Are you ready for some football! Thursday should be an exciting day in Clarion – Pa.
The Golden Eagles open their home and 2010 season on Thursday, September 2, when Clarion hosts Fairmont State at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6pm.
Prior to the game all are welcome to the Blue & Gold Kickoff Pep Rally from 3-6pm in downtown Clarion. The Pep Rally will be located on North 6th Avenue between Main Street and Merle Avenues. Come and meet the 2010 Golden Eagle Team including 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” Jay Foster and Team Captains Alfonso Hoggard and Nick Sipes, who will speak to the assembled crowd. New Clarion President Dr. Karen Whitney will also greet football fans, plus the Golden Eagle Pep Band, the Clarion University Cheerleaders and Dance team, will perform on stage. C-93 Radio, who broadcasts Golden Eagle football, will be broadcasting live from Downtown between 4-5pm. Clarion Chamber Executive Director Tracy Becker will emcee the event.
The Blue and Gold Kickoff Days are sponsored by the Clarion Chamber of Business and Industry, the Clarion Conservancy, and Clarion University Athletics. Clarion University students, parents and alumni, along with local residents, are urged to come out and support the Golden Eagles.
The game between Clarion and Fairmont State 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.
FOSTER BEGINS 5TH SEASON/ EAGLES POST 8-3 MARK IN 2009
FINISH 2ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8TH IN SUPER REGION 1
Fifth year head coach Jay Foster marches into 2010 with a squad that has a total of 19 starters and 38 lettermen returning. The roster includes 14 seniors, 16 juniors and 22 sophomores, by far the most experienced group under Foster
Clarion had a strong 2009 grid campaign including an 8-3 overall record, a 6-1 mark in the rugged PSAC-West and finished the season with 6 straight wins and an 8th place ranking in the final NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Poll.
The Golden Eagles won 7 of their final 8 games in 2009, including ending the season on a 6-game winning streak. That win streak could have been 8 in a row, as the Eagles lost a tough PSAC-West showdown at Cal in week 5 by a 35-31 margin. The Golden Eagles led Cal 31-28 with 4:40 remaining on a 44-yard td pass from Tyler Huether to Jacques Robinson. Cal went ahead with 1:01 left 35-31, then the Eagles responded by driving to the Cal 27 before trying a game-winning pass as time ran out that was intercepted at the goal line. That game had 8 lead changes.
Clarion finished the year with a 42-21 Homecoming Day win over Gannon, a 27-10 win at SRU, a 29-25 win over Mercyhurst, a 30-28 win over IUP, a 30-17 win over #21 rated Edinboro at Sox Harrison Stadium and a 32-12 victory at Cheyney to end the year.
FAIRMONT STATE 3-8 IN 2009/RETURNS 17 STARTERS & 42 LETTERMEN
Fairmont State is led by fourth year head coach Mike Lopez who returns 17 starters and 42 lettermen from last year's Fighting Falcon team. The 2009 squad finished 3-8 overall, but had impressive wins over Glenville State (50-37), West Virginia Wesleyan (21-17) and Seton Hill (34-13). The Falcons also lost in overtime to Lake Erie (27-24) and played nationally ranked West Liberty tough before losing 35-9. Lopez was 5-6 in 2008 and 6-5 in 2007 at Fairmont, and has a three year record of 14-19.
CLARION LEADS OVERALL SERIES 10-5
Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 10-5 margin in games dating back to 1982. From 1982-91 the two schools were regulars on the overall schedule with Clarion posting a 7-3 advantage. Clarion won the first five meetings including 1982 (24-12), 1983 (21-17), 1984 (21-13), 1985 (7-2) and 1986 (14-0). Fairmont won three straight starting in 1987 (14-8), 1988 (26-25) and 1989 (51-38), before the Golden Eagles answered with wins in 1990 (31-14) and 1991 (24-21). Clarion also won games in 1994 (29-19) and 1995 (48-13), before losing the 2007 renewal at Fairmont 21-14 and the 2008 game in Clarion by a 23-20 margin on the game's final play at Memorial Stadium. Last year Clarion traveled to Fairmont and won by a score of 33-21. Chris Wilson's 40 yard interception return for a td with 3:43 remaining sealed that win for the Eagles.
EAGLE OFFENSE RETURNS 8 STARTERS
The Clarion offense returns 8 starters and 15 lettermen from a unit that averaged 343.7 yards and 28.6 points per game. The Eagles averaged 139.9 rushing yards and 203.8 passing yards per game.
Sophomore qb Eric Coxon (Pgh- Brentwood) will likely start for the Golden Eagles, while red-shirt freshman Ben Fiscus (Indiana) is still expected to see some time.
Coxon played in 4 games in 2008 and completed 2 of 8 passes for 10 yards. Coxon and Fiscus sat out last season. They look to replace Tyler Huether who passed for 2,242 yards and 10 td's, and also ran for 8 td's.
ALL-AMERICAN HOGGARD LEADS BACKFIELD
Senior all-purpose back Alfonso Hoggard (Phila. – Caravel Academy) is ready to handle the pigskin in a variety of ways in 2010. 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 ready for his final campaign.
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 1,305 rushing yards on 281 carries and 18 rushing td's, plus 94 career catches for 1,063 yards and 6 td's. He has 4,532 all-purpose yards and 25 career td's.
Also expecting to see plenty of time in the backfield are John Fuhrer (So. Pgh. – Keystone Oaks) and Jerico Weiztel (Ridgway). Fuhrer ran for 200 yards and 2 td's a year ago, while Weiztel transferred to Clarion from Florida where he played baseball the last two seasons.
ROBINSON, BUNNEY & WARD LEAD TALENTED RECEIVING COPRS
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, 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.
In his outstanding Clarion career Robinson ranks third with 163 catches and seventh in receiving yards with 1,899. He needs 32 catches to reach Alvin Slaughter's career best of 195, and 961 receiving yards to reach Slaughter's mark of 2,860 yards. He has 13 career td catches.
Returning as starters in 2010 are Craig Bunney and Matt Ward. Bunney caught 34 passes for 459 yards last year, while Ward grabbed 27 aerials for 310 yards and 1 td. Combining Robinson, Bunney and Ward, the trio have latched onto 242 passes for 2,843 yards and 14 td's.
Also looking to catch passes will be Tarrean Barrett (So. Scranton) and Rob Tantlinger (So. Franklin) at wideout, along with Rob Irwin (So. Bellefonte) and Anthony Becoate (Fr. McKeesport) at tight end.
BAZZONE CENTERS VETERAN “O” LINE
Clarion's “O” line will return 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), and a host of red-shirt freshmen.
CLARION DEFENSE RETURNS 9 STARTERS
Nine starters and 21 lettermen return for a Clarion defense that was the key to Clarion's team success in 2009. The Eagle “D” limited opponents to only 302.9 yards per game last year (4th in the entire PSAC) and 21.7 points per game (5th in PSAC). The Golden Eagles were an impressive 3rd in the PSAC in rushing defense while giving up only 118.5 rushing yards per game, along with 184.4 passing yards (9th in PSAC).
HACKEL, MAUND & MORRISON TOP D-LINE
Morrison and Maund had strong seasons at defensive end in 2009. Morrison posted 48 stops with 15 tfl's and 6 sacks, along with 3 pass break-ups. Maund, meanwhile was an All PSAC-West lineman with 38 stops, 7 tfl's and 5 sacks. Maund has 82 career tackles, 19 tfl's and 8 sacks.
The defensive interior features Hackel who had 54 jolts last year including 8 tfl's, 3 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries. In 2 years he has 91 hits, 16 tfl's, 5 sacks and 5 fumble recoveries.
Dunn and Kusick, starters throughout their careers, will handle the chores at noseguard. Dunn had 23 tackles and 8 tfl's last year, while Kusick chipped in with 10 stops and 1 tfl.
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, was third on the team last year with 62 tackles, plus had 9 tfl's and 3 sacks. In three seasons he has collected 156 hits, 25 tfl's and 5 sacks.
Moyement contributed 44 tackles and 7 tfl's last year and has 83 hits and 12 tfl's in two seasons. Robinson collected 23 jolts and 3 tfl's last year, while Maciulis, a three-year letterwinner, had 38 stops and 1 int in 2009. Verdun was a starter to begin 2009, but was hurt and only played in two games.
ALL-AMERICAN SIPES ANCHORS SECONDARY
Senior strong safety Nick Sipes (Curwensville) will anchor an athletic and tough secondary for the Golden Eagles. 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.
The secondary will not have veteran free safety Shawn Sopic (Sr. Curwensville) the first three weeks due to an off-season injury. A three-year starter, Sopic had 56 hits and 7 break-ups last year and in his career has 165 tackles, 14 break-ups, 4 int's and 5 tfl's..
The secondary is loaded with talent at safety including returning starters James Eckels (Jr. McKeesport) and Chris Smeltzer (Sr. Red Lion), plus Aaron Gluvna (So. Corry). Eckles had 30 stops last year, while Smeltzer had 30 stops and 4 tfl's last year and has contributed 71 hits and 9 tfl's in three seasons. Gluvna gained valuable experience in 2009 while getting 12 hits and 1 interception.
The corner spots will have Chris Wilson (Jr. Phila. – Frankford) as one starter, with Andrew Paronish (So. Northern Cambria) and Anthony Stimac (So. East Brady/Karns City) battling at the other corner position.
Wilson had a strong season in 2009 ranking second on the team in tackles with 67, plus intercepting two passes and returning one for a touchdown. Paronish had 17 hits last year and Stimac 19 stops playing in the secondary and on special teams.
MAMULA & CONWAY RETURN TO SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker Robert Mamula (Canon McMillan), who connected on 12 of 16 field goals and 25 of 28 PAT's, returns to lead the special reams. He also hit on 8 of 12 field goals in 2008 and in three seasons has booted 26 of 43 field goal tries. He has also made 61 of 68 PAT's and has 139 kicking points at Clarion.
Nathan Conway (So. Central Mountain) returns as the Eagle punter in 2010. Last year he averaged 37.9 yards per punt, booted 9 inside the 20 and had a long punt of 54 yards.
FAIRMONT STATE OFFENSE RETURNS 7 STARTERS IN 2010
The Fighting Falcon offense averaged 300.1 yards per game and 19.5 points per game in 2009. Fairmont gained 172.2 yards per game on the ground and 127.9 through the air.
FSU will likely start highly touted freshman Logan Moore at quarterback. Last Fall Moore threw for 2,572 yards and 31 td's leading Fairmont Senior High to a 10-2 record and the NCAC title. He also rushed for 609 yards and 11 td's. In his high school career he completed 398 of 751 passes for 6,286 yards and 68 td's.
The running game is in good hands with senior Doug Brazill and sophomore Scott Victoria set to tote the pigskin. Brazill had 140 carries for 664 yards and 7 td's last year, and also rushed for 452 yards in 2009 and 1,137 in 2007. Victorio gained 270 yards and 2 td's on 68 attempts last year. Cody Reed (154 yards, 1 td) will start at fullback.
The receivers are talented with Perry Baker and j.c. transfer Eric Eitson ready to catch passes, along with tight end Stephan Johnson. Baker had 16 catches for 233 yards last year and also grabbed 34 for 589 yards and 9 td's in 2008. Johnson collected 12 aerials for 237 yards and 4 td's last year.
FALCON DEFENSE RETURNS 7 STARTERS IN 2010
The Fairmont State defense returns 7 starters from a defense that yielded 361.9 yards and 27.8 points per game in 2009. Falcon opponents gained 168.6 yards rushing and 193.3 yards passing a year ago.
Up front the “D” will be led by up front by first team WVIAC end Luke Black (43 hits, 8 tfl's, 3 sacks), along with nose tackle Travis Bunner and end Tony Patterson (33 stops, 5 tfl's).
The linebacking corps features 2009 second leading tackler David Pack (68 hits, 4 tfl's), Dan Dario (37 stops, 7 tfl's) and freshman Garrett Davis or junior Brian Turner.
The secondary features safeties Greg Underwood (68 hits, 8 tfl's, 3 int's), Daniel Strosnider (15 hits) and Dewey McDonald (36 jolts, 5 int's – including an 85-yard int. return for a td). The corners will be Ryland Newman (25 stops, 2 int's) and Ronnie Lockhart, a red-shirt freshman.
Zach Page is a dangerous return specialist who returned 2 kickoffs for td's last year including 1,221 kickoff return yards and 70 punt return yards.
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)…
FAIRMONT STATE SERIES NOTES: Last year at Fairmont State, Clarion won by a 33-21 margin… Clarion placekicker Robert Mamula was 4 for 4 in field goals connecting from 21, 30, 46 and 22 yards… Clarion was outgained by Fairmont 371-346 … Clarion led 16-14 at halftime – then a 1 yd td by Huether and a field goal by Mamula in the third made it 26-14… Chris Wilson's 40 yard interception return for a td with 3:43 was the game clincher… Clarion returned two int's for a td – Hoggard was injured in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game… QB Tyler Huether completed 20 of 41 passes for 253 yards … plus rushed for 25 yards and 1 td… Jacques Robinson had 7 catches for 85 yards and Matt Foradora also had 7 for 76 yards… Nick Sipes had 13 tackles and 1 sack… Ben Maund posted 9 with 3 tfl's … Fairmont's Brazill rushed for 56 yards and Victorio 53 yards… Perry Baker had 2 rushes for 51 yards, including a 54-yard td on a reverse… In Clarion in 2008 - Fairmont won 23-20 when Alex Ashley kicked a 39 yard field goal on the game's final play ... Clarion tied the game with 3:29 left when Nick Sipes ran 34-yards with a td... Fairmont outgained Clarion 302-271 ... Clarion qb Gino Rometo hit on 21 of 31 passes for 224 yards and 1 td ... Jacques Robinson caught 7 for 89 and 1 td, with Foradora grabbing 5 for 35 and Hoggard 4 for 71 yards... FSC's Bradford rushed for 53 yards and completed 10 of 22 for 184 and 2 td's ... Perry Baker caught 2 passes for 78 and 1 td - which went 72 yards ... Travis Hawthorne had 4 catches for 56 yards. In 2007 at Fairmont Clarion won the stat battle (435-361 total offense) and led into the fourth quarter 14-13, when FSC's Vick Bradford scored on a 1-yard run with 7:39 left to win the game 21-14... Clarion had first and goal at the in the final 2 minutes to try and win the game, but FSC's defense came up with the big stops and won the game ... Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 103 yards and 1 td, and qb Tyler Huether passed for 230 yards and rushed for 81 more ... Pierre Odom caught 6 passes for 77 yards and 1 td, Jacques Robinson 5 catches and Alfonso Hoggard 2 grabs ... FSC's Doug Brazill rushed 33 times for 219 yards and 1 td ... Brazill had a big 56-yard run to the 1 yard line in the fourth quarter which set up Fairmont's game-winning score ... FSC was only 3 of 12 passing ... In 1995 Clarion won 48-13 at Fairmont ... Steve Witte rushed for 157 yards and 3 td's, plus caught 4 passes for 85 yards ... Current QB coach Chris Weibel completed 15 of 22 for 219 and 2 td's... Kim Niedbala led the defense with 11 tackles and a fumble caused ... FSC QB Jarrod Fergason completed 18 of 32 for 172 yards and 2 td's ... Teddy Murphy grabbed 8 passes for 82 yards and 2 td's for the Falcons... In 1994 Clarion won 29-19 at Clarion's Memorial Stadium ... Steve Witte once again had 2 td's, 1 rushing and 1 receiving ... Clarion jumped to a big lead right before halftime with a Witte 12-yard td pass from Craig Ray, and then Kim Niedbala posted a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown (24 seconds apart), giving Clarion a 22-7 halftime lead.... Marlon Worthy opened the second half with a 93-yard kickoff return for a td and the Eagles had their first win of 1994... Alim Kamara led the “D” with 14 tackles, 1 tfl', 1 fumble caused and recovered and a sack ... Clint Terza had 13 stops ... Fairmont halfback Thomas Foster rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries in that game ... Fergason hit 18 of 37 passes for 202 yards and 2 td's with 3 int's ... The first game in this series was in 1982 and Clarion won that game as well by a 24-12 margin at Fairmont State... Clarion tailback Geoff Alexander had a career day at Fairmont rushing 30 times for 237 yards and 1 td ... He scored the game's first td on an 80-yard run ... The game was secured with 14:07 left in the fourth qhen QB Dave Dragovich hit Terry McFetridge for a 5-yard td pass for the final margin... Clarion rushed for 319 on the day - Elton Brown also had 66 yards ...... Larry Farrell hit 12 of 34 passes for 249 yards and 2 td's for FSC... John Harbert caught 7 passes for 105 yards for the Falcons... Jeff Chalovich led Clarion's “D” with 14 tackles, 2 break-ups, 1 fumble caused ... Tony Colecchi had 5 hits and Mike May and Jim Trovato had sacks.
