Sept. 12, 2009
Final Stats
(E. STROUDSBURG): Tyler Huether passed for 307 yards and 3 td's, but ESU qb Matt Marshall hit on 23 of 29 passes for 316 yards and 3 td's in leading East Stroudsburg to a 45-31 win over Clarion on Saturday night.
Held at ESU's Eiler Martin Stadium, the Warriors upped their overall record to 3-0, while Clarion dropped to 1-2 on the season.
Clarion jumped ahead on its first possession of the game driving 53-yards in 7 plays. The touchdown pass came on a 23-yarder from seior qb Tyler Huether to senior tight end Matt Foradora. Robert Mamula's PAT was good and at 13:09 of the first Clarion led 7-0.
Clarion's defense held and the Eagles started their second drive on their own 20. Again the offense clicked downfield driving to the ESU 13-yard line. On fourth and 1 at the 13 Eagle head coach Jay Foster decided to go for the first, but Huether's sneak came up short and ESU turned the momentum on the very next play.
Marshall faded back to pass and lofted a perfect strike to Jeff Giglio for 86 yards to the 1. Zach Krise bulled over from the 1 to tie the game 7-7 at 6:12 of the first.
ESU's Nick Artinger intercepted a Huether pass at the Stroudsburg 29 and returned the pigskin 31 yards to the Clarion 40. The Warriors scored following the turnover on a 3-yard pass from Marshall to Willie Bell to take a 14-7 lead with:49 seconds left in the first.
Early in the second Clarion's Huether dropped back to pass and attempted to throw a screen pass, but the pass was intercepted by Taylor Cave and returned 26 yards for a touchdown giving ESU a 21-7 lead.
The Eagles did not back down, driving for a score just before intermission. Clarion got great field position when John Hackel recovered a Marshall fumble at the ESU 37, following a sack and fumble caused by Clarion linebacker Nick Sipes.
Huether hit Matt Ward for a 20-yard touchdown inside the left pylon and Clarion narrowed the elad to 21-14 with only 1:39 left in the second.
ESU added to their lead with only 2-seconds left before halftime when Marshall hit Sam Shuman on a 5-yard td pass, taking a 28-14 lead into halftime.
Clarion fought back into the game in the third quarter narrowing the lead to 28-21 when Alfonso Hoggard ran 5 yards off right tackle into the endzone capping a 48-yard drive in 6 plays.
ESU had the answer driving 60-yards in 10 plays on its next possession to take a 35-21 lead. Marshal capped the drive with a 20-yard td pass to Giglio with 35-seconds left in the third quarter.
Mamula booted a 45-yard field goal with 13:27 left in the game to cut the deficit to 35-24, but once again ESU had an answer mounting a 65-yard scoring drive. Brent Jones rushed for a 1 yard td and ESU led 42-24.
ESU's Drew Reinhard made a 22-yard field goal with 5:13 remaining to make it 45-24, and Clarion added the final td on a 12-yard td pass from Huether to Jacques Robinson to make the final 45-31.
Clarion had 399 yards of total offense to ESU's 415. Huether completed 19 of 33 passes for 307 yards and 3 td's along with 3 interceptions.
Matt Ward grabbed 5 passes for 81 yards and 1 td Robinson had 5 catches for 65 yards and 1 td, with Foradora getting 4 receptions for 76 yards and 1 td.
All-purpose back Alfonso Hoggard returned to the lineup after missing last week with an injury. He rushed for 68 yards and 1 td on 19 carries, returned 1 punt for 15 yards and 6 kickoffs for 110 yards.
Defensively Nick Sipes had 9 stops, 1 tfl and 1 fumble caused, with Joe Fox getting 8 hits and Daily Whitten 7 tackles and 1 interception.
ESU's Marshall completed 79.3% of his passes, the second best day in ESU history. Zach Krise rushed for 93 yards and 1 td on 23 carries, while Jeff Giglio had 7 catches for 148 yards and 1 td.
Clarion returns home next Saturday to hot Lock Haven at 6pm. It will be Family Day at Memorial Field. ESU is at Shippensburg next week.
