(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion's 2011 gridders are back on the road this Saturday, September 17, when the Golden Eagles travel to Shippensburg for a game against the Raiders at Seth Grove Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Shippensburg 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.
              Sixth year head coach Jay Foster enters Saturday's game against Shippensburg an 0-2 record in 2011. Last week the Golden Eagles lost to #9 rated Bloomsburg 45-10 at Memorial Stadium. The season opener, on Thursday, September 1^st, saw Clarion lose to Fairmont state 31-17 despite outgaining the Falcons 426-316.
 
            Clarion opened 2011 with 16 starters and 40 lettermen returning as the Golden Eagles have a roster that includes 14 seniors, 15 juniors and 21 sophomores.
 
            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). The Eagles hope to use that momentum to springboard into the 2011 season.
 
            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 16-41.
              Shippensburg head coach Mark Maciejewski is in his 13^th year on the Raider staff and his first as head coach, replacing long-time mentor Rocky Rees. The Red Raiders opened 2011 with a 53-27 loss at #11 ranked Shepherd, then went on the road last week to Gannon and defeated the Golden Knights convincingly 41-13.
 
            Last year Shippensburg was 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC-Eastern Division. In 2009 the Raiders were PSAC Champions defeating California 52-35 in the title game, then lost to Cal 26-21 in the NCAA Playoffs. Overall they were 9-3 and 6-1 in the PSAC-East.
              In a series that dates back to 1955, Clarion leads the overall series 33-19-1. Clarion is 0-5 in the last five meetings including a 28-24 loss lost last year at Memorial Stadium. Ship also has wins in 2007 (41-23), 2006 (35-10), at Shippensburg in 2005 (37-0) and a 44-0 loss in 2004 at Memorial Stadium. Clarion last defeated Shippensburg in 2000 in a wild 56-49 contest. In the last 14 games Shipp holds an 11-3 advantage over the Golden Eagles. Clarion wins were in 1995 (31-9), 1996 (59-20) and 2000 (59-46). Ship wins were in 1997, (37-14), 1998 (38-3), 1999 (32-26), 2001 (34-29), 2002 (20-19). 2003 (13-0), 2004 (44-0), 2005 (37-0.), 2006 (35-10), 2007 (41-23) and 2010 (28-24).
              The Clarion offense is ranked #10 in the PSAC after two games averaging 376.5 yards per game, including 190.5 on the ground (#6 in PSAC) and 186 passing (#10 in PSAC).
 
            Sophomore signal caller Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) has completed 39 of 73 passes for 372 yards and 2 td's in 2011. He has also rushed for 131 yards and 1 td. 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.
              Ready to catch passes from Fiscus will be senior captain Matt Ward (Murrysville), junior Tarrean Barrett (Scranton), junior Robert Tantlinger (Franklin), sophomore Anthony Becoate (McKeesport) and Rob Irwin (So. Bellefonte).  
 
            Ward caught 4 passes for 24 yards in the opener and missed last week's game. He is a game-time decision against Ship. 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.
 
            Barrett leads the receiving corps with 13 passes for 109 yards, while last year he latched onto 8 passes for 74 yards. Tantlinger has 4 catches for 45 yadrs and 1 td, while Becoate has 4 grabs for 41 yards. In 2010 Becoate had 15 receptions for 203 yards and 3 td's. Irwin sat out last year with an injury, but is a talented tight end as well. Jon Reid (So. Stafford, Va. – 4 catches, 61 yards, 1 td) and Ren Yonker (So. Johnsonburg) will also see time.
              Junior John Fuhrer (Jr. Pgh – Keystone Oaks) and sophomore Brandon Akins (Erie/Strong Vincent) will get most of the playing time at running back. Fuhrer has rushed 21 times for 105 yards, while Akins had 21 carries for 106 yards. 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 among the challengers for time on the offensive line.
              Clarion has nine starters returning to its 2011 defense which ranks #14 in the PSAC in total defense yielding 426 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are giving up 351.5 rushing yards per game (#16 in PSAC) and #1 in pass defense (74 yards per game).
              Up front senior All-Region defensive end and captain Barrington Morrison (Sr. Pgh – Penn Hills) anchors a strong front wall. Morrison already totals 6 tfl's and 10 tackles this year. 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. 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) and Sean Motley (Jr. West Mifflin).
 
            Hackel has 11 tackles (2 tfl's), Stegena 11 hits, Foy 7 stops, Bostick 2 jolts and Slack 1.
 
            Also helping up front are Julian Howsare (Fr. Altoona), Zach Newquist (So. Indiana), Ross Nicholson (So. Kane) and Keenan Walls (So. Easton).
              The linebacking corps will feature the return of Reggie Robinson  (Sr. Pgh – Brashear), Mike Verdun (Sr. Greensburg), red-shirt freshman T.J. McElwaine (Pgh. North Hills) and transfer Nate Sipes (Jr. Curwensville). Sipes leads the team with 16 tackles, Robinson has 10 hits and 2 tfl's, Verdun has 4 stops and  McElwaine has 2.
              Captain Shawn Sopic (Sr. Curwensville) (56 hits, 7 break-ups – 2009) has returned in 2011 after missing 2010. Shawn has contributed 11 tackles and 1 tfl in 2011 and now has 176 career tackles, 15 break-ups, 4 int's and 6 tfl's in his career.
 
            Also back in the secondary are sophomore Jay Pettina (So. Indiana), senior James Eckels  (McKeesport), Aaron Gluvna (Jr. Corry), Chris Wilson (Sr. Philadelphia/Frankford) and Anthony Stimac (Jr. East Brady/Karns City). Pettina has 10 stops, 1 tfl and 1 break-up, while Stimac has 9 hits, Eckels 11 jolts, 1 tfl and 1 break-up, with Wilson collecting 6 tackles and 1 int. Red-shirt freshman Caleb Mancini (Beaver Falls/Blackhawk) has 2 hits and junior Patrick Graham-Murphy has 3 tackles.
 
            The punting chores will rest with Nathan Conway who is averaging 37.4 yards per punt, while the placekicking chores belong to true freshman Tyler Ruark (Whiteford, Md.). He has made two of four field goal attempts this year.
              The Shippensburg offense is ranks 8^th in the PSAC in total offense getting 408 yards per game and also ranks #6 in scoring offense averaging 34 points per outing. The Raiders are collecting 107.5 rushing yards per game (#13 in PSAC), but third in the PSAC in passing at 300.5 yards per game.
 
            The Shippensburg offense is directed by sophomore quarterback Zach Zulli, who has completed 37 of 64 passes for 575 yards and 8 td's with only 3 interceptions.
 
            Leading the backfield is tailback Mike Frenette who has rushed for 98 yards on 25 attempts, while Sheldon Mayer has 68 yards on 16 tries.
 
            The receiving corps is talented with wideouts Trevor Harman (9 catches, 134 yards, 3 td's), Zack Kinney (7 grabs, 91 yards, 1 td) Bryan Barley (5 receptions, 117 yards, 2 td's) and Taimur Harris (5 catches, 56 yards) getting most of the catches.
              The Shippensburg defense is giving up 451 yards per game and ranked #15 in the PSAC. The Raiders are yielding 148.5 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 302.5 passing yards (#13 in the PSAC) per game.
 
            Up front the Raiders count on tackles Mark Khalil Smith (4 hits, 1.5 tfl's) and Saeed Khateeb (4 tackles, 2 tfl's), along with ends Dainen Green (3 sacks) and Jake Metz (11 stops, 2 tfl's).
 
            The linebacking corps features Cody Fleming (11 tackles, 1.5 tfl's, 1 int), Vinne Ranuato (12 stops) and Chris Johnson (8 hits).
 
            The team's top tacklers are in the secondary and include safeties Tyriq Kershaw (14 stops, 1 int) and Mike Goode (13 tackles, 1 int), along with Corey Hunt (1 int) and corners Avery Coleman (6 stops) and James Cooper (10 tackles, 2 break-ups).
 
 
            CLARION NOTES:   CLARION – SHIP SERIES: Last year (2010) Clarion lost a close 28-24 decision to the Raiders… Clarion led 10-9 at halftime on a 46-yard td pass from Eric Coxon to Jacques Robinson and a field goal from Robert Mamula… Anthony Becoate caught a 9-yard pass from Coxon with 2:22 left in the third to give the Eagles a 16-15 lead, before ship went ahead on a 20-yard td pass from Steve Adams to Mike Frenette with 14:18 left in the game… Clarion rallied on its next possession to go ahead 24-12 on a 7-yard td run from Alfonso Hoggard at 12:22 … ship scored the game-winning points on a Kevin Marshall 22 yard run with 10:23 … Clarion drove to the Shipp 9 – but on first and goal Hoggard fumbled at the 6 and Ship recovered and held on to win the game … Hoggard rushed for 28 yards and 1 td – and Coxon completed 17 of 33 passes for 241 yards and 2 td's .. Robinson caught 7 for 108 and 1 td … For ship – Marshall ran 12 times for 86 yards and 2 td's, while Adams completed 12 of 20 aerials for 223 yard and 2 td's … Frenette caught 5 passes for 108 yards and 2 td's … Nick Sipes led clarion with 13 tackles and 2.5 tfl's, while Ranauto led Ship with 11 tackles and 1 tfl … In 2007 Clarion led 7-0 when Pierre Odom recovered a Clarion fumble in the endzone in the first quarter … Shipp scored the next 31 points and led 31-7 entering the 4^th quarter – and went on to win 41-23… Clarion QB Gino Rometto hit on 17 of 26 passes for 226 yards and 1 td… Hoggard caught 7 passes for 84 yards … Ship's Aaron Dykes rushed for 114 yards and 3 td's… In the 2006 game Clarion led 3-0 at halftime and outgained Ship130-52 in the first half ... But the Raiders scored 35 second half points to win 35-10... Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 75 yards, Matt Foradora caught 4 passes for 60 yards and Huether completed 8 of 26 for 91 yards... Maiocco completed 5 of 13 for 107 yards and 2 td's ... Richards ran for 106 yards and 1 td and Dykes rushed for 58 yards and 1 td... In Ship's 20-19 win at Clarion in 2002, Brian Sekel's 18-yard td catch with 6:47 left in the game provided the margin of victory... Clarion had 307 total yards with 60 on the ground and 247 through the air ... Ship had 258 overall including 185 rushing and 73 passing ...Adam Almashy passed for 247 yards and 2 td's... Ship's John Kuhn gained 184 yards and 1 td on 31 carries... In 2000 at Memorial Stadium the two teams combined for a Clarion record 105-points as Clarion won a 56-49 shootout ... Clarion held what looked to be comfortable leads in the third quarter of 49-14 and 56-21, before the Raiders mounted a furious comeback... Adam Almashy stole the show completing 16 of 26 passes for 282 yards and 5 td's, while also rushing for a td... Tab Musser led the Eagle ground attack with 93 yards... Clarion outgained Shipp in that game 576 - 391.