2007 FB SEASON OPENER

The 2007 Clarion University Football season is ready to get underway on Saturday night, September 1, when the Golden Eagles host Tiffin University. Kickoff is set for 6pm at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium.

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.

Clarion second year head coach Jay Foster marches toward the 2007 season with a squad that has a total of 15 starters and 28 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.

After closing the gap in 2006, Foster’s Golden Eagles are looking for an improved season in 2007.

"We had a pretty good Fall camp," said Clarion’s Foster. "Now its time to take all that work and apply it towards the 2007 season. We’ll be very young again in places this year, and our depth is young and inexperienced, but overall I like the talent and character of this football team. We’re adding pieces to the puzzle. We’re not there yet, but I believe we’re taking steps in that direction. We’re looking forward to the opener to see how much progress we’ve been able to make".

Tiffin, led by fifth year head coach Nathan Cole, is already out of the gates strong with a 23-16 win over Concord in the season opener on Saturday night. The Dragons, currently ranked #27, are coming off an outstanding 2006 season where they posted an 10-1 overall record and lost the Great Lakes Conference Football Conference Championship game in the final seconds to St. Joseph’s 24-23. Ranked #12 in the nation prior to the finale, the loss likely cost the Dragons a spot in the D-II Playoffs and finished the season ranked #17. Cole enters the game with a collegiate record of 28-17.

Clarion leads the series between the two schools by a 2-1 margin. The Golden Eagles defeated Tiffin 40-3 in 2000 at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. The following year Clarion downed the Dragons 27-14 at Memorial Stadium, while Tiffin edged Clarion last year 21-13.

The offense returns 9 starters and 12 lettermen from a unit that averaged 246.5 yards of offense per game. The 2006 Eagles averaged 118 rushing yards and 128.5 passing yards per game.

Sophomore qb Tyler Huether (Penn Trafford) and red-shirt freshman Gino Rometo (Plum) have both had strong Fall camps coming into 2007. As a true freshman Tyler connected 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, also a talented athlete who can throw the football (3,100 passing yards, 20 td’s in HS), is battling for time.

Junior tailback Eddie Emmanuel, a first team PSAC-West choice in 2006, returns to lead the backfield. Emmanuel was the #4 runner in the PSAC a year ago gaining 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 in his first year as a starter. His top game was a 170-yard peformance against Slippery Rock. Also impressing the coaches in the pre-season have been freshman tailback Ross Gargano (Sharon) and sophomore Dustin Dean (West Mifflin).

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, led the team in 2006 with 46 catches for 798 yards and 3 td’s. He also caught 33 aerials for 418 yards and 3 td’s in 2004, plus had 29 grabs for 366 yards and 1 td in 2003. He caught 6 passes for 246 yards and 1 td against West Chester a year ago. Pierre begins his senior year with 108 catches for 1,582 yards and 7 td’s. Carraway meanwhile had 10 catches for 148 yards a year ago. Also getting time will be Kyle Mahoney (3 catches, 24 yards), Fred Robinson (Jr. Belle Glade, Fla.), Craig Bunney (Fr. Ambridge) and Alfonso Hoggard (Fr. Phila. Caravel Academy). Tight end John Dominic (2005- 10 grabs, 137 yards) is back after missing all of 2006.

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.

Overall the defense improved in 2006 to limit opponents to 323.5 yards per game including 162 on the ground and 161.5 through the air.

Up front sophomore Kory Kusick (E. Brady/Karns City), transfer Bob Kail (Jr. McMurray/Peters Twp.) and senior Kyle Cathcart (Clarion) and junior Corey Giles (Cochranton) lead the Eagles. Kusick had 7 hits, 2

tfl’s last year, while Kail, a transfer who wrestled at Pitt, is expected to anchor the noseguard spot. Cathcart had 32 stops and 6 tfl’s a year ago, while Giles posted 14 stops and 1 sack. Also ready up front are Jim McHale (Jr. Cortland, Oh. - 24 jolts, 3 tfl’s), senior Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) Who has moved to the d-line from fullback, and Jason Glass (Greensburg).

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.

All-America linebacker Matt Morris, All-Region choice Kevin Rigby and Zach Gourley all graduated in 2006. Replacing them is the top defensive priority entering 2007. Veterans returning with playing time and are ready to step in their roles include Josh Rytel (10 stops, 1 int) and Colin McDonough (16 hits, 2 tfl’s). Red-shirt freshman Rory Johnson is penciled in to start, with freshmen Matt Giugliano (Franklin Regional), Garrett McMullin (Brookfield, Oh.) and Chris Smeltzer (Red Lion) all expected to play.

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, posted 37 tackles and 1 int in 2006 and will play at strong safety. Yonish, who moved to free safety from qb a year ago, notched 50 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2006 and is ready for his best year as a senior. Junior Dane Williams (Penn Hills) and freshman Alex Evans (Washington) will start at the corners.

Junior All-PSAC punter Nick Perla is back to lead the special teams. He averaged 35.8 per boot in 2006 with 8 punts downed inside the 20. In 2005 he averaged 38.4 yard per punt and placed 9 inside the 20. He has a career long punt of 73 yards. Freshman placekicker Robert Mamula (Canon Mac) has been impressive in the Fall and will do the placekicking.

Last year Tiffin averaged 30.2 points per game and averaged 365.1 yards of total offense per outing. They gained 230.5 yards rushing and 134.5 yards per game passing. Against Concord in the opener Tiffin rushed for 149 yards and passed for 140 for a total offense of 289 yards.

Tiffin runs a two quarterback system with passing quarterback Matt Root and multi-talented runner/passer Donnie Johnson shaking up enemy defenses. Root passed for 994 yards and 6 td’s a year ago. On Saturday night against Concord he completed 13 of 18 aerials for 139 yards and 1 td. Johnson meanwhile can do both. In 2006 he led the team with 768 yards and 8 td’s on only 124 carries. He also passed for 451 yards and 5 td’s. Against Concord Johnson completed 2 of 4 for 1 yard and 1 td, including what proved to be the game-winner late in the third quarter. He also ran for 42 yards.

The Dragons will hand the ball off to Alvin McKnight and Jon Hemmelgarn on running plays. McKnight led the Dragons with 81 rushing yards and 1 td against Concord, while Hemmelgarn had 4 yards. Last

year Hemmelgarn rushed for 443 yards and 3 td’s, while McKnight had 244.

Veteran Dyshaun Edwards leads a receiving corps that has its top four pass catchers back for 2007. Edwards grabbed 28 passes for 405 yards and 2 td’s last year, while Sean Ostrowski (24 catches, 267 yards), Cody Koselke (21 grabs, 302 yards, 3 td’s) and Lamar Tipton (18 receptions, 236 yards, 2 td’s) were all strong contributors. Edwards had 5 catches for 79 yards and 1 td against Concord.

In 2006 the Tiffin defense limited opponents to 14 points per game and only 265 yards of offense. Opponents rushed for only 74.2 yards per game and passed for 265.9 yards per outing.

Up front the Dragons feature linemen Luke Seal (66 hits, 9 tfl’s) and Joe Crawford (53 stops, 19 tfl’s, 10 sacks). With those stallwarts returning, newcomer Wyatt Thames posted 3 sacks against Concord on Saturday night.

The linebacking corps is strong with Parris Burt (69 hits, 8 tfl’s) in the middle and Steve Yarbrough (80 jolts) and Drew Douthit (33 tackles) shoring up the outside. Burt notched a game leading 13 tackles against Concord.

The secondary is also strong with Troy Brookins (8 interceptions) and Jackson Davis (21 hits, 1 int) returning.

CLARION NOTES: In last year’s opener, Tiffin outgained Clarion 272-194 ... Clarion outrushed Tiffin 169-116 ... Clarion’s Eddie Emmanuel gained 136 yards on 29 carries ... Mark Rupert was the QB and he hit on 3 of 10 for 25 yards and 1 td... Pierre Odom caught an 11-yard td pass ... For Tiffin - Root passed for 105 yards including a back-breaking 51-yard td pass to Cody Koselke with only 1 second left before intermission, giving Tiffin a 14-7 halftime lead ... Clarion’s Odom caught his td pass with 1:12 left in the third as the Eagles hoped to tie the score at 14-14 - but the PAT was blocked leaving Tiffin with a 14-13 lead... Johnson rushed for 75 yards and 1 td ... In Clarion’s 40-3 win at Tiffin in 2000, Eagle qb Adam Almashy tossed 4 td’s passes completing 11 of 19 passes for 226 yards .... The Eagles had 486 yards of offense, 260 rushing and 226 passing... Tab Musser ran for 109 yards on 8 carries... Mike McCullum caught 4 passes for 69 yards and 2 td’s, while Demetric Gardner had 3 catches for 113 yards and 1 td... Tiffin gained 173 total yards including 38 rushing and 135 passing ... Joe Perchinske completed 19 of 25 for 115 yards.... In Clarion’s 27-14 win over Tiffin in 2001, Clarion outgained Tiffin 383-322... Tiffin scored first on a Perchinske 3-yard run in the first to go ahead 7-0... McCullum grabbed a 42-yard td pass from Almashy to tie the game and Glenn Lovelace raced 20 yards in the second for the go ahead score... Robert Walker and McCullum scored second half td’s while Tiffin scored with 10 seconds to go for the final of 27-14... Gardner gained 119 yards and 1 td on 22 carries ... Mike McCullum grabbed 5 passes for 113 yards and 2 td’s... Perchinske completed 18 of 30 for 222 yards and 1 td ... Ken Lockhart grabbed 6 passes for 92 yards and a future star, Nate Washington, who went to the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers two years ago, caught 1 pass for 10 yards Clarion is tradition rich in football ... 27 straight non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 46-year (1961-06) record of 262-189-6, (58.0%) and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000)... The 1952 Eagles were undefeated (9-0) and won the Lions Bowl Game 13-6 over East Carolina... The Golden Eagles are also entering their fifth season with a new stadium playing surface and night football