FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2001

CAL #6 in EAST REGION

CLARION HOSTS CAL IN PSAC-WEST SHOWDOWN

It's early in the year for showdown games in the PSAC-West, but when California visits Clarion on Saturday, October 7^th at 1pm, one thing is certain, there's a lot at stake.

Clarion fans can hear the game on WCCR-FM, 92.7, or on the internet at with Mike Kalinowski and Dave Katis providing the play call.

Clarion is coming off its top performance of 2001 after defeating #17 ranked Kutztown 36-7. The Golden Eagles are 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC-West. The Eagles lost at East Stroudsburg (33-27) and at NCAA Div.I-AA Youngstown State 44-0 to start the year, returned to Memorial Stadium to defeat Tiffin (27-14), lost in the final minute at Shippensburg (34-29) and knocked off Kutztown 36-7 last Saturday. Eighth year head coach Malen Luke is 39-42 at Clarion and 20-23 in the PSAC-West. He has a 14-year coaching record of 76-63.

California is off to a fast 4-0 start in 2001. Sixth year head coach Mike Kolakowski has led the Vulcans to wins over Geneva (28-6), Fairmont State (34-14), Mansfield (35-20) and Edinboro (34-24) last Saturday. Kolakowski has a record of 25-33 with the Vulcans.

California is looking to use the game as a springboard to the remainder of its PSAC-West schedule. Clarion is looking for the same affect after last Saturday's win over 17^th ranked Kutztown.

In 2000 Clarion came from behind in the final minute to notch a 32-28 win at California. The game catapulted the Eagles to a 5-1 record in its final six games and tie for the PSAC-West crown at 5-1.

"Cal is a well-coached, physical football team," said Clarion's Luke. "They have one of the top running backs in the nation in Wesley Cates and a solid offensive line. Defensively they are very aggressive. This should be a great football game for area football fans."

Clarion's offense is averaging 331 yards (10^th in PSAC) per game including 228 rushing yards (3^rd in PSAC) and 103 passing yards (13^th in PSAC) per game.

Junior qb Adam Almashy will direct the offense. He has completed 29 of 82 passes for 450 yards and 4 td's this season. He ran for 103 yards against Kutztown and now has 164 yards on 74 carries. In his career he has completed 246 of 551 aerials for 3,388 yards and 32 td's, and toted the pigskin 332 times for 543 yards and 8 td's.

The running game is potent behind halfbacks Robert Walker and Glenn Lovelace, along with fullback Demetric Gardner. Walker rushed for 4 td's against Kutztown on Saturday and now has 391 rushing yards and 9 td's on 49 caries. In his career he has 1,025 yards and 14 td's on 124 carries.

Lovelace has run for 180 yards and 1 td on 32 tries, while Gardner has rushed for 333 yards and 2 td's on 60 carries. Gardner now ranks 11^th in career rushing yards with 1,311 and 10 td's on 259 carries (5.1 p/c).

Catching passes will be wideouts Mike McCullum (13 catches, 238 yards, 2 td's) and Ed Rivers (4 grabs, 79 yards, 1 td), pus tight end Andy Pore (5 catches, 83 yards, 2 td's).

Clarion's defense is giving up 358.6 yards (10^th in PSAC) per game including 188.6 rushing yards (8^th in PSAC) and 170 passing yards (11^th in PSAC).

Up front the Eagles will be led by Doug Diegelman (25 hits, 7 tfl's, 4 sacks), George O'Brien (28 tackles, 6 tfl's), Tom Pore (24 jolts, 1 tfl) and Tim Connolly (13 stops, 2 tfl's).

The perimeters are guarded by Chris Janson (45 hits, 6 tfl's, 3 sacks) and Kevin Platz (22 tackles, 5 tfl's), with inside linebackers Tom Gaydosz (16 tackles, 2 sacks), Scott McGrady (14 hits) and Dennis Yu (23 stops, 3 tfl's, 3 fumbles caused) ready for action.

The secondary has Myron Hargon (13 tackles, 3 break-ups), Kevin McKeither (1 int) and Emil Johnson (32 tackles) at the corners, with Steve Devennie (10 hits), Jabari Weatherspoon (18 tackles) and Korey Eppinette (36 stops, 1 int) at the safeties.

Cal's offense is getting 379.5 yards per game (4^th in PSAC), including the top running game in the PSAC and the #3 ranked running game in the NCAA with 287.5 yards per game, along with 92 passing yards per game (14^th in PSAC). Cal is also averaging 32 points per game (#2 in the PSAC).

Cal qb Brandon LeDonne has completed 29 of 59 passes for 357 yards and 1 td. He is Cal's #2 rusher with 232 yards and 3 td's on 40 carries.

The Vulcan offense is spearheaded by All-America tailback Wesley Cates. He currently is the #3 rusher in Division II and the top runner in the PSAC. He is averaging 168 yards per game with 672 yards and 9 td's on 105 carries. In his career Cates has rushed for 4,646 career yards and 51 career td's on 765 carries. He is 4 td's short of the PSAC record of 55 held by Irvin Sigler of Bloomsburg (94-97), and 459 yards short of Sigler's PSAC record of 5,105 rushing yards.

Also toting the ball will be fullback Scot Schrenker, who has 38 carries for 177 yards and 1 td.

Top pass catchers include Clint Alexander (8 catches, 102 yards) and Antwon Allen (8 receptions, 82 yards).

California's defense is giving up 337.8 yards (7^th in PSAC) per game including 91.3 rushing yards (2^nd in PSAC) and 246.5 passing yards (14^th in PSAC).

Leading the way up front are nose tackle Chris McKnight (9 hits), ends Dan Smith (1 tfl) and Al Surman 1.5 sacks), plus tackle Ernest Genes (3 tfl's, 1.5 sacks).

Strong linebacking play has Jim Lukacs (41 hits, 4 tfl's) leading the way, with Matt Onyshko (27 stops, 3 sacks) and Kevan Scott (25 jolts, 5 tfl's) anchoring the middle.

The secondary features Yadin Collins (24 tackles, 5 tfl's) at strong safety and Jamal Colbert (32 hits) at free safety, with R. J. Abercrombie (25 tackles, 1 int) and Jon Arnold (2 int's) at the corners.

CLARION NOTES: Dating back to 1927, Clarion leads the overall series 35-32-3 ... Clarion has won the last two games including a 32-28 decision last year and 28-14 in 1999... Cal defeated Clarion 30-28 in 1998 ... Clarion has won 6 of the last 10 games played in the series ... In last year's game 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... Cates rushed for a game high 182 yards and 2 td's on 26 carries last year ... In 1999 Cates rushed 15 times for 83 yards and 1 td, and in 1998 he had 13 rushes for 44 yards... That adds to 309 yards and 3 td's on 54 carries... Clarion travels to Edinboro next Saturday for a 2pm start.