CLARION TRAVELS TO EDINBORO IN KEY PSAC-WEST GAME SATURDAY

Following a 34-28 Homecoming win over West Chester last Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the Golden Eagles hit the road on Saturday, October 19th to battle PSAC-West rival Edinboro. Kickoff at the Scots Sox Harrison Stadium is set for 1pm.

HEAR EAGLES ON WCCR-FM & REDZONE

Saturday's game can be heard on WCCR-FM, 92.7 and on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski and Dave Katis describing all the action.

CLARION ENTERS GAME WITH 4-2 RECORD

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke enters the game with a 4-2 overall record and an 0-1 mark in the PSAC-West. Clarion opened the season with a quality showing in a 27-14 loss at #8 ranked and NCAA D-IAA power Youngstown State. The Eagles rattled off three straight wins against Millersville 24-3, Glenville State (59-38) and Kutztown (31-7). Two weeks ago the Eagles went toe to toe against IUP before falling in the fourth quarter 28-14 and last Saturday Clarion topped West Chester 34-28. Coach Luke enters the game with a 45-48 record at Clarion and a PSAC-West mark of 22-27. Luke's 15-year career collegiate record is 82-69, including a 37-21 mark in 7 years at Defiance.

EDINBORO 3-3 UNDER LOU TEPPER

Edinboro enters Saturday's contest with a 3-3 overall record and an 0-2 mark in the PSAC-West under third year head coach Lou Tepper. The Fighting Scots opened 2002 with a three game winning streak with victories over Gannon (17-7), Ashland (29-26) and Tiffin (35-21). The Scots followed that with three straight losses against East Stroudsburg (30-24), Shippensburg (41-7) and Indiana (54-35). Tepper has a three-year record at Edinboro of 12-15 and a PSAC-West mark of 5-9. Tepper came to Edinboro from LSU where he was the defensive coordinator for two seasons. Prior to that he was head coach at Illinois and posted a record of 25-31-2 from his opening game in the 1991 Sun Bowl through the 1996 season. He has a collegiate head coaching record of 37-46-2.

CLARION LEADS SERIES 37-33-2 DATING BACK TO 1926

Clarion leads the overall series betwen the two schools by a 37-33-2 margin dating back to 1926. The rivalry has been an exciting one over the years. In the last ten seasons Edinboro leads with a 6-4 record against the Golden Eagles. Clarion wins over that span came in 1994 (24-20), 1997 (28-0), 1998 (33-20) and 2000 (7-0). Edinboro wins came in 1992 (26-17), 1993 (28-0), 1995 (28-6), 1996 (48-35), 1999 (30-29) and last year's 24-12 win.

CLARION RANKS #5 IN D-2 IN RUSHING OFFENSE

Clarion is averaging 29.3 points per game (#5 in PSAC) and 359.8 yards of total offense (#7 in PSAC). The Eagles currently rank #5 in the nation in rushing offense and are currently getting 293.8 yards per game (#1 in PSAC), while averaging 66 yards per game passing (#14 in PSAC).

Directing the Eagle offense is senior quarterback Adam Almashy. He rushed for 100 yards last week against West Chester and this season has gained 263 yards and 3 td's on 74 attempts. He is the first Clarion qb to go over 1,000 career rushing yards and now has 1,089. He has also completed 34 of 72 passes for 308 yards and 1 td. In his career he has completed 329 of 742 aerials for 4,419 yards and 37 td's.

The Eagles may also use Frantz Charles at quarterback. Charles has rushed for 215 yards and 4 td's on only 29 carries this season.

Anchoring the running game is tailback Robert Walker and halfbacks Brandon Sweeney, Glenn Lovelace, Kareem Shelton and Justin Sickeri. Walker leads the Eagles with 466 yards and 8 td's on 99 carries and in his Clarion career has 1,604 yards and 23 rushing td's on 271 carries. He ranks 8th on the all-time rushing list and is tied for 2nd in rushing td's with Elton Brown (1981-84). Steve Witte's 41 rushing td's (1992-96) is the all-time record.

Sweeney has gained 364 yards and 3 td's on 52 carries, while Lovelace has 227 yards and 2 td's on 22 rushes. Lovelace earned PSAC-West offensive "Player of the Week" honors this week after running for 181 yards and 2 td's on 11 carries against West Chester.

Also looking for the pigskin are Shelton (110 yards, 1 td) and Sickeri (1 td catch).

Clarion's receivers include Ben Culver (8 catches, 91 yards), Ed Rivers (2 catches, 19 yards) and tight end Tom Pore (5 receptions, 74 yards).

CLARION DEFENSE LEADS PSAC IN SACKS & TFL'S

Clarion's defense is yielding 21.8 points (#6 in PSAC) and 323.8 yards (#7 in PSAC) of total offense per game. Opponents are getting 132 rushing yards (3rd in PSAC) and 191.8 passing (#10 in PSAC) yards per game. Clarion leads the PSAC with 25 qb sacks and 60 tfl's.

Up front the Golden Eagles are led by noseguard Troy Bowers (31 hits, 13 tfl's, 6 sacks) and tackles Tim Connolly (24 stops, 6 tfl's, 2 sacks), George O'Brien (19 tackles, 5 tfl's) and Ben Heisel (3 tfl's).

The perimeters are protected by Jabari Weatherspoon (39 jolts, 11 tfl's, 5 sacks, 1 int) and Kevin Platz (13 hits, 3 sacks).

Inside linebackers Scott McGrady and Shaun Saad anchor the middle. McGrady leads the team with 53 stops, 6 tfl's, 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, while Saad has 23 tackles and 2 sacks.

The secondary is led by free safety Bo Busch (52 hits, 3 break-ups), strong safety Emil Johnson (21 tackles, 1 int) and corners Myron Hargon (14 stops, 2 int's, 6 break-ups), Kerwin Cledanor (3 int's) and James Charles (9 tackles).

The special teams have played consistently well. Punter Ken Crawford is averaging 41.5 yards per boot (#2 in PSAC), while placekicker Chris Carlton is 5 for 8 in field goals and 19 of 20 PAT's. Culver, Clarion's punt return specialist, is averaging 10.6 per return.

EDINBORO OFFENSE LED BY ROEBUCK

Edinboro's offense is averaging 24.5 points per game (#8 in PSAC) and 297.7 yards per game (#9 in PSAC). The Scots are getting 132.3 rushing yards (#7 in PSAC) & 165.3 passing yards (#9 in PSAC) per game.

Starting qb Cam Marsh returned to action against IUP after missing 2 games with an injury. Against IUP he completed 21 of 27 passes for 145 yards and 2 td's. This season Marsh has connected on 46 of 67 passes for 462 yards and 5 td's with 2 int's.

His favorite targets are Jordan Bobitski (19 grabs, 179 yards), Justin Lipscomb (9 catches, 204 yards, 1 td) and Lincoln Bufalino (9 receptions, 177 yards, 1 td). Tight end C.J. Trivisonno (7 grabs, 36 yards, 2 td's) also contributes.

The running game is led by tailback Alonzo Roebuck. The Edinboro senior leads the PSAC averaging 119.8 yards per game, plus has 7 td's on 119 carries. He totaled 170 yards and 3 td's on 33 carries against IUP last week and now has 1,452 career rushing yards and 17 rushing td's in his career. Teammate Brandon Munson has also gained 195 yards and 3 td's on 50 carries.

SCOT DEFENSE LED BY SMITH & JOHNSON

Edinboro's defense is yielding 29.8 points per game (#13 in PSAC) and 411.5 yards (#14 in PSAC) per game. Scot opponents are getting 137 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC) and 274.5 passing yards (#14 in PSAC) per game.

Up front the Scots are led by noseguard Eugene Grooms (30 hits, 7 tfl's) and tackles Eric Neavins (20 tackles, 2 tfl's), Kyle Thorne (34 jolts, 8 tfl's, 3 sacks) and Otto Hoover (9 stops).

The ends are guarded by veterans Dave Smith and James Cowart. Smith leads the team with 40 tackles and 6 tfl's, while Cowart has 36 stops and 6 tfl's.

Inside linebackers Foster Johnson (37 tackles, 4 tfl's, 6 break-ups) and Jermaine Hughley (32 hits) anchor the middle.

The secondary will be led by corners Elliott Page (21 stops, 1 int, 6 break-ups) and Matt Birkett (10 stops), plus strong safety Jeff Richardson (18 tackles, 3 tfl's) and free safety Jason Gordon (18 hits, 1 int).

Special teams are a strong suit with punter Sean McNicholas leading the PSAC with a 47.6 yard average. Bufalino is dangerous as a punt returner getting 11.7 per return.

CLARION NOTES: In last year's 24-12 loss at Edinboro, the Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead when Demetric Gardner scored on a 9-yard run ... The Boro led 17-6 at halftime on a McNicholas 40-yard field goal and Steve Tryon's 46-yard pass to Chris Buehner and a 17-yard Tryon run ... Roebuck scored in the third and Clarion's Ben Culver in the fourth to complete the scoring ... Edinboro is the last team to hold the Eagles under 200 rushing yards in a game... The Eagles had 195 ... Lovelace and Almashy rushed for 35 each and Gardner had 60... Almashy completed 9 of 27 passes for 147 yards and 1 td ... Roebuck rushed for 129 yards and 1 td on 19 carries ... Tryon completed 7 of 18 passes for 155 yards and 1 td ... Clarion returns home to host Shippensburg on October 26th at 1pm.