2006 Clarion Football
CLARION SEEKS FIRST WIN AT #10 BLOOMSBURG
The Clarion University football team will travel to #10 rated Bloomsburg this Saturday as the Golden Eagles seek their first win of the 2006 season.
Kickoff at Bloomsburg’s Redman Stadium is set for Noon.
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 describing the action.
FOSTER IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT CLARION
Clarion has started the 2006 season with a 0-3 record under first year head coach Jay Foster. The 2006 season opened at Tiffin with the Dragons posting a 21-13 win. Game two, also on the road, saw Clarion drop a 27-10 decision at Kutztown. Last Saturday in the home opener, the Eagles lost to West Chester by a 49-21 count.
Foster is certainly no stranger to the PSC and NCAA Division II football. Foster coached for 18 seasons at Slippery Rock before coming to Clarion, and was the defensive coordinator at the Rock for 17 of those years. While at Slippery Rock Foster helped those teams compile a 120-73-4 record, make 3 NCAA D-II Playoff appearances and earn four straight PSAC-West crowns (1997-2000). A native of Berwick, Maine, Foster is a 1985 graduate of Plymouth State and coached two seasons under Danny Hale at West Chester before going to SRU.
2005 EAGLES 3-7 OVERALL/1-5 IN PSAC-WEST
The Golden Eagles were 3-7 in 2005 and 1-5 in the PSAC-West. The three victories came in a record setting, four-overtime win over Kutztown (29-23), a 15-12 come-from-behind victory over Mansfield and a 16-0 shutout win over Lock Haven.
BLOOMSBURG 2-1 AFTER DEFEATING EDINBORO LAST SATURDAY
Bloomsburg enters Saturday’s game with a 2-1 overall record, including last Saturday’s impressive 28-10 win at Edinboro. Bloomsburg is ranked #10 in the latest AFCA Division II Poll, which came out on Tuesday. The Huskies opened 2006 with an impressive 14-3 loss at NCAA Div.I-AA power James Madison, then defeated pre-season PSAC-West #1 ranked California by a 24-19 margin.
The Huskies are led by 14th year head coach Danny Hale who directed the 2005 Huskies to an 11-1 season. Bloomsburg ran up 11 straight wins a year ago, but lost in the first round of the NCAA D-II Playoffs. Hale has an overall record at Bloomsburg of 108-40-1, led the 2001 Huskies to the D-II title game before losing, plus made the D-II Playoffs in 2000 and 1996. The Huskies have earned at least a share of the PSAC-East title seven times under Hale’s leadership. Coach Hale actually came to Bloomsburg from West Chester where he was the head coach for five seasons. He had a record with the Rams of 40-13, and now has an overall collegiate record of 148-53-1 in 19 years as head coach, a winning percentage of nearly 73%.
CLARION LEADS OVERALL SERIES 4-2-1
Clarion leads the overall series against Bloomsburg by a 4-2-1 margin in games that date back to 1996. The Golden Eagles played Bloomsburg in the first round of the 1996 NCAA D-II Playoffs and defeated the Huskies 42-29 at Memorial Stadium. In 1993 Clarion dropped Bloomsburg 40-18, and in 1992 Clarion edged the Huskies 23-20. The two teams first played in 1934 and played to a 0-0 tie, Bloomsburg won in 1935 by a 19-0 score, Clarion won in 1946 with a 6-0 margin and Bloomsburg won in 1947 11-7.
CLARION OFFENSE READY FOR BALANCE
The Golden Eagles are getting 298.7 (#9 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game in 2006. Clarion is getting 143.3 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC) and 155.3 passing yards (#10 I PSAC) per game.
RUPERT CALLING THE SIGNALS
Clarion will start freshman red-shirt quarterback Mark Rupert (Knoch), who will make his fourth career start. Last week Rupert connected on 14 of 29 passes for 302 yard and 2 td’s against West Chester. This season he has completed 28 of 77 passes for 454 yards and 4 td’s. He will be backed up by Tyler Huether (Fr. Penn Trafford) and Ryan Hart (So. Cochranton).
The running game is spearheaded by junior Eddie Emanuel (Hempstead, N.Y.). The Claironjunior has carried 55 times for 258 yards and 1 td, plus caught 2 passes for 13 yards. Also ready to tote the pigskin are Keith Gruber (Jr. Baltimore, Md.; 7 carries, 30 yards); Dan Grazier ( Jr. Tyrone; 2 rushes, 17 yards) and Randy Mengel ((Fr. Asheville, N.C.; 2 carries, 16 yards). The fullback position is manned by Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) .
ODOM LEADS CLARION RECEIVERS
Junior wideout Pierre Odom (Trenton, N.J.) heads a talented receiving corps. Odom was a D-2 football.com national co-player of the week after his tremendous performance against West Chester. Odom grabbed 6 passes for 246 yards and 1 td. He broke a screen pass 64-yards for a td. Odom averaged 41 yards per catch, while his 246 yards was the second highest in Clarion history behind Terry McFetridge’s 251 in 1982 versus Kutztown. It was the 8th highest single game performance in PSAC history. Odom now has 13 catches for 328 yards and 2 td’s this season and 75 career catches for 1,012 yards and 7 td’s. Junior Clint Brown (Hyannis, Mass.) is also talented and has grabbed 3 aerials for 21 yards , plus has returned 6 kickoffs for 146 yards (24.3 avg.) Also ready to latch onto the pigskin are Dane Williams (So. Penn Hills – 3 catches, 33 yards, 1 td) and Herb Carraway (Jr. Darlington, S.C.; 2 catches, 20 yards). Clarion also has tight ends Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek, Brockway; 5 catches, 50 yards, 1 td) and Jason Glass (Fr. Greensburg C.C.).
CLARION DEFENSE READY FOR HUSKY CHALLENGE
Clarion’s defense hopes to be ready for the challenge the Bloomsburg offense brings into the game, especially with a strong running game. Clarion is giving up 372.3 yards per game (#11 in PSAC) including 174.7 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 197.7 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.
SIMMONS LEADS CLARION DEFENSE UP FRONT
Clarion’s defensive front has been led in 2006 by Jimmy Simmons (Jr. Huntland, Tn.). Simmons has 16 total tackles, including a team-leading 7 tfl’s. Also strong up front are Jim McHale (So. Cortland, Oh – 7 stops, 2 tfl’s), Corey Giles (So. Cochranton), Rich McCune (Slippery rock – Laurel; 13 tackles, 2 tfl’s), Kyle Cathcart (Jr. Clarion – 4 hits, 2 tfl’s), Kory Kusick (Fr. East Brady – 1 tfl) and Nate Griffin (So. San Antonio, Tx.- 6 hits).
LINEBACKERS ANCHOR CLARION DEFENSE
Clarion’s second line of defense is strong across the row. 2005 third team All-American Matt Morris (Sr. Boiling Springs) anchors the middle. He has 27 stops, 2 tfl’s and 2 break-ups this season. He now has 276 career stops and 47 tfl’s. Guarding the outside are Zach Gourley (Sr. McIntyre – Apollo Ridge) and Kevin Rigby (Sr. Cortland, Oh.). Gourley leads the team with 29 hits and 2 tfl’s, while Rigby has managed 16 stops and 1 tfl. Gourley has 199 career tackles and 26 tfl’s, while Rigby has 147 career stops and 14 tfl’s. Also set to see time will be Colin McDonough (Fr. State College), Phil Berta (So. Pgh-Baldwin) and Josh Rytel (Fr. Beaver Falls-Blackhawk).
WOODARD & BRAZIL LEAD SECONDARY
Anchoring the secondary will be corners Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie- Central) and Quintyn Brazil (So. Pgh. Oliver). Woodard has 10 tackles this year and 1 int, and in his career has 136 career tackles, 7 int’s and 20 break-ups. Brazil has 7 stops this season. Brian Edwards (So. Cincinnati, Oh.; 6 hits, 2 break-ups) will also see time at corner, while the safeties include Tom Schreppel (So. Shenandoah; 17 jolts) and Erik Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park; 9 tackles).
POTENT HUSKY OFFENSE FEATURES JAMAR BRITTINGHAM
Bloomsburg’s offense is getting 270 yards per game (11th in PSAC) including 108.3 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 161.7 passing yards (#9 in PSAC) per game.
Calling the signals for the Huskies will be quarterback Dan Latore, who has connected on 38 of 61 passes for 485 yards and 2 td’s.
The running game features Jamar Brittingham, who advanced to the Harlon Hill final three last year, before the award went to ESU QB Jimmy Terwilliger. Brittingham in 2005 rushed for 2,260 yards and scored 34 td’s. Injured early in the 2006 season, he rushed for 78 yards and 3 td’s against Edinboro last week. This season he has 47 carries for 184 yards and 4 td’s. He is joined in the backfield by Christian Allen who has 150 rushing yards on 41 tries.
The receiving corps is talented with Brahin Bilal leading the way with 11 catches for 195 yards and 1 td. Ryan Schuck (8 grabs, 77 yards), Luke Kuklick (6 catches, 50 yards) and Kyle Ream (4 grabs, 89 yards, 1 td) also are quality receivers.
BLOOMSBURG POSSESESS BALANCED OVER DEFENSE
The Husky defensive unit is limiting opponents to only 271.7 yards per game (#5 in the PSAC) including only 102 .7 rushing yards (#5 in PSAC) and 169 passing yards (#7 in PSAC) per game.
Up front the Huskies are led by Zac Barton (14 hits, 2 sacks) and Justin Colon 10 stops).
The linebacking corps is the steam’s strength with Rob Biernat (20 hits, 1 tfl), Matt Smith (15 jolts) and Dan Tillotson (12 tackles, 1 int) leading the way.
The secondary is also very productive with Marcus Waddy (12 hits, 1 tfl), Tyler Trettin (11 tackles), Jeremy Lightner (10 jolts) and Domenique Price (10 stops) ready to play.
CLARION NOTES: The last game in this series was on Nov. 23, 1996 at Memorial Stadium… At stake, the first round of the NCAA D-II Playoffs… Clarion won the game 42-29, but it was a back and forth game for awhile… Clarion led 12-0 on a 30 yard td run by Steve Witte and a Joe Bzorek 34-yard interception return… Bloom followed with 2, second dquarter td’s to take a 14-12 lead, but Clarion answered those with two more td’s before halftime… Jamie Sickeri’s 2 yard td pass from Chris Weibel (current Eagle QB Coach) and Steve Witte’s 16-yard pass from Weibel, and two 2-point conversions had Clarion ahead 28-14 at halftime… Bloom’s Ron Llelko scored his second td of the game early in the third to make it 28-21, but Ron DeJidas scoed on an 8 yard run and Steve Witte scored early in the fourth on a 5-yard run to put the game away… Clarion outgained Bloom 478-301 … Weibel completed 16 of 26 for 228 yards and 2 td’s… Witte rushed for 137 yards and 2 td’s, plus caught 4 for 81 and 1 td… DeJidas rushed for 80… Bloom qb Glenn McNamee was 23 of 41 for 242 yards and 3 td’s…. Lelko caught 12 passes for 141 yards and 3 td’s … In 1993 at Memorial Stadium Clarion won 40-18… Bloomsburg led 12-0 in the first quarter, Clarion scored 2 second quarter td’s to take a 13-12 halftime lead. Marlon Worthy’s 8 yard catch and Damien Henry’s 1 yard run provided the scoring … In the third quarter Kevin Harper caught a 26-yard td pass from Craig Ray, Damien Henry rushed for 2 more td’s, and Art Gregory scored on a 10-yard run giving Clarion a 40-12 lead before Bloom tacked on a td with 23-seconds remaining… Henry rushed 24-times for 125 yards and 3 td’s, Gregory ran for 89 yards and 1 td … Ray completed 10 of 12 aerials for 120 yards and 2 td’s … 1992 Clarion 23 Bloomsburg 20 at Redman Stadium … Clarion led 23-0 at halftime, then held on to defeat Bloom 23-20 … Gregory’s 10 yard run, Frank Andrews returned a fumble 68-yards for a score, Tim Brown caught a 13-yard td pass and Paul Cramer made a 24-yard field goal before intermission for a 23-0 lead… Gregory rushed for 94 yards and 1 td, Jay Tonini 81 yards … Tim Myers completed 19 of 33 passes for 241 yards and 1 td … Tim Brown 5 catches, 52 yards, 1 td… Bloom’s Jeff King was 11 of 25 for 222 yards and 1 td… Buck Eardley caught 3 passes for 117 yards and 1 td… Clarion returns home next Saturday to host Slippery Rock at Memorial Stadium… kickoff is at 6pm…. On October 7th the Golden eagles host Cheyney for he annual Homecoming Day Game… Kickoff at 2pm… The famous ALF Parade starts at noon.