2006 Clarion Football

GOLDEN EAGLES HOST WEST CHESTER SATURDAY NIGHT

            Sporting an 0-2 road record to start the 2006 season, Clarion’s football team prepares for the home opener this Saturday night, September 16^th, against the always tough West Chester Golden Rams.

            Kickoff at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium is set for 6pm in a game that will also serve as the annual Family Day celebration.

            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 and Pat Kahle describing the action.

 FOSTER IN HIS 1^ST YEAR AT CLARION

            Clarion is 0-2 under first year head coach Jay Foster, after losing its opening two games of the season on the road. The 2006 season started at Tiffin with the Dragons posting a 21-13 win. Last Saturday at Kutztown, the Golden Bears defeated Clarion 27-10. First year head coach is certainly no stranger to PSAC and 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, 3 NCAA Div. II Playoff appearances and four straight PSAC-West crowns (1997-2000). A native of Berwick, Maine, Foster is a 1985 graduate of Plymouth State, coached two seasons under Danny Hale at West Chester before going to Slippery Rock.

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.

WEST CHESTER 0-2 AFTER TWO LOSSES AGAINST TOP TEAMS

            West Chester also enters the game on Saturday with an 0-2 overall record. The Golden Rams lost their season opener to Edinboro by a 28-14 margin, then traveled to talented Div.I-AA Delaware and lost by a final score of 30-7. The Rams are led by fourth year head coach Bill Zwaan, who has had tremendous success at West Chester. Last year the Rams were 8-4 overall, placed second in the PSAC-East and lost in the first round of the NCAA D-II Playoffs to C.W. Post 24-20. West Chester=s 2004 season was a complete success. The Rams were 11-3 overall, won the PSAC-East title with a 6-0 mark, The Northeast Region Championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Valdosta State 45-21. Zwaan is 27-13 at West Chester entering Saturday’s game. Zwaan came to WC from Widener where in the previous six seasons he compiled an impressive record of 54-14 and took Widener to the NCAA Division III Playoffs the last three seasons and the Division III Semi=s in 2000.

WEST CHESTER LEADS OVERALL SERIES 15-3

The series between the two schools has West Chester leading 16-3 in games dating back to 1960. West Chester won that first game in 1960 by a 49-14 margin. Clarion defeated West Chester in 1966 in the PSAC Championship game 28-26, then lost to the Rams the next season 27-7 again in the PSAC title game. Clarion defeated West Chester in 2000 (28-21) and in 2002 (34-28). West Chester has won the last three games including a 35-17 win in 2003, a 20-17 victory at Memorial Stadium in 2004 and a 43-14 win at West Chester to open last season.

CLARION RUNNING GAME LOOKS POTENT

            The Clarion offense has rushed 355 yards in its first two games for an average of 177.5 (4^th in PSAC), while averaging 81.5 passing yards per game(12^th in PSAC). Clarion is getting 259 yards of offense per game which averages 9^th in the PSAC.

RUPERT & EMANUEL LEAD CLARION OFFENSE

            Red-shirt freshman quarterback Mark Rupert (Knoch) will make his third start of 2006. He has completed 14 of 48 passes for 152 yards and 2 td’s, while also rushing for 68 yards and 1 td. He will be backed up by true freshman Tyler Huether (Penn Trafford) and transfer Ryan Hart (Cochranton).

            Junior tailback Eddie Emanuel (Hempstead, N.Y.) ranks third in rushing in the PSAC with 112 yards per game. He has 45 carries for 224 yards, good for a 5.0 yard per carry average. Also ready to run will be junior Dan Grazier (17 yards - Tyrone) and freshman Randy Mengel (Asheville, N.C.). The fullback position will be manned by either Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) or Keith Gruber (Baltimore, Md.), both juniors.

BROWN & ODOM LEAD TALENTED RECEIVERS

            The receiving corps has talent with junior transfer Clint Brown (Hyannis, Mass.) and 2004 starter Pierre Odom (Jr. Trenton, N.J.). Brown has caught 3 passes for 21 yards, but also has 6 kick returns for 146 yards and a 32-yard rush. Odom leads the team with 7 catches for 82 yards and 1 td. Odom grabbed 33 passes for 418 yards and 3 td’s in 2004 and currently has 69 career grabs for 866yards and 6 td’s.

Also ready for action at receiver are Jewell Stephens (Sr. Penn Hills), Dane Williams (So. Penn Hills) and Herb Carraway (Jr. Darlington, S.C.). Williams has 2 catches for 29 yards and 1 td.

            The tight end position will have sophomore Matt Foradora (Falls Creek/Brockway), senior John Dominic (Hubbard, Oh.) and freshman Jason Glass (Greensburg C.C.) ready to play. Foradora has 3 grabs for 31 yards.

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. Akron, 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 7^TH IN PSAC IN TOTAL DEFENSE

            Clarion’s defense ranks 7^th in the PSAC in total defense through two games yielding 297.5 yards of offense per game. Opponents are getting 106 rushing yards (6^th in PSAC) and 191.5 passing yards (12^th in PSAC) per game.

            Clarion has 11 tfl’s in two games. The Clarion’s defense 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.

SIMMONS & GILES LEAD BATTLE UP FRONT

            Clarion’s front defensive wall will be led by returning starters Jimmy Simmons (Jr. Huntland, Tenn.) and Corey Giles (So. Cochranton ). Simmons has 9 tackles and 5 tfl’s in two games, while Giles has 1 stop. Also ready up front are Rich McCune (Slippery Rock – Laurel), Kyle Cathcart (Clarion), Steve Baisey (Fr. Gaithersburg, Md.), Kory Kusick (Fr. East Brady - Karns City) and Nate Griffin (San Antonio, Tx.). McCune has 11 hits, with Cathcart 3 tackles and 1 tf, Kusick 1 sack.

MORRIS, GOURLEY & RIGBY TOUGH MIDDLE TANDEM

            The middle has three talented senior linebackers to anchor the defense. Matt Morris (Boiling Springs), a 2005 Third team Football Gazette All-American, leads the team with 16 tackles, 2 tfl’s and 2 break-ups. He now has 265 career tackles and 47 tfl’s. He is joined by seniors Zach Gourley (McIntyre) and Kevin Rigby (Cortland, Oh.). Gourley is second on the team with 15 tackles, while Rigby, a third team All-Region selection in 2004, has 10 tackles. Gourley has totaled 185 career stops & 25 tfl’s), Rigby

141 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) and Quintyn Brazil (So. Pgh - Oliver). Woodard has 8 tackles this year and 134 career tackles, 6 interceptions and 20 break-ups. Brazil missed last week but had 2 stops and 1 break up versus Tiffin. 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. Yonish, a two-year letterwinner at quarterback has moved to safety and has 4 tackles this year, while Schreppel has 13 stops.

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, is back in the groove after booting a 22-yard field goal at Kutztown. He made a 46-yarder against West Chester. All-PSAC punter Nick Perla (So. Irwin - Penn Trafford) returns to boot the pigskin. Perla is averaging 34.8 per boot and 38.4 yards per boot last year.

POTENT RAM OFFENSE HAS OSUNDE, STEINMETZ & WASHINGTON

            West Chester is expected to have a very explosive offense in 2006. Thus far the Rams are averaging 264.5 yards (8^th in PSAC) of total offense per game, including 103 rushing yards (8^th in PSAC) and 161.5 passing yards (9^th in PSAC).

            Expected to call the signals this week is quarterback Bill Zwaan, with starter Matt Burdalski (13 of 24, 170 yards, 1 td) likely out with an injury. Zwaan has completed 17 of 34 passes for 137 yards and 1 td. No stranger to the starter’s role, Zwaan connected on 69 of 125 aerials for 1215 yards and 15 td’s last season.

            The running game, which has yet to get untracked, has two outstanding tailbacks. Osagie Osunde has rushed 29 times for 97 yards in 2006. Last year he played in three games and rushed for 356 yards and 3 td’s before getting hurt for the remainder of the season. He had a breakout year in 2004 when he rushed for 1,151 yards and 17 td’s. Also waiting in the wings is Brent Steinmetz, who has carried 9 times for 45 yards. Last year Steinmetz carried the load after Osunde went down. Steinmetz gained 1,188 yards and 14 td’s on the ground alone.

            The passing game features Mike Washington, Eric Ruffenbauch and James Etheridge. Washington has latched onto 10 passes for 150 yards and 2 td’s. Last year he led the team with an amazing 47 catches for 1,185 yards and 15 td’s. In his first college game against Clarion he caught 7 passes for 242 yards and 5 td’s.

GOLDEN RAM DEFENSE PLAYING WELL IN 2006

The West Chester defense is ranked 8^th in total defense in the PSAC giving up 316 yards per game against two quality opponents. The Rams are yielding 190 rushing yards (11^th in the PSAC) and 126 passing yards (4^th in PSAC).

Up front the Rams are led by tackle Shawn Bealla (2 tackles) and ends Michael Walter (8 jolts) and David Montgomey (8 hits, 1 sack).

The linebackers are very strong with inside backers Lateef Ferguson (16 jolts, 2 tfl’s) and Chris Tagye (7 tackles), along with outside linebackers Jimmy Lewis (12 stops, 2 tfl’s) and T.J. Cascio (14 tackles).

The secondary has top tackler Mike Mignogno (18 tackles) at free safety, with Anthony Belasco (9 hits) at strong safety. The corners will be Rashad Grimsley (1 int) and Anthony Gallup (11 stops).