FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10, 2001

"Family Day" Game

CLARION GRIDDERS HOST TIFFIN SATURDAY AT 2PM

After two weeks on the road, the Golden Eagles are looking forward to returning to Clarion to open the home season at the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. Clarion battles Tiffin (Ohio) this Saturday, September 15^th, in the annual "Family Day" game. Kickoff is set for 2pm.

Clarion enters the game with an 0-2 overall record after losing in the final minutes to East Stroudsburg 33-27, and then dropped a 44-0 decision at NCAA Div. I-AA #5 ranked Youngstown State on Saturday night. Eighth year head coach Malen Luke enters the game with a 37-41 record at Clarion and a 14-year collegiate record of 74-62.

Tiffin, under third year head coach Cam Cruickshank, also enters the game with an 0-2 mark having dropped a 47-7 decision at Gannon and last Saturday a 45-13 loss at Slippery Rock. In the SRU game Tiffin had a 13-10 halftime lead before the Rockets exploded for 28 unanswered third quarter points to blow the game open. Cruickshank has a three year record of 11-13 and posted a 5-6 record last year.

The Golden Eagles are hoping to use the 2000 season as a road map now for 2001. Last year Clarion lost their opener in the final minute to East Stroudsburg, lost at New Haven, then won 7 of their final nine games and a share of the PSAC-West title with a 5-1 league mark. It all started with a 40-3 win over Tiffin in game three last year.

Clarion's offense is averaging 188 rushing yards and 80 passing yards for a total offense of 268 yards per game.

Directing the offense will be junior qb Adam Almashy. He has completed 13 of 46 passes for 158 yards and 1 td with 3 interceptions. He has also run the pigskin 32 times for 23 yards. He has connected on 230 career passes in 515 attempts for 3,096 yards and 29 td's.

Almashy's favorite targets are wideout Mike McCullum (4 catches, 50 yards) and tight end Andy Pore (3 catches, 44 yards, 1 td).

The running game will be paced by halfbacks Robert Walker and Justin Sickeri, with fullback Demetric Gardner. Gardner leads the team with 23 carries for 139 yards and 1 td. He now has 222 career carries for 1,117

yards and 8 td's. Walker, meanwhile has 16 carries for 123 yards and 2 td's and Sickeri 6 rushes for 38 yards.

Clarion's defense is yielding 323 rushing yards and 145 passing yards for a total offense allowed of 468.5 yards and 38.5 points per game.

Leading the way up front will be tackles Doug Diegelman (10 stops, 1 tfl), George O'Brien (13 hits, 4 tfl's), Tim Connolly (7 hits, 1 sack) and Dusty Washell.

On the outside the Eagles will have Kevin Platz (14 stops, 3 tfl's, 2 fumble recoveries) and Chris Janson (21 jolts, 1 tfl) to guard the perimeters.

Inside linebackers Scott McGrady (10 tackles, 1 sack), Tom Pore (11 hits), Dennis Yu (8 stops) and Tom Gaydosz (7 tackles, 1 tfl) anchor the defense.

The secondary will be led by corners Myron Hargon (2 hits, 1 break up), Emil Johnson (8 jolts) and Kevin McKeither (2 tackles), along with safeties Steve Devennie ( 5 stops), Jabari Weatherspoon (6 jolts) and Korey Eppinette (16 tackles, 2 beak-ups).

Tiffin's offense is getting 101.5 rushing yards and 178.5 passing yards for a total offense of 280 yards per game.

Veteran qb Joe Perchinske will call the signals. He has completed 35 of 77 passes for 323 yards and 2 td's with 5 interceptions.

Looking to grab Perchinske's aerials are talented wideouts Kenny Lockhart (9 catches, 121 yards,2 td's) and Jeremy Marinis (9 grabs, 77 yards).

The running game is led by tailbacks Nii Hammond (30 rushes, 139 yards) and Earl Haynes (13 carries, 51 yards).

Tiffin's defense is giving up a whopping 555.5 yards of total offense per game. Opponents are rushing for 443.5 yards and passing for 112 yards, while scoring at an average of 46 points per game.

Up front noseguard Eric Baugher (9 hits, 2 tfl's) and tackles Joe Hunt (8 tackles) and Aaron Short (5 stops, 2 tfl's) anchor the forward wall.

Inside linebackers Kris Waechter and Darrell Welch are the mainstays. Waechter has 9 stops and 3 tfl's, while Welch leads the team with 16 hits and 2 fumble recoveries. The oustide is manned by George Brown (10 hits, 2 tfl's) and Garrett Padgett (11 tackles).

The secondary has Kenny Whiting (7 stops) and C.J. Dennison (3 hits) at the corners with Drew Spencer (13 stops) at strong safety and Josh Peterson (10 tackles, 4 tfl's, 1 int) at free safety.

CLARION NOTES: In Clarion's 40-3 win at Tiffin a year ago, the Eagles led 14-3 at halftime and then had 3 third quarter td's and a 4^th quarter touchdown to seal the win... QB Adam Almashy clicked on 11 of 19 passes for 226 yards and 4 td's... Those td passes were 23 and 6 yards to Mike McCullum, 27 yards to Cori Johnson and 85 yards to Demetric Gardner... Clarion rushed for 260 yards, led by Tab Musser's 109 yards on 8 tries... Walker had 40 yards and 1 td, with Sickeri 36 yards and Gardner 33 and 1 td rushing... Perchinske completed 19 of 25 passes for 115 yards... Lockhart caught 2 passes for 27 yards... Clarion opens PSAC-West play at Shipppensburg on September 22^nd at 1pm, then returns home to host Kutztown on Homecoming on September 29^th at 2pm... Tiffin had 304 offensive yards against SR last Saturday... Hammon gained 110 yards on 22 carries... Perchinske was 12 of 31 for 122 yards, 1 td, 2 int's .... Lockhart grabbed 7 passes for 79 yards and 1 td... Dorrian Glenn gained 238 and 2 td's on 20 carries for SRU.