After posting a 54-6 win over Lock Haven at Memorial Stadium in last Saturday's Homecoming Day game, the Golden Eagles return home to host IUP on Saturday, October 15 in a key PSAC-West contest that will also serve as the “Breast Cancer Awareness” game. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is set for 3pm.
 
            Part of a “Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend” at Clarion, the Golden Eagle football team is wearing its traditional blue game jerseys, but with pink numbers, to highlight the special weekend. The game jerseys can be purchased in advance for $75 by contacting Clarion head coach Jay Foster. Approximately 25 game jerseys remain unsold. Those purchasing a game jersey will get that jersey following the game. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Clarion Hospital Cancer Center, along with money collected at the Clarion University Women's Volleyball matches on Friday vs California (7pm) and Saturday against IUP in a match that begins at Noon. The volleyball team is selling ribbons, t-shirts and gift baskets among its many fund-raising efforts.
 
            Clarion enters the game with a 1-5 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the PSAC-West after defeating Lock Haven 54-6 last Saturday. IUP is coming off an exciting 35-28 come-from-behind win in overtime last Saturday at Mercyhurst. The Crimson Hawks are 2-1 in the West and 3-2 overall in 2011.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Lock Haven can be heard on the Golden Eagle Football network, which includes WCCR-FM, 92.7 in Clarion 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. The game will also be produced by the Sportsfever Television Network with Jon Schaeffer and Darrell Reid providing the play by play and color, with Gorden Blain reporting from the sidelines. The game will be televised on a tape-delay basis across Pa. on Root SportsWednesday, October 19 starting at 8pm.
              Sixth year head coach Jay Foster enters Saturday's game against IUP with a 1-5 record in 2011. Last Saturday Clarion rushed for 423 yards against Lock Haven in defeating the Bald Eagles 54-6.On the road in three of the first four weeks of the season, Clarion traveled to Slippery Rock two weeks ago and lost 27-13. Three weeks ago at California the Vulcans won 40-13 and a month ago Shippensburg defeated Clarion 54-24, although Brandon Akins rushed for 101 yards and 2 td's and Patrick Graham-Murphy returned a kickoff 68-yards for a touchdown. In the home opener on September 10 the Eagles lost to #9 rated Bloomsburg 45-10 at Memorial Stadium, and in the season opener on Thursday, September 1^st, Clarion lost a 31-17 decision at Fairmont State despite outgaining the Falcons 426-316.
 
            Clarion's 2011 strength of schedule should be noticed. Clarion's opponents to date have a combined record of 24-6 (80%) including Fairmont State (5-1), Bloomsburg (6-0), Shippensburg (3-3), Cal (5-1) and Slippery Rock (5-1).
 
            The Golden Eagles were 4-7 season in 2010 with a 3-4 mark in the rugged PSAC-Western Division. The season began with an 0-5 start, and three of those games saw Clarion have a chance to win in the final minutes.
 
            Clarion rebounded in the second half of the year winning four of their final six contests posting victories over Lock Haven (49-6), IUP (21-14), Gannon (11-10) and Millersville (49-10).
 
            Coach Foster, who was the 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year”, led the 2009 team to an 8-3 overall record, a second place finish in the PSAC-West with a 6-1 mark and earned an 8^th place ranking in the NCAA Div. II Super Region 1 final poll. Jay's overall record at Clarion is 17-44.
              IUP started the 2011 campaign with a new head coach in Curt Cignetti, son on long-time and highly successful former IUP head coach Frank Cignetti. He came to IUP from Alabama where he was part of Lou Saban's staff for the previous four seasons as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. He also spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina State (2000-2006), seven years at the University of Pittsburgh (1993-99), plus stints at Temple (1989-92), Rice (1986-88) and Davidson (1985).
 
            The Crimson Hawks enter the game with a 3-2 overall record. In last week's 35-28 overtime win, IUP trailed 21-7 in the third quarter and 28-18 in the fourth, before rallying to win. The Hawks drove 73-yards in 8 plays, with no timeouts and only 47-seconds on the clock, to boot the game-tying field goal on the last play of regulation. Teddy Blakeman's 5-yard run in the ot proved to be the game-winner. The week before The Hawks throttled Edinboro in winning 19-0, while opening PSAC-West play with a 20-6 loss at Slippery Rock. IUP opened the year with a 28-13 win over East Stroudsburg and a close 20-16 loss to Bloomsburg.
              The two schools have played 81 times dating back to 1926 with IUP holding a 54-24-3 lead. Since 1996 Clarion is 5-10 against the Hawks having defeated IUP the last two seasons, including a 21-14 win at IUP last year and a 30-28 win at Memorial Stadium in 2009. Clarion also has wins in 2000 (21-13), 1997 (21-6) and 1996 (49-15). Even in the IUP wins, most of the games have been very close. Among the losses since 1998, IUP won by a failed Clarion PAT in overtime in 2001 (35-34), 28-14 in 2002, 24-20 in 2003. 30-20 in 2004, 33-7 in 2006 (Clarion led 7-6 at halftime) and 2007 IUP 38-31 win at Clarion. The Golden Eagles led the 2007 game 21-10 in the third quarter. In 2009 IUP won going away 66-16 at IUP.
              The Clarion offense is ranked #10 in the PSAC after six games averaging 331.8 yards per game, including 197 on the ground (#3 in PSAC) and 134.8 passing (#13 in PSAC).
 
            Sophomore signal caller Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) has completed 73 of 151 passes (48.3%) for 741 yards and 4 td's in 2011. He also leads the Golden Eagles in rushing yards with 399 plus 4 td's. Last week he rushed for 204 yards and 2 td's and passed for 2 td's in helping beat Lock Haven. His 204 rushing yards by a qb is only the second time that has been accomplished by a PSAC qb in more than a decade. Last year he passed for 705 yards and 7 td's, while rushing for 582 yards and 6 td's. He set a school record against Lock Haven finishing the game completing 16 of 16 passes for 187 yards and 4 td's. In his career Fiscus has rushed 223 times for 981 yards and 10 td's. The career rushing mark for a Clarion QB is Adam Almashy's 1,339 (1999-2002). Fiscus has completed 135 of 277 passes for 1,454 yards and 11 td's.
 
            Backup Eric Coxon (Jr. Pgh. Brentwood) has completed 8 of 19 passes for 60 yards.
              Wideouts ready to catch passes from Fiscus will be juniors Tarrean Barrett (Scranton) and Robert Tantlinger (Franklin) and sophomore Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.). Tight ends Anthony Becoate (So. McKeesport), Rob Irwin (So. Bellefonte) and Mike Deitrick  (Fr. Upper St. Clair) will also be ready to latch onto passes.
 
            Barrett leads the receiving corps with 19 passes for 159 yards, Tantlinger has 10 catches for 129 yards and 1 td and Reid has 14 grabs for 156 yards and 1 td. Becoate has 9 catches for 114 yards and 1 td, Irwin 5 for 35 and Deitrick 6 for 48 yards and 1 td.
 
            Senior captain Matt Ward (Murrysville) was injured in the Fairmont State game and has been out of action since. He had 4 catches for 24 yards in game one. Last year he grabbed 28 passes for 277 yards and 1 td  and now has 71 career catches for 728 yards and 2 td's.
              Junior John Fuhrer (Jr. Pgh – Keystone Oaks) and sophomore Brandon Akins (Erie/Strong Vincent) have provided a solid 1-2 punch at running back in 2011. Fuhrer has rushed 64 times for 339 yards and 2 td's, while Akins has 67 carries for 317 yards and 3 td's. Fuhrer rushed for 58 yards and 2 td's last year, while rushing for 200 yards and 2 td's in 2009.
              The “O” line will have three talented starters returning in center and captain Vince Bazzone (6-2, 265, Sr. McKeesport), and tackles Mike Felker (6-4, 275, So. Gibsonia/Pine Richland) and Elijah Morres (6-5, 285, Sr. Brookville). Bazzone and Morres are three year starters, while Felker earned All-PSAC honors last year as a freshman. Senior Bob Beidl (Clarion/Clarion-Limestone) and Andrew Vercelli (Jr. Gibsonia/Deer Lakes) will be the starting guards. Eli Ruppert (Jr. Indiana/Apollo Ridge), Ryan Barrick (So. Easton) and Terrance Perfilio (So. Farrell) are also seeing time on the offensive line.
              Clarion has nine starters returning to its 2011 defense which ranks #14 in the PSAC in total defense yielding 427.5 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are giving up 242.8 rushing yards per game (#15 in PSAC) and #6 in pass defense (184.7 yards per game).
              Up front senior All-Region defensive end and captain Barrington Morrison (Sr. Pgh – Penn Hills) is having another standout season. Morrison already totals 11 tfl's for -35 yards including 5 qb sacks, plus has 30 tackles (19 solos). He had 40 tackles in 2010 and led the PSAC with 12 sacks and 4 fumbles caused and was second in the league with 20 tfl's. In his career Morrison has 50 tfl's for –174 yards and 23 qb sacks for -115 yards. He also has 6 fumbles caused, 6 break-ups and 1 fumble recovery.
 
            He is joined up front by John Hackel (Sr. South Park),  Braheem Foy (Jr. Philadelphia/Frankford) Ryan Slack (Jr. N. Huntingdon/Norwin), Adam Bostick (So. Lititz.Manheim Twp),  Josh Stegena (Sr. Munhall) , Sean Motley (Jr. West Mifflin) and Julian Howsare (Fr. Altoona).
 
            Hackel, who missed the last two games, will likely miss this week. He  has 12 tackles (2 tfl's), Stegena 22 hits, Foy 19 stops and 4 tfl's, Howsare 18 hits, 4 tfl's, Bostick 7 jolts and Slack 4.
              The linebacking corps will feature the return of Reggie Robinson  (Sr. Pgh – Brashear), Mike Verdun (Sr. Greensburg), transfer Nate Sipes (Jr. Curwensville) and freshman Brian Palmiere (Tarentum/Deer Lakes). Sipes leads the team and ranks #5 in the PSAC with 52 tackles, Robinson has 29 hits and 10 tfl's, Verdun has 14 stops and  Palmiere 15 tackles, 4 tfl's.
              Captain Shawn Sopic (Sr. Curwensville) (56 hits, 7 break-ups – 2009) has returned in 2011 after missing 2010. Shawn has contributed 32 tackles and 1 tfl in 2011 and now has 197 career tackles, 15 break-ups, 4 int's and 6 tfl's in his career.
 
            Starting safeties Jay Pettina (So. Indiana) and Peter Rivera (Fr. Allentown) will likely not play this week with injuries. Senior James Eckels  (McKeesport), Aaron Gluvna (Jr. Corry), Chris Wilson (Sr. Philadelphia/Frankford) and Anthony Stimac (Jr. East Brady/Karns City), Andrew Paronish (Jr.Hastings/No. Cambria) and transfer Patrick Graham-Murphy (Jr. Pgh – Brashear) are ready to play.
 
            Eckels (25 tackles, 1 tfl), Gluvna (9 hits), Stimac (26 hits, 1 int – returned Clarion record 100-yards vs  SR), Wilson has collected 21 tackles and 1 int., Paronish 8 stops and Graham-Murphy (16 tackles and 1 int.) will all contribute.
 
            The punting chores are handled by Nathan Conway who is averaging 37.8 yards per punt, while the placekicking chores belong to true freshman Tyler Ruark (Whiteford, Md.). He has made four of seven field goal attempts this year.
              Indiana's offense is ranked 9^th in the PSAC getting 337 yards of total offense per game. The Crimson Hawks are getting 185.4 yards rushing per game (#4 in PSAC) and 151.6 passing yards per game (10^th in PSAC).
 
            Calling the signals for IUP will be quarterback Pat Smith, who has completed 43 of 81 passes for 506 yards and 3 td's with 2 int's. Smith has also rushed for 79 yards. Also seeing time is Mike Box who has hit on 17 of 31 passes for 252 yards and 2 td's.
 
            IUP's top receivers are Terrill Barnes (11 catches, 249 yards, 1 td), Pat Brewer (7 catches, 65 yards, 1 td), Javon Rowan (6 receptions, 98 yards) and Jon Ditto (6 grabs, 95 yards, 1 td).
 
            The running game is led by the PSAC's top rusher, Harvie Tuck. Tuck has toted the pigskin 139 times for 610 yars and 4 td's, while averaging 4.4 yards per cay and 122 yds per me. Also carrying the ball will be James Johnson (44 rushes, 191 yars, 1 td) and Teddy Blakeman (8 runs, 60 yards, 1 td).
 
              IUP's defense is ranked #5 in the PSAC giving up only 1854 yards per game. Opponents are getting only 82.4 rushing yards per game (#2 in PSAC) and #8 in passing yards yielding 211.2 per contest.
 
            Up front the Hawk defense is led by noseguard Larry Gooden (16 hits, 3 tfl's), tackle Carl Thornton (32 stops, 4.5 tfl's) and ends Stephen Meadows (20 tackles, 4.5 tfl's) and Errol Brewster (20 jolts, 2.5 tfl's).
 
            The linebackers are strong with top tackler Alex Berdahl (33 hits, 1 int.), Mark Jackson (30 tackles, 7 tfl's, 1 int) and Terrell Washington (19 stops, 1 int).
 
            The secondary relies on corners Jerrell McFadden (27 tackles, 1 int) and Randy Louis along with strong safety Johnny Franco (30 hits, 2 int's) and free safety Andre Henderson (29 stops, 1 int.).
 
            CLARION NOTES:   BREAST CANCER AWARENESS… Anyone wanting to buy a Game Jersey from coach Foster can call the football office at 814-393-2258, or e-mail coach Foster at jfoster@clarion.edu …
 
CLARION -IUP PAST GAMES – 2010 Clarion won 21-14 at IUP … Alfonso Hoggard rushed for 179 yards and 2 td's to lead the way … He raced 49-yards on fourth and 1 with 7:51 left in the game for a 14-7 lead, then went 69-yards with 1:11 remaining to lead 21-7 … Harvie Tuck ran 21 times for 70 yards … 2009 – Clarion won 30-28 – The Golden Eagles trailed 21-17 at halftime, but took a commanding 30-21 lead in the third quarter on a Tyler Huether 1 yard run and Alfonso Hoggard's 2-yard run … Clarion outgained IUP 361-278 … Hoggard had a huge day running for 162 yards and 2 td's on 25 carries … He had 292 all-purpose yards … Huether completed 11 of 16 passes for 153 yards …Tobias Robinson rushed for 112 yards and 2 td's … Skinner caught 2 passes for 69 yards and 1 td…. 2008- IUP won 66-16 ... Jacques Robinson had 5 catches for 89 yards and 1 td ... IUP's Tobias Robinson rushed for 229 yards and 3 td's ... 2007 - Clarion led 21-10 in the third quarter before losing a close 38-31 decision ... Eddie Emmanuel's 2^nd td (3^rd quarter) put Clarion ahead 21-10 at 12:50 of the third ... Krewatch tossed 3 td's passes to put IUP ahead 31-21... Clarion's Alfonso Hoggard caught a 12 yd td pass from Tyler Huether to pull with 31-28. ... IUP added a td and Clarion a field goal for he final ... Clarion had 316 yards of offense and IUP 488 ... Huether was 24 of 45 for 260 yadrs and 2 td's ... Hoggard ciught 9 for 81 and 1 td and Pierre Odom 7 for 119 and 1 td... Krewatch passed for 267 yards and 3 td's ... Kareem Dutrieuille rushed for 192 yards ... Clarion led 2006 game 7-6 at halftime, but a big IUP second half gave the Hawks a 33-7 win ... In 2005 Clarion also led 10-7 at halftime, but IUP rallied for a 30-10 win … IUP blocked a Clarion punt late in the third quarter & recovered at the Eagle 14, then scored to take a 14-10 lead and it was all IUP after that ... The 2004 game saw Clarion=s second half rally came up short and IUP won 30-20... Clarion had 290 yards to IUP=s 195 ...The Eagles outrushed  IUP 149-35 and IUP held the edge in passing 160-141... Brandon Dando rushed for 51 yards and completed 10 of 21 for 128 and 1 td... IUP=s Chris Morgan gained 73 yards on 24 carries... Kevin Weidl completed 9 of 17 for 160 yards and 3 td=s ...  Clarion lost the 2003 game 24-20 when IUP scored on a Weidl 64-yard td pass to Joe Slappy with only 2:54 left in the game... Clarion led 20-17 with 4:28 to go when Brandon Sweeney scored on a 5-yard pass from Felton Woulard on fourth and 2 from the 5 ... Clarion had 326 yards of offense (242 rushing) and IUP had 382 yards (148 rush, 234 pass) ... Sweeney gained 117 yards and 1 td on 10 carries ... Mike Jemison had 146 rushing yards and 1 td on 25 carries ... IUP won 28-14 in 2002 in a decision that was closer than the final score ... Clarion led 7-0 in the first on a Robert Walker 3 yard run... IUP tied the game when Adrew Battle recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards for a td in the second... The game was tied 14-14 at halftime on a Frantz Charles 5-yard run  ... IUP led 21-14 into the fourth quarter when the Eagles made a costly fumble... Robert Walker was headed to the endzone for what appeared to be the game tying td, when Kairi Cooper caused Walker to fumble at the 2 and Walt Mosteller recovered at the IUP 5... Clarion had 281 total offense (224 rushing)... IUP had 230 rushing yards and 197 passing for 427 total ... In 2001 the teams played an exciting game that IUP won 35-34 in overtime at Clarion ... Clarion trailed 21-6 at halftime, but rallied to tie the game 28-28 on an Adam Almashy 1 yard run with 7:45 remaining... In the overtime, IUP=s Aamir Dew rushed for the go ahead td, then Clarion came back and scored on Demetric Gardner=s 2-yard run, but the PAT missed to the right and the Indians won 35-34 ... Clarion rushed for 264 yards in that game... Almashy had 111 yards and 2 td=s rushing and 1 td passing ... IUP ran for 135 yards... Aamir Dew gained 166 for IUP with 2 td=s ... In 2000, a year that Clarion tied for first in the PSAC-West with a 5-1 mark, Clarion won at IUP 21-13 ... Clarion scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as Cori Johnson grabbed a 55-yard td pass from Almashy, Andy Pore caught a 23-yard td pass from Almshy, and with 1-minute remaining, Almashy ran in from 9-yards out ... Clarion also defeated IUP 21-6 at IUP in 1997 in a rainstorm ... Clarion=s Kervin Charles scored on 3 td=s runs of 1, 27 and 3 to lead 21-0 ... Clarion led 7-0 at halftime and scored the final two td=s at 12:51 of the third and 3:23 of the fourth ... Clarion had 277 rushing yards and 63 passing yards in that game - IUP 65 rushing and 216 passing ... Keonte Campbell rushed for 120 yards on 14 carries, and Charles 71 yards and 3 td;s on 14 tries... Chris Janson was at qb and completed 8 of 15 ... Tink Stennett had 64 yards rushing for IUP, while Terry Throm was 16 of 27 for 183 yards and 1 td... Clarion also owns a 49-15 win in 1996 and a 35-26 victory in 1992… In 1996 Clarion led 21-3 at halftime and scored 4 td's in the fourth to win… the Eagles rolled 538 yards of offense including 286 rushing… Ron DeJidas ran for 120 & Steve Witte 71… Chris Weibel completed 13 of 19 for 252 and 4 td's… Alvin Slaughter grabbed 4 for 117 and 1 td … IUP had 316 yards of offense, 297 passing… Throm was 24 of 36 for 297 and 2 td's… Hardison caught 8 for 139 and 1 td … In 1992 Clarion scored two, fourth quarter td's to win 35-26 … Jess Quinn caught an 8-yard pass from Tim Myers with 6:47 left, then Myers nailed the door shut with a 2-yard pass to tight end Tim Brown … Myers passed for 266 yards and 4 td's … Marlon Worthy caught 8 for 85, Brown 7 for 44, 1 td, Kevin Harper 4 for 63 & 1 td… IUP outgained Clarion 392-366 … Michael Mann had 22 carries for 93 yards and 1 td; Scott Woods hit 23 of 52 passes for 347 yards, 3 td's … Derrick Smith grabbed 7 passes for 159 yards, 2 td's.