CLARION HOSTS CAL SATURDAY ON “SENIOR DAY”
Clarion closes the 2006 home football season on Saturday, November 4, when the Golden Eagles host California at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for the game that will also serve as “Senior Day” at Clarion is set for 1pm.
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.
8 GOLDEN EAGLES HONORED ON SENIOR DAY
Eight Clarion seniors will play their last home game at Memorial Stadium. Those seniors include in alpha order SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Eric Deliere - OC, 6-2, 305, Washington, McGuffey HS; Zach Gourley - LB, 6-0, 220, McIntyre, Apollo Ridge HS; Matt Morris - LB, 6-1, 215, Boiling Springs, Boiling Springs HS; Kevin Rigby - OLB, 6-2, 210, Cortland, Oh., Lakeview HS; Kyle Snoke - P/PK, 6-0, 180, Harbor Creek, Cathedral Prep HS; Zack Snyder - OC, 6-5, 310, Akron, Oh., St. Vincent/St. Mary HS; Jewell Stephens - WR, 6-0, 180, Penn Hills, Penn Hills HS; and Dwaon Woodard - DB, 5-10, 170, Erie, Central HS. They will be honored in pre-game ceremonies.
FOSTER IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT CLARION
Clarion is 1-8 overall and 0-4 in the PSAC-West entering Saturday’s game. The Golden Eagles lost a 14-7 game at Lock Haven last Saturday. Two weeks ago the Eagles lost 13-0 to Edinboro, and three weeks ago led East Region #7 ranked IUP 7-6 at halftime before bowing 33-7. Clarion’s win came on Homecoming Day in defeating Cheyney 21-18. 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 (#2 in East Region) and led the Huskies 10-7 at halftime before losing in the fourth quarter 24-10. Clarion lost the PSAC-West opener to Slippery Rock by a 31-7 margin.
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.
#6 CALIFORNIA 7-2/4-0; LED BY COACH JOHN LUCKHARDT
The Vulcans enter the game with a 7-2 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the PSAC-West. Cal opened the season with a 26-9 win over Fairmont State, lost at Bloomsburg 24-19, defeated Cheyney 43-8 and lost at East Stroudsburg 41-34. Since the ESU loss Cal has run off five impressive wins over Lock Haven (51-7), Edinboro (10-0), Slippery Rock (24-14), Millersville (41-0) and Shippensburg (35-20).
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 Head coach John Luckhardt is in his fifth season at Cal and has an overall record at Cal of 31-20. Coach Luckhardt had a great 17-year career at NCAA Division III Washington & Jefferson (1982-98) before being hired at Cal. He led W&J to a 137-37-2 record while winning 13 PAC titles, 5 Regional Championships and 11 NCAA appearances. W&J also was the D-III runner-up in 1992 and 1994. Luckhardt’s 22-year career record currently stands at 168-57-2.
CLARION LEADS SERIES 38-34-3 DATING BACK TO 1927
Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 38-34-3 margin dating back to 1927. In the last 11 seasons Clarion leads by a 7-4 margin and has won the last four of the last six meetings. Clarion wins over that span came in 1995 (20-10), 1996 (45-14), 1999 (28-14), 2000 (32-28), 2001 (29-22), 2002 (31-6) and 35-34 in 2004. Cal wins came in 1997 (30-0), 1998 (30-28), 2003 (13-7) and last year 43-7. Clarion’s win two years ago came on the game’s final play when Eagle qb Brandon Dando heaved a 47-yard “Hail Mary” pass that was successful to wide receiver Joe Farkas.
CLARION #11 IN TOTAL OFFENSE IN PSAC
The Golden Eagles are getting 252.9 (#11 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game in 2006. Clarion is getting 120.7 rushing yards (#10 in PSAC) and 132.2 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.
HUETHER CALLING THE SIGNALS
The Golden Eagles will start true freshman Tyler Huether (Fr. Penn Trafford) for the fourth straight week. In 2006 he has connected on 41 of 103 passes for 531 yards and 3 td’s. the backup is red-shirt freshman Mark Rupert (Knoch). Rupert owns a 302 yard, 2 td performance against West Chester. This season he has completed 43 of 108 passes for 647 yards and 5 td’s.
The running game is spearheaded by junior Eddie Emanuel (Hempstead, N.Y.). Emanuel had a career high 170 yards versus SR and also went for 150 against Cheyney. He has 164 rushes for 823 yards and 3 td’s, plus caught 3 passes for 18 yards. Also running is Keith Gruber (Jr. Baltimore, Md.; 16 carries, 59 yards). The fullback position is manned by Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) .
ODOM LEADS CLARION RECEIVERS
Junior wideout Pierre Odom (Trenton, N.J.) heads the 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 39 catches for 692 yards and 3 td’s this season and 100 career catches for 1,376 yards and 8 td’s. Also ready to latch onto the pigskin are Dane Williams (So. Penn Hills – 6 catches, 52 yards, 1 td) and Herb Carraway (Jr. Darlington, S.C.; 10 catches, 148 yards). Clarion also has tight ends Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek, Brockway; 17 catches, 216 yards, 4 td’s) and Jason Glass (Fr. Greensburg C.C.; 2 catches, 19 yards).
CLARION DEFENSE PREPARES FOR CAL
Clarion’s defense hopes to be ready for the talented Vulcans. Clarion is giving up 320.2 yards per game (#8 in PSAC) including 152.2 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 168 passing yards (#6 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 57 total tackles, including a team-leading 23 tfl’s. Also strong up front are Jim McHale (So. Cortland, Oh – 15 stops, 2 tfl’s), Corey Giles (So. Cochranton- 12 hits, 1 tfl), Rich McCune (Slippery Rock – Laurel; 25 tackles, 2 tfl’s), Kyle Cathcart (Jr. Clarion – 25 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 leads the team with 75 stops, 7 tfl’s, 3 break-ups this season and 1 interception. He now has 324 career stops and 52 tfl’s. Guarding the outside are Zach Gourley (Sr. McIntyre – Apollo Ridge) and Kevin Rigby (Sr. Cortland, Oh.). Gourley is second on the tackle chart with 72 hits and 7 tfl’s, while Rigby has managed 64 stops, 8 tfl’s, 2 int. Gourley has 242 career tackles and 31 tfl’s, while Rigby has 195 career stops and 21 tfl’s. Also set to see time will be Colin McDonough (Fr. State College, 13 jolts, 1 tfl) and Josh Rytel (Fr. Beaver Falls-Blackhawk; 9 stops, 1 tfl).
WOODARD & BRAZIL LEAD SECONDARY
Anchoring the secondary will be corners Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie- Central) and Quintin Brazil (So. Pgh. Oliver). Woodard has 29 tackles this year and 4 int’s, and in his career has 155 career tackles, 10
int’s and 24 break-ups. Woodard had 3 int’s against Cheyney, including a 54-yard return for a touchdown. Brazil has 26 stops and 1 int. this season. The safeties include Tom Schreppel (So. Shenandoah; 35 jolts) and Erik Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park; 43 tackles. 2 int.).
CAL #1 IN PSAC IN TOTAL OFFENSE
California has a potent offense ranking #1 in total offense while getting 425.9 yards per game. The Vulcans also average 31.4 points per game. Cal is #1 in rushing offense at 203.6 per game and #3 in the PSAC in passing with 222.3 yards per game.
Directing the offense is talented quarterback Joe Ruggiero. He has hit on 149 of 223 passes (66.8%) for 1,722 yards and 14 td’s with only 5 interceptions.
The receiving corps is extremely talented with Marc Huddleston (46 catches, 509 yards, 6 td’s), Nate Forse (41 grabs, 621 yards, 2 td’s), Brandon Jackson (29 receptions, 447 yards, 6 td’s) and Perry Ivery (16 catches, 155 yards) all latching onto the pigskin.
The running game is led by the PSAC’s #2 runner Brandon Lombardy, who has gained 1,236 yards and 13 td’s on 203 carries. Lombardy averages 6.1 yards per carry. Steffan Brinson has 319 yards and 2 td’s on the ground.
CAL #2 in PSAC IN TOTAL DEFENSE
California’s defense is #2 in total defense in the PSAC yielding only 254.3 yards per game and also ranks #3 in scoring defense giving up 13.7 points per game. The “D” is #1 in rushing defense yielding only 61.7 yards per game, while #11 in pass defense giving up 192.7 yards per game.
Up front nose tackle Avery Goode (11 hits), tackle Willie Walker (25 tackles, 6 tfl’s) and end Kirvy Griffin (29 jolts, 11 tfl’s) anchor the line.
The linebackers are led in the middle by top tackler Josh Zunic (63 hits, 9 tfl’s) and Brian Mohr (57 tackles). Guarding the outside are Mike Dodson (28 stops) and Darren Burns (34 tackles).
The secondary is led by strong safety Josh Kemp (25 hits, 5 int’s) and free safety Jermaine Moye (37 tackles), along with corners Chris Glass (20 jolts) and Travis Williams (10 stops).
CLARION NOTES: Clarion wide receiver Pierre Odom joined the 100 catch club at Clarion … He is only the 12th player in Eagle history to reach 100 catches… Next at 108 catches are fomer tight end Rick Terza (108 catches, 1968-70) and Bob Betts (108 catches, 1978-81)… Alvin Slaughter leads the category with 195 catches (1995-98)… Odom’s 1,376 yards currently ranks 12th in school history … He passed Russ Ford (1,306 yards, 1983-86), current North Allegheny head football coach Art Walker who had 1,316 receiving yards from 1988-91, and Bob Green (1,322; 1982-84) … Next is Rick Terza at 1,459 yards … Last year’s game saw Cal jump out to a 43-0 halftime lead and defeat Clarion 43-7 … Antoine Bagwell rushed for 204 yard and 4 td’s to lead Cal … SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1In 2004 when Clarion won 35-34 on the final play, Clarion outgained Cal 448-442... Cal led 7-6 at halftime, but the two teams combined for 56 second half points ... Clarion scored two td’s in the final 1:13... Dando scored on a 2-yard run with 1:13 left, the “D” held on three downs, then the “O” took over at the Clarion 44 with 19-seconds left... Dando hit Pierre Odom for 9-yards to the Cal 47 setting up the game-wining td pass... Clarion had 222 rushing yards and 226 passing yards ... qb Brandon Dando completed 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards and 1 td ... Glenn Lovelace rushed for 164 yards and 2 td’s on 23 carries ... Joe Farkas had 5 grabs for 81 yards and 1 td ... Cal rushed for 170 yards and passed for 272 ... Bagwell gained 191 yards and 2 td’s on 21 attempts ... Ruggiero was 1 for 3 for -2 yards before suffering a season ending injury ... Matt Humbert completed 15 of 27 passes for 274 yards and 2 td’s ... Marc Huddleston had 8 catches for 92 yards, while Claude Whitacre had 5 catches for 148 yards and 2 td’s ... In 2003 at Cal’s Adamson Stadium the Vulcans rallied in the fourth quarter for a 13-7 win over Clarion ... Wes Clemons scored on a 2-yard run with 11:09 left to win the game ... Clarion outgained Cal 316-160 and outrushed Cal 250-60, but 3 lost fumbles and an interception that spelled defeat for Clarion ... Brandon Dando had his first collegiate start and rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries, and completed 9 of 22 for 66 yards... QB John Aitken was 10 of 24 for 100 yards... In 2002 Clarion rushed for 265 yards, outgained Cal 351-136 and held the ball for 39:07 in the 31-6 win over Cal... Brandon Sweeney blocked a punt in the second quarter that teammate Brandon Whitman caught in mid-air and returned 5 yards for a td to give Clarion a 14-6 halftime lead... Clarion added 17 unanswered second half points ... Robert Walker rushed for 169 yards and 2 td’s on 27 carries... Adam Almashy hit 5 of 14 passes for 86 yards and 1 td... Cal’s Wesley Clemons gained 35 yards on 12 carries... QB Brandon LeDonne completed 3 of 26 passes for 81 yards... Four years ago (2001) Clarion topped the Vulcans 29-22 at Memorial Stadium ... The Eagles rallied from a 22-14 halftime deficit with a third quarter td from Glenn Lovelace and a 2-yard run in the fourth from Demetric Gardner with 9:01 left... Clarion outgained Cal 362-292 ... Adam Almashy ran for 120 yards and 2 td’s and completed 2 of 9 passes for 52 yards ... Cal QB LeDonne completed 7 of 20 passes for 80 yards, while Strayer came on and was 2 for 2 for 78 yards and 1 td... In 2000 at Cal the Eagles won 32-28... Clarion had 422 yards to Cal’s 350 ... Almashy completed 11 of 24 passes for 177 yards ... Mike McCullum grabbed 4 for 104, including a 75-yarder to the Cal 16 with about one minute to play, setting up Almashy’s game-winning 2-yard run with 46-seconds left... Clarion’s defense caused a critical Cal fumble in that game at the Clarion 6 yard line prior to the game-winning td drive... Dennis Yu recovered the fumble with 1:50 remaining in the game ... Cal All-America running back Wesley Cates rushed for a game high 182 yards and 2 td’s on 26 carries… Clarion finishes its season at Shippensburg on November 11th … Kickoff 1pm.