2006 Clarion Football
CLARION HOSTS SLIPPERY ROCK IN PSAC-WEST OPENER
This Saturday it will be teacher versus pupil, as Slippery Rock travels to Clarion on September 30th for what will be the PSAC-West opener for both teams. Kickoff at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium 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 calling the play by play and Pat Kahle providing the analysis.
Clarion first year head coach Jay Foster, will have the Golden Eagles prepared to line up against the Rock and 19th year head coach Dr. George Mihalik on Saturday night. Since Foster spent the previous 18 years at Slippery Rock learning under Mihalik, the PSAC-West opener has additional interest in both coaching camps.
FOSTER IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT CLARION
Clarion has started the 2006 season with an 0-4 record. 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 two weeks ago, the Eagles traveled to #10 ranked Bloomsburg and threw a scare into the Huskies before bowing in the fourth quarter 24-10.
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.
SLIPPERY ROCK ENTERS SATURDAY AT 3-1
Slippery Rock enters Saturday’s game on a three game winning streak, currently owning an overall record of 3-1. The Rock opened 2006 at talented Youngstown State and dropped a 51-21 decision to the #7 ranked Penguins. Then the Rock defeated Millersville (27-22), Mansfield (46-0) and Kutztown (34-10). The Rock is coached by Dr. George Mihalik who is in his 19th season and carries a career record of 123-74-4. Mihalik led the Rock to 4 straight PSAC-West crowns (1997-2000) and three D-II Playoff appearances during that time.
SR LEADS OVERALL SERIES 38-23-3
Slippery Rock leads the series between the two schools by a 38-23-3 margin in games dating back to 1928. The Rock has won the last two meetings including last year’s 28-10 victory and the 2004 game by a
score of 31-14. Clarion won the 2003 meeting by a narrow 19-17 final. SR has won 8 of the last 9 meetings
and owns a 9-4 mark in the last 13 meetings dating back to 1992. The four Clarion wins came in 1992 (49-37), 1993 (29-24), 1996 (54-28) and 2003 (19-17). SR wins were 41-17 in 1995, 28-7 in 1997, 28-14 in 1998, 45-7 in 1999, 27-14 in 2000, 33-24 in 2001, 21-14 in 2002 and the last two seasons.
CLARION OFFENSE GAINING BALANCE
The Golden Eagles are getting 284.8 (#9 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game in 2006. Clarion is getting 134.2 rushing yards (#8 in PSAC) and 150.5 passing yards (#10 in PSAC) per game.
RUPERT CALLING THE SIGNALS
Clarion will start freshman red-shirt quarterback Mark Rupert (Knoch), who will make his fifth career start. Rupert owns a 302 yard, 2 td performance against West Chester. This season he has completed 39 of 97 passes for 590 yards and 5 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 Clarion junior has carried 73 times for 329 yards and 1 td, plus caught 2 passes for 13 yards. Also ready to tote the pigskin are Keith Gruber (Jr. Baltimore, Md.; 10 carries, 41 yards); Dan Grazier ( Jr. Tyrone; 5 rushes, 24 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. 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 17 catches for 361 yards and 2 td’s this season and 79 career catches for 1,045 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.; 5 catches, 91 yards). Clarion also has tight ends Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek, Brockway; 8 catches, 77 yards, 2 td’s) and Jason Glass (Fr. Greensburg C.C.).
CLARION DEFENSE READY FOR WEST OPENER
Clarion’s defense hopes to be ready for the SR challenge. Clarion is giving up 376.5 yards per game (#12 in PSAC) including 186.2 rushing yards (#10 in PSAC) and 190.2 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 20 total tackles, including a team-leading 8 tfl’s. Also strong up front are Jim McHale (So. Cortland, Oh – 10 stops, 2 tfl’s), Corey Giles (So. Cochranton), Rich McCune (Slippery rock – Laurel; 15 tackles, 2 tfl’s), Kyle Cathcart (Jr. Clarion – 6 hits, 2 tfl’s), Kory Kusick (Fr. East Brady – 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 30 stops, 3 tfl’s and 2 break-ups this season. He now has 279 career stops and 48 tfl’s. Guarding the outside are Zach Gourley (Sr. McIntyre – Apollo Ridge) and Kevin Rigby (Sr. Cortland, Oh.). Gourley leads the team with 35 hits and 3 tfl’s, while Rigby has managed 19 stops, 1 tfl, 1 int. Gourley has 205 career tackles and 27 tfl’s, while Rigby has 150 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 15 tackles this year and 1 int, and in his career has 141 career tackles, 7 int’s and 20 break-ups. Brazil has 11 stops and 1 int. 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; 20 jolts) and Erik Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park; 11 tackles. 1 int.).
SLIPPERY ROCK #1 IN TOTAL OFFENSE IN PSAC
Slippery Rock’s offense is #1 in the PSAC in scoring getting 32 points per game and #2 in total offense getting 404.8 yards per game. The Rock is getting 159.8 rushing yards (#3 in PSAC) and 245 passing yards (#3 in PSAC) per game.
The offense is directed by quarterback Nate Crookshank. He ranks #2 in the PSAC in qb efficiency completing 62 of 96 passes for 955 yards and 9 td’s.
The running game is strong with three backs getting plenty of work. Travis Sarver is the team leader with 239 yards and 2 td’s on 63 carries. A.J. Saunders has 201 yarsd and 5 td’s on only 34 attempts, while Damarcus Cleckley has 166 yards on 24 carries.
When Crookshank goes back to pass he has several talented receivers to choose from. Colin Golden leads the pack with 19 grabs for 166 yards and 1 td, with Luke Wetzel clutching 18 aerials for 360 yarsd and 5 td’s. Paul Favers has 13 catches for 260 yards and 2 td’s and Terry Grossetti has 5 catches, 73 yards and 2 td’s.
SLIPPERY ROCK #5 IN PSAC IN TOTAL DEFENSE
The Rock defense is permitting only 280.2 yards per game (#5 in PSAC) and giving up a deceiving 20.8 points per game. Take away the YSU game and the defense is only yielding 10.1ppg against three D-II opponents. Overall SR is yielding 163.2 passing yards (#4 in PSAC) and 117 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC).
The defensive front features Troy Stininger (8 hits, 2 tfl’s), Clint Forsha (18 stops, 6 tfl’s), Corey Lacek (21 stops, 14 tfl’s) and Tyler Boudreau (9 jlts, 3 tfl’s).
The linebackers are strong with Jared Palmer (25 tackles), Seth Randall (23 stops, 3 tfl’s, 1 int), and
Jerome Whiting (16 stops, 1 tfl).
The secondary has corners Sam Morant (6 hits) and Anthony Walls (13 stops, 3 int’s), along with free safety Jim D’Amico (11 jolts) and strong safety Brandon Rakszawski (14 tackles).
CLARION NOTES: On October 7th the Golden Eagles host Cheyney for the annual Homecoming Day Game… Kickoff at 2pm… The famous ALF Parade starts at noon… SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Clarion lost 28-10 to SR last year at Memorial Stadium… Clairon led 10-7 in the second when James Charles recovered a fumbled punt in the endzone and Kyle Snoke booted a 37-yard field goal… SR All-American Josh Kniess ran 49-yards for a td before halftime to give the Rock a 14-10 lead they never relinquished… Clarion had 60 rushing yards and 214 passing yards while SR had 429 total yards and 297 rushing … Clarion qb Erik Yonish was 18 of 36 for 214 with 6 completions to Brandon Dando for 115 yards… Kniess rushed for 273 yards and 3 td’s … Nate Crookshank completed 12 of 22 for 132 yards… In 2003 SR defeated Clarion 31-14 … Clarion held a 14-10 second quarter lead but couldn’t hold it ...Kniess rushed for 3 td’s (one in 2nd qtr., 2 in the third) to put the game away... Clarion rushed for 186 ... Glenn Lovelace gained 75 yards with 1 td ...SRU rushed for 201 - Josh Kniess with 111 yards on 31 carries and 3 td’s... Clarion rallied from a 17-7 second quarter deficit in 2003 to defeat SR 19-17 at the Rock ... Mark Hofmeister’s 49-yard field goal prior to halftime make it 17-10 ... Bo Busch returned a blocked punt 7 yards for a td, then Hofmeister booted an 18-yard field goal with 10:47 left to win the game ... Clarion posted 251 yards of offense including 141 rushing and 110 passing ... Dando completed 14 of 25 passes for 110 yards and 1 td, plus ran for 41 yards ... Pierre Odom had 7 catches for 53 yards ... the Eagles blocked 2 punts and 1 field goal attempt on the day ... SR’s Kniess had 92 yards and td on 20 carries ... Chad DeVore completed 8 of 27 passes for 161 and 1 td ... Tim Arthurs grabbed 3 passes for 107 yards and 1 td ... In 2002 Clarion lost a 21-14 game to Slippery Rock at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium... The Rock jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, then hung on to win... Clarion held SR to -18 rushing yards for the entire game on 34 carries ... In the second half Clarion outgained SR 137 to -3 yards, but Clarion just couldn’t overcome the first period deficit... Robert Walker ran for 58 yards and 1 td on 17 carries and Brandon Sweeney gained 53 on 8 tries... Adam Almashy completed 8 of 16 passes for 66yards... Clarion NG Troy Bowers had 12 tackles, 5 tfl’s and 2 sacks ... In 2001 at Clarion the Eagles lost 33-24 and outgained SR 455-267, had a 20-10 advantage in first downs and a time of possession advantage of 33:06 - 26:54... Clarion rushed for 318 yards including a single game Clarion record of 257 yards by Demetric Gardner ... Almashy hit on 8 of 19 passes for 137 yards and 1 td ... Slippery Rock got a big performance from Dorrian Glenn who gained 200 yards and 3 td’s on 28 carries ... His 44 yard td to open the game and 25 yard td run on fourth down to close the game were huge plays ... Clarion won at Slippery Rock in 1996 when the Eagles notched a 54-28 victory ... In that game the Eagles rushed for 407 yards ... Ron DeJidas ran for 231 yards and 2 td, plus caught a td pass ... Steve Witte also dashed for 143 yards and 2 td’s, grabbed 4 passes for 70 yards, and returned a kickoff 43-yards late in the game for a td ... Clarion had 577 yards in that game and SR had 453 for a combined total of 1,030 yards of total offense… In 1992’s 49-37 Clarion win at SR, the two teams combined for 1,036 yards, 86 points and 910 passing yards between the two teams … Clairon qb Tim Myers tossed a school record 6 td passes, including 3 to Marlon Worthy who caught 4 passes for 172 yards and 3 td’s, plus returned a punt 67-yards for a td… SR qb John Linhart passed for 502 yards and 4 td’s in a losing effort … Greg Hopkins caught 16 passes for 202 yards and 1 td on the day.