86 on 20 carries, while Brandon Sweeney had 66 on 12 tries and Frantz Charles added 40 on 6 carries ... Gammage for Kutztown also ran for 85 yards and 1 td on 26 carries ... Kutztown managed 94 rushing yards and 96 passing yards on the game