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(KUTZTOWN, PA.): Clarion qb Adam Almashy ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as the Golden Eagles defeated Kutztown 31-7 on Saturday afternoon at KU's University Field.
Clarion picked up its third straight win and upped its overall record to 3-1, while Kutztown dropped to 1-3 overall.
Clarion, who entered the game with the #4 ranked rushing offense in Division II, rushed for 306 yards on 62 carries. The Golden Eagles were averaging 296 yards entering the game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Almashy put the Golden Eagles ahead 7-0 on a 1-yard run with 7:01 left in the second quarter. The run capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
On Kutztown's next possession the Bears had the ball on the Clarion 21, and on third down, Clarion corner back Myron Hargon came up with the big play and intercepted a Rob Flowers pass and returned it 40 yards to the KU 37. With only seconds remaining before halftime, and Clarion on the Bear 10, placekicker Chris Carlton came on and booted a 27-yard field goal with 15-seconds left and a 10-0 halftime lead.
Kutztown drew to within 10-7 on the first drive of the third quarter. The Bears went 69-yards in 9 plays and scored on a Stephen Gammage 1 yard run.
Clarion's special teams unit set up the Eagles next touchdown. Chris Roberts blocked a Kutztown punt at the KU 27 and teammate Nate Apple recovered at the Kutztown 27.
Clarion moved to the Kutztown 8, but the drive stalled and the Eagles faced third and goal at the KU 14. Eagle qb Almashy then stepped up and tossed a 14-yard td pass to Justin Sickeri in the left corner of the endzone extending the Eagles lead to 17-7 with 3:51 left in the third.
Clarion's Ben Culver returned a Kutztown punt 15 yards to the Bear 38, putting the Eagles in business again. The Eagles converted the short field driving 38 yards in 9 plays. Almashy scored on a 6-yard run to cap the drive giving Clarion an insurmountable 24-7 lead with only 7:20 remaining.
Backup qb Frantz Charles accounted for the final score. Charles led the Eagles 39-yards in 6 plays and scored on a 1-yard run with 3:46 to play and give Clarion a 31-7 victory.
Clarion totaled 321 yards of total offense, including 306 on the ground. Robert Walker gained 87 yards on 19 tries, while Brandon Sweeney rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries. Almashy ran for 2 td's and 40 yards on 9 carries, plus hit on 2 of 9 passes for 15 yards and 1 td.
Almashy has pushed his career rushing total at Clarion to 976 yards and is hoping to become the first Clarion qb to rush for 1,000 yards.
Kutztown totaled 190 yards of offense, including 94 rushing and 96 passing. Stephen Gammage gained 85 yards and 1 td on 26 carries. QB Rob Flowers hit on 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards.
Clarion will travel to #14 ranked Indiana, Pa. (IUP) next Saturday in a key PSAC-West and NCAA matchup. Kutztown will travel to West Chester.
