CLARION HOSTS GLENVILLE SATURDAY IN HOME OPENER

UNDFEATED 1952 FOOTBALL TEAM HONORED AT HALFTIME

Following a 24-3 win at Millersville last Saturday, Clarion's 2002 football team is looking forward to its home opener on Saturday, September 21 against Glenville State (W.V.). Kickoff for the annual "Family Day" game is set for 2pm at Memorial Stadium.

Also honored at halftime will be the 1952 football team celebrating its 50th Anniversary since that magical season. The 1952 team posted a 9-0 overall record including a big Lions Bowl win (13-6) over East Carolina. Returning from that team are All-America QB Dave Bevevino, All-America end and former NFL All-Pro offensive guard Alex Sandusky, All-America end John Lovre and many more.

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 1-1 RECORD

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke enters the game with an 1-1 overall record. Last week Clarion defeated Millersville 24-3, while the Eagles lost to Div.I-AA #8 ranked Youngstown State 27-14 in the season opener on August 29th. Luke enters the game with a 42-47 record at Clarion and a 15-year career record of 79-68.

PIONEERS LED BY THIRD YEAR COACH PAUL SHAFFNER

Glenville is led by third year head coach Paul Shaffner who has a 10-12 at Glenville. Shaffner led the 2001 Pioneers to a 6-3 overall record at the WVIAC title. This season Glenville opened the year with a disappointing 48-7 loss to West Chester, but bounced back on Saturday to defeat East Stroudsburg 33-28.

CLARION - GLENVILLE SERIES TIED 1-1

There have only been two games between the two schools and both have been lopsided wins. In 1996, the season that Clarion advanced to the NCAA Semi's, the Golden Eagles defeated Glenville 49-23. The following year Glenville returned the favor with a 51-0 win over the Eagles.

CLARION OFFENSE LED BY QB ADAM ALMASHY

Clarion's offense gained 329 yards at Millersville including 243 rushing yards. In 2002 the Golden Eagles are averaging 279 yards of total offense including 185 rushing yards and 94 passing yards per game.

Senior qb Adam Almashy will continue to direct the offense. He has completed 18 of 29 passes for 147 yards this season and now has connected on 313 of 699 aerials for 4,258 yards and 36 td's. He has also rushed for 873 yards and 13 td's on 445 career carries. He is seeking to become the first Clarion qb to run for 1,000 career yards.

The Eagles also unleashed junior qb Frantz Charles against Millersville. A talented athlete he ran 9 times for 72 yards and 1 td.

The backfield will feature tailback Robert Walker and halfbacks Glenn Lovelace, Brandon Sweeney and Kareem Shelton. Walker leads the Eagles with 122 yards on 30 tries, while Lovelace has 28 yards on 8 rushes and Sweeney has 67 yards and 1 td on 9 carries. Shelton missed the Millersville game, but is hoping to return this week.

The receiving corps features Ben Culver (4 catches, 37 yards) and Cori Johnson (4 grabs, 39 yards) at wideout and Tom Pore (3 catches, 18 yards) at tight end.

BOWERS LEADS DEFENSIVE FRONT

Clarion's defense limited Millersville to 152 yards of total offense on Saturday, including only 56 yards on 28 carries. In two games the Eagles are giving up 260 yards per game including 178 rushing yards and 82 passing yards 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 who was named the PSAC-West "Defensive Player of the Week" at YSU. He leads the team with 15 tackles, 7 tfl's, 2 sacks. He is joined up front by Tim Connolly (8 hits, 1 tfl) and George O'Brien (5 hits, 2 tfl's).

The perimeters are guarded by Kevin Platz (12 tfl's, 4 sacks in 2001), Jabari Weatherspoon (6 hits, 1 tfl) and Brock Luke (4 stops, 1 fumble recovery). Inside linebackers Scott McGrady (12 jolts), Shaun Saad (9 tackles) and Justin Conklin hope to clog the middle.

Clarion's secondary will be anchored by corners Myron Hargon (5 hits, 1 int) and Kerwin Cledanor (4 tackles, 3 int's, 3 break ups), along with safeties Emil Johnson (7 tackles), Bo Busch (15 stops, 2 break-ups), Steve Devennie (6 jolts) and Korey Eppinette (5 stops).

Clarion's special teams feature punter Ken Crawford (41.8 avg) and placekicker Chris Carlton (5 of 5 PAT's; 1 of 2 field goals).

GLENVILLE OFFENSE DIRECTED BY QB JOEY CONRAD

The Pioneers are averaging a whopping 416.5 yards of offense per game including 154.5 rushing and 262 passing.

Glenville's offense is led by qb Joey Conrad who has completed 45 of 92 passes for 524 yards and 5 td's with 3 interceptions.

The receiving corps is talented with Antonio Carter (15 catches, 217 yards, 2 td's), Cedric Bryant (10 receptions, 81 yards), Bret Pettinger (7 grabs, 84 yards, 1 td) and Brady Trace (5 catches, 86 yards, 2 td's) all capable of making a big play.

The running game will be led by Toby Murray and Damon McDowell. Murray has gained 258 yards and 1 td on 34 carries, while McDowell has 57 yards on 11 rushes.

PIONEER DEFENSE LOOKS TO STOP EAGLES

Glenville has given up 76 points (38 avg.) this season along with an average of 431 yards per game. The opponents are getting 194 rushing yards and 237 passing yards per game.

Leading the way up front are Nathan Grimwood (7 hits, 1 tfl), Horace Davis ( 4 stops, 1 tfl) and Brian Hefner (1 sack).

Outside linebackers Solomon Patrick (9 tackles), Gary Hinton (5 hits) and Bill Shahan (4 stops) patrol the perimeters.

Inside linebackers Ron Hinton (25 tackles, 3 tfl's) and John Ours (12 jolts, 1 tfl) anchor the middle.

The secondary will feature corners Lamont Howard (14 tackles) and Nolan Clayton (5 stops), plus strong safety Marcus Wade (11 hits, 1 interception) and free safety Kyle Arnold (5 tackles).

CLARION NOTES: The 1952 team will be honored at halftime... The Eagles posted 5 shutouts that year under head coach and Athletic Director Waldo S. Tippin ... George Czap and Bob Shaw captained that team ... The season scores in order included wins over Edinboro (20-0), St. Vincent (25-0), Thiel (26-6), Brockport (26-6), Indiana (21-12), California (34-0), Slippery Rock (12-0), Geneva (14-0) and East Carolina (13-6) in the Lions Bowl Game, played at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina ... The Lions Bowl td's were scored by Alex Sandusky (39 yard pass from Bevevino), and the game winner, a 7-yard run by George Czap... Between 25 and 30 from that team are expecting to return for festivities over the weekend ... A look back at the 1952 season can be reviewed at the Clarion football web site at ... In 1996 Clarion posted 511 yards of offense ... Ron DeJidas gained 83 yards on 16 carries, qb Chris Weibel ran for 81 yards & 1 td, and completed 14 of 27 passes for 191 yards and 2 td's... Glenville total 398 yards ... The game T.O. was 1,009 yards ... In 1997 at Glenville then senior qb Chris Weibel suffered a season ending knee injury in the second quarter ... Glenville posted 525 yards of offense and All-America qb Wilkie Perez completed 20 of 31 passes for 349 yards and 3 tds ... Also 12 catches, 241 yards and 3 td's for wideout Carlos Ferralls... Clarion will travel to Kutztown next week, then open PSAC-West play at IUP on October 5th before returning home to host West Chester on October 12th for Homecoming.