Football 10/1/2011 10:19:00 PM Sports Information

CLARION FB LOSES 27-13 AT THE ROCK

Anthony Stimac Posts Clarion Record 100-yd Int. Return For TD

Box Score FINAL GAME STATS

                (Slippery Rock, Pa.): Clarion cornerback Anthony Stimac (Jr. East Brady/Karns city) posted a school record 100-yard interception return for a td but it wasn't enough on Saturday night as Slippery Rock downed Clarion 27-13 in a hard-fought PSAC-West football game.

                Held at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, Slippery Rock raised its record to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC-West, while Clarion dropped to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the West. The win also gave Slippery Rock its second straight win in a new tradition - The “Milk Jug Game”. SR won the inaugural event in 2010 by a score of 16-13.

                Clarion's defense was a stalwart unit on Saturday night that bent, but did not break, forcing turnovers to kept the Rock out of the endzone.

                Slippery Rock's first drive started at the 28 yard line, and then drove to the Clarion 1. After pre-season all-american Akeem Satterfield was thrown for a 2-yard loss Eagle linebacker Nate Sipes (Jr. Curwensville) and safety Peter Rivera (Fr. Allentown), Rock qb Cody Endres and Satterfield fumbled the exchange and Sipes dove into the pile and came out with the football at the four-yard line to stop the drive.

                SR's next drive went from its own 8 to the Clarion 6, when on third and goal at the Clarion 6, Endres tried a pass to the goal line toward the left pylon. Clarion cornerback Anthony Stimac jumped in front of the pass, goal the ball at the goal line, ran about 15 yards out of the endzone, made a cut inside, then a cutback to the sideline, and sprinted the rest of the way into the endonze for Clarion's opening score. The snap on the PAT was not handled and Clarion led 6-0 at 13:59 of the second quarter, despite the Rock having 140 offensive yards in it s opening two possessions.

                Stimac's 100-yard td return set a new Clarion record, erasing the old record of 97-yards held by Chris Wilson (2010 vs Mercyhurst) and Fred Wickstrom (1968 vs Geneva).

                “We were in the right defense and I just did what I was trained to do,” said Stimac in the interview room after the game. “I was able to read the play, broike on the ball, and my teammates did the rest – throwing some great blocks to get me down the sideline. That was my first interception at Clarion.”

                Slippery Rock placekicker Kurt Brackman booted a 28-yard field goal at 5:44 of the second to cut Clarion's lead to 6-3, then the Rock went 89-yards in 9 plays to take its first lead. Endres hit Devin Goda on a post route for 32-yards and the td. SR led 10-6 at 1:16 of the second.

                Clarion's offense went three and out, and the Rock was able to drive into field goal position and kick a 30-yarder from Brackman on the last play of the half for a 13-6 halftime lead.

                Slippery Rock pushed its lead to 20-6 when Cody Endres hit Josh Gardner for a 9-yard td at 5:06 of the third.

                The Eagles fought back again. Early in the fourth quarter Slippery Rock punter James McCombie dropped back in punt formation on fourth and 5 at the Rock 44. Clarion defensive end Julian Howsare (Fr. Altoona) broke through, blocked the punt, and Mike Deitrick (Fr. Upper St. Clair) scooped up the ball on the Rock 34 and ran down the right sideline into the endzone for an Eagle td. Tyler Ruark's PAT was good and Clarion closed to within 20-13 at 9:48 of the fourth.

                Slippery Rock put the game away when it recovered the Eagles short kick at the Clarion 33 – and then drove to paydirt in 9 plays. Endres hit Josh Garner on a 2-yard td pass at 5:05 of the fourth to make the final 27-13.

                Slippery Rock outgained Clarion 453 – 199 and in time of possession 40:53 – 19:07.
                Clarion qb Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) hit on 12 of 30 passes for 137 yards and also rushed for 25 yards. Receiver Jon Reid had 6 catches for 52 yards.

                Clarion's defense was led by Nate Sipes who had 14 tackles, 1 tfl and 1 fumble recovery. Stimac made 9 hits and had the 100 yard int. return.

                Endres completed 27 of 35 passes for 305 yards adnd 3 td's, while Satterfield rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries and Jimmy Zubik had 84 yards on 13 tries.

                Clarion returns home to Memorial Stadium next week to host Lock Haven in the annual Homecoming Day Game. Kickoff is set for 2pm.

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