arion opened its 2003 season last Saturday with a 31-21 loss to East Stroudsburg. The Golden Eagles look to rebound this week when Clarion (0-1) hosts Millersville (1-0) on Saturday, September 13th. Kickoff is set for 6pm for a game that will also feature the annual "Family Day" festivities.

The game can be heard on WCCR-FM, 92.7 and on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski and Dave Katis describing the action.

LUKE 48-51 IN 10 YEARS AT CLARION

Clarion looks to rebound this week after dropping the season opener to East Stroudsburg 31-21 last week. Head coach Malen Luke has a ten year record of 48-51 record at Clarion and is in his 16th year overall as a head coach with a record of 85-72. Clarion has won the PSAC-West in 1996 and 2000 under Luke, while the 1996 squad advanced to the NCAA semifinals.

MILLERSVILLE 1-0 AFTER DEFEATING GLENVILLE IN OPENER 27-25

KIESEL IN HIS THIRD YEAR LEADING THE MARAUDERS

The Marauders opened their 2003 season with an exciting 27-25 win over Glenville State in Millersville's home opener last Saturday. Third year head coach Kevin Kiesel has a 7-15 record at MU including a 3-7 record last year. The 2002 team won three of their final four games including a big 31-24 win over West Chester and are using that momentum to spring into 2003. Kiesel came to MU from Fairfield where he was 34-17 in 5 seasons, including a stellar 33-11 record his last four years. He also was 15-15-1 at Albright from 1993-95 (3 seasons).

CLARION - MILLERSVILLE SERIES TIED 5-5

The Clarion - Millersville series has been an exciting one. The series is tied 5-5 after Clarion posted a 24-3 win at Millersville a year ago. Clarion also won in 1998 by a 38-31 margin, while Millersville defeated Clarion in 1997 (31-25), 1995 (41-35) and 1994 (40-27). Perhaps the most memorable game between the two was in 1977 when Clarion defeated the Marauders 25-24 in the PSAC title game at Millersville. Bill May booted a late field to provide the winning points. Clarion also topped MU 30-25 in 1967 and 33-14 in 1966, the year Clarion went 10-0. Millersville won games in 1929 and 1930.

CLARION OFFENSE READY TO "RUN" THIS SATURDAY

After ranking 6th in the nation in rushing a year ago (273 ypg), Clarion appears to headed toward a season of rushing the pigskin again in 2003. Last Saturday the Eagles rushed for 241 yards and passed for 43 for a total offense of 284.

The starting qb job is up in the air with senior Frantz Charles or true freshman Felton Woulard expected to take snaps this week. Charles ran 22 times for 84 yards last week, while Woulard gained 48 yards and 1 td on 10 carries, while also completing 5 of 8 passes for 43 yards.

The running backs are solid with junior Glenn Lovelace and sophomore Brandon Sweeney back at halfback, and sophomore Jason Warner at tailback. Warner gained 69 yards on 13 tries last week, while Sweeney rushed for 43 yards and 1 td on 7 carries. Sweeney gained 504 yards last year and now has 547 career yards on 89 carries with 5 rushing td's. Sweeney also returned a kickoff 82 yards for a td. Lovelace gained 8 yards on 3 tries and now has 818 yards and 7 td's on 125 carries at Clarion.

The receiving corps seems solid with senior Ed Rivers (2 catches, 19 yards), red-shirt freshman Pierre Odom and junior Ron Rivage (2 catches, 14 yards) ready for duty.

EAGLE DEFENSE LED BY ALL-AMERICA NOSEGUARD TROY BOWERS

The Clarion defense yielded 209 rushing yards and 188 passing yards for a total offense of 397 in the season opener against ESU.

The defensive front is led by consensus All-American Troy Bowers at noseguard (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 sack). Bowers, the 2002 PSAC-West "Defensive Player of the Year", collected 70 tackles, 12 sacks and 27 tfl's a year ago. In his career he has collected 149 tackles, 25 sacks and 54 tfl's.

Joining Bowers up front will be Tim Connolly (3 tackles, 1 tfl), Ben Heisel (1 tfl) and Corey Shaner. (3 hits).

The perimeters will be guarded by All-Region outside linebacker Jabari Weatherspoon and freshman Colin Brubaker. Weatherspoon led the team with 9 tackles and 1 tfl last week. Brubaker posted 1 tfl.

The inside linebacker play will be anchored by junior Shaun Saad, sophomore Brock Luke, son of head coach Malen Luke and Matt Morris. Saad had 5 hits and 2 tfl's on Saturday, Luke 5 stops and Morris 4 jolts.

The secondary expects to be strong with senior Myron Hargon starting at corner. Hargon notched 3 hits and 3 break-ups in the opener. In his career he has 76 tackles, 8 int's and 32 break-ups. Also playing at the corners will be James Charles (1 fumble rec.), Kerwin Cledanor (1 int) and Dwaon Woodard. Free safety Bo Busch (7 tackles, 1 fumble caused) and strong safety Emil Johnson (5 hits, 1 sack, 1 fumble caused) return to start.

MILLERSVILLE OFFENSE ALSO RELIES ON RUNNING GAME

Millersville notched a total offense of 273 yards last Saturday including 204 rushing yards and 69 passing yards.

Calling the signals will be freshman quarterback Omar Sanders. He carried 24 times for 63 yards and 2 td's, while also completing 6 of 10 aerials for 69 yards and 2 td's.

Also pacing the running game will be tailbacks Mahmoud Elbattah (14 carries, 46 yards) and Shahfin Timmons (14 yards), along with fullbacks Andy McCormack (5 tries, 28 yards) and Juan Jones (9 carries, 46 yards).

The receiving corps will be led by Ryan Clift (2 catches, 12 yards), Randall Eggleston (1 catch, 45 yards) and Any Neupauer (1 grab, 8 yards, 1 td) and tight end Mike Saunders (1 td).

NINE OF ELEVEN STARTERS BACK ON DEFENSE

Millersville returns nine of its eleven starters on defense from a year ago. Last week the Marauders yielded 381 yards of total offense against a strong Glenville passing attack. Millersville gave up only 87 rushing yards and 294 passing yards overall.

Anchoring the defense up front are tackles Joe Mitskas (4 tackles, 1 tfl) and Chuck Koch, along with the ends Colin Tozer (3 stops) and Brian Mielnik (4 stops, 1 tfl).

The linebacking corps is solid with Brian Witkowski (7 stops, 1 int) and Jeff Meehan (5 hits, 1 sack) on the inside and Tim Schultz (6 tackles) and Ross Pennypacker (1 tfl) on the outside.

The secondary returns talented safety Braden Steffy (5 tackles) and corners Brandon Scott (4 jolts) and Amel Odem (5 hits, 1 break-up).

CLARION NOTES: The Golden Eagles will hit the road next week to Glenville State for a 1pm start on September 20th, then return home on Sept. 27th to host Kutztown... The Homecoming Game this year is against Indiana on October 4th... Kickoff for Homecoming is 2pm.