Clarion's 2011 football team will hit the road on Saturday, October 22, as the Golden Eagles travel to Sox Harrison Stadium to take on PSAC-West foe Edinboro. Kickoff is set for 6pm.
 
            Clarion enters the game with a 1-6 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the PSAC-West. Clarion is coming of a 38-7 loss to IUP. Edinboro is 5-2 overall and  2-2 in the West after defeating Mercyhurst 30-20 last Saturday.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Edinboro 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 Joel Godett providing color commentary. Shanna Muscavage will be the sideline reporter. The game will be televised on a tape-delay basis across Pa. on Root Sports Wednesday, October 26 starting at 8pm.
              Sixth year head coach Jay Foster enters Saturday's game at Edinboro with a 1-6 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the PSAC-West. Last week turnovers proved costly in the Eagles 38-7 loss to IUP. Two weeks ago Clarion rushed for 423 yards in a 54-6 win over Lock Haven.
 
            The 2011 season started with a 31-17 road loss at Fairmont State, despite outgaining the Falcons 426-316. Clarion returned home to lose to now #2 rated Bloomsburg 45-10, then went on the road for three straight games. The Eagles lost 54-24 at Shippensburg, 40-13 at California and 27-13 at Slippery Rock, before defeating Lock Haven.
 
            Clarion's 2011 strength of schedule should be noticed. If you take away Lock Haven, Clarion's opponents to date have a combined record of 30-11 (73.2%) including Fairmont State (5-2), Bloomsburg (7-0), Shippensburg (3-4), Cal (5-2), Slippery Rock (6-1) and IUP (4-2).
 
            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 17-45.
              Edinboro enters the contest with a 5-2 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the rugged PSAC-Western Division. The Fighting Scots opened 2011 with four straight wins over West Liberty (30-14), Merrimack (49-19), Cheyney (41-13) and Gannon (27-0). The Fighting Scots lost 19-0 at IUP, then a tough last minute loss at home to Edinboro 24-23, before defeating Mercyhurst on the road last week 30-20.
 
            The Scots are led by Scott Browning, who is in his sixth year as head coach of the Scots, and has an overall record of 43-21. He led Edinboro to the NCAA D-II Playoffs and a record of 9-4 overall in 2009 and last year the Scots were 7-4 overall.
              With a 31-14 win at clarion last year, Edinboro took over the series lead 40-39-2 in games dating back to 1926. In 2009 Clarion traveled to Edinboro and upset the #21 ranked Scots by a 30-17 margin. The Scots had won six straight meetings before 2009 – posting wins in 2008 (35-10), 2007 (49-30), 2006 (13-0), 2005 (44-0), 2004 (21-10) and 2003 (35-6). Prior to 2009, Clarion's last win was a 24-18 decision at Edinboro in 2002. In the last 17 games Edinboro has the edge by an 11-6 count. Clarion's six wins were in 1994 (24-20), 1997 (28-0), 1998 (33-20), 2000 (7-0), 2002 (24-18) and 2009 (30-17).  The Fighting Scots 10 victories came in 1995 (28-6), 1996 (48-35), 1999 (30-29), 2001 (24-12), 2003 (35-6), 2004 (21-10), 2005 (44-0), 2006 (13-0), 2007 (49-30), 2008 (35-10) and 2010 (31-14).
              The Clarion offense is ranked #11 in the PSAC after seven games averaging 332 yards per game, including 202.9 on the ground (#3 in PSAC) and 129.1 passing (#14 in PSAC). Clarion is 13^th in scoring offense averaging 19.7 ppg.
 
            Sophomore signal caller Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) has completed 79 of 163 passes (48.5%) for 813 yards and 4 td's in 2011. He also leads the Golden Eagles in rushing yards with 511yards plus 4 td's. Last week he rushed for 112 yards against IUP and two weeks ago ran 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 was 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 248 times for 1,093 yards and 10 td's. The career rushing mark for a Clarion QB is Adam Almashy's 1,339 (1999-2002). Fiscus has completed 141 of 289 passes for 1,526 yards and 11 td's.
                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) and Rob Irwin (So. Bellefonte) will also be ready to latch onto passes.
   
            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 missed last week with an injury and has rushed 64 times for 339 yards and 2 td's. His status for Edinboro is questionable. Akins has 85 carries for 403 yards and 3 td's. Akins, who was injured against IUP, is doubtful for Edinboro. Tarik Leftenant (Fr. Mechanicsburg) is ready for action having rushed 27 times for 89 yards and 1 td.
              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) will start at left guard, and Andrew Vercelli (Jr. Gibsonia/Deer Lakes), who has missed the last two games with injury, is likely to return to the lineup. If he is not able to play, Terrance Perfilio (So. Farrell) will start at center and Bazzone will move to guard. Eli Ruppert (Jr. Indiana/Apollo Ridge) and Ryan Barrick (So. Easton) will see time.
              Clarion's defense is ranked #14 in the PSAC in total defense yielding 416.3 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are giving up 235.4 rushing yards per game (#15 in PSAC) and #6 in pass defense (180.9 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 31 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 Braheem Foy (Jr. Philadelphia/Frankford) Ryan Slack (Jr. N. Huntingdon/Norwin), Adam Bostick (So. Lititz.Manheim Twp),  Julian Howsare (Fr. Altoona). Josh Stegena (Sr. Munhall) and Sean Motley (Jr. West Mifflin) and 
 
            Starting senior tackle John Hackel (Sr. South Park – 12 tackles, 2 tfl's) has suffered an injury that could keep him out the remainder of the season.
            Foy has 21 tackles and 4 tfl's, Stegena 25 hits 1 tfl, Howsare 18 hits, 4 tfl's, Bostick 8 jolts, Motley 8 hits with 1 tfl  and Slack 5.
              Senior linebacker Reggie Robinson  (Sr. Pgh – Brashear) was injued against IUP last week and will likely miss the Edinboro game. Robinson is fourth on the team with 32 stops and tied for the top spot in tfl's with 11. Junior Nate Sipes (Curwensville) and freshman Brian Palmiere (Tarentum/Deer Lakes) will likely start this week with Mike Verdun (Sr. Greensburg) and T.J. McElwaine (Fr. Pgh./North Hills) seeing plenty of time. Sipes leads the team and ranks #2 in the PSAC with 66 tackles plus 2 tfl's, Palmiere has 21 tackles and 4 tfl's and Verdun has 14 hits.
              Captain Shawn Sopic (Sr. Curwensville) (56 hits, 7 break-ups – 2009) has returned in 2011 after missing 2010. Shawn has contributed 41 tackles and 1 tfl in 2011 and now has 206 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 (31 tackles, 1 tfl), Gluvna (9 hits), Stimac (33 hits, 1 int – returned Clarion record 100-yards vs  SR), Wilson has collected 24 tackles and 1 int., Paronish 15 stops and Graham-Murphy (20 tackles and 1 int.) will all contribute. Graham-Murphy could switch to running back if needed.
 
            The punting chores are handled by Nathan Conway who is averaging 38.2 yards per punt, while the placekicking chores belong to true freshman Tyler Ruark (Whiteford, Md.). He has made four of nine field goal attempts this year.
              Edinboro's offense is ranked 12^th in the PSAC getting 307.6 yards of total offense per game. The Fighting Scots are getting 164.9 yards rushing per game (#6 in PSAC) and 142.7 passing yards per game (13^th in PSAC).
 
            Calling the signals for the Scots will be sophomore quarterback Cody Harris. He has completed 81 of 121 passes for 838 yards and 7 td's with only 4 int's.
 
            The Scots are having plenty of success running the football in 2011. Drew Herrell has rushed 69-times for 438 yards (6.3 per carry) and 3 td's. Right behind is Brian Davis who has toted the pigskin 90 times for 437 yards and 8 td's. D'Andrea Vaughn also has 51 rushes for 238 yards and 1 td.
 
            The receiving corps features David Bostic, Nick Marino and Marcus Johnson with tight end Shawn Walker. Bostic leads the team with 23 grabs for 289 ayrds and 3 td's. Marino has 22 catches for 167 yards and 1 td, with Johnson getting 11 catches for 212 yards and 3 td's. Johnson is averaging 19.3 yards per catch. Walker has 11 receptions for 90 yards.
              Edinboro's defense is ranked #2 in the PSAC giving up only 255.9 yards per game. Opponents are getting only 88.7 rushing yards per game (#2 in PSAC) and #4 in passing yards yielding 167.1 per contest.
 
            Up front the Scot defense is led by noseguard  Jelani Murray (18 hits, 3.5 tfl's), tackle Chris Williams (26 stops, 1.5 tfl's) and ends James Thomas (20 tackles, 5 tfl's) and Keir Jeter (38 jolts, 14.5 tfl's).
 
            The linebackers are strong with top tackler Ryan Skelton (59 stops, 10 tfl's), Jordan Krentz (7 stops) and Zack Spearing (45 jolts, 2 tfl's).
 
            The secondary relies on corners James Jackson (26 hits, 2 int's) and Branden Williams (21 tackles, 2 int's), Strong safety Veuntrae Robinson (21 stops) and free safety Kenny Pettis (35 tackles, 1 int).
 
            CLARION NOTES:   CLARION – EDINBORO SERIES – Edinboro won last year's game 31-14 at Clarion … Edinboro led 14-7 at halftime … Clarion scoed on the final play before intermission on a 41-yard pas from Fiscus to Craig Bunney… the Scots scored 17 second half points to put the game away … The Boro saw Cody Harris complete 19 of 23 passes for 232 yards and 1 td…  Fiscus completed 14 of 38 for 175 and 2 td's and ran for 70 on 19 carries… Clarion won in 2009 30-17 – Upsetting the #21 ranked Scots … Edinboro held a 17-6 halftime lead – Boro QB Trevor Harris was knocked out of the game right before halftime due to a knee injury …. Clarion rallied in the third quarter on two Tyler Huether 1 yard runs to go ahead 20-17 … Then a safety with only 3:51 left in the fourth – and an Alfonso Hoggard 7-yard run with 1:39 remaining sealed the deal … Hoggard rushed for 99 yards and 1 td … Huether rushed for 91 yards and 2 td's, plus hit on 14 of 24 passes for 169 yards … Harris was 8 of 11 for 97 yards for Edinboro … Edinboro won in 2008 35-10 - Edinboro led 14-3 at halftime and scored twice in the third quarter to put the game away ... Huether completed 16 of 31 passes for 143 ... Harris completed 17 of 24 for 183 and 3 td's ... In 2007 at Edinboro on Sportsfever TV the Boro won 49-30 - but what a first half - Clarion led 4 times including its last lead of 23-21 in the second quarter ... Emmanuel, Hoggard and Pierre Odom scored first half td's and Nick Sipes booted a 21-yard field goal ... Edinboro roared back to take a 35-23 halftime lead ... The Eagles pulled to within 35-30 in the third, but Edinboro scored twice more to finish at 49-30 ... 914 yards of offense in the game - 344 for Clarion and 570 for the Boro ... Huether passed for 262 yards and 2 td;s ... Edinboro's Harris passed for 415 yards and 4 td's ... in 2006 Edinboro won 13-0 in a defensive struggle... Clarion missed a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter ... And had drives stopped in the red zone in the third and fourth quarters ... Huether was 9 for 26 for 119 yards ... Emmanuel rushed for only 23 yards on 8 carries ... Trevor Harris completed 11 of 21 passes for 118 yards ... Houston Brown rushed for 157 yards and 1 td ...  In 2004 Clarion led 3-0 at halftime at Memorial Stadium, and it could have been more as Clarion traveled into Edinboro territory 5 times without getting a score... Kyle Snoke booted a 29-yard field goal late in the second ... Edinboro took the lead for good on an Andre Burke 1-yard run with 26-seconds left in the third, then scored on a Burke 21-yard run early in the fourth to pull away and win (21-10) ... Clarion had 169 yards of offense... Brandon Dando was 9 of 23 passing for 129 yards and 1 td... Bo Busch had 18 tackles and Matt Morris 14 to lead the defense... Burke ran for 173 yards on 40 carries with 3 td=s ... Bouch was 12 of 21 for 143 yards with 2 int=s ... In the 2002 game Clarion roared out to a 24-0 lead and then held on for a 24-18 win at Edinboro ... The final Eagle score was a 12 yard pass from Adam Almashy to Chad Thompson on a fake field goal early in the third quarter... Clarion rushed for 307 yards and passed for 31 ... Robert Walker had 116 on 14 carries, while Glenn Lovelace had 72 and 1 td on 7 tries (10.3 p/c)... Edinboro had 392 yards of offense including 184 rushing and 208 passing ... Alonzo Roebuck had 24 carries for 146 yards and 2 td=s ... Justin Bouch completed 6 of 12 passes for 104 yards in relief of Cam Marsh (10 of 27 - 104 yards)... Sean Hess had 6 catches for 96 yards ... In 2001 Edinboro won 24-12 at Sox Harrison Stadium ... Clarion=s Demetric Garnder scored on a 19-yard run but the PAT was blocked and Clarion led 6-0... The Boro scored 17 unanswered points before halftime to lead 17-6 and went on to the win ... Clarion rushed for 195 and passed for 147 for 342 yards ... Edinboro rushed for 189 and passed for 155 for 344 yards... In 2000 Clarion won 7-0... Tab Musser scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter and that score held up ... Clarion had 235 net yards to Edinboro's 152..