CLARION TRAVELS TO IUP FOR KEY PSAC-WEST GAME
Coming off a 21-18 win over Cheyney, the Golden Eagles travel to Indiana, Pa. this Saturday to play a key PSAC-West game against IUP. Kickoff at G.P. Miller Stadium is set for 2pm in a game that is also IUP’s Homecoming contest.
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 calling the play by play and Pat Kahle providing the analysis.
FOSTER IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT CLARION
Clarion won its own Homecoming Day game last Saturday as the Golden Eagles held on to defeat Cheyney 21-18 after leading 21-6 at halftime. 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. After losing to West Chester 49-21, the Eagles traveled to #10 ranked Bloomsburg and threw a scare into the Huskies before bowing in the fourth quarter 24-10. Two weeks ago Clarion lost the PSAC-West opener to Slippery Rock by a 31-7 margin. The Eagles have been in every game at halftime, leading Bloomsburg 10-7, trailing Kutztown and Slippery Rock by three, and Tiffin and West Chester by a touchdown.
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.
IUP LEADING PSAC-WEST/TEPPER NEW HEAD COACH
IUP, under first year head coach Lou Tepper, is leading the PSAC-West with a 2-0 record and is 4-1 overall in 2006. Tepper, who was Edinboro’s head coach for six seasons and ran up a record of 40-25 for the Fighting Scots including three straight PSAC-West crowns, was 4-2 against Clarion while at the Boro. He decided to move to Indiana last January and has his team battling for another PSAC-West title. Tepper was formerly the head coach at Big Ten Illinois and had a 25-31-2 record from the Sun Bowl Game in 1991 through the 1996 season.
IUP opened the 2006 season with a 33-6 win at Cheyney and a 35-20 victory over East Stroudsburg, before losing at Millersville 17-14. The team bounced back to upset Edinboro 23-20 in overtime, then bounced Lock Haven last week 23-14.
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 The team formerly known as the Indians and now without a nickname, was led for 20 seasons by Frank Cignetti who left a winning legacy. He was 182-50-1, led IUP to first place in the PSAC-West (including ties) 14 times, along with 13 invitations to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, having advanced to the NCAA title game twice (1990, 1993).
CLARION TRAILS OVERALL SERIES 22-51-3
The two schools have played a total of 76 times dating back to 1926 with IUP holding a 51-22-3 lead. Since 1996 Clarion is 3-7 against the Indians having defeated IUP 49-15 in 1996, 21-6 in 1997 and 21-13 in 2000. IUP defeated Clarion in 1998 52-14, 1999 26-0, 2001 35-34 in overtime, 2002 28-14, 2003 24-20, 2004 30-20 and last year=s 30-10 win.
CLARION OFFENSE HAVING RUSHING SUCCESS
The Golden Eagles are getting 268.3 (#11 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game in 2006. Clarion is getting 145.3 rushing yards (#8 in PSAC) and 123 passing yards (#13 in PSAC) per game.
RUPERT & HUETHER CALLING THE SIGNALS
Clarion will start freshman red-shirt quarterback Mark Rupert (Knoch) or true freshman Tyler Huether (Fr. Penn Trafford). Rupert owns a 302 yard, 2 td performance against West Chester. This season he has completed 42 of 104 passes for 642 yards and 5 td’s. Huether got his first action against Slippery Rock and has now completed 8 of 21 for 84 yards and 1 td.
The running game is spearheaded by junior Eddie Emanuel (Hempstead, N.Y.). Emanuel had a career high 170 yards versus SR and last week ran for 150 against Cheyney. He has 123 rushes for 649 yards and 3 td’s, plus caught 2 passes for 13 yards. Also running are Keith Gruber (Jr. Baltimore, Md.; 15 carries, 58 yards); Dan Grazier ( Jr. Tyrone; 5 rushes, 24 yards) and Randy Mengel ((Fr. Asheville, N.C.; 4 carries, 11 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. His 246 yards was the second highest in Clarion history behind Terry McFetridge’s 251 in 1982 versus Kutztown and the 8th highest in PSAC history. Odom now has 21 catches for 391 yards and 2 td’s this season and 82 career catches for 1,081 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.; 6 catches, 102 yards). Clarion also has tight ends Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek, Brockway; 12 catches, 152 yards, 3 td’s) and Jason Glass (Fr. Greensburg C.C.; 2 catches, 19 yards).
CLARION DEFENSE READY FOR IUP
Clarion’s defense hopes to be ready for the IUP challenge. Clarion is giving up 359.3 yards per game (#10 in PSAC) including 168 rushing yards (#10 in PSAC) and 191.3 passing yards (#10 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 34 total tackles, including a team-leading 13 tfl’s. Also strong up front are Jim McHale (So. Cortland, Oh – 12 stops, 2 tfl’s), Corey Giles (So. Cochranton- 2 hits), Rich McCune (Slippery Rock – Laurel; 18 tackles, 2 tfl’s), Kyle Cathcart (Jr. Clarion – 18 hits, 4 tfl’s), Kory Kusick (Fr. East Brady – 7 hits, 2 tfl’s) 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 45 stops, 5 tfl’s and 2 break-ups this season. He now has 294 career stops and 50 tfl’s. Guarding the outside are Zach Gourley (Sr. McIntyre – Apollo Ridge) and Kevin Rigby (Sr. Cortland, Oh.). Gourley leads the team with 54 hits and 54 tfl’s, while Rigby has managed 38 stops, 6 tfl’s, 2 int. Gourley has 224 career tackles and 29 tfl’s, while Rigby has 169 career stops and 19 tfl’s. Also set to see time will be Colin McDonough (Fr. State College, 8 jolts) and Josh Rytel (Fr. Beaver Falls-Blackhawk; 5 stops).
WOODARD & BRAZIL LEAD SECONDARY
Anchoring the secondary will be corners Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie- Central) and Quintin Brazil (So. Pgh. Oliver). Woodard has 22 tackles this year and 4 int’s, and in his career has 148 career tackles, 10
int’s and 22 break-ups. Woodard had 3 int’s against Cheyney, including a 54-yard return for a touchdown. Brazil has 15 stops and 1 int. this season. The safeties include Tom Schreppel (So. Shenandoah; 28 jolts) and Erik Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park; 27 tackles. 2 int.).
IUP #1 IN PSAC IN RUSHING OFFENSE
IUP’s offense ranks 6th in the PSAC in total offense getting 364.2 yards per game, including a very potent running game that ranks #1 in the PSAC with 218.6 yards per game. The passing game nets 145.6 yards per game which ranks #10 in the PSAC.
Calling the signals for IUP is veteran quarterback Kevin Weidl. The senior has completed 58 of 117 passes for 728 yards and 3 td’s.
His favorite targets include wideouts Anthony Cellitti (15 catches, 167 yards), Rickie Simmons (11 grabs, 174 yards, 2 td’s) and tight end Dan Pickens (10 receptions, 127 yards, 1 td).
The running game is the team’s staple. Senior tailback Chris Morgan has rushed for 785 yards and 8 td’s on 97 carries, which is good for an 8.1 yard average. His backup Kareem Dutrieuille is also talented with 231 yards and 2 td’s on 57 tries. The team is averaging 5.6 yards per rush.
IUP DEFENSE #2 IN PSAC IN RUSHING & TOTAL DEFENSE
While the running game paces the offense, the ability to stop the run is the hallmark of the 2006 defense. IUP ranks #2 in the PSAC in total defense giving up only 258.2 yards per game and #2 in rushing defense limiting opponents to only 71 yards per game. IUP ranks #1 in the PSAC in yielding only 2.2 yards per rush attempt. The defense is also ranked #8 in pass defense yielding 187.2 passing yards.
Up front noseguard Matt Scott is second on the team in tackles (23) and in tfl’s with 7. Tackle Anthony Guerra (20 tackles) leads the team with 8 tfl’s, while end Rob Plowman (7 tfl’s) leads the front in sacks with 5.5, and teammate Aaron Princes has 4 tfl’s.
The linebacking corps has the team’s leading tackler in Terrence Jackson (38 stops, 2 int’s), James Carson (18 hits, 2 tfl’s) and Mike Reid (19 tackles, 5 tfl’s, 1 int).
The secondary features strong safety Quinton Cobb (21 tackles, 1 int), free safety Corey Sample (18 jolts, 3 break-ups), and corners Garrett Majors (7 hits) and Mike White (10 tackles).
Field goal kicker Nick Wallace is 6 for 8 in field goals, including two key boots against Edinboro. He kicked a 25-yarder as time ran out to tie the game, then booted a 37-yarder in overtime for the win.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion corner Dwaon Woodard was named the PSAC-West Co-Defensive “Player of the Week” for his 3 interception performance against Cheyney… He has 10 in his career … Eddie Emanuel will have his work cut out this Saturday against a tough IUP defense… He is 4th in the PSAC in rushing at 108.2 per game, while IUP is only yielding 71 per game … Matt Morris needs 6 tackles to reach 300 for his career …The IUP/Clarion series has featured some memorable games… Clarion led last year’s game 10-7 at halftime, but IUP rallied for a 30-10 win … IUP blocked a Clarion punt late in the third quarter & recovered at the Eagle 14, then scored to take a 14-10 lead… Clarion had 246 yards of offense in the game … Michael Byrd rushed for 54 and 1 td … Yonish was a qb and completed 12 of 25 for 133 yards… IUP had 309 yards of offense … Morgan rushed for 169 and 2 td’s on 32 carries, plus caught 4 passes for 39 yards and 1 td … The 2004 game saw Clarion=s second half rally came up short and IUP won 30-20... Clarion had 290 yards to IUP=s 195 ...The Eagles outrushed IUP 149-35 and IUP held the edge in passing 160-141... Dando rushed for 51 yards and completed 10 of 21 for 128 and 1 td... IUP=s Chris Morgan gained 73 yards on 24 carries... Kevin Weidl completed 9 of 17 for 160 yards and 3 td=s ... Clarion lost the 2003 game 24-20 when IUP scored on a Weidl 64-yard td pass to Joe Slappy with only 2:54 left in the game... Clarion led 20-17 with 4:28 to go when Brandon Sweeney scored on a 5-yard pass from Felton Woulard on fourth and 2 from the 5 ... Clarion had 326 yards of offense (242 rushing) and IUP had 382 yards (148 rush, 234 pass) ... Sweeney gained 117 yards and 1 td on 10 carries ... Mike Jemison had 146 rushing yards and 1 td on 25 carries ... IUP won 28-14 in 2002 in a decision that was closer than the final score ... Clarion led 7-0 in the first on a Robert Walker 3 yard run... IUP tied the game when Adrew Battle recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards for a td in the second... The game was tied 14-14 at halftime on a Frantz Charles 5-yard run ... IUP led 21-14 into the fourth quarter when the Eagles made a costly fumble... Robert Walker was headed to the endzone for what appeared to be the game tying td, when Kairi Cooper caused Walker to fumble at the 2
and Walt Mosteller recovered at the IUP 5... Clarion had 281 total offense (224 rushing)... IUP had 230 rushing yards and 197 passing for 427 total ... In 2001 the teams played an exciting game that IUP won 35-34 in overtime at Clarion ... Clarion trailed 21-6 at halftime, but rallied to tie the game 28-28 on an Adam Almashy 1 yard run with 7:45 remaining... In the overtime, IUP=s Aamir Dew rushed for the go ahead td, then Clarion came back and scored on Demetric Gardner=s 2-yard run, but the PAT missed to the right and the Indians won 35-34 ... Clarion rushed for 264 yards in that game... Almashy had 111 yards and 2 td=s rushing and 1 td passing ... IUP ran for 135 yards... Aamir Dew gained 166 for IUP with 2 td=s ... In 2000, a year that Clarion tied for first in the PSAC-West with a 5-1 mark, Clarion won at IUP 21-13 ... Clarion scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as Cori Johnson grabbed a 55-yard td pass from Almashy, Andy Pore caught a 23-yard td pass from Almshy, and with 1-minute remaining, Almashy ran in from 9-yards out ... Clarion also defeated IUP 21-6 at IUP in 1997 in a rainstorm ... Clarion=s Kervin Charles scored on 3 td=s runs of 1, 27 and 3 to lead 21-0 ... Clarion led 7-0 at halftime and scored the final two td=s at 12:51 of the third and 3:23 of the fourth ... Clarion had 277 rushing yards and 63 passing yards in that game - IUP 65 rushing and 216 passing ... Keonte Campbell rushed for 120 yards on 14 carries, and Charles 71 yards and 3 td;s on 14 tries... Chris Janson was at qb and completed 8 of 15 ... Tink Stennett had 64 yards rushing for IUP, while Terry Throm was 16 of 27 for 183 yards and 1 td... Clarion also owns a 49-15 win in 1996 and a 35-26 victory in 1992… In 1996 Clarion led 21-3 at halftime and scored 4 td’s in the fourth to win… the Eagles rolled 538 yards of offense including 286 rushing… Ron DeJidas ran for 120 & Steve Witte 71… Chris Weibel completed 13 of 19 for 252 and 4 td’s… Alvin Slaughter grabbed 4 for 117 and 1 td … IUP had 316 yards of offense, 297 passing… Throm was 24 of 36 for 297 and 2 td’s… Hardison caught 8 for 139 and 1 td … In 1992 Clarion scored two, fourth quarter td’s to win 35-26 … Jess Quinn caught an 8-yard pass from Tim Myers with 6:47 left, then Myers nailed the door shut with a 2-yard pass to tight end Tim Brown … Myers passed for 266 yards and 4 td’s … Marlon Worthy caught 8 for 85, Brown 7 for 44, 1 td, Kevin Harper 4 for 63 & 1 td… IUP outgained Clarion 392-366 … Michael Mann had 22 carries for 93 yards and 1 td; Scott Woods hit 23 of 52 passes for 347 yards, 3 td’s … Derrick Smith grabbed 7 passes for 159 yards, 2 td’s.