GOLDEN EAGLE GRIDDERS TRAVEL TO MILLERSVILLE SEPT. 14

The Clarion football team opened their 2002 season on the road with a quality showing on Thursday, August 29th before bowing to #8 ranked NCAA Div. I-AA power Youngstown State 27-14. After having last Saturday off, Clarion returns to action Saturday, September 14th as the Golden Eagles travel to Millersville. Kickoff at Biemesderfer Stadium is set for 1pm.

HEAR EAGLES ON WCCR-FM & REDZONE

The 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 0-1 RECORD

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke returns 19 starters and 32 lettermen on this year's squad. Entering the game with an 0-1 record, the Eagles were 4-7 overall last year and posted a 2-4 mark in the PSAC-West. The 2001 Eagles defeated California, Kutztown, Lock Haven and Tiffin, while losing six games in the final minutes, including a 35-34 overtime loss to IUP. In 2000 Clarion tied for first in the PSAC-West (5-1) and notched a 7-4 overall record. Luke enters the game with a 41-47 record at Clarion and a 15-year career record of 78-68.

MARAUDERS LED BY SECOND YEAR COACH KEVIN KIESEL

Millersville is led by second year head coach Kevin Kiesel. The Marauders opened the 2002 campaign last Saturday with a 17-3 loss at Rowan. Rowan was ranked #4 in NCAA Division III to start the season and advanced to the D-III semi's last year before losing. Millersville returns 16 starters and 26 lettermen from a 2001 team that posted a 3-8 overall record. The Marauders closed the 2001 season with a big 30-26 win over #2 ranked IUP and is hoping to use that victory as a springboard into 2002. Coach Kiesel enters the game with a 3-9 record at Millersville and a 10-year collegiate record of 52-41-1.

The Clarion - Millersville series has been an exciting one. The Marauders lead the overall series 5-4 while Clarion won the last meeting (1998 in Clarion) by a 38-31 margin. Millersville defeated Clarion three times in the 1990's in very close games including a 31-25 decision in 1997, a 41-35 margin in 1995 and a 40-27 defeat in 1994. Perhaps the most memorable game between the two schools came in 1977 when Clarion placekicker Bill May booted a late field goal to give the Eagles a 25-24 win in the PSAC Championship game. Clarion also topped the Marauders 30-25 in 1967 and 33-14 in 1966, the year Clarion went 10-0. Millersville won games in 1929 and 1930.

CLARION OFFENSE LED BY QB ADAM ALMASHY

Clarion's offense gained 229 yards at Youngstown in the opener including 127 on the ground and 102

through the air. Last year's offense averaged 353 yards and 22.3 points per game, including 240.5 rushing yards per game.

Directing Clarion's offense will be senior signal caller Adam Almashy who hit on 7 of 14 passes for 61 yards against YSU. Adam has connected on 302 of 684 career passes for 4,172 yards and 36 td's. He ranks 7th in passing yards and td passes. He has also run for 817 yards and 12 td's on 434 carries.

The backfield is expecting to feature tailback Robert Walker, along with halfbacks Glenn Lovelace, Kareem Shelton and Brandon Sweeney. Walker gained 67 yards on 16 tries at YSU and now has 1,203 career yards and 15 td's on 188 rushes. In 2000 he had a single game high of 211 rushing yards against West Chester.

Lovelace ran for 452 yards and 3 td's last year, while Shelton and Sweeney were impressive at YSU in their collegiate openers. Sweeney ran 5 times for 44 yards and 1 td, while Shelton gained 11 yards and 1 td on 3 tries. Shelton also returned 4 kickoffs for 131 yards.

The receiving corps will see Ben Culver move over from his running back spot to join Ed Rivers at wideout. Culver caught 1 pass for 11 yards at YSU and grabbed 6 aerials for 113 yards and 1 td last year. Tom Pore will be at tight end.

BOWERS LEADS "D" - NAMED PSAC-WEST "PLAYER OF THE WEEK vs YSU

Clarion's defense yielded 368 yards of total offense at Youngstown State including 300 rushing yards and 68 passing yards. Last year the Eagle "D" permitted 306.9 yards per game including 165.5 rushing yards and 141.4 passing per game. Clarion has led the PSAC in tfl's the last two seasons (102 - 2001; 128 - 2000) while also posting 34 sacks in 2001 and 51 sacks in 2000.

Clarion's defense is anchored up front by noseguard Troy Bowers. Bowers, named the PSAC-West "Defensive Player of the Week" at YSU, opened the season with a standout performance that included 11 tackles, 5 tfl's for -21 yards and 1 sack for -12 yards. Bowers had 20 tfl's in 2000, but sat out last season. He is joined up front by Tim Connolly (6 hits, 1 tfl) and George O'Brien (4 hits, 2 tfl's).

The perimeters are guarded by Kevin Platz (12 tfl's, 4 sacks in 2001), Jabari Weatherspoon (2 hits, 1 tfl) and Brock Luke (2 stops, 1 fumble recovery). Inside linebackers Scott McGrady (7 jolts), Shaun Saad (3 tackles) and Justin Conklin hope to clog the middle.

Clarion's secondary will be anchored by corner Myron Hargon and safety Emil Johnson. Hargon had 3 hits, 1 fumble caused and 1 break-up at YSU. Johnson notched 6 hits from his free safety position. Also expected to see plenty of time are corners Kerwin Cledanor (3 stops, 1 int, 2 break-ups), James Charles and Jordan Hicks. Safeties Bo Busch (6 tackles, 1 fumble caused), Korey Eppinette (4 stops) and Steve Devennie (3 tackles) also will see plenty of time.

MILLERSVILLE OFFENSE DIRECTED BY QB CHUCK ANDREW

Millersville's offense is very potent. The Marauders outgained Rowan 423 to 410 on Saturday. MU rushed for 47 yards, but passed for 376.

Directing the attack will be senior quarterback Chuck Andrew. Against Rowan Andrew completed 27 of 50 tosses for 376 yards and 0 interceptions. Last year Andrew passed for 1,981 yards and 12 td's.

The running game will be led by tailback Calvin Everett who rushed for 63 yards on 17 tries last Saturday. Against IUP last year Everett gained 151 yards. Also ready to tote the pigskin are Gary Taylor and John Boyd.

The wide receiving corps features freshman Ryan Clift and junior Alfa Jackson. Clift grabbed 12 aerials for 136 yards in his college debut last week, while Jackson caught 9 passes for 143 yards. Jackson led the team last year with 66 catches for 724 yards and 1 td. Wideout Andy Neupauer (3 grabs, 46 yards) and tight end Kevin Schmidt (2 grabs, 42 yards) will also catch passes.

MARAUDER DEFENSE CHANGES TO 4-4 FRONT

The Marauder defense yielded 410 yards to Rowan including 145 rushing yards and 265 passing yards. Last year Millersville surrendered 410 yards and nearly 30 points per game. This year MU has changed to a 4-4 defense to stop the run.

Up front the "D" will be led by tackles Chuck Stoddard (3 hits, 2 tfl's), Jamaal Lee (3 stops, 1 tfl) and Joe Mitskas (1 tfl, 1 fumble recovery). The end posts have Brian Mielnik (3 stops, 2 tfl's), Lynne Fortney (3 jolts) and Colin Tozer (1 fl).

The Marauders feature Joe Hollister (10 stops, 1 tfl', 1 fumble recovery) and Jeff Meehan (7 tackles) at inside linebacker. Hollister had 86 tackles a year ago. The outside linebackers include Ross Pennypacker (9 jolts, 1 tfl) and Tim Schultz (9 stops, 1 fumble caused).

The secondary has Terrance Trogdon and Amel Odem at the corners and Braden Steffy at safety. Trogdon played slot back on offense last year, but the Marauder coaching staff wanted his athletic ability on defense. He had 6 stops at Rowan. Steffy (88 tackles in 2001) was the top hitter on the Marauder defense a year ago.Steffy notched an interception and 6 hits at Rowan.

CLARION NOTES: Millersville has scored points in 107 straight games... They have the third longest scoring streak in the nation behind UC Davis and Central Missouri State... The last time Millersville was shut out was against IUP (47-0) in 1991... MU's coach Kevin Kiesel came to Millersville from Fairfield where he was head coach for 5 seasons and put together a record of 34-17... He started that program from scratch, and after a 1-8 start in 1996 he led his teams to a 7-3, 9-2, 9-2, and 8-2 records in successive seasons... In Clarion's 38-31 win over Millersville in 1998, the two teams combined for 962 yards of offense... Clairon had 133 rushing and 322 passing ... Clarion QB Chris Weibel completed only 12 of 30 passes for 322 yards and 3 td's ... Current Clarion receivers coach Alvin Slaughter grabbed 6 passes for 193 yards and 2 td's ... Millersville passed for 436 yards begind QB Drew Folmar (29 of 45) ... Sean Scott led MU with 12 catches for 227 yards... Clarion returns home to host Glenville State on Family Day on September 21... Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is set for 2pm.