The Golden Eagle football team will bring the 2001 season to an end this Saturday, November 10^th, as Clarion travels to West Chester in the gridiron finale. Kickoff at John A. Farrell Stadium is set for 1:30pm.

Clarion fans can hear the game on WCCR-FM, 92.7, or on the internet with Mike Kalinowski and Dave Katis providing the play call. The internet broadcast is available at www.redzonemedia.com

Clarion enters the game with a 4-6 overall record and finished the PSAC-West with a 2-4 mark. Clarion opened 2001 with two road losses at East Stroudsburg (33-27) and at NCAA Div. I-AA Youngstown State (44-0). The Golden Eagles returned home to defeat Tiffin 27-14, lost at Shippensburg 34-29, and then returned home to defeat Kutztown 36-7 and California 29-22. The Eagles lsot 24-12 at Edinboro, returned home and lost two tough decisions to Slippery Rock 33-24 and Indiana (IUP) 35-34 in overtime, before posting a 13-0 shutout win at Lock Haven last Saturday. Head coach Malen Luke is in his eighth year at Clarion and has an overall record of 41-45. His 14-year collegiate record stands at 78-66.

West Chester enters the game with a 4-4 overall record and finished the PSAC-East with a 3-3 slate. After starting the season with three straight losses, the Golden Rams have won four of their last five games. West Chester opened 2001 with a 23-28 loss at New Haven, a 28-9 loss at East Stroudsburg and a 27-14 loss at Bloomsburg. After defeating Mansfield 14-7 in overtime, the Rams lost a 26-25 decision to Kutztown, defeated Millersville 24-21 in overtime, won 30-26 at Edinboro and defeated Cheyney 57-34 last Saturday. Head coach Rick Daniels is in his 13^th season leading the Rams and has posted an overall record of 80-57-1.

West Chester leads the series between the two schools by a 12-2 margin. Clarion won last year’s game at Memorial Stadium 28-21 and won the PSAC title game in 1966 by a 28-26 margin. The Rams won at West Chester 62-20 in 1999 and at Clarion 44-40 in 1998. Clarion has never won at West Chester.

Clarion’s offense has had a very solid 2001 season. The Golden Eagles are getting 362.3 yards of offense per game (5^th in PSAC) including 249 rushing yards (2^nd in PSAC; 11^th in NCAA) and 113.3 passing yards (12^th in PSAC).

Junior qb Adam Almashy directs the Eagle offense. He has completed 71 of 185 passes for 1,068 yards and 7 td’s, while running for 476 yards and 4 td’s on 146 carries. In his career he now has completed 288 of 654 passes for 4,006 yards and 35 td’s. He also has 855 career rushing yards and 12 td’s on 404 carries. He needs 145 yards on Saturday to become the only Clarion qb to run for 1,000 career yards.

The running game is led by tailback Demetric Gardner and halfbacks Robert Walker, Glenn Lovelace and Ben Culver. Gardner is having a top individual season rushing for 905 yards and 7 td’s on 156 carries. He can become the third Clarion running back to gain 1,000 yards in a season. Only Steve Witte (1,352 in 1996), Ron DeJidas (1,231 in 1996) and Elton Brown (1,214 in 1983) have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season at Clarion. Gardner also has 1,883 career rushing yards and 14 td’s on 355 carries (5.3 p/c).

Walker has collected 485 rushing yards this season and leads the team with 10 rushing td’s on 90 carries. He now has 1,119 career rushing yards and 15 rushing td’s on 165 attempts (6.8 p/c). Lovelace has contributed 376 yards and 3 td’s on 74 carries, while Culver has 122 yards on 18 carries, grabbed 6 passes for 113 yards and 1 td, has 16 punt returns for 172 yards and 17 kickoff returns for 362 yards.

The Eagle receiving corps will be led by Mike McCullum (25 catches, 428 yards, 4 td’s), Ed Rivers (7 catches, 112 yards, 1 td) and Andy Pore (10 catches, 205 yards, 2 td’s).

Clarion’s defense posted its first shutout of the season against Lock Haven on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are giving up 313.2 yards of offense per game (7^th in PSAC) including 160.8 rushing yards (6^th in PSAC) and 152.4 passing yards (6^th in PSAC).

Up front the Eagles are led by noseguard Doug Diegelman (50 jolts, 15 tfl’s, 7 sacks), George O’Brien (41 stops, 9 tfl’s) and Tom Pore (44 tackles, 7 tfl’s).

The perimeters are guarded by Chris Janson and Kevin Platz. Janson is having an outstanding season with 90 tackles, 17 tfl’s, 9 qb sacks, 3 fumbles caused, 3 fumble recoveries and 3 broken-up passes. Platz meanwhile has 37 hits, 11 tfl’s and 4 qb sacks.

The inside linebacking tandem of Dennis Yu (57 stops, 3 fumbles caused), Tom Gaydosz (38 tackles, 8 tfl’s, 4 sacks) and Scott McGrady (36 jolts, 2 sacks) are ready in the middle.

The secondary features corners Myron Hargon (22 tackles, 4 int’s), Kevin McKeither (8 break-ups) and Jhermel Goss (24 stops, 7 break-ups) and safeties Korey Eppinette (76 tackles, 2 int’s), Emil Johnson (57 stops) Jabari Weatherspoon (23 tackles) and Steve Devennie (18 hits).

West Chester’s offense has been very potent in 2001. The Golden Rams are averaging 419.5 yards of offense per game (2^nd in PSAC), including 209 rushing yards (5^th in PSAC) and 210.5 passing yards (3^rd in PSAC).

The offense is led by freshman quarterback Robert Findora who has completed 66 of 138 aerials for 1,016 yards and 8 td’s. Sophomore George Caroulis has also hit on 56 of 122 passes for 668 yards and 3 td’s.

The running game will be led by Mike Eckmeyer, Don DeFilipo and Greg VanAlstine. Eckmeyer has gained 869 yards and rushed for 5 td’s on 112 carries, while DeFilipo has 631 yards and 5 td’s on 135 tries. VanAlstine has netted 112 yards and 2 td’s on 18 carries.

The receiving corps is very strong with Adrian Wilkerson (27 catches, 335 yards, 3 td’s) and Brian Bradley (21 receptions, 528 yards, 5 td’s) at the receiver spots, plus tight end Joe Bernatowicz (17 grabs, 184 yards, 2 td’s).

West Chester’s defense is giving up 334.8 yards per game (8^th in PSAC) including 148 rushing yards (4^th in PSAC) and 186.6 passing yards (11^th in PSAC).

Up front the Rams have Clifton Orwick (14 stops) and Joe Manley (18 hits, 6 tfl’s) at the tackle spots and Jacob Walker (3 sacks) and Graham Eggleston (5 tfl’s) at the ends.

Linebacker Brian Kersey (49 stops, 10 tfl’s, 5 sacks) leads the way with middle linebacker Brandon Neely (43 jolts, 6 tfl’s, 5 break-ups) and linebacker Duane Thomas (36 tackles, 7 tfl’s) providing the second line of defense.

The secondary features corners Shariff Blackwell and Calvin Braxton. Blackwell has 13 broken-up passes and 2 int’s, with Braxton getting 47 tackles and 1 intercept.

Strong safety Donovan Reifinger (20 hits, 2 int’s) and free safety James McCullough (41 jolts, 1 int) provide the last line defense.

CLARION NOTES: In last year’s 28-21 win over West Chester, Clarion rushed for 378 yards and passed for 141 for a total of 519 ... Robert Walker had 211 rushing yards on 21 carries ... Almashy completed 6 of 16 passes for 141 yards ... Mike McCullum grabbed 2 passes for 55 yards ... WC posted 191 yards of total offense including 16 rushing yards and 175 passing yards ... George Caroulis completed 10 of 31 passes for 175 yards and 3 td’s ... In 1999 West Chester piled up 648 yards of offense (202 rushing, 446 passing) to post its 62-20 win ... WC QB Mike Mitros was 26 of 37 in that game for 409 yards and 5 td’s ... Clarion’s Almashy was 9 of 17 for 86 yards and 1 td ... Gardner rushed for 77 yards.