Box Score
GAME SUMMARY & STATS
(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion quarterback
Ben Fiscus (So.Indiana) rushed for 112 yards and passed for 72, but three big turnovers for the Golden Eagles proved costly as IUP defeated Clarion 38-7 in a key PSAC-West matchup on Saturday afternoon.
Held at Clarion's Memorial Stadium, the Golden Eagles celebrated "Breast Cancer Awareness Day", wearing blue game jerseys with pink numbers, Money raised will be joined with money raised by the women's volleyball team on Friday and Saturday that will be donate to the Clarion Hospital Cancer Center.
The Golden Eagles dropped to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the West, while IUP raised its overall record to 4-2 and 3-1 in the West.
The game will be replayed in its entirety on "ROOT SPORTS" on Wednesday, October 19th at 8pm.
IUP opened the scoring with a 70 yard drive on its first possession in 13 plays to claim a 7-0 lead. QB Pat Smith ended the drive with a 12-yard td pass to Javon Rowan at 6:07 of the first.
Clarion took the ball on its own 29 and two runs from Fiscus had the ball at the Clarion 44. Fiscus broke the next carry up the middle, but fumbled the ball in IUP territory and Alex Berdahl recovered at the Hawk 33.
IUP drove to the Clarion 4, but the Eagle defense held and IUP's Brett Ullman came on to boot a 21-yard field goal and the Hawks led 10-0 at 14:52 of the second.
Clarion moved the ball al day against the #2 rushing defense in the PSAC, but could not capitalize on its opportunities to score. The Eagles drove from their own 20 to the IUP 14 on its next possession. When the drive stalled
Tyler Ruark came on to try a 37-yard field goal. Akeem Smith blocked the attempt, the ball deflected in the air toward the sideline, Andre Henderson caught the ball at the IUP 17 and raced untouched down the right sideline, 83-yards for an IUP touchdown. The Hawks led 17-0 at 5:38 of the second.
The Golden Eagle defense stopped IUP on fourth and one at the Clarion 7 with 1:52 remaining in the half, then started a drive out of the shadow of its own endzone. IUP was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the last play of the half, which put the ball on the IUP 44. With no time left In the half, Fiscus scrambled in the pocket, bought some time, and heaved a pass into the endzone where
Jon Reid came down with the football, but both feet were just beyond the endline and the score remained 17-0 at halftime.
After IUP went ahead 24-0 on a 17-yard Harvie Tuck run to open the third quarter, Clarion's offense again responded. Starting at its own 17 clarion took 10 plays to get to the IUP 15. Fiscus had an 11-yard run fro the IUP 41 to the 30, when an unsportsmanlike penalty on IUP took the ball to the 15. On second down at the 12,
Brandon Akins darted up the middle, and at the 3 spun to his right to try and get to the endzone, but fumble the ball and IUP's Mark Jackson recovered at the 1.
IUP made it 38-0 when Teddy Blakeman scored on a 6-yard run, and Johnny Franco intercepted a Fiscus pass at the Clarion 42 and returned it for a td.
The Golden Eagles only score came in the fourth quarter as the Eagles again drove from their own 17 to finally hit paydirt.
Tarik Leftenant scored on a 1-yard run and Ruark's boot made the final 38-7.
Clarion posted 333 yards of total offense including 238 rushing and 95 passing. IUP was ranked 2
nd in the PSAC entering the game allowing only 82 rushing yards per game.
Fiscus rushed 25 times for 112 yards, while
Brandon Akins had 86 yards on 18 carries. Fiscus completed 6 of 12 passes for 72 yards.
Jon Reid caught 4 passes for 39 yards.
Nate Sipes led the Clarion defense with 15 tackles and 1 tfl.
Shawn Sopic had 9 stops.
IUP totaled 349 yards of offense including 191 rushing yards and 158 passing yards. Harvie Tuck rushed for 76 yards and 1 td, while Smith hit on 7 of 8 passes for 158 yards and 1 td.
Clarion travels to Edinboro next Saturday for a 6pm game.
