CLARION HOSTS SHIPPENSBURG IN PSAC-WEST SHOWDOWN

Following Clarion's 24-18 win at Edinboro on Saturday, the Golden Eagles ride a two-game winning streak into this Saturday's pivotal PSAC-West contest against Shippensburg. Kickoff on October 26th at Clarion's Memorial Stadium is set for 1pm. The game pits Clarion's #1 rushing offense in the PSAC and #5 ranked in the nation against Shippensburg's #2 rush defense and #2 total defense in the PSAC.

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 5-2 OVERALL & 1-1 in PSAC-WEST

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke enters the game with a 5-2 overall record and an 1-1 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). Three weeks ago the Eagles went toe to toe against IUP before falling in the fourth quarter 28-14. The Eagles rebounded with two solid wins against West Chester 34-28 and Edinboro. Coach Luke enters the game with a 46-48 record at Clarion and a PSAC-West mark of 23-27. Luke's 15-year career collegiate record is 83-69, including a 37-21 mark in 7 years at Defiance.

SHIPPENSBURG 4-3 OVERALL & 2-1 in PSAC-WEST UNDER ROCKY REES

Shippensburg, led by veteran head coach Rocky Rees, enters the game with a 4-3 overall record and a 2-1 mark in the PSAC-West. The Raiders opened 2002 with two close losses against Shepherd (17-10) and Bloomsburg (27-26), but rebounded nicely with four straight impressive wins over Kutztown (31-14), West Chester (41-27), Edinboro (41-7) and Slippery Rock (13-7) in overtime. On Saturday the Raiders were upset 26-13 at Lock Haven although outgaining LHU 337-145 in total offense and posting a 28-6 first down advantage. Ship had 5 costly turnovers. Rees is currently in his 13th season at Shippensburg with a record of 73-66-1. He is also in his 18th year as an overall head coach and has a collegiate record of 109-81-2.

CLARION LEADS SERIES 33-12-1 DATING BACK TO 1955

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 33-12-1 margin dating back to 1955. In the last ten seasons both schools have won 5 games each. Clarion wins over that span came in 1992 (23-20), 1993 (34-32), 1995 (31-9), 1996 (59-20) and 2000 (56-49). Ship wins came in 1994 (31-21), 1997 (37-14), 1998 (38-3), 1999 (32-26) and 2001 (34-29).

CLARION RANKS #5 IN D-2 IN RUSHING OFFENSE

Clarion is averaging 28.6 points per game (#5 in PSAC) and 356.7 yards of total offense (#7 in PSAC). The Eagles currently rank #5 in the nation in rushing offense and are currently getting 295.7 yards per game (#1 in PSAC), while averaging 61 yards per game passing (#14 in PSAC).

Directing the Eagle offense is senior quarterback Adam Almashy. He has rushed for 322 yards and 4 td's on 87 carries. He has also hit on 36 of 83 passes for 339 yards and 2 td's. In his 4-year career he currently has 1,148 rushing yards and 16 td's on 502 carries. He also has hit on 331 of 753 passes for 4,450 yards and 38 td's. He is tied for 4th on the all-time td pass list with Bob Erdeljac.

The Eagles may also use running qb Frantz Charles. He has gained 222 yards and 4 td's on 31 carries, while averaging 7.2 yards per carry.

The running backs include Robert Walker at tailback, plus Glenn Lovelace, Brandon Sweeney, Kareem Shelton and Justin Sickeri at the halfbacks. Walker leads the team with 582 yards and 8 td's on 113 carries. Walker now has 1,720 career yards and 23 rushing td's on 285 carries. He needs 87 yards to catch former great Steve Nolan (1,807; 1971-74) for 7th on the all-time list and is tied for second on the career rushing td list with 23 td's (Elton Brown - 23; 1981-84).

Lovelace has gained 299 yards and 3 td's on 29 carries, an average of 10.3 yards per carry. Lovelace now has 751 career yards at Clarion as a sophomore. Sweeney, a freshman, is second on the team with 393 yards and 3 td's on 60 tries, while Shelton (119 yards, 1 td) and Sickeri (1 receiving td) see plenty of time.

Clarion's receivers include Ben Culver (9 catches, 110 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 21.3 points (#6 in PSAC) and 333.6 yards (#8 in PSAC) of total offense per game. Opponents are getting 139.4 rushing yards (6th in PSAC) and 194.1 passing (#11 in PSAC) yards per game. Clarion leads the PSAC with 28 qb sacks and 69 tfl's.

Up front the Golden Eagles are led by noseguard Troy Bowers (37 hits, 14 tfl's, 6 sacks) and tackles Tim Connolly (28 stops, 6 tfl's, 2 sacks), George O'Brien (23 tackles, 6 tfl's) and Ben Heisel (3 tfl's).

The perimeters are protected by Jabari Weatherspoon (44 jolts, 12 tfl's, 5 sacks, 1 int) and Kevin Platz (16 hits, 6 tfl's, 5 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 (59 hits, 3 break-ups), strong safety Emil Johnson (25 tackles, 1 int) and corners Myron Hargon (15 stops, 3 int's, 6 break-ups), Kerwin Cledanor (20 tackles, 3 int's) and James Charles 15 tackles).

The special teams have played consistently well. Punter Ken Crawford is averaging 40.6 yards per boot (#3 in PSAC), while freshman placekicker Chris Carlton is #1 in the PSAC in kicking making 6 for 9 in field goals and 22 of 23 PAT's. Culver, Clarion's punt return specialist, is averaging 11.1 per return.

SHIPP OFFENSE LED BY KUHN

Shippensburg's offense is averaging 25 points per game (#7 in PSAC) and 378.9 yards per game (#5 in PSAC). The Red Raiders are getting 223.6 rushing yards (#2 in PSAC) & 155.3 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.

Who will start at quarterback for the Raiders? Tyler Novak has been the starter and has completed 55 of 107 for 872 yards and 8 td's this season. He was relieved by Jim Buffington for the entire second half against Lock Haven and completed 12 of 32 passes for 124 yards. This season he has connected on 22 of 64 passes for 215 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Brandon Saner (14 catches, 217 yards, 1 td), Jesse Landis (7 grabs, 99 yards and Will Perry (5 receptions, 135 yards, 3 td's). Tight ends Joel Gamble (10 catches, 156 yards) and Brian Sekel (9 grabs, 177 yards, 2 td's) are also big targets.

The running game is led by fullback john Kuhn. Kuhn leads the team with 711 yards and 7 td's on 129 carries. He ran for 145 yards last week against Lock Haven. Also toting the pigskin will be Andre McLaurin (74 rushes, 298 yards, 1 td) and Jarrod Dech (44 carries, 190 yards, 4 td's).

RAIDER DEFENSE LED BY WALSH & GRIMES

Shipp's defense is yielding 17.9 points per game (#2 in PSAC) and 246.7 yards (#2 in PSAC) per game. Raider opponents are only getting 94.4 rushing yards (#2 in PSAC) and 152.3 passing yards (#4 in PSAC) per game.

Up front the Raiders are led by noseguards Tom Walsh (4 tfl's) and Yeboa Cobbold (23 hits, 6 tfl's) and tackle Chris Minner (9 tfl's. 3.5 sacks).

The defensive ends include Ron Johnson (23 stops, 5 tfl's, 2 sacks) and Ryan Hoffman (4 tfl's, 2 sacks).

The linebacking corps is very solid with Dan Walsh leading the team with 58 hits and 5 tfl's. He is joined by Eric Ranieri (46 jolts, 6 tfl's) and Chris Leonetti (40 tackles, 7 tfl's).

Corner Brent Grimes leads the team with 6 interceptions, while teammate Tony Johnsoon has one theft. Strong safety Clint Inch (19 stops) and free safety John Andrews (41 tackles) anchor the last line of defense.

Senior placekicker Craig Lough has made 6 of 13 field goals, while punter Denver Brydon is averaging 35.8 yards per boot.

CLARION NOTES: In last year's 34-29 loss at Shipp, the Eagles missed a key PAT that would have tied the game 24-24 with 10-minutes remaining ... Shipp then jumped out to a 34-23 lead before Clarion drove 72 yards to narrow the lead to 34-29 with 2:26 left. The Eagle "D" held and got the ball back, but QB Adam Almashy was intercepted at the Clarion 48 with 1:04 remaining and the Raiders preserved the win ... Robert Walker gained 119 yards and 2 td's on 8 carries, while Demetric Gardner had 73 yards and 1 td on 14 tries ... Tyler Novak was 9 of 16 passing for 196 yards and 1 td ... Dave Brown rushed for 105 yards and 2 td's and caught a td pass for Ship... Two years ago here at Memorial Stadium the two teams combined for a Clarion record 105-points as Clarion won a 56-49 shootout ... Clarion held what looked to be comfortable leads in the third quarter of 49-14 and 56-21, before the Raiders mounted a furious comeback... Adam Almashy stole the show two years ago completing 16 of 26 passes for 282 yards and 5 td's, while also rushing for a td... Tab Musser led the Eagle ground attack with 93 yards... Clarion outgained Shipp in that game 576 - 391... Clarion returns home to host California on November 2nd at 1pm.