(CLARION, PA): #4 ranked IUP (Indiana University of Pa.) scored on a 64-yard td pass from Kevin Weidl to Joe Slappy with 2:54 remaining to lead the Indians to a 24-20 come from behind win at Clarion on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

IUP upped its record to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC-West, as Clarion dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the division.

The Clarion Homecoming Day crowd of 5,248 came alive in the second half and watched as the Golden Eagles took a 20-17 lead with 4:28 remaining in the fourth quarter when Brandon Sweeney caught a 5 yard touchdown pass from Felton Woulard. The play capped a 64-yard drive in 11 plays, and came on fourth and two at the IUP 5.

The drive was actually led by qb Frantz Charles who came on in the second quarter and ran the option offense to perfection. The big play in the drive saw Charles toss a 30-yard completion to Ron Rivage to the IUP 13. Charles ran for two yards on third down to the IUP 5, but injured his knee on the play and Woulard came on to toss the go-ahead touchdown pass to Sweeney.

Slappy's game-winning td came on the third play of IUP's next drive, as he caught the pass from Weidl on a crossing route at the IUP 45 and then raced down the right sideline for the score.

Clarion came back and drove to the IUP 39, but the Indian defense stopped Clarion on downs with 1:13 remaining and ran out the clock.

"I was proud of our effort today," said Clarion head coach Malen Luke. "I thought our young kids came of age and we battled a very good team down to the wire. We made some big plays in the second half and had a good shot to win. They made one more big play than us, and that was the game."

Clarion totaled 326 yards of total offense including 242 rushing yards and 84 passing yards. Brandon Sweeney carried 10 times for 117 yards and 1 td, while also catching 2 passes for 17 yards and one td. Backup qb Frantz Charles came on in the second quarter and rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries. Woulard ran for 5 yards and completed 4 o f 8 for 54 yards and 1 td, while Frantz completed 1 of 1 for 30 yards. Charles left the game with a leg injury on the 4th down td pass from Woulard.

On the defense Jabari Weatherspoon led the Eagles with 11 tackles, 3 tfl's, and 1 sack, while All-America noseguard Troy Bowers posted 9 tackles, 3 sacks and 5 tfl's.

IUP totaled 382 yards including 148 rushing and 234 passing. Kevin Weidl completed 10 of 21 passes for 234 yards and 1 td. He was sacked four times. Derrick Smith caught 3 passes for 50 yards and Slappy grabbed 2 aerials for 74 yards and 1 td. Mike Jemison rushed for 146 yards and 1 td on 215 carries.

Josh Telenko opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal in the first for a 3-0 IUP lead.

The Indians upped their lead to 10-0 in the second quarter after recovering a blocked punt at the Clarion 38. Five plays later Mike Jemison scored on a 5-yard run with 11:41 to go in the second.

Clarion came back in the second quarter when defensive lineman Tim Connolly intercepted a Weidl pass at the IUP 25 and returned it to the Indian 19. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on IUP's Leron McCoy (McCoy was ejected from the game) gave Clarion a first down at the 8, Jason Warner bulled over left tackle for the Clarion td. The PAT snap was muffed and the score was IUP 10-6 with 3:56 left in the second.

Clarion took its first lead in the third quarter when Luke crossed up the IUP defense with a counter play to Brandon Sweeney and the sophomore bolted 70 yards off right tackle to hit paydirt. Mark Hofmeister's PAT was good and Clarion led 13-10 with 5:00 left in the third.

IUP came back and took a 17-13 lead with 8:39 left in the game as Weidl capped a 69-yard drive with a 1-yard qb sneak, setting up the exciting ending.

Clarion travels to West Chester next Saturday for a 1pm start.