Clarion will host Millersville on Saturday, November 13, in the 2010 football season finale. Thirteen seniors will be honored in pre-game ceremonies at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
The game between Clarion and Millersville can be heard on the Golden Eagle Football network, which includes WCCR-FM, 92.7 and WKQW-FM, 96.3 in Oil City, as well as on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski providing the play by play and Joe Lodanosky offering color commentary.
13 SENIORS HONORED IN PRE-GAME CEREMONIES
Thirteen seniors will be honored on Saturday with their families in pre-game ceremonies. Those players suiting up for the final time in blue and gold are Craig Bunney (Wr. Freedom/Ambridge), David Dunn (NG, Harrisburg/Bishop McDevitt), Joe Fox (LB, Murraysville/Frank Regional), Danielson Gilbert (OG, Brockton, Mass. W. Roxbury), Alfonso Hoggard (RB, Philadelphia/Caravel Academy), Gerald Hudson (OG, Aliquippa), Kory Kusick (NG, East Brady/Karns City), Arminas Maciulis (LB, Jefferson Hills/Thomas Jefferson), Robert Mamula (K, Canonsburg/Canon McMillan), Ben Maund (DE, Canonsburg/Canon McMillan), Jacques Robinson (WR, 6-3, 200, Pittsburgh/Oliver), Nick Sipes (SS, Curwensville) and Chris Smeltzer (S, Red Lion).
FOSTER IN 5TH SEASON/ EAGLES 3-7/3-4 IN 2010
2009 EAGLES 8-3 – RANKED #8 IN SUPER REGION 1
Fifth year head coach Jay Foster opened the 2010 season with an 0-5 record, put since then the Eagles have rallied for three wins in five games and currently have a 3-7 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the PSAC-Western Division. Clarion opened the year with a home loss to Fairmont State (27-16), traveled to highly regarded Bloomsburg and lost 41-13 and returned to Memorial Stadium to lose a 28-24 decision to Shippensburg. The Eagles opened PSAC-West play and led #4 ranked Cal 7-3 at halftime, but lost the game 24-9. Clarion lost the annual Homecoming game to Slippery Rock in the final minute 16-13, then the Eagles changed qb's and started red-shirt freshman Ben Fiscus. The result was a record setting performance by Fiscus in Clarion's 49-6 win at Lock Haven, along with a 21-14 road win at IUP. Three weeks ago Clarion lost a 31-14 decision at Memorial Stadium to Edinboro, but rallied two weeks ago for a big 11-10 win at Gannon. Last week Clarion led #21 Mercyhurst 14-0 in the second quarter, but the Lakes rallied for a 38-14 win.
Clarion was 8-3 overall last year, 6-1 in the PSAC-West and finished the game on a 6-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles finished 2009 ranked 8th in the final NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Poll.
Foster, the 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year”, has a record of 15-39 at Clarion.
MILLERSVILLE IS 2-8 OVERALL/0-7 IN PSAC-EAST IN 2010
Millersville enters the game with an overall record of 2-8 and a PSAC-Eastern Division record of 0-7 in 2010.
The Marauders opened the year with a 33-28 loss to assumption, then reeled off two impressive wins over Lock Haven (35-21) and Gannon (29-26). After that MU has suffered 7 straight losses against Bloomsburg (44-7), Cheyney (20-17), C.W. Post (49-21), Kutztown (38-28), E. Stroudsburg (65-14), Shippensburg (19-14) and West Chester (45-14).
Millersville is led by third year coach Greg Colby, who has a record thus far of 6-26. Prior to Millersville Colby spent the previous six years as defensive coordinator at Northwestern University in the Big Ten.
MILLERSVILLE LEADS ALL-TIME SERIES 6-5
The last time these two teams played was in 2003 when the Marauders defeated Clarion 13-10 at Memorial Stadium in overtime. In 2002 Clarion won at Millersville 24-3. Clarion also won in 1998 by a 38-31 margin, while Millersville defeated Clarion in 1997 (31-25), 1995 (41-35) and 1994 (40-27).
Perhaps the most memorable game between the two was in 1977 when Clarion defeated the Marauders 25-24 in the PSAC title game at Millersville. Bill May booted a late field to provide the winning points. Clarion also topped MU 30-25 in 1967 and 33-14 in 1966, the year Clarion went 10-0. Millersville won games in 1929 and 1930.
EAGLE “O” RANKED #10 IN TOTAL OFFENSE
The Clarion offense ranks #10 in the PSAC in total offense at 299.5 yards per game, including #8 in rushing offense (148.4 ypg) and #13 in pass offense (151.1 ypg). Clarion is #13 in scoring offense at 18.4 ppg.
Red-shirt freshman qb Ben Fiscus (Fr. Indiana) will make his sixth straight start this Saturday. He was the PSAC-West Player of the Week against Lock Haven after completing 16 of 16 passes for 187 yards and 4 td's, plus rushing for 78 yards and 1 td in the Eagles 49-6 win at Lock Haven. On the season Fiscus has completed 56 of 113 passes for 617 yards and 6 td's, while rushing for 478 yards and 4 td's. Sophomore qb Eric Coxon (Pgh- Brentwood) has completed 78 of 150 passes for 894 yards and 3 td's with 9 int's.
ALL-AMERICAN ALFONSO HOGGARD LEADS BACKFIELD
Senior all-purpose back Alfonso Hoggard (Phila. – Caravel Academy) is handling the pigskin all over the field. A Football Gazette Third Team All-American in 2009, a First Team All-Region choice and the PSAC-West “Offensive Player of the Year”, Hoggard is in his final campaign.
In 2010 he has 198 rushes for 853 yards and 6 td's, plus 15 catches for 109 yards. He was the PSAC-West Player of the Week vs IUP after rushing for 179 yards and 2 td's on only 17 carries. He had td runs of 49 and 69 yards.
In 2009 Hoggard was #1 in the PSAC in rushing (1,046 yards – 104.6 p/g), rushing td's (17), overall td's (19), points scored (118) and all-purpose yards (1,798). His top games included 205 rushing yards against Slippery Rock, 292 all-purpose yards and 162 rushing yards against IUP, and a 4 touchdown day against Gannon including 3 rushing td's and an 87-yard kickoff return for a td.
Hoggard started his career as a receiver/all-purpose player and was a Second Team All-American in 2008 in that role. He latched onto 41 aerials for 472 yards and 2 td's, rushed for 180 yards on only 44 attempts, averaged 10.4 yards per punt return ((21 returns, 219 yards) and 23.1 yards per kickoff return. He was also the 2007 PSAC “Rookie of the Year”. In his career Hoggard has 2,139 on 479 carries with 24 td's. He ranks 6th in career rushing yards and 3rd in rushing td's.
He also has 109 career catches for 1,172 yards and 6 td's. He has 6,028 all-purpose yards and 31 career td's.
Also expecting to see plenty of time in the backfield are John Fuhrer (So. Pgh. – Keystone Oaks) and LeVaughn Robinson (So. Pgh – Penn Hills)
ROBINSON, BUNNEY & WARD LEAD TALENTED RECEIVING CORPS
The Golden Eagles have an outstanding receiving corps returning in 2010 with All-Region performer Jacques Robinson (Sr. Pgh – Oliver), plus Craig Bunney (Sr. Ambridge) and Matt Ward (Jr. Franklin Regional) in the lineup.
Robinson has latched onto 41 passes for 503 yards and 3 td's this season. Robinson now holds the Clarion career record for catches at 204, surpassing former record holder Alvin Slaughter who had 195 from 1995-98. Robinson is 3rd at Clarion in career receiving yards with 2,402 . Terry McFetridge (1982-85 – 2,711) and Alvin Slaughter (1995-98 – 2,860) are still ahead of him. Jacques has 16 career td's.
Robinson, a second team FB Gazette Super Region 1 selection and a first team PSAC-West choice in 2009, was #2 in the PSAC last year in receptions with 70 catches for 819 yards and 5 td's. His 9 catches for 123 yards and 1 td in an all-day rain at Cal was an impressive display at his position.
In 2008 he was a third team Super Region 1 and an All PSAC-West selection while leading the PSAC's regular season receivers with 70 catches (3rd best at Clarion) for 849 yards and 8 td's.
Veteran starters ready to latch onto Fiscus' passes are Craig Bunney and Matt Ward. Ward set a personal high with 12 catches for 118 yards against Fairmont State. Those 12 catches were tied for third most in a single game in school history. Alvin Slaughter had 14 vs WC in 1998 and Don Hohman had 13 vs Edinboro in 1965. Ward has 28 grabs for 277 yards and 1 td this season, while Bunney has 25 catches for 326 yards and 2 td's.
Also looking to catch passes will be Tarrean Barrett (So. Scranton) and Rob Tantlinger (So. Franklin) at wideout, along with Anthony Becoate (Fr. McKeesport) at tight end. Becoate has 15 catches for 203 yards and 3 td's this season.
BAZZONE CENTERS VETERAN “O” LINE
Clarion's “O” line starts four linemen with starting experience and a host of talented players. Two year starting guard Vince Bazzone (Jr. 6-2, 280, McKeesport) has moved to center and will be leading the “O” line. He will be joined up front by three-year starter Danielson Gilbert (Sr. 6-5, 300, OG, Brockton, Mass.) and two year letterwinner and part-time starter Gerald Hudson (Sr. 6-3, 330, Aliquippa) at guard, with two-year starter Elijah Morres (Jr., 6-5, 280, OT, Brookville) at tackle.. Quality depth abounds in letterwinners Eli Rupert (So. 6-3, 275, Apollo Ridge) and Bob Beidl (Jr. 6-8, 300, Clarion), along with tackle Mike Felker (6-4, 275, Fr. Gibsonia).
CLARION DEFENSE #8 IN PSAC
Clarion's “D” in was ranked 16th I the PSAC at mid-season, but is now a solid 8th in the league with some strong, consistent play. Clarion is 8th in total defense giving up 334.8 yards per game, including 148.4 (8th in PSAC) on the ground and 177.5 through the air (#6 in PSAC).
MAUND & MORRISON TOP D-LINE
Maund, an All PSAC-West lineman in 2009, has 45 hits and 12 tfl's, while Morrison has 33 tackles and 15 tfl's, with Dunn (16 hits) and Kusick (8 stops) alternating at noseguard. Tackle John Hackel (Jr. South Park), who has been outs since the Bloomsburg game with an injury, will be out the remainder of the season. Either Ryan Slack (9 stops, 4 tfl's) or Adam Bostick (11 tackles, 4 tfl's) could start.
FOX LEADS VETERAN LINEBACKING CORPS
Senior linebacker Joe Fox (Murrysville/Franklin Regional) leads consistent group of veteran linebackers in 2010. Fox, a three year starter and an All PSAC-West choice in 2009, has 61 hits and 5 tfl's this year.
Arminas Maciulis (Sr. Thomas Jefferson) has been starting at the other linebacker spot and has 56 tackles, 4 tfl's and 1 sack. Reggie Robinson (Jr. Pgh – Brashear), Steve Moyemont (Jr. Mt. Pleasant), and Mike Verdun (So. Greensburg C.C.) all will play.
Robinson has made 20 jolts with 5 tfl's and Moyemont has 14 hits.
ALL-AMERICAN SIPES ANCHORS SECONDARY
Senior strong safety and co-captain Nick Sipes (Curwensville) anchors a hard hitting secondary for the Golden Eagles. Sipes leads the team with 97 tackles and 10 tfl's in 2010. He was the PSAC-West Defensive Player of the Week against IUP for posting 11 tackles, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery and 1 sack.
Sipes was voted an HM FB Gazette All-American, a first team FB Gazette and Daktronics All-Region and first team PSAC-West choice after leading the Golden Eagles with 112 tackles plus 12 tfl's and 6 sacks in 2009. In 2007 he also posted 71 stops and 4 tfl's. In 2008 Nick played running back and rushed for 297 yards and 3 td's, plus caught 12 passes for 104 yards.
This week the secondary will have Chris Smeltzer (Sr. Red Lion) and freshman Jay Pettina (Indiana) at safety, along with Aaron Gluvna (So. Corry) and Matt Long (Fr. Pgh. North Catholic). Smeltzer has 39 tackles, Pettina 34 jolts, Gluvna 25 hits and Long 15 tackles. James Eckels, who started the first 4 games, has missed the last six with injury and will likely miss this week as well.
Wilson has 40 jolts, 3 int's and 2 tfl's in 2010. He jad 3 picks lsat week, returning one 97 yards for a td to tie the Clarion record set by Fred Wickstrom vs. Geneva in 1968. Last year he had 69 stops and 2 interceptions, returning one for a td against Fairmont. Paronish has 47 stops, Akins 23 hits and 1 int and Stimac 9 tackles.
MAMULA LEADS SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker Robert Mamula (Canon McMillan is 9 for 14 in field goals this season, including a record setting 50-yarder two weeks ago at Gannon. He also had a 47-yarder against Fairmont. Last year he hit on 12 of 16 field goals and 25 of 28 PAT's. He also made 8 of 12 field goals in 2008 and in four seasons has booted 35 of 57 field goal tries. He has also made 76 of 84 PAT's and has 182 kicking points at Clarion. He is averaging 37.0 yards per punt.
MILLERSVILLE OFFENSE AVERAGING 20.7 PPG IN 2010
The Millersville offense is averaging 20.7 ppg (#12 in PSAC) this season and is #9 in total offense averaging 313.3 yards per game. The Marauders are getting 86.4 rushing yards (#15 in PSAC) and 226.9 passing yards (#5 in PSAC) per game.
The offense is directed by senior qb Bill Shirk. He has completed 169 of 299 passes for 2,269 yards and 18 td's with only 11 int's.
Shirk has plenty of quality wideouts including the PSAC's top receiver Jamal Smith (60 grabs, 1,117 yards, 11 td's), plus Matt Egenrieder (34 catches, 632 yards, 1 td), Dominic Sanders (16 catches, 137 yards).
The running game is led by halfback Mike Jones who has rushed for 464 yards and 2 td's, plus caught 21 passes for 164 yards.
MILLERSVILLE RANKED #16 IN TOTAL DEFENSE IN PSAC
Millersville's defense ranks #16 in the entire PSAC in total defense yielding 435.8 yards per game. Opponents are getting 36 points per game (#14 in PSAC), along with 209.6 rushing yards per game (#15 in PSAC) and 226.2 passing yards (#15 in PSAC) per game.
The defensive front led by Chad Miller (24 tackles, 2 tfl's) and Jacob Haines (23 hits, 2.5 tfl's) at tackles, and Owen King (31 stops, 4.5 tfl's) and Zack Riley (13 tackles) at ends.
Jeff Longley is the team's leading tackler (74 hits) at inside linebacker, while Shane Gross (66 tackles, 12 tfl's) and Jamie Thomas (26 jolts) are on the outside.
The secondary has Rees Judge (31 tackles) and Alfred Williams (1 int) at the corners with Matt Sutjak (67 stops, 5 int's) at free safety and Brian Knell (39 jolts) at strong safety.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion is tradition rich in football ... 27 straight non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 49-year (1961-09) record of 273-211-6 and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000)…
CLARION – MILLERSVILLE – 2003 – Clarion lost 13-10 in overtime … Clarion tied the game on a Mark Hofmeister 42-yard field goal with 6:16 left in the fourth quarter … Millersville won in overtime on a Sean Hughes 40-yard field goal … Felton Woulard rushed for 133 yards and passed for 81 yards in the game … Pierre Odom caught 2 passes for 72 yards and 1 td (63 yarder) … MU's Omar Sanders rushed for 105 yards and 1 td … Clarion had 9 fumbles in the game … In 2002 Clarion won 24-3 … Adam Almashy rushed for 56 yards and 1 td, plus passed for 86 yards … Backup qb Frantz Charles rushed for 72 yards and 1 score … Clarion led 7-3 at halftime – then Kerwin Cledanor intercepted an MU pass and returned it 50 yards for a td in the third … Chris Carlton booted a 26-yard field goal and Frantz Charles had a 6-yard td run…. Bo Busch had 9 tackles and Shaun Saad posted 6 hits and 1 sack… In Clarion's 38-31 win over Millersville in 1998, the two teams combined for 962 yards of offense... Clairon had 133 rushing and 322 passing ... Clarion QB Chris Weibel completed only 12 of 30 passes for 322 yards and 3 td's ... Current Clarion receivers coach Alvin Slaughter grabbed 6 passes for 193 yards and 2 td's ... Millersville passed for 436 yards begind QB Drew Folmar (29 of 45) ... Sean Scott led MU with 12 catches for 227 yards... Clarion defeated Millersville in the 1977 PSAC Championship game… Bill May's late field goal won the game 25-24..
