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(YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO): The Stambaugh Stadium crowd of 17,834 had barely settled in its seats when Clarion freshman Kareem Shelton silenced the partisans with an electrifying 78-yard kickoff return to open the 2002 season.
The return set the tone of the game as the underdog and unranked NCAA Division II Golden Eagles battled the eighth ranked NCAA Division I-AA Penguins before bowing 27-14.
"I was proud of the way our team responded here tonight," said Clarion ninth year head coach Malen Luke. "You know respect is like trust … It has to be earned. I think we earned a real measure of that tonight."
Clarion had an opportunity to take the lead early in the game. After Shelton's game opening return to the YSU 19, tailback Robert Walker dashed 8 yards to the Penguin 11. On second and 2, qb Adam Almashy lost the handle on an option play and YSU recovered at its own 16.
But the Eagles weren't done. The defense held the Penguins, including a big third down sack of YSU qb Colby Street by Clarion junior noseguard Troy Bowers back at the Penguin 4.
Clarion got the ball back in great field position at the YSU 45 and drove the ball to the Penguin 17 on 8 plays, but had to settle for a 38 yard field goal try from freshman Chris Carlton. The boot fell short and the Eagles had missed two great opportunities.
On YSU's third possession senior tailback P.J. Mays showed why he was the Gateway Conference "Player of the Year" in 2001. He electrified the crowd with a 73-yard run from the YSU 26 to the Clarion 1. He was caught from behind on a great tackle by corner Myron Hargon, but Mays bolted over from the 1 on the next play to give YSU a 7-0 lead with 4:44 left in the first quarter.
The Penguins went ahead 14-0 on the final play of the first quarter when junior Josiah Doby scored on a 53-yard capping a 74-yard scoring drive in 5 plays.
YSU built a 20-0 lead in the second quarter when Street hit tight end John Schumacher over the middle with a 26-yard td pass.
Clarion owned the second half and actually put themselves in position to potentially challenge to win the game.
The Golden Eagles started their first scoring drive at its own 36 after linebacker Shaun Saad recovered a Street fumble. Freshman halfback Brandon Sweeney led the drive with a big 40-yard run from the Penguin 47 to 7. On the next play Sweeney capped the drive by sprinting around right end to paydirt. Carlton's PAT drew Clarion to within 20-7 with 8:04 left in the third.
YSU came right back marching 58 yards in 10 plays. Again it was Mays doing the damage while scoring on an 18-yard run. Mays broke several tackles on his way to the endzone. YSU led 27-7 with 3:36 left in the third.
The Eagles bounced right back and drove 54-yards in 9 plays to get their second score. The big play in the drive came on 4th and 7 at the YSU 40. Clarion lined up in punt formation, but Luke rolled the dice calling for a fake and pass by punter Ken Crawford. Luke caught the Penguins napping. Crawford completed an 18-yard pass to Chad Thompson to the YSU 22. After a Clarion penalty, Walker skirted right end on a neat draw play and bolted down the right sideline for 23 yards to the YSU 11 on the second play of the fourth quarter. Kareem Shelton then scored his first collegiate td with a strong 11-yard run off left tackle to narrow YSU's lead to 27-14 with 14:03 remaining.
The Eagles threatened again late in the fourth quarter. Clarion drove from its own 25 to the YSU 32 but the drive stalled and YSU held on for its first victory of the year.
Clarion posted 229 yards of total offense including 127 rushing yards and 102 passing. Walker led the ground game with 67 yards on 16 tries, while Sweeney gained 44 yards and 1 td on 5 attempts, and Shelton had 11 yards and 1 td on 3 tries.
QB Adam Almashy hit on 7 of 14 passes for 61 yards and Mike McCullum led the receiving corps with 4 grabs for 34 yards.
Clarion's defense was led by noseguard Troy Bowers who had 11 tackles, 5 tfl's and 1 sack. Scott McGrady had 7 stops, while Kerwin Cledanor intercepted a pass.
YSU totaled 368 yards of offense including 300 rushing and 68 passing. P.J. Mays led the Penguins with 165 yards and 2 td's on 26 carries, while Doby posted 129 yards and 1 td on only 5 tries. Street hit on 3 of 7 aerials for 50 yards and 1 td.
Clarion travels to Millersville on Saturday, September 14th for a 1pm kickoff. YSU hosts McNeese State on September 7th.
