Box Score SCORING SUMMARY & STATS
(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion quarterback
Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) rushed for 204 yards and 2 td's, plus passed for 2 td's, in leading the Golden Eagles to a 54-6 over Lock Haven on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Clarion's Homecoming Day Game, which is part of the Autumn Leaf Festival, saw Clarion raise its overall record to 1-5 and 1-2 in the PSAC-West. Lock Haven dropped to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the PSAC-West.
Lock Haven opened the scoring on a 38-yard field goal from Noah Heimer at 8:22 of the first to give the Bald Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Clarion's first score was setup by the special teams. LH had fourth and 17 at their own 10 when
Julian Howsare (Fr. Altoona) broke through the line and partially blocked a Jarrett Kratzer punt that went out of bounds at the LH 29.
Running back
John Fuhrer (Jr. Pgh – Keystone Oaks)rushed twice to the LH 17, Fiscus once to the 9, and then
Brandon Akins (So. Erie – Strong Vincent) ran twice, the second put the ball in the endzone of a run up the middle from the 2 and Clarion led 7-3 after
Tyler Ruark's PAT at 2:11 of the first quarter.
Fiscus then put the Golden Eagles in front 14-3 early in the second quarter on an electrifying 70-yard td run. Clarion took over the possession on its own 28 and on first down Fuhrer rushed for two yards. On second down Fiscus faked to his running back, turned into the line and ran about 25 yards, before cutting to the right sideline and outraced everyone to the endzone. Ruark's PAT gave the Eagles a 14-3 lead at 10:43 of the second.
LH's Noah Heimer booted a 33-yard field goal at 5:28 of the second to cut Clarion's lead to 14-6.
After the Eagles pinned LH's offense deep on its next possession, LH faced a fourth and 19 at its own 7. With Kratzer back to punt,
Robert Tantlinger (Jr. Franklin) rushed from his left end position and blocked Kratzer's punt out of the endzone for a Clarion safety, giving Clairon a 16-6 lead at 2:30 of the second.
Clarion's
Tarrean Barrett (Jr. Scranton) returned the free kick 31 yards to the Lock Haven 45 to give the Eagles great field position and a chance to extend their lead. The Eagles did not disappoint the 5,519 fans as the Eagles pushed their lead to 23-6. Fiscus rushed 5 times for 46 yards on the drive (that included a penalty) to place the ball on the 4 yard line, where Fuhrer ran off right tackle for the score. Ruark's PAT made it 23-6 at halftime.
Clarion corner
Patrick Graham Murphy (Jr. Pgh – Brashear) returned the second half kickoff 95-yards for a td, but the score was called back on a holding penalty. Starting at its own 27 Clarion drove 73 yards in 10 plays to put the game out of reach. Fiscus rushed 6 times in the drive for 46 yards, including his 24-yard touchdown run that brought the Eagle crowd to its feet. On second and six at the 24, Fiscus again broke outside left end on the read option, ran 10 yards down the left sideline, then cut back across the field, broke two tackles at the 10 yard line and dashed into the endzone for the touchdown. Ruark's PAT made it 30-6 at 10:21 of the third.
Fiscus tossed his first of two td passes of the day on the Eagles next possession when he hit
Mike Deitrick (Fr. Upper St. Clair) on an 11-yard touchdown pass at 6:39 of the third quarter, then completed his day when he threw a 20 yarder to
Anthony Becoate at 3:06 of the third to give Clarion a 44-6 lead.
Tyler Ruark booted a 47-yard field goal at 11:12 of the fourth for a 47-6 lead, and defensive end
Sean Motley fell on a Lock Haven fumble in the endzone for Clarion's last score to make the final Clarion 54, Lock Haven 6.
Clarion totaled 474 yards of total offense including 423 rushing and 51 yards passing. Fiscus rushed for 204 yards and 2 td's on 21 carries. His 204 yards is the eleventh highest single game total in school history and the only qb at Clarion to ever rush for 200 yards in a game. Fiscus also completed 3 of 7 passes for 36 yards and 2 td's.
John Fuhrer also had his first 100-yard day at Clarion rushing 13 times for 111 yards and 1 td, while Akins had 51 yards and 1 td on 10 carries.
Clarion's defense was led by
Mike Zak (So. Orchard Park, N.Y.) with 12 tackles and 1 tfl', while
Barrington Morrison (Sr. Pgh – Penn Hills) had 2 qb sacks, and pass block and a qb hurry at his defensive end positon.
Lock Haven had 171 yards of offense including 74 rushing and 113 passing. Jarryd Burkett completed 9 of 20 passes for 56 yards, while running back Brandon Brader rushed 24 times for 81 yards.
Clarion's 48-point margin of victory is the fourth highest in school history. Clarion defeated LH 69-14 in 11987 to win by 55, while also defeating LH 57-3 in 1996 and Edinboro 50-0 in 1946. Clarion last scored more than 50 points in 2002 when Clarion defeated Glenville State 59-38 at Memorial Stadium (Sept. 21, 2002).
Clarion returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 15 when the Eagles host IUP at 3pm.