BOX SCORE
(CLARION, PA.): Shippensburg took a 28-24 led on Kevin Marshall's 22-yard run with 10:23 left in the fourth, and Clarion fumbled at the Red Raider 6 yard line with 8 minutes left, helping Shippensburg to a 28-24 win on Saturday night in a game that had six lead changes.
Held at Clarion's Memorial Stadium, Clarion dropped to 0-3 on the season, while Shippensburg raised its record to 1-2.
Clarion took a 24-21 lead with 12:22 left in the game when All-America running back
Alfonso Hoggard scored on a 7-yard run, capping a 65-yard drive in six plays. QB
Eric Coxon started the drive with a 33-yard pass to
Craig Bunney to the Ship 32. A 16-yard pass to
Matt Ward, then a 2-yard run by Hoggard had the ball at the Ship 14. the drive stalled and
Robert Mamula booted a 31-yard field goal, but Shippensburg was called for a personal foul on the play, giving Clarion a first and goal at the seven. Hoggard scored on first down and Clarion had its 24-21 lead.
Shippensburg had a 43-yard kickoff return from Mike Frenette from the Raider 15 to the Clarion 42. Four plays later, Kevin Marshall broke four tackles and ran 22-yards for the game-winning score.
The Golden Eagles started their next drive at the Clarion 35. A six yard run by Hoggard and Coxon completed a 9-yard pass to
Jacques Robinson to the 50. Backup qb
Ben Fiscus scampered for 29-yards to the Ship 21, then Coxon came back in and ran 12 yards to the 9. Hoggard took the handoff on the next play, rushed into the middle of the line and fumbled the football and Terrence Glen recovered at the Ship 6, ending the threat and preserving a 28-24 win.
Clarion opened the scoring on a 46-yard td pass from Coxon to Robinson at 9:37 of the first quarter.
Kevin Marshall scored on a 7-yard for the Raiders at 20-seconds of the first, but missed the PAT and Clarion led 7-6.
Clarion placekicker
Robert Mamula booted a 38-yard field goal at 12:13 of the second to give Clarion a 10-6 lead, and Ship came back to make it 10-9 on a 21-yard field goal from Nate Schmidt at 4:24 of the second and that was the halftime score.
The Raiders took the lead in the third quarter when Mike Frenette scampered 24-yards to paydirt on a screen pass from Steven Adams with 11:29 left in the third quarter. The two point conversion failed and Ship led 15-10.
Clarion came right back and drove 76-yards and finished the drive with a 9-yard pass from Coxon to tight end
Anthony Becoate for the touchdown. Clarion failed on the 2-point try and led 16-15 at 2:23 of the third.
Frenette scored on a 20-yard pass from Adams at 14:18 of the fourth, again the 2-point PAT failed and ship led 21-16.
Hoggard scored on a 7-yard td run through the middle of the Shipp defense, and also scored on the 2-point conversion run through the middle, and Clarion led 24-21 with 12:22 left in the game, setting up the final 10 minutes of the game.
Clarion had 326 yards of offense, while Shipp had a total of 434.
Nick Sipes 13 tackles and 2.5 tfl's led the defense
Shipp's Steven Adams completed 12 of 20 passes for 223 yards and 2 td's. Kevin Marshall rushed for 86 yards and 2 td's, while Mike Frenette caught 5 passes for 108 yards and 2 td's.
Clarion returns home next Saturday to host California at 6pm in the annual Family Day game.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion honored its 1980 football team at the 3pm Pep Rally in downtown Clarion, and also introduced them at halftime of the Shipp game… A total of 33-players returned from that team … Notable returnees include Clarion Sports Hall of Fame members – NG – Steve Scillitani and placekicker Bill May … Co-Captain and QB Bob Beatty, wide receiver Bob Betts, Safety Mark Earley, and a host of others were on hand for the festivities…. Head Coach Al Jacks, assistant coaches Charles Ruslavage, Gene Sobolewski and Tony Linnan, plus former A.D. Frank Lignelli were all at the event.
