The Clarion football team returns home this Saturday, October 29, when the Golden Eagles host Gannon at Memorial Stadium for the annual “Family Day” game. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
 
Clarion enters the game with a 1-7 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the PSAC-West. Clarion is coming of a hard-fought 21-10 loss at Edinboro last Saturday. Gannon is 3-5 overall and  2-3 in the West after losing 35-7 at IUP 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 Scott Bacon and Jon Schaeffer providing play by play and 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, Nov. 2 starting at 8pm.
 
FOSTER IN 6^TH SEASON/ CLARION POSTS 4-7 MARK IN 2010
2009 EAGLES 8-3 - 2^ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8^TH IN SUPER REGION 1

Sixth year head coach Jay Foster enters Saturday's game against Gannon with a 1-7 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the PSAC-West. Last week Clarion lost a tough 21-10 decision at Edinboro, while two weeks ago  turnovers proved costly in the Eagles 38-7 loss to IUP. Three 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 47-13 (78.3%) including Fairmont State (6-2), Bloomsburg (8-0), Shippensburg (4-4), Cal (6-2), Slippery Rock (7-1), IUP (5-2) and Edinboro 6-2.
 
            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 17-46.
 
GANNON IS 3-5; 2-3 IN 2011 UNDER COACH JIM KIERNAN

Gannon enters Saturday's contest with a 3-5 overall record in 2011 and a 2-3 mark in the PSAC-West. The Golden Knights opened 2011 with a 13-10 loss to Lake Erie College, then lost 41-13 against Shippensburg. The first win came in a 47-0 shutout of Millersville, followed by a 27-0 loss to Edinboro. The most impressive win came in a 30-27 upset win over Mercyhurst, then a 33-6 loss to Cal, a 37-13 win over Lock Haven and last week's 35-7 loss at IUP.

Head coach Jim Kiernan is in his fifth season with the Knights and has a career record of 20-32.
 
CLARION LEADS SERIES 2-1 SINCE 2008

Although the series only started in 2008 between the two schools, all three games in this series have been exciting. Last year at Gannon the Golden Eagles won 11-10 when Ben Fiscus scored on a 20-yard run with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter. In 2009 Clarion won at Memorial Stadium 42-21 behind a 4-td performance from Alfonso Hoggard. In 2008 Gannon defeated Clarion 31-24 in a game that wasn't decided until the game's final play. Clarion trailed 31-24 late in the game, but had the pigskin on the Gannon 26-yard line with only 15-seconds remaining. The Golden Eagles took 4 shots into the endzone, but all failed and Gannon held on for the win.
 
CLARION OFFENSE #11 IN PSAC (324.5 YPG)

The Clarion offense is ranked #11 in the PSAC after seven games averaging 324.5 yards per game, including 2006.6 on the ground (#3 in PSAC) and 117.9 passing (#14 in PSAC). Clarion is 13^th in scoring offense averaging 18.5 ppg.
 
 Sophomore signal caller Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) has completed 82 of 178 passes (46.1%) for 852 yards and 4 td's in 2011. He also leads the Golden Eagles in rushing yards with 572yards plus 4 td's. Two weeks ago he rushed for 112 yards against IUP and three 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 261 times for 1,154 yards and 10 td's. The career rushing mark for a Clarion QB is Adam Almashy's 1,339 (1999-2002). Fiscus has completed 144 of 304 passes for 1,565 yards and 11 td's.
 
The backup is Ryan Voisey (So. Hermitage/Hickory).
 
WARD, BARRETT, BEACOATE & IRWIN LEAD RECEIVERS
 
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.
 
Barrett, who missed last week's game, is tied for the team lead with 19 catches for 159 yards. Reid also has 19 grabs for 209 yards and 1 td. Tantlinger has 11 catches for 145 yards and 1 td, while Becoate has 10 catches for 133 yards and 1 td, Irwin 7 for 46.
 
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.
 
GRAHAM-MURPHY WILL CARRY THE PIGSKIN
 
Junior Patrick Graham-Murphy (Pgh – Brashear) was moved from defensive back last week to running back and ran for 174 yards and 1 td on 20 carries at Edinboro. He will start this week. Both regular starters  John Fuhrer (Jr. Pgh – Keystone Oaks) and Brandon Akins (Erie/Strong Vincent) are questionable this week after missing Edinboro but providing a solid 1-2 punch at running back in 2011. Fuhrer has rushed 64 times for 339 yards and 2 td's. Akins has 85 carries for 403 yards and 3 td's. Tarik Leftenant (Fr. Mechanicsburg) is ready for action having rushed 27 times for 89 yards and 1 td.
 
BAZZONE LEADS TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE

The “O” line has three talented returning starters 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) starts at left guard, and Andrew Vercelli (Jr. Gibsonia/Deer Lakes), who missed two games but returned against Edinboro, is back in the lineup. Center Terrance Perfilio (So. Farrell) will see plenty of action as will guards Eli Ruppert (Jr. Indiana/Apollo Ridge) and Ryan Barrick (So. Easton).
 
GOLDEN EAGLE DEFENSE RANKS #13 IN PSAC

Clarion's defense is ranked #13 in the PSAC in total defense yielding 408.1 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are giving up 224.5 rushing yards per game (#16 in PSAC) and #5 in pass defense (183.6 yards per game).
 
2010 ALL REGION CHOICE MORRISON LEADS DEFENSIVE FRONT

Up front senior All-Region defensive end and captain Barrington Morrison (Sr. Pgh – Penn Hills) is having another standout season. Morrison already totals 14 tfl's for -57 yards including 7 qb sacks, plus has 38 tackles (23 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 53 tfl's for –196 yards and 25 qb sacks for -133yards. 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 26 tackles and 6 tfl's, Stegena 25 hits 1 tfl, Howsare 22 hits, 4 tfl's, Bostick 9 jolts, Motley 8 hits with 1 tfl  and Slack 5.
 
CLARION LINEBACKERS LOOKING TO CLOG THE MIDDLE

Senior linebacker Reggie Robinson  (Sr. Pgh – Brashear) was injured against IUP, missed Edinboro and will likely miss the Gannon game. Robinson has 32 stops and has 11 tfl's. Junior Nate Sipes (Curwensville) and freshman Brian Palmiere (Tarentum/Deer Lakes) will likely start this week with Mike Verdun (Sr. Greensburg) and Eric Coxon (Jr. Pgh. Brentwood) seeing plenty of time. Sipes leads the team and ranks #2 in the PSAC with 75 tackles plus 2 tfl's, Palmiere has 27 tackles and 5 tfl's and Verdun has 21 hits.
 
SOPIC LEADS EAGLE SECONDARY

Captain Shawn Sopic (Sr. Curwensville) (56 hits, 7 break-ups – 2009) has returned in 2011 after missing 2010. Shawn has contributed 44 tackles and 1 tfl in 2011 and now has 209 career tackles, 15 break-ups, 4 int's and 6 tfl's in his career.
 
Starting safeties Jay Pettina (So. Indiana) is out, but Peter Rivera (Fr. Allentown) is expected back in the lineup. Senior James Eckels  (McKeesport), Aaron Gluvna (Jr. Corry), Chris Wilson (Sr. Philadelphia/Frankford) and Anthony Stimac (Jr. East Brady/Karns City) and Andrew Paronish (Jr.Hastings/No. Cambria) are ready to play.
 
Eckels (36 tackles, 2 tfl's), Gluvna (9 hits), Stimac (38 hits, 1 int – returned Clarion record 100-yards vs  SR), Wilson has collected 30 tackles and 1 int. and Paronish 22 stops.
 
The punting chores are handled by Nathan Conway who is averaging 37.5 yards per punt, while the placekicking chores belong to true freshman Tyler Ruark (Whiteford, Md.). He has made five of ten field goal attempts this year.
 
GANNON OFFENSE #13 IN PSAC GETTING 254.8 YPG

Gannon's offense is ranked 13^th in the PSAC getting 254.8 yards of total offense per game. The Golden Knights are getting 96.6 rushing yards (13^th in PSAC) and 158.1 passing yards (12^th in PSAC) per game.
 
Calling the signals for the Knight offense will be Daniel Tapscott, who has completed 94 of 192 passes for 968 yards and 7 td's with 8 interceptions.
 
 Top receivers include Lawrence Coleman (26 catches, 331 yards, 5 td's), Jonathon Jones (22 grabs, 230 yards), Jerry Smith (14 receptions, 120 yards) and tight end Evan Twombly (11 grabs, 124 yards, 2 td's).
 
The running game is spearheaded by Alex Papson who has 130 carries for 369 yards and 3 td's, while Jansen Jones has 52 tries for 277 yards and 3 td's.
 
GANNON DEFENSE RANKS #6 IN PSAC (329.6)

Gannon's defense is ranked #6 in the PSAC giving up only 329.6 yards per game. Opponents are getting only 126 rushing yards per game (#7 in PSAC) and #8 in passing yards yielding 203.6 per contest.
 
Up front the Knights depend on tackles Randy Colling (64 stops, 15.5 tfl's, 8.5 sacks) and Ian Jeffers (26 tackles, 5.5 tfl's), along with ends Cory Borden (16 hits, 3 tfl's) and Wesley Smith (21 tackles, 3.5 tfl's).
 
 Linebackers Kevin Borton (51 stops, 6.5 tfl's), Will Giles 24 tackles) and Jon Petrigac (46 hits, 4.5 tfl's) anchor the middle of the defense, while the secondary features corners Mike Phillips (36 tackles, 2 int's), and Ta'Von Bailey (30 stops, 2 int's) with safeties Chris Cook (51 tackles, 2 int's) and Khayree Connors-McChristian (56 tackles, 2 int's).
 
CLARION – GANNON SERIES: CLARTION LEADS SERIES 2-1 --- 2010 Clarion won 11-10 in a wild game … Clarion had a first quarter safety to lead 2-0 … Gannon's Chris cook intercepted a Fiscus pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a td … Eagle kicker Robert mamula set a new school record with a 50-yard field goal before the half to make the score 7-5 Gannon… The Knights Jeremy Ditzler booted a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-5, before Clarion qb Fiscus scored on a 20-yard run with 4:39 left to win the game… Alfonso haggard rushed for 119 yards and caught 3 passes for 16 yards…  Clarion won the 2009 game 42-21 … Clarion outgained Gannon 365-355 …Clarion outrushed Gannon 217-120, but Gannon won the air war 235-148 … It was Clarion's Alfonso Hoggard who made the difference… He rushed for 134 yards and 3 td's on runs of 7, 1 and 41 yards … He also returned a kickoff 87-yards for a td on his way to 257 yards of total offense… Jacques Robinson grabbed 9 passes for 83 yards and Tyler Huether completed 15 of 22 for 148 yards … Gannon's Jon Richardson rushed for 68 yards and 1 td … qb Zach Boedicker completed 13 of 23 passes for 134 yards and 1 td … Gannon won the 2008 game at Gannon 31-24 … The Knights outgained Clarion 309-247... The Eagles outdistanced Gannon in passing 208-175, but Gannon won the ground war 134-39... Clarion qb Gino Rometo completed 20 of 40 for 208 yards and 2 td's ... Hoggard grabbed 9 passes for 59 yards and 1 td, with Jacques Robinson getting 5 catches for 45 yards and 1 score... Boedicker was 4 of 9 for 94 yards, and Richardson rushed for 83 yards and 2 td's... Gannon led 28-10 in the third quarter when Clarion defensive end John Hackel scooped up a Gannon fumble and raced 46-yards for a Clarion td to make in 28-17... After Gannon kicked a field goal to make it 31-17, The Eagles cut the lead to 31-24 when Rometo hit Jacques Robinson for 20-yards and a td with 5:10 remaining in the game ... Clarion had their next drive stopped at the Gannon 21 on downs, then got the ball back with 44-seconds left and drove again into scoring position... A 33-yard pass from Rometo to Matt Foradora to the Gannon 26 had Clarion with a first down with about 15 seconds left.... Rometo lofted four passes into the endzone, the final one as time ran out, and Gannon defended all four to preserve the win.