Sept. 19, 2009
Final Stats
CLARION - Clarion used great early field position to take a 17-0 lead after one quarter of play on its way to a 24-0 win over Lock Haven in the PSAC-West opener for both teams Saturday night at Clarion's Memorial Stadium.
Alfonso Hoggard, 2-yard run, Jacques Robinson, 3-yard pass from Tyler Huether, and Robert Mamula, 26-yard field goal, staked the Golden Eagles (2-2 overall, 1-0 PSAC-West) to the 17-0 lead at the end of first 15 minutes.
Clarion then tacked on a 57-yard scoring run by Hoggard in the third quarter to end the scoring.
The Golden Eagles defense held Lock Haven (0-3, 0-1) to 180 yards of total offense including negative seven rushing and sacked Bald Eagle quarterbacks six times while pitching their first shutout since beating Lock Haven 16-0 Oct. 15, 2005.
Hoggard led Clarion's offense with 114 yards rushing on 18 carries while adding 100 yards of returns including a 78-yard kickoff return. Huether was 14 of 21 passing for 133 yards and a touchdown with Robinson catching six balls for 55 yards and the score. Craig Bunney had three grabs for 17 yards, Matt Foradora two for 31 and Matt Ward two for 20.
Jarrett Kratzer was 22 of 38 passing for Lock Haven for 184 yards and an interception. Jay Hartman had four grabs for 69 yards, Ian Smith had six catches for 39 yards and Micah Coleman had four catches for 25 yards. Hartman added one rush for 17 yards.
Nick Sipes paced Clarion's defense with 11 tackles, including a sack, while Joseph Fox had six.
Lock Haven's defense was led by Nick Gounaris and Ben Snyder with 11 tackles each. Snyder also forced a fumble with Josh Moran recovering two fumbles.
Hoggard got things started for Clarion when he returned the game's opening kickoff 78 yards to the Lock Haven 2-yard line. Three plays later, the junior scored from that point to give the Golden Eagles a 7-0 lead.
Clarion started its next drive on its own 43-yard line and quickly marched down the field scoring on the Huether to Robinson 3-yard pass. It was the fourth catch by Robinson on the drive totaling 37 yards.
The Golden Eagles third drive started at the Lock Haven 9-yard line following a Bald Eagle punt attempt that went array with punter Paul Causy having to try to run the ball and losing 15 yards.
Lock Haven's defense stiffened and Clarion got the Mamula field goal to go up 17-0.
The Bald Eagles had a couple of chances to score in the first half including driving to the Clarion 4-yard line late in the half. But Kratzer was sacked by Steven Moyemont and John Reichert on fourth down ending the threat. Earlier, Noah Heimer missed a 40-yard field goal after Lock Haven had recovered a fumble at the Clarion 35.
Clarion scored on its first drive of the second half when Hoggard broke free down the home sideline for the 57-yard touchdown.
The Golden Eagles had a few chances to add to the lead, but Mamula missed a pair of long field goals in the second half including a 47-yard try and a 45-yard try.
Lock Haven also had a couple of chances to score in the fourth quarter, but a Chris Wilson interception of a Kratzer pass at the 15-yard line ended one drive, and Lock Haven went four-and-out after recovering a fumble at the Clarion 32 with 4:09 left to play.
Both teams return to action next Saturday with Clarion traveling to California (Pa.) for a 3 p.m. kickoff and Lock Haven hosting Mercyhurst at 2 p.m.
NOTES - It's Clarion's first PSAC-West opener win since a 35-34 win over California Sept. 25, 2004. In that game, Clarion won on a Hail Mary pass from Brandon Dando to Joe Farkas on the game's final play ... With the 14 completions, Huether moved into second in school history in completions with 379 behind only Chris Weibel (586, 1993-98). He passed Doug Emminger (375, 1984-87) Saturday night. Huether also ranks sixth in passing yards with 4,577 passing Mike Carter (4,508, 1987-90) Saturday. Robinson's six catches gives him 121 in his career moving him into ninth place in school history. He passed Marlon Worthy (117, 1991-94) Saturday, and his 1,369 career receiving yards moves him into 13th place in school history ahead of former All-Americans Bob Green (1,322; 1982-84) and Art Walker (1,316, 1988-91). His touchdown reception was also his 10th in his career becoming the 20th Golden Eagle to reach double figures in touchdown catches ... Clarion's 2-2 start is the best for the Golden Eagles since starting 2-2 in 2005.
