2006 FB Season Opener

CLARION TRAVELS TO TIFFIN (1-0) SATURDAY NIGHT

            The 2006 Clarion football season is ready to get underway Saturday night, September 2, when the Golden Eagles travel to Tiffin to take on the Dragons.

            Kickoff for the opener is set for 7pm at Tiffin’s Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

            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 BEGINS 1^ST YEAR AT CLARION

            Clarion starts the 2006 season with new head coach Jay Foster at the helm of the Golden Eagles. The 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.

TIFFIN 1-0/ RANKED #44 IN AFCA PRE-SEASON RANKINGS

            Tiffin, under fourth year head coach Nate Cole, has already charged out of the gate with a 58-32 win last Saturday night against Missouri-Rolla. The Dragons enter Saturday’s game with an 18-16 overall mark under Cole, including a quality 6-5 record last season. 2005 wins were against Butler (30-7), Alma (56-23), Central State (31-0), Seton Hill (72-0), Morehead State (17-14) and Gannon (30-23). Five losses were against Findlay (31-10), Dayton (38-0), Edinboro (42-7), St. Joseph’s (28-7), and Hillsdale (24-7).

CLARION LEADS OVERALL SERIES 2-0

            The series between the two schools has Clarion showing a 2-0 overall advantage. In 2000 Clarion posted a 40-3 win on the road at Frost-Kalnow Stadium, then in 2001 the Eagles returned to Memorial Stadium to defeat the Dragons 27-14.

OFFENSE RETURNS 7 STARTERS/QB SPOT STILL UP IN THE AIR

            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.

            Red-shirt freshman quarterback Mark Rupert, transfer Ryan Hart (Cochranton), and true freshman Tyler Huether (Penn Trafford) are all still battling for the starting qb spot.  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. Hart completed 8 of 20 passes last year at SR, while Huether passed for 5,607 yards and 46 td’s in his career. He completed 169 of 290 passes for 2,397 yards and 17 td’s as a senior.

RUNNING BACK SPOTS UP FOR GRABS

            The Eagles will use a number of tailbacks at Tiffin. 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 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. 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 play.

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.

JOHNSON/CLOPTON LEAD EXPLOSIVE TIFFIN OFFENSE

            In the season opener Tiffin rolled up an impressive 551 yards of total offense, including 406 rushing yards on 57 carries (7.1 p/c), plus completed 10 of 14 passing for 145 yards. In 2005 Tiffin averaged 24.3 points per game and 334.5 yards of total offense. In the breakdown Tiffin gained 246.7 rushing yards and 87.7 passing yards per contest.

            The Dragons are led at quarterback by the talented duo of junior Donnie Johnson and sophomore Matt Root. Johnson is an extremely athletic signal-caller. He completed 2 of 5 passes for 34 yards, but led the Dragons in rushing with 19 carries for 185 yards and 2 td’s. He scored on runs of 10 and 31 yards. In 2005 Johnson rushed for 618 yards and 7 td’s, and passed for 505 yards and 2 td’s (48 of 136). Root meanwhile rushed 9 times for 51 yards and 1 td, while completing 8 of 9 passes for 111 yards on Saturday night. Last year he passed for only 381 yards, but made them count with 7 td’s passes (31 of 76).

            Tiffin’s running game will feature senior Austin Clopton and sophomore Dan Barnes at tailback. Clopton gained 120 yards and 4 td’s on 20 carries against Missouri-Rolla in the opener, while Barnes tacked on 48 yards and 1 td on only 8 carries. Clopton rushed for 343 yards and 2 td’s in all of 2005.

            The receiving corps is also talented. Dyshaun Edwards grabbed 4 passes for 63 yards, Lamar Tipton clutched 3 for 37 yards and tight end Sean Ostrowski latched onto 2 passes for 31 yards. Ostrowski led all receivers in 2005 with 17 grabs for 145 yards and 2 td’s.

DRAGON DEFENSE LED BY ALL-AMERICAN LAWRENCE

            In 2005 Tiffin’s defense yielded 20.9 points per game and 305.8 yards of total offense per contest. The breakdown shows opponents getting 156.1 rushing yards and 149.7 passing yards per game.

            In the season opener the Dragons permitted 435 yards of total offense and 32 points. While the defense limited Rolla to 33 rushing yards, the opponent gained 402 passing yards, including completing 25 of 43 passes.

            Up front the Tiffin defense has Luke Seal and Nick Washington at the tackle spots, with Joe Crawford and Steven Davis on the ends. Crawford had 2 sacks and Davis 1 last Saturday night. Davis had 63 tackles and 9 tfl’s last season.

            The linebacking corps includes Stanley Davis, Steven Yarbrough, Mike Alexander and Tremayne Johnson. Johnson had 6 hits and 1 tfl on Saturday. Last season Yarbrough was second in tackles with 96 (7 tfl’s), Johnson collected 72, Alexander 49 and Davis 44 with 7 tfl’s.

            The secondary, and the defense for that matter, is spearheaded by safety Bryceson Lawrence. A pre-season All-American, he led the team last year with 104 stops, 4 int’s and 9 break-ups. In the opener he posted 6 tackles. He is joined in the secondary by veterans Troy Brookins and Chris Evans, along with Jackson Davis. Brookins posted 35 stops and 12 break-ups a year ago. On Saturday he had 5 tackles and an interception. Evans meanwhile contributed 3 tackles on Saturday and Davis posted 5 hits and 1 interception.

            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 a football record of 358-300-17 since 1926... In Clarion’s 40-3 win at Tiffin in 2000, Eagle qb Adam Almashy tossed 4 td’s passes completing 11 of 19 passes for 226 yards .... the Eagles had 486 yards of offense, 260 rushing and 226 passing... Tab Musser ran for 109 yards on 8 carries... Mike McCullum caught 4 passes for 69 yards and 2 td’s, while Demetric Gardner had 3 catches for 113 yards and 1 td... Tiffin gained 173 total yards including 38 rushing and 135 passing ... Joe Perchinske completed 19 of 25 for 115 yards.... In Clarion’s 27-14 win over Tiffin in 2001, Clarion outgained Tiffin 383-322... Tiffin scored first on a Perchinske 3-yard run in the first to go ahead 7-0... McCullum grabbed a 42-yard td pass from Almashy to tie the game and Glenn Lovelace raced 20 yards in the second for the go ahead score... Robert Walker and McCullum scored second half td’s while Tiffin scored with 10 seconds to go for the final of 27-14... Gardner gained 119 yards and 1 td on 22 carries ... Mike McCullum grabbed 5 passes for 113 yards and 2 td’s... Perchinske completed 18 of 30 for 222 yards and 1 td ... Ken Lockhart grabbed 6 passes for 92 yards and a future star, Nate Washington, who went to the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, caught 1 pass for 10 yards... Clarion will travel to Kutztown next week for a 6:05 start, before returning to Clarion for the home opener against West Chester on September 16^th at 6pm.