BOX SCORE

            (Erie): Clarion freshman qb Ben Fiscus scored the game winner on a 20-yard td run with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter and the Golden Eagle defense did the rest as Clarion defeated Gannon 11-10 on Saturday afternoon at University Field.

 

            Clarion raised its overall record to 3-6 and PSAC-West mark at 3-3, while Gannon dropped to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the West.

 

            Trailing 10-5 in the fourth quarter, Clarion took the ball at its own 32 and drove 68 yards in 8 plays to win the game. Two big plays in the drive were a 16-yard run for a first down by Alfonso Hoggard to the Gannon 39, then on third at 6 at the Gannon 35, Hoggard used second and third effort to bust down the right sideline for 15 yards to the Golden Knight 20. On first down Fiscus faked the direct handoff to Hoggard, then optioned around left end and dove to the pylon for the go-ahead score.

 

            Clarion's attempted for a 2-point conversion failed and the Golden Eagles led 11-10 with 4:39 remaining.

 

            Gannon had one final shot to try and win the game. The Knights went from their own 25 to the Clarion 33. Gannon qb Zach Boedicker had his pass intercepted by freshman Jay Pettina at the Clarion 22 with 36-seconds left in the game and the Golden Eagles ran out the clock.

 

            Clarion had 229 yards of offense to Gannon's 186, and Clarion controlled the time of possession 36:52 – 23:08. Clarion had 161 rushing yards and 68 yards passing.

 

            Alfonso Hoggard rushed for 119 yards on 27 carries, plus caught 3 passes for 16 yards and returned 3 kickoffs for 65 yards.

 

            Fiscus rushed for 44 yards and 1 td, plus hit on 7 of 18 passes for 68 yards.

 

            Nick Sipes led a strong Clarion defensive effort with 9 tackles, Arminas Maciulis had 8 hits with 1 tfl and Pettina had 5 tackles, 2 qb sacks and the game saving interception.

 

            Gannon had 19 yards rushing and 167 passing.

 

            Boddicker completed 14 of 28 passes for 167 yards and ran 18 times for 13 yards.

 

            Tyler Batts rushed for 24 yards on 27 carries.

 

            Clarion took a 2-0 lead on a safety with 5:01 left in the first. Gannon had the ball at their own 18, and the snap went over Boddicker's head and into the endzone. Boddicker kicked the ball out of the endzone for the safety.

 

            With Clarion knocking at the door for another score, qb Ben Fiscus had his pass from the Gannon 6 yard line, deflected at the goal line, intercepted by Gannon's Chris Cook, who returned the interception 100 yards for a touchdown. The PAT gave Gannon a 7-2 lead at 1:17 of the first.

 

            Clarion placekicker Robert Mamula booted a school record 50-yard field goal with 17-seconds left in the first quarter. His 50-yarder broke the old record of 49-yards shared by John Desmond (1985 vs Cheyney) and Mark Hofmeister (2003 vs SR).

 

            Gannon placekicker Jeremy Ditzler also booted a 50-yard field goal with 13:33 left in the second quarter for a 10-5 Gannon lead. The score remained the same until Fiscus game-winner.

 

            Clarion travels to Mercyhurst next Saturday for a noon kickoff.