Following a tough 27-16 loss to Fairmont state in the season opener last Thursday, Clarion's 2010 gridders hit the road in week #2 as the Golden Eagles travel to Bloomsburg to take on the talented Huskies on Saturday, September 11th at Redman Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
The game between Clarion and Bloomsburg 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 IN 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 enters the second game of 2010 with an 0-1 record, after a tough 27-16 loss to Fairmont State in the season opener on Thursday, Sept. 2nd at Memorial Stadium. Although Clarion outgained Fairmont 494-217, mistakes proved costly in the game. Fairmont recovered a fumbled Clarion punt at the Eagle 8 and converted it into a td, while FSU also returned an interception 54-yards for a score.
Clarion returns a total of 19 starters and 38 lettermen this season and is coming off a strong 2009 campaign that included 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, with the game in doubt until the final play. Foster, the 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year”, has a record of 12-33 at Clarion.
BLOOMSBURG 0-1 IN 2010/RETURNS 14 STARTERS & 47 LETTERMEN
Bloomsburg enters the game with an 0-1 record, having lost the season opener at Ashland by a final score of 24-14. the Huskies were “Among Others Receiving Votes” in the first top 25 poll of the season ranked by the AFCA on August 30. Veteran head coach Danny Hale is in his 18th season leading the Huskies and has an unbelievable record of 144-50-1 at Bloomsburg. Last year the Huskies just missed the NCAA Playoffs with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the PSAC-Eastern Division.
Hale has led Bloomsburg to the NCAA D-II Playoffs six times during his tenure including 2008, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, and 1996. In 2000 Bloomsburg reached the D-II Title game before losing, while also reaching the D-II semi-finals in 2006. Hale has led Bloomsburg to 10 outright or shared PSAC-East crowns in 17 seasons. He also coached 4-years at West Chester and had a record of 40-13 with the Golden Rams and has a collegiate record of 184-63-1.
CLARION & BLOOMSBURG ALL TIME SERIES TIED 4-4-1
The All-Time series between Clarion and Bloomsburg is tied at 4-4-1 in games dating back to 1934. The two teams played in 1934 and played to a 0-0 tie. In 1935 the Huskies toppled Clarion 19-0, with Clarion winning 6-0 in 1946 and Bloomsburg capturing the 1947 contest 11-7. The two teams 45 years before playing again – and Clarion defeated Bloomsburg 23-20 at Redman Stadium in 1992. In 1993 Clarion won by a 40-18 margin, then defeated the Huskies in the first round of the NCAA Div. II Playoffs in 1996 at Clarion's Memorial Stadium by a 42-29 margin. Bloomsburg defeated Clarion 24-10 at Redman Stadium in 2006 and also defeated Clarion 52-10 at Memorial Stadium in 2007, the last meeting between the two.
EAGLE OFFENSE RETURNS 8 STARTERS
The Clarion offense returns 8 starters and 15 lettermen last year and moved the ball well in game one against Fairmont State. The Eagles rushed for 209 yards and passed for 285 yards for a total offense of 494 yards. The Eagles currently rank #2 in the PSAC in Total Offense, #3 in Rushing Offense and #3 in Passing Offense.
Sophomore qb Eric Coxon (Pgh- Brentwood) will start for the Golden Eagles, while red-shirt freshman Ben Fiscus (Indiana) is expected to see some time.
Coxon, in his first start last Thursday, completed 28 of 45 passes for 285 yards, but was intercepted 3 times. He also rushed for 51 yards. Fiscus rushed one time for 15 yards.
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 in his final campaign.
He ran the ball 36 times for 143 yards, plus grabbed 4 passes for 31 yards and had 38 return yards for an all-purpose showing of 212 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 1,448 rushing yards on 317 carries and 18 rushing td's, plus 98 career catches for 1,094 yards and 6 td's. He has 4,744 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 rushed for 3 yards and 1 td last week, while Weiztel is a transfer from Florida where he played baseball for 2 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 caught 6 passes in the opener for 66 yards. In his outstanding career he is tied for 2nd all-time with 169 catches (Tim Brown 169; 1990-93) and has 1,965 receiving yards (7th at Clarion). He needs 26 catches to tie Alvin Slaughter's 195 catches (1995-98) and can moved into 6th place with 30 receiving yards against Bloom. (Tim Brown 1,994; 1990-93). He has 13 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.
Returning as starters in 2010 are Craig Bunney and Matt Ward. Ward set a personal high with 12 catches for 118 yards against Fairmont State last week. 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. Bunney had 3 grabs for 43 yards in the opener.
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. In the opener the Eagle “D” limited Fairmont State to 148 rushing yards and 69 passing yards for a total offense of 217. Those numbers put Clarion #3 in Total Defense (217 yards), #9 in Rushing Defense (148) and #1 in Pass Defense (69.0).
HACKEL, MAUND & MORRISON TOP D-LINE
Maund, an All PSAC-West lineman in 2009, posted 3 hits, 2 tfl's and a broken up pass in the opener, while Morrison had 5 stops and was in on 3 tfl's. Hackel, Dunn and Kusick were in on 1 stop each.
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, opened the season with 4 tackles and 1 tfl.
Robinson made 3 stops with 1 tfl in the opener, while Maciulis had 6 hits and 1 sack.
ALL-AMERICAN SIPES ANCHORS SECONDARY
Senior strong safety and co-captain Nick Sipes (Curwensville) anchors an athletic and tough secondary for the Golden Eagles. In the opener he led the team with 7 tackles and 3 tfl's.
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 ready to go with returning starters James Eckels (Jr. McKeesport) and Chris Smeltzer (Sr. Red Lion), at safety, along with Aaron Gluvna (So. Corry). Eckels had 2 stops and a breakup last week, while Smeltzer and Gluvna made one stop each.
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 4 hits in the opener. Last year he had 69 stops and 2 interceptions, returning one for a td against Fairmont. Paronish had 4 stops in the opener, while Stimac had 1.
MAMULA & CONWAY RETURN TO SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker Robert Mamula (Canon McMillan) and sophomore punter Nathan Conway (So. Central Mountain) return to lead the special teams.
Mamula was three for three in field goal attempts in the opener, including a 47-yarder. 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 three seasons has booted 29 of 46 field goal tries. He has also made 62 of 69 PAT's and has 149 kicking points at Clarion.
Conway averaged 30.2 in the opener, after posting a 37.9 yard average last year.
BLOOMSBURG OFFENSE RETURNS 6 STARTERS IN 2010
The Bloomsburg offense returns 6 starters from a unit that averaged a balanced 160.6 rushing yards and 163.3 passing yards a year ago. In game one against Ashland the Huskies ran for an impressive 135 yards and passed for 150 for a total offense of 285. The Huskies ranked #11 after week #1 in total offense (285), #7 in rushing (135) and #10 passing (150).
Gone from the offense is 4-year starting qb Dan Lattore. Replacing him against Ashland was junior Pat Carey, who completed 14 of 28 passes for 150 yards with 2 interceptions.
Expected to lead the running game is tailback Franklyn Quiteh, a red-shirt freshman, who rushed for 140 yards and 1 td on 35 carries against Ashland. Talented junior tailback Derrick Price, who rushed for 762 yards and 12 td's in only 8 games last year, missed the opener and his status for Clarion is still up in the air.
The Bloomsburg receiving corps are led by tight end Ben Weaber and wideout Cory Stiger. Weaber caught 4 passes for 36 yards, while Stiger collected 3 for 41 yards. Last year Stiger led the team with 28 catches for 467 yards and 7 td's, while Weaber was next with 25 grabs for 328 yards. Also catching passes are Tyler Guise (2 receptions, 17 yards) and Matt Marchioni (2 catches, 30 yards).
Placekicker Dan Fisher booted two field goals against Ashland.
HUSKY DEFENSE RETURNS 6 STARTERS FROM TOUGH UNIT
Bloomsburg's defense was very strong a year ago, holding enemy offense to 13.4 points per game (#1 in PSAC) and only 106.4 yards rushing per game (#2 in PSAC). Opponents passed for 181.9 yards (#9 in PSAC) and had a total offense of only 288.3 (#2 in PSAC). per game.
Against Ashland the Huskies permitted 157 rushing yards (#10 in PSAC) and 248 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) for a total offense of 405 yards allowed (#14 in PSAC).
In Bloom's 4-3 defense, the front wall is anchored by tackles Markus Zimmerman (3 stops, 1 tfl) and Todd Givler. The ends include John Pettine (5 tackles, 1 tfl) and Dave Huot (2 stops).
The linebackers are strong behind middle linebacker Jarrett Pidgeon (6 hits) and outside backers Mike Varanavage (10 stops, 2 tfl's) and Thomas McFarland (3 hits, 1 tfl).
Safeties Alex Landis (7 tackles, 1 tfl) and Justin Rivera (5 jolts), along with corners Oscar Rivera 6 stops) and Vince Browning (5 hits, 1 tfl) anchor the secondary.
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)…
BLOOMSBURG SERIES NOTES: In 2007 Bloomsburg won 52-10 at Clarion … Bloomsburg rushed for 379 yards and 7 rushing td's … Jamar Brittingham had 132 and 3 td's on 26 carries… Bloom also passed for 172 for a total offense of 551.. Clarion had 363 yards – including Eddie Emmanuel's 104 rushing yards … Tylr Huether passed for 200 … Pierre Odom caught 7 passes for 115 yards and 1 td … Freshman Alfonso Hoggard had 1 catch for 24 yards … The 2006 game saw Clarion ahead 10-7 at halftime, but third quarter mistakes proved costly and Bloom won 24-10... Emmanuel ran for 71 yards ... Mark Rupert was the qb and he hit 11 of 20 for 136 yards and 1 td ... Brittingham rushed for 160 and 2 td's for Bloom... Latorre hit 9 of 13 passes for 168 yards and 1 td ... Bilal caught 1 pass for 78 yards... Maybe the most important game in the series was played on Nov. 23, 1996 at Memorial Stadium… At stake, the first round of the NCAA D-II Playoffs… Clarion won the game 42-29, but it was a back and forth game for awhile… Clarion led 12-0 on a 30 yard td run by Steve Witte and a Joe Bzorek 34-yard interception return… Bloom followed with 2, second quarter td's to take a 14-12 lead, but Clarion answered those with two more td's before halftime… Jamie Sickeri's 2 yard td pass from Chris Weibel (current Eagle QB Coach) and Steve Witte's 16-yard pass from Weibel, and two 2-point conversions had Clarion ahead 28-14 at halftime… Bloom's Ron Llelko scored his second td of the game early in the third to make it 28-21, but Ron DeJidas scoed on an 8 yard run and Steve Witte scored early in the fourth on a 5-yard run to put the game away… Clarion outgained Bloom 478-301 … Weibel completed 16 of 26 for 228 yards and 2 td's… Witte rushed for 137 yards and 2 td's, plus caught 4 for 81 and 1 td… DeJidas rushed for 80… Bloom qb Glenn McNamee was 23 of 41 for 242 yards and 3 td's…. Lelko caught 12 passes for 141 yards and 3 td's … In 1993 at Memorial Stadium Clarion won 40-18… Bloomsburg led 12-0 in the first quarter, Clarion scored 2 second quarter td's to take a 13-12 halftime lead. Marlon Worthy's 8 yard catch and Damien Henry's 1 yard run provided the scoring … In the third quarter Kevin Harper caught a 26-yard td pass from Craig Ray, Damien Henry rushed for 2 more td's, and Art Gregory scored on a 10-yard run giving Clarion a 40-12 lead before Bloom tacked on a td with 23-seconds remaining… Henry rushed 24-times for 125 yards and 3 td's, Gregory ran for 89 yards and 1 td … Ray completed 10 of 12 aerials for 120 yards and 2 td's … 1992 Clarion 23 Bloomsburg 20 at Redman Stadium … Clarion led 23-0 at halftime, then held on to defeat Bloom 23-20 … Gregory's 10 yard run, Frank Andrews returned a fumble 68-yards for a score, Tim Brown caught a 13-yard td pass and Paul Cramer made a 24-yard field goal before intermission for a 23-0 lead… Gregory rushed for 94 yards and 1 td, Jay Tonini 81 yards … Tim Myers completed 19 of 33 passes for 241 yards and 1 td … Tim Brown 5 catches, 52 yards, 1 td… Bloom's Jeff King was 11 of 25 for 222 yards and 1 td… Buck Eardley caught 3 passes for 117 yards and 1 td.
