CLARION GRIDDERS HOPE TO KEEP ROLLING AT KUTZTOWN THIS SATURDAY

Clarion's running attack, which has rushed for over 200 yards per game versus all but one D-2 opponent in the last two years, and set a new single game rushing record of 519 yards last week against Glenville, prepares to gear up for another tough opponent when the Golden Eagles to travel to Kutztown for a PSAC inter-divisional game this Saturday.

Kickoff at Kutztown's University Field is set for 1:05.

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 2-1 RECORD

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke enters the game with a 2-1 overall record. Last week the Golden Eagles defeated Glenville State (WV) 59-38, while downing Millersville 24-3 two weeks ago. Clarion opened the season with a 27-14 loss to Div.I-AA #8 ranked Youngstown State on August 29th. Luke enters the game with a 43-47 record at Clarion and a 15-year career record of 80-68.

KUTZTOWN IS 1-2 OVERALL & ON A 2-GAME LOSING STREAK

The Golden Bears are led by fifth year head coach Dave Keeny. The Golden Bears opened 2002 with a 34-13 win over Elizabeth City State, but then dropped a 21-14 decision to Lock Haven and last week a 31-14 loss to Shippensburg. Kutztown was selected by the PSAC-East coaches to finish second in the East this year. Keeny has a record of 23-21 at Kutztown.

EAGLE GROUND GAME SETS RECORDS VS GLENVILLE

Clarion set a new single game record of 519 rushing yards (on 68 carries) against Glenville last week. That is the second highest total in PSAC history next to Millersville's 559 yards vs Bloomsburg in 1981. Clarion also set a PSAC record with 27 rushing first downs, while tailback Robert Walker rushed for a Clarion record 5 touchdowns in a single game. His effort broke the old record of 4 in a game by Don Hohman (vs Shipp - 1965), Mickey Catello twice in 1966 versus Lock Haven and Indiana, Bill Wise (vs Lock Haven - 1967) and Walker a year ago against Kutztown.

WALKER & O-LINE GAIN PSAC HONORS

Robert Walker was named the PSAC-West Offensive "Player of the Week" today for his outstanding performance versus Glenville. Walker rushed 25 times for 205 yards and a record 5 td's on runs of 50, 18, 1, 1 & 12 yards). He also caught 2 passes for 10 yards. His 205 yard total was the 8th highest single game in Clarion history. The offensive line received "Special Mention" honors by the PSAC for their performance on Saturday. They include pre-season All-America tackle Reggie Wells, tackle Brandon Price, 3-time PSAC-West guard Ryan Duchon, guard Sean Finnerty and center Drake D'Angelo.

CLARION LEADS SERIES WITH KUTZTOWN 11-2

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by an 11-2 margin dating back to 1941. More recently the Eagles have won three of the last four played from 1998-2001. Last year Clarion captured a 36-7 win at Memorial Stadium, while the Bears downed Clarion 17-14 at Kutztown in 2000. Clarion won 31-21 in 1999 and 23-16 in 1998. The game with the most on the line between the two schools came in 1980 when Clarion downed the Bears 15-14 in the PSAC title game at Clarion.

CLARION OFFENSE DIRECTED BY QB ADAM ALMASHY

Clarion is averaging 373 yards of total offense (#4 in PSAC) and 32.3 points per game (#2 in PSAC) in 2002. The Eagles rank #1 in the PSAC with 296.3 rushing yards per game and #14 in pass offense with 76.7 yards pr contest.

Leading the offense is senior qb Adam Almashy. He has connected on 23 of 40 passes for 189 yards. In his career he has connected on 318 of 710 passes for 4,300 yards and 36 td's. Almashy has also gained 110 rushing yards this season on 43 carries with 1 td. He now has 936 career rushing yards and 13 td's on 458 carries. He is 64 yards shy of becoming the first Clarion qb to rush for 1,000 yards. Also expected to see some time is backup Frantz Charles. Charles has gained 11 yards and 2 td's on only 10 carries.

The running backs are led by tailback Robert Walker and halfbacks Brandon Sweeney, Glenn Lovelace and Kareem Shelton. Walker leads the Eagles with 327 yards and 5 td's on 55 carries. He ranks 10th on Clarion's all-time list with 1,465 yards and is third in rushing td's with 20. Sweeney is second on the team with 180 yards and 3 td's on20 attempts and Lovelace has 43 yards on 9 carries.

The receiving corps will once gain be led by Cori Johnson (6 grabs, 61 yards) and Ben Culver (4 catches, 37 yards) and tight end Tom Pore (3 receptions, 18 yards).

BUSCH & BOWERS LEAD DEFENSE

The Golden Eagles are giving up 317 yards (#8 in PSAC) and 22.7 points (#9 in PSAC) per game this season. The Eagles are yielding 131 rushing yards (6 in PSAC) and 186 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.

Up front Clarion is led by noseguard Troy Bowers (19 tackles, 9 tfl's, 3 sacks) and down linemen Tim Connolly (12 tackles, 3 tfl's), George O'Brien (7 stops, 3 tfl's) and Ben Heisel (6 hits, 2 tfl's).

The perimeters are guarded by Kevin Platz (4 stops, 1 tfl), Jabari Weatherspoon (11 tackles, 3 tfl's), Brock Luke (5 hits) and Deek Puchalsky (1 sack).

Inside linebackers Scott McGrady (18 jolts), Shaun Saad (11 tackles, 1 sack) and Justin Conklin (7 jolts, 1 sack) anchor the middle.

The secondary is protected by corners Myron Hargon (9 hits, 1 int., 3 break-ups), Kerwin Cledanor (9 tackles, 3 int's) and Jordan Hicks, with free safety Bo Busch 23 tackles, 2 break-ups) and strong safeties Emil Johnson 8 hits, 1 int), Steve Devennie (7 tackles, 1 sack) and Korey Eppinette (5 hits) all contributing.

KUTZTOWN OFFENSE LED BY QB ROB FLOWERS

Kutztown's offense is getting 267.7 yards (#11 in PSAC) and 20.7 points (#10 in PSAC) per game. The Bears are averaging 132.3 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 137.3 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per game.

The Bears will look to sophomore qb Rob Flowers to lead the way. Flowers has connected on 43 of 94 passes for 412 yards and 4 td's with 6 interceptions.

Leading the ground attack are runners Atiba Kenyatta and Stephen Gammage. Kenyatta leads the team with 224 yards on 45 carries (5.0 p/c), while Gammage is getting 108 yards and 3 td's on 35 attempts.

The receiving corps features wideouts Trevor Smith and Dave Borden. Smith has 12 grabs for 122 yards and 1 td, while Borden has 6 catches for 98 yards and 2 td's. Tight end Brian Webster has 5 receptions for 35 yards and 1 td.

BENSON & MENDEZ LEAD DEFENSE

The Golden Bears defense is ranked #2 in the PSAC while only yielding only 261.3 yards per game along with 21.7 points per contest. Opponents are getting only 103 rushing yards per game (#4 in PSAC) along with 158.3 passing yards (#5 in the PSAC).

Leading the defense up front are tackles Dave Maloney (14 hits, 4 tfl's), Tim Krusen (2 tfl's) and Jason Engelhardt, plus ends Matt Sola (3 tfl's, 2 sacks) and the team's leading tackler Corey Benson (22 stops, 10 tfl's, 6.5 sacks).

Middle linebacker Greg Mitchell (13 tackles) and outside linebackers Earl Thornton (16 jolts, 1 tfl) and Tyhiem Gaston (14 hits, 2 tfl's).

The secondary features All-America strong safety Pete Mendez (12 tackles, 2 interceptions), free safety R.J. Hamlin (17 hits) and corners Andre Davis (3 int's) and Ewin Jenkins (6 stops).

CLARION NOTES: In Clarion's 36-7 win last year the Eagles had 274 rushing yards and 124 passing yards for 398 in total offense ... Almashy rushed for 103 and Walker 80 and 4 td's on 15 carries... Kutztown QB Rob Flowers was the leading Bear receiver last year catching 8 passes for 65 yards... Kutztown has 53 rushing yards and 141 passing yards for 194 in T.O. ... In 2000 at Kutztown the Bears won 17-14... There was no scoring in the fourth quarter ... The Eagles had 263 total yards (143 rushing) and Kutztown had 342 including 245 passing by Mike DeMarteleire... Almashy hit on only 8 of 24 for 120 yards and 1 td in that game and rushed for 41 yards... Clarion opens PSAC-West play on October 5th at IUP.