GOLDEN EAGLES SEEK 7TH WIN AT TOUGH LOCK HAVEN SATURDAY

Clarion posted an impressive 31-6 win over California on Saturday and is preparing for the final two weeks of the 2002 gridiron season. This Saturday, November 9th, the Golden Eagles travel to Lock Haven to battle a tough Bald Eagle squad. Kickoff at Hubert Jack Stadium is set for 1pm.

HEAR EAGLES ON WCCR-FM & REDZONE

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

CLARION 6-3 OVERALL & 2-2 in PSAC-WEST

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke enters the game with a 6-3 overall record and an 2-2 mark in the PSAC-West. Clarion opened the season with a quality showing in a 27-14 loss at #8 ranked and NCAA D-IAA power Youngstown State. The Eagles rattled off three straight wins against Millersville 24-3, Glenville State (59-38) and Kutztown (31-7). Then the Eagles went toe to toe against IUP before falling in the fourth quarter 28-14. The Eagles rebounded with two solid wins against West Chester 34-28 and Edinboro before dropping a tough 20-19 decision to Shippensburg. Clarion was ranked 7th in the East Region two weeks ago and is hoping to make a return appearance this week. Coach Luke enters the game with a 47-49 record at Clarion and a PSAC-West mark of 24-28. Luke's 15-year career collegiate record is 84-70, including a 37-21 mark in 7 years at Defiance.

LOCK HAVEN 4-5 OVERALL & 1-4 in PSAC-WEST UNDER MARK LUTHER

Third year Lock Haven head coach Mark Luther has led the Bald Eagles to an impressive 4-5 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the PSAC-West. LH opened 2002 with a 48-0 loss at Northeastern, but bounced back for a 21-14 win over Kutztown. After a 47-23 loss to Bloomsburg, the Eagles won two straight over Mansfield 33-30 and Cheyey 34-0. After a 34-19 loss at Cal, Lock Haven came back and upset Shippensburg 26-13. The following week LH played IUP very close before eventually bowing 31-14. Last Saturday the Bald Eagles lost in the fourth quarter to Slippery Rock 14-7. Luther has a three year record of 10-21.

CLARION LEADS SERIES 37-13-1 DATING BACK TO 1928

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 37-13-1 margin dating back to 1928. In the last ten seasons Clarion leads by a 8-2 margin. Clarion wins over that span came in 1992 (42-14), 1993 (37-26), 1994 (41-20), 1995 (49-32), 1996 (57-3), 1999 (44-41ot), 2000 (42-20) and 2001 (13-0). Lock Haven wins came in 1997 (33-32) and 1998 (35-28).

CLARION RANKS #1 IN PSAC IN RUSHING OFFENSE

Clarion is averaging 27.8 points per game (#4 in PSAC) and 350.6 yards of total offense (#7 in PSAC). The Eagles ranked fourth in the nation last week in rushing offense and are currently getting 266.1 yards per game (#1 in PSAC), while averaging 84.4 yards per game passing (#14 in PSAC).

Directing the Eagle offense is senior quarterback Adam Almashy. He has rushed for 344 yards and 4 td's on 110 carries. He has also hit on 51 of 118 passes for 672 yards and 5 td's. In his 4-year career he currently has 1,170 rushing yards and 16 td's on 525 carries. He also has hit on 346 of 788 passes for 4,783 yards and 41 td's. He is tied for second on the all-time td pass list with Jim Alcorn (41; 1966-67).

The running backs include Robert Walker at tailback, plus Glenn Lovelace, Brandon Sweeney, Kareem Shelton and Justin Sickeri at the halfbacks. Walker leads the team with 775 yards and 10 td's on 149 carries. Walker now has 1,913 career yards and 25 rushing td's on 321 carries. He is 7th on the all-time rushing list and is second on the career rushing td list with 25 td's, passing former great Elton Brown's 23 from 1981-84.

Lovelace has gained 323 yards and 4 td's on 36 carries and now has 775 career yards at Clarion as a sophomore. Sweeney, a freshman, is second on the team with 409 yards and 3 td's on 68 tries, while Shelton (145 yards, 1 td) and Sickeri (1 receiving td) see plenty of time.

Clarion's receivers include Ben Culver (14 catches, 254 yards, 2 td), Ed Rivers (4 catches, 102 yards, 1 td) and tight end Tom Pore (9 receptions, 145 yards).

CLARION DEFENSE LEADS PSAC IN SACKS & TFL'S

Clarion's defense is yielding 19.4 points (#4 in PSAC) and 303.2 yards (#7 in PSAC) of total offense per game. Opponents are getting 135.1 rushing yards (7th in PSAC) and 168.1 passing (#6 in PSAC) yards per game. Clarion leads the PSAC with 34 qb sacks and 87 tfl's.

Up front the Golden Eagles are led by noseguard Troy Bowers (55 hits, 19 tfl's, 9 sacks) and tackles Tim Connolly (42 stops, 10 tfl's, 4 sacks), George O'Brien (28 tackles, 8 tfl's) and Ben Heisel (3 tfl's).

The perimeters are protected by Jabari Weatherspoon (49 jolts, 13 tfl's, 6 sacks, 1 int), Kevin Platz (19 hits, 7 tfl's, 5 sacks), Brock Luke (15 stops) and Derek Puchalsky (4 tfl's).

Inside linebackers Scott McGrady and Shaun Saad anchor the middle. McGrady leads the team with 75 stops, 7 tfl's, 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, while Saad has 37 tackles and 3 sacks. Also seeing time is Zach Gourley (11 hits).

The secondary is led by free safety Bo Busch (67 hits, 6 break-ups), strong safety Emil Johnson (37 tackles, 1 int) and corners Myron Hargon (20 stops, 3 int's, 10 break-ups), Kerwin Cledanor (23 tackles, 3 int's) and James Charles 15 tackles).

The special teams have played consistently well. Punter Ken Crawford is averaging 39.3 yards per boot , while freshman placekicker Chris Carlton is 7 for 11 in field goals and 27 of 29 PAT's. Culver, Clarion's punt return specialist, is averaging 11.1 per return.

LHU OFFENSE LED BY WALKER & BURKLEY

Lock Haven's offense is averaging 19.7 points per game (#11) and 199.6 yards of total offense (#14 in the PSAC). The Bald Eagles are getting 96.7 rushing yards (#11 in PSAC) and 102.9 passing yards (#13 in PSAC) per game.

Lock Haven will likely use two quarterbacks in the game. Freshman Rob Kristiniak has hit on 20 of 49 passes for 190 yards and 4 td's, while junior Tim Storino has clicked on 41 of 94 aerials for 609 yards and 8 td's.

The running game is paced by tailback Maurice Walker who has gained 499 yards and 5 td's on 117 carries. Backup Melvin Kirby has 70 carries for 251 yards.

The receiving corps will be led by Marcus Burkley who has 23 grabs for 394 yards and 6 td's. Scott Anderson (8 catches, 73 yards) and John Caldwell (9 catches, 105 yards, 1 td), plus tight end Ryan Lightner (9 catches, 129 yards, 1 td).

LH DEFENSE LED BY CAREY & MATZ

Lock Haven's defense is yielding 25.7 points per game (#12 in PSAC) and 377.8 yards (#12 in PSAC) per game. Bald Eagle opponents are only getting 206.3 rushing yards (#13 in PSAC) and 171.4 passing yards (#7 in PSAC) per game.

Up front the Eagles are led by tackles Jarrod Hendricks (26 hits, 2.5 tfl's), Jason Kasheta (9 hits) and Brian Johnson (18 stops). The end are protected by Dustin Shaffer (26 tackles, 3 tfl's) and Nathan Eck (30 stops, 13 tfl's).

Middle linebacker Derrick Metz leads the team with 99 tackles, 10 tfl's and 4 interceptions, while Jon Nalewak (64 hits, 7 tfl's) and Brian Lumpkin (25 tackles) also anchor the middle.

The secondary is led by left corner Robert Carey, who is one of the top overall players in the PSAC. Carey has 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble return for a 99-yard td, leads the PSAC in punt returns (17.6 per return), including 2 punt returns for td, averages 24.0 per kickoff return and has caught 2 passes on offense for 64 yards and 2 td's.

Also defending at corner is Ngoyi Mukusa (53 tackles, 1 int), strong safety Jim Hanzely (36 hits) and free safety John Scullin (40 jolts, 4 int's).

CLARION NOTES: Last year Clarion topped Lock Haven 13-0 at Lock Haven ... Demetric Gardner ran for 112 yards and 1 td ... Adam Almashy completed 13 of 20 passes for 164 yards ... Clarion held Maurice Walker to 33 yards on 10 carries ... Clarion had 427 yards, while Lock Haven had 106 yards of offense ... Clarion won the last three games including (42-20 in 2000) and (44-41 in 3 overtimes in 1999)... Both games were in Clarion due to new PSAC schedules taking over ... In 2000 Clarion rushed for a school record 443 yards including 177 and 2 td's by Robert Walker and 169 by fullback Tab Musser ... Almashy completed 8 of 14 for 104 yards and 2 td's... LH QB Ed Galiczynski completed 19 of 35 for 248 yards and 1 td... In 1999's Senior Day game, Clarion placekicker Frank VanWert booted a 34-yard field goal in the third overtime to give Clarion a 44-41 lead ... On Lock Haven's possession LHU runner Jamie Allen fumbled at the 10 yard line and Clarion corner Kervin Charles recovered to preserve the victory ... Clarion had 356 total yards including 210 rushing ... Gardner had 61 rushing and 1 td, while Almashy completed 12 of 24 passes for 146 yards and 2 td's... Lock Haven had 420 yards of total offense including 201 rushing and 219 passing ... Clarion returns home to host Slippery Rock on November 16th for the season finale... The SRU game will also be Senior Day at Clarion.