2006 Season Preview
Jay Foster Leads Clarion Into New Era
Clarion Returns 16 Starters & 28 Lettermen
The 2006 Fall football camp is about
over and first year Clarion head football coach Jay Foster heads into the 2006
season with a squad that has a total of 16 starters and 28 lettermen returning
for the new season. The season opens Saturday September 2 at Tiffin with kickoff
at 7pm.
The Golden Eagles are also entering
their fourth season with a new stadium playing surface (Sprinturf) and night
football.
CLARION 3-7 IN 2005
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. The team is hoping for an
improved outcome in 2006.
Team strengths for 2006? The offense
has a strong, veteran line returning to anchor the scoring unit, while the
defense will be strong at linebacker and in the secondary.
FOSTER PLEASED WITH PRE-SEASON CAMP
“I’ve been very pleased with our Fall
camp thus far and we’re really looking forward to the season opener at Tiffin on
September 2nd,” echoed Foster. “The players have displayed a very dedicated,
hard working and positive attitude towards this season. Along with installing a
new offense and defense, we’re working very hard to mold a cohesive team
chemistry to carry us through the season. Everyone has really responded in a
positive way.”
EAGLE OFFENSE RETURNS 7 STARTERS
The offense returns 7 starters and 14
lettermen from a unit that averaged 245.4 yards of offense per game. The 2005
Eagles averaged 112.5 rushing yards and 132.9 passing yards per game.
QB POSITON STILL UP IN THE AIR
Coming out of Spring practice
red-shirt freshman quarterback Mark Rupert had the edge at quarterback. Rupert,
who possesses a strong passing arm, is from Knoch High and transferred from
Duquesne. Rupert passed for 3,466 yards and 29 td’s in high school. Slippery
Rock transfer Ryan Hart (Cochranton) had the backup spot and has been steady in
camp. True freshman Tyler Huether (Penn Trafford), who passed for 5,607 yards
and 46 td’s in his career, is also battling to start. He completed 169 of 290
passes for 2,397 yards and 17 td’s as a senior.
RUNNING BACK SPOTS UP FOR GRABS
The running back spots are also up
for grabs. The tailback spot will likely be handled by either junior Eddie
Emanuel (Hempstead, N.Y.), junior Dan Grazier (Tyrone) and freshman Randy Mengel
(Asheville, N.C.). Emanuel and Mengel are newcomers, while Grazier was moved to
tailback in the Spring.
The fullback position will go to
either Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) or Keith Gruber (Baltimore, Md.), both
juniors.
BROWN & ODOM LEAD TALENTED RECEIVERS
The receiving corps has talent.
Junior transfer Clint Brown (Hyannis, Mass.), a starting strong safety at Div.I-AA
Maine, will add athletic ability and a deep threat to the offense. Brown had 44
tackles, 6.5 tfl’s and 1 int in 2003 and 20 hits in 13 games in 2002.
2004 starter Pierre Odom (Jr.
Trenton, N.J.), who led the team in 2003 and 2004 in receptions and sat out
2005, is also back. He has 62 career catches for 784 yards and 4 td’s. Pierre
grabbed 33 passes for 418 yards and 3 td’s in 2004. Also back is senior Joe
Farkas (McDonald; 17 catches, 234 yards, 2 td’s - 2004) after missing 2005 with
injury. Farkas caught caught a 47-yard “Hail Mary” pass against Cal in 2004 to
beat the Vulcans on the final play 35-34. Jewell Stephens (Sr. Penn Hills; 16
catches, 139 yards), Dane Williams (So. Penn Hills) and Herb Carraway (Jr.
Darlington, S.C.) also return to make the Eagles deep at receiver.
The tight end position will have
sophomore Matt Foradora (Falls Creek/Brockway), senior John Dominic (Hubbard,
Oh. - 10 grabs, 137 yards) and freshman Jason Glass (Greensburg C.C.) ready to
take snaps.
SNYDER & DELIERE ANCHOR VETERAN LINE
Clarion’s “O” line looks very strong
up front with the return of two-time All-Region center Zack Snyder (Sr. Alron,
Oh.) and 2004 All-Region guard Eric Deliere (Sr. Washington/Burgettstown).
Deliere missed the final 7 games of 2005 with an injury. Returning starting
tackle Mike O’Brien (Jr. Minersville) and guard Mike Melampy (Jr. Vandalia, Oh.)
give the Eagles a formidable front wall. Also looking to start are red-shirt
freshman Jon Kalchthaler (Gibsonia/Deer Lakes) and Pete Rodeno (Jr. Avon, Oh.)
CLARION DEFENSE RETURNS 7 STARTERS
Seven starters and 12 lettermen
return for a tough Clarion defense that has led the PSAC in tfl’s for the past
six seasons. Clarion had 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 permitted 401
yards of offense per game, including 202 rushing yards and 199 passing yards per
game.
SIMMONS & GILES LEAD BATTLE UP FRONT
Clarion’s front defensive wall will
be led by returning starters Jimmy Simmons (Jr. Huntland, Tenn.- 23 hits, 8
tfl’s) and Corey Giles (So. Cochranton -24 stops, 4 sacks). Ready to step up at
the end spots are sophomores Nate Griffin (San Antonio, Tx.- 5 stops) and Rich
McCune (Slippery Rock - Laurel), along with junior Kyle Cathcart (Clarion).
Newcomers include Steve Baisey (Fr. Gaithersburg, Md.) and Kory Kusick (Fr. East
Brady - Karns City).
MORRIS, GOURLEY & RIGBY TOUGH MIDDLE TANDEM
The middle has three talented senior
linebackers to anchor the defense. Matt Morris (Boiling Springs - 102 tackles,
22 tfl’s), a 2005 Third team Football Gazette All-American, and teammates Zach
Gourley (McIntyre - 78 hits, 8 tfl’s) and Kevin Rigby (Cortland, Oh. - 64 jolts,
3 tfl’s) will clog the middle. Rigby was a third team All-Region selection in
2004. Morris has had a tremendous career collecting 249 career tackles, 45 tfl’s
and 2 int’s, while Gourley has totaled 170 stops, 24 tfl’s and 2 int’s and Rigby
131 hits, 13 tfl’s and 4 interceptions. Also expecting 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
Back to anchor the secondary will be
corners 2004 All-Region corner Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie - Central - 51 stops, 2
int’s, 4 blocked kicks) and Quintyn Brazil (So. Pgh - Oliver -23 tackles).
Woodard has 126 career tackles, 6 interceptions and 19 break-ups. Corners Brian
Edwards (So. Cincinnati, Oh.) and A.J. Graves (Fr. Jeannette) and safeties Erik
Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park) and Tom Schreppel (So. Shenandoah) are expect to pick
up the defense. Edwards, who has plenty of potential, made 8 stops last year.
Yonish, a two-year letterwinner at quarterback has moved to safety and was an
All-State player at that position in high school, as was Graves at corner.
SNOKE & PERLA RETURN TO SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker Kyle Snoke (Sr.
Harbor Creek - Cathedral Prep), who connected on 6 of 7 field goals in 2004,
including a 46-yarder against West Chester, returns as the placekicker, while
All-PSAC punter Nick Perla (So. Irwin - Penn Trafford - 38.4 avg.) returns to
boot the pigskin.
Woodard is back to return punts and
kickoffs. He averaged 8.6 per punt return and 20.6 per kickoff return in 2005.
He gained 11.2 per punt return in 2004.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion is tradition rich in football ... 27 straight
non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 45-year (1961-05) record of 261-179-6,
(59.2%) and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000).
Clarion has an 11-game schedule for 2006... Sept. 2nd at Tiffin 7:00; Sept. 9 at
Kutztown 6:05; Sept. 16 WEST CHESTER (FD) 6:00; Sept. 23 at Bloomsburg 12:00;
Sept. 30 SLIPPERY ROCK 6:00; Oct. 7 CHEYNEY (Homecoming) 2:00; Oct. 14 at
Indiana 2:00; October 21 EDINBORO 6:00; Oct. 28 at Lock Haven 1:00; November 4
CALIFORNIA (Senior Day) 1:00 and Nov. 11 at Shippensburg 1:00.