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(CLARION, PA): Slippery Rock took advantage of great field position on its first three possessions, ran out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, then held on to defeat Clarion today 21-14 on a cold-rainy day at Memorial Stadium.
The Senior Day crowd saw Clarion finish its season with a 7-4 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the PSAC-West. Slippery Rock also finished its season with a 7-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the PSAC-West.
The Golden Eagles outgained Slippery Rock 206-113, posted 18 first downs to Slippery Rock's 10 (4 by penalty) and held Slippery Rock to minus 18 rushing yards for the game.
The Rock recovered a Clarion fumble on the Eagles first possession at the Clarion 21. Three plays later Josh Kniess scored on a two-yard run and Slippery Rock led 7-0 at 11:51 of the first.
The Rockets took possession on the Clarion 32 after short punt and scorted on the first play when Chad Davore tossed a 32-yard td pass to Ryan McKavish for a 14-0 lead at 9:59.
The Rock's third possession started at the Clarion 16 and five plays later Brandon Markus scored on a six yard run giving the rockets a 21-0 lead at 6:02 of the first quarter.
Clarion bounced back to march 86-yards in 13 plays before halftime to close the gap to 21-7. Robert Walker dove off left tackle from two yards out to cap the drive.
The second half belonged to Clarion as the Golden Eagles outgained Slippery Rock 137 - (-3) yards and held the ball for nearly 18 minutes.
Midway through the fourth quarter Clarion started a drive at the SR 48, and in 10 plays had first and goal at the SR 5, but the Rock's Shawn Hanzely intercepted an Adam Almashy pass in the endzone to stop the Eagle drive with 7:06 remaining.
Clarion drove 56-yards to paydirt on its next drive and scored when Almashy ran 8-yards for an Eagle touchdown. Chris Carlton's PAT drew Clarion to within 21-14 with 2:31 remaining, but Slippery Rock was able to run out the clock and secure the win.
Clarion qb Adam Almashy completed 8 of 16 passes for 66 yards andrushed for a touchdown. Robert Walker rushed for 58 yards and 1 td on 17 carries and finished the season with 984 yards. Brandon Sweeney gained 53 yards on only 8 carries.
Slippery Rock qb Chad Davore completed 5 of 9 passes for 75 yards and 1 td. Brandon Markus rushed 15 times for 13 yards and 1 td, while Josh Kniess rushed 11 times for 5 yards and 1 td.
Clarion's defense was led by noseguard Troy Bowers who posted 12 tackles,5 tfl's for -24 yards and 2 qb sacks for -14 yards. Linebacker Scott McGrady had 13 tackles with 3 tfl's.
