The second season – The PSAC-Western Division Opener – is upon us. Clarion is back on the road this Saturday, September 24, as the Golden Eagles square off against #17 ranked California in the PSAC-West opener for both teams. Kickoff at Adamson Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
            Clarion enters the game with an 0-3 overall record after losing last week at Shippensburg 54-24. California is 2-1 on the season and is coming off a 22-19 come-from-behind win at East Stroudsburg.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and California 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 televised live on the Pittsburgh CW - In Clarion that will be Channel 5 on Comcast, with Stan Savran and Paul Alexander doing the play by play and color. Check your local listings for "The CW" in your area.
   
            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 16-42.
              #17 ranked California (latest AFCA Poll) is hosting Clarion on Saturday and enters the game with plenty of momentum after rallying to defeat East Stroudsburg 22-19 on the road last Saturday. With Cal trailing 19-14 and East Stroudsburg with the ball at the Cal 24 late in the fourth quarter, the Vulcan defense came up with a big interception to stop that drive. Then, on fourth at 10 at the Cal 25, the Vulcans went for it and got a game-winning 75-yard td pass from Peter Lalich to Thomas Mayo for the game-winning score at 3:12 of the fourth quarter.
 
            California opened the season with a 26-3 loss to #13 rated St. Cloud State, then defeated C.W. Post 41-13 before last week's comeback wwin.
 
Last year California was 10-2 overall and 6-1 in the PSAC-West, tying for first with Mercyhurst but a loss to the Lakers (31-21) kept Cal out of the PSAC title game. Cal lost to Bloomsburg in the NCAA Division II Playoffs 28-26.
 
            Cal has had an impressive record of 46-9 the last four seasons, winning three straight NCAA Division II East Region (Super Region 1) titles from 2007-09. In 2009 Cal lost in the D-II semi's to Northwest Missouri State (56-31), while in 2008 Cal lost to Minnesota-Duluth 45-7 in the semi's, and in 2007 lost to Valdosta State in the D-II semi's 28-24.

            The Vulcans are led by veteran head coach John Luckhardt, who is no stranger to playoff action. Luckhardt is in his 10^th season at Cal and has an overall record of 80-31 with Vulcans and has a 28-year coaching record of 217-68-2. He had a great 17-year career at Washington & Jefferson (1982-98) posting a 137-37-2 mark while winning 13 PAC Titles with 5 Regional Championships and 11 NCAA D-III appearances.
              The all-time series between the two schools has Cal leading 39-38-3 in games dating back to 1927. In the past 16 years Cal has a narrow 9-7 lead and has spawned some great games over the years. Last year cal won 24-9, but led 17-9 until the final two minutes. Two years ago the two teams played a classic at Adamson Stadium that the Vulcans won 35-31. Clarion wins over that span came in 1995 (20-10), 1996 (45-14), 1999 (28-14), 2000 (32-28), 2001 (29-22), 2002 (31-6) and 35-34 in 2004. The last Clarion win in 2004 came on Clarion's version of “The Play”, as qb Brandon Dando tossed a 47-yard “Hail Mary” pass on the game's final play to win. Cal meanwhile won 24-9 last year, 35-31 in 2009, 52-20 in 2008, 56-0 in 2007, 41-14 in 2006, and 43-7 in 2005. Other Cal wins during the last 15 years came in 1997 (30-0), 1998 (30-28), 2003 (13-7).
              The Clarion offense is ranked #10 in the PSAC after three games averaging 349 yards per game, including 182.7 on the ground (#6 in PSAC) and 166.3 passing (#12 in PSAC).
 
            Sophomore signal caller Ben Fiscus (So. Indiana) has completed 48 of 93 passes (51.6%) for 446 yards and 2 td's in 2011. He has also rushed for 125 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. Backup Eric Coxon (Jr. Pgh. Brentwood) completed 7 of 13 passes for 53 yards last week.
              Wideouts ready to catch passes from Fiscus or Coxon will be juniors Tarrean Barrett (Scranton) and Robert Tantlinger (Franklin) and sophomore Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.). Tight ends Anthony Becoate (So. McKeesport), Rob Irwin (So. Bellefonte) and Mike Deitrick  (Fr. Upper St. Clair) will also be ready to latch onto passes.
 
            Barrett leads the receiving corps with 15 passes for 127 yards, Tantlinger has 6 catches for 63 yards and 1 td and Reid has 7 grabs for 81 yards and 1 td. Becoate has 6 catches for 56 yards, Irwin 4 for 30 and Deitrick 4 for 34 yards.
 
            Senior captain Matt Ward (Murrysville) was injured in the Fairmont State game and will likely miss the PSAC-West opener. 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 has rushed 33 times for 166 yards, while Akins has 32 carries for 207 yards and 2 td's. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. 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 also seeing time on the offensive line.
              Clarion has nine starters returning to its 2011 defense which ranks #16 in the PSAC in total defense yielding 471 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are giving up 353 rushing yards per game (#16 in PSAC) and #2 in pass defense (118.7 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 8 tfl's for -23 yards including 2 qb sacks, plus has 18 tackles (14 solos) 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. In his career Morrison has 47 tfl's for –162 yards and 20 qb sacks for -103 yards. He also has 6 fumbles caused, 5 break-ups and 1 fumble recovery.
 
            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 12 tackles (2 tfl's), Stegena 14 hits, Foy 10 stops and 1 tfl, Bostick 2 jolts and Slack 1.
 
            Also helping up front are Julian Howsare (Fr. Altoona – 8 hits, 1 sack), Zach Newquist (So. Indiana) and Ross Nicholson (So. Kane).
              The linebacking corps will feature the return of Reggie Robinson  (Sr. Pgh – Brashear), Mike Verdun (Sr. Greensburg), transfer Nate Sipes (Jr. Curwensville) and red-shirt freshman T.J. McElwaine (Pgh. North Hills). Sipes leads the team with 28 tackles, Robinson has 16 hits and 4 tfl's, Verdun has 7 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 16 tackles and 1 tfl in 2011 and now has 181 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 15 stops, 2 tfl's and 1 break-up, while Stimac has 11 hits, Eckels 15 jolts, 1 tfl and 1 break-up, with Wilson collecting 11 tackles and 1 int. Red-shirt freshman Caleb Mancini (Beaver Falls/Blackhawk) has 2 hits and junior Patrick Graham-Murphy has 6 tackles and 1 interception.
 
            The punting chores will rest with Nathan Conway who is averaging 40 yards per punt, while the placekicking chores belong to true freshman Tyler Ruark (Whiteford, Md.). He has made three of six field goal attempts this year.
              The California offense ranks 5^th in the PSAC in total offense getting 401 yards per game and also ranks #10  in scoring offense averaging 22 points per outing. The Vulcans are collecting 129.3 rushing yards per game (#8  in PSAC) and #4 in the PSAC in passing at 271.7 yards per game.
 
            The Cal offense is directed by junior quarterback Peter Lalich, who has completed 65 of 104 passes for 806 yards and 4 td's with only 4 interceptions. Lalich is a transfer from the University of Virginia.
 
            Leading the backfield are tailbacks tailbacks Lamont Smith (44 rushes, 186 yard), Edwin Gowins (34 carries, 146 yards, 3 td's) and Trey Johnson (9 rushes, 84 yards).  Smith played in 11 games last year and ranked fourth in the PSAC in rushing with 1,166 yards and 12 td's. Gowins is a transfer from Stony Brook.
 
            The receiving corps is talented with Thomas Mayo leading the way with 25 catches for 461 yards and 3 td's, including his 75-yard game-winner versus ESU last Saturday. Mayo transferred to Cal from Concord. Chedrick Cherry (8 grabs, 80 yards) and Mario Washington (9 catches, 77 yards) give Cal firepower at the receiving position. Washington is a transfer from Navy.
 
            Tight end Blake Williamson (7 receptions, 66 yards) gives Lalich a complete set of quality receivers.
              The California defense is giving up 330 yards per game and ranked #7 in the PSAC after three games. The Vulcans are yielding 141 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 189 passing yards (#6 in the PSAC) per game.
 
Up front the Fire Gods count on tackles Steve Santia (7 hits, 1.5 tfl's) and Thomas Mulabah (11 tackles, 1 int), along with ends Kevin Crawford (7 stops, 0.5 sacks) and Marcus Cook (6 tackles, 1 tfl's).
 
The linebacking corps top tackler Brian Justice (26 hits, 3.5 tfl's) and Spencer Lynn (18 jolts).
 
Cal has a strong secondary that includes Shawn Anderson (11 tackles) and Patrick Swearinger (5 hits) at the corners, with Rontez Miles (20 tackles, 1 int), Erik Harris (19 stops, 3 tfl's, 1 int) and Robby Green (17 tackles, 1 tfl) at the safety spots.
 
            Freshman punter Cody Nuzzo is averaging 36 yards per punt, while as the Vulcan placekicker he has hit 7 of 8 PAT's and 1 of 5 field goals.
 
            CLARION NOTES:   CALIFORNIA SERIES NOTES: Last year (2010) Cal defeated Clarion 24-9 at Memorial Stadium … Clarion led 7-3 at halftime on a 1-yard pass from Eric Coxon to Jacques Robinson in the second quarter … Cal took a 17-7 lead in the third on a Cherry 8-yd td pass from Josh Portis and a Jordan Scott 1-yard run … Clarion's Adam Bostick tackled Lamont Smith in the endzone for a safety at 8:32 of the fourth … Cal's Harris intercepted a Coxon pass on the next drive and Smith scored on a 6-yard run to put the game away with 2:46 remaining… Smith rushed for 185 yards and 1 td – Portis completed 22 of 30 for 201 yards and 1 td – Cherry caught 8 for 110 and 1 td … Clarion's Jacques Robinson had 3 catches for 50 yadr and 1 td … Clarion's Nick Sipes had 17 tackles to lead the “D” …  (2009 Cal rallied to defeat Clarion 35-31 at Adamson Stadium) - was a true indicator that the Clarion – Cal game will always be interesting… The Golden Eagles came in as heavy underdogs, and nearly pulled off the big upset losing 35-31 in a game that went to the final play… The game had 7 lead changes … Clarion looked like they might have the upset when Tyler Huether hit Jacques Robinson on a 44-yard td pas with 4:04 to play… Cal went ahead with 1:01 left on a 47-yard td pas from Portis to Cherry… Clarion drove to the Cal 27 and tried a game-winning pass on the final play, but the pass was intercepted by Mike Brown… Robinson had 9 catches for 123 yards and 1 td … Huether passed for 271 yards and 2 td's and Hoggard ran for 50 and 1 td… Portis hit on 13 of 23 passes for 201 yards and 3 td's … Moore had 5 grabs for 84 yards and 2 td's, and Cherry, who was held to 2 catches, had 70 total yards and the final td catch…
 In 2008 at Clarion the Golden Eagles lost 52-20 - The games was close into the third quarter ... Robert Mamula's 25-yard field goal at 12:10 of the third had Clarion trailing 17-6, but Cal responded with three td's to put the game away ... Gino Rometo completed 18 of 29 for 213 yards and 1 td ... Jacques Robinson grabbed 9 passes for 152 yards and 1 td ... Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 103 yards ... Cal's Brandon Lombardy rushed for 106 yards and 1 td and QB Kevin McCabe hit on 12 of 17 for 164 and 2 td's ... In the 2006 game Cal was ahead 21-0 in the third quarter when Clarion rallied with two td's to make it 21-14... Huether scored on a 7-yard run and Kyle Mahoney caught a 13-yard td pass from Huether ... A bad punt snap gave Cal the ball at the Clarion 4 and the Vulcans scored immediately to make it 28-14 with 11:39 left  ... The Vulcans added 2 late td's to make it 41-14... In 2005 Cal jumped out to a 43-0 halftime lead and defeat Clarion 43-7 … Antoine Bagwell rushed for 204 yard and 4 td's to lead Cal … In 2004 when Clarion won 35-34 on the final play, Clarion outgained Cal 448-442... Cal led 7-6 at halftime, but the two teams combined for 56 second half points ... Clarion scored two td's in the final 1:13... Dando scored on a 2-yard run with 1:13 left, the “D” held on three downs, then the “O” took over at the Clarion 44 with 19-seconds left... Dando hit Pierre Odom for 9-yards to the Cal 47 setting up the game-wining td pass... Clarion had 222 rushing yards and 226 passing yards ... qb Brandon Dando completed 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards and 1 td ... Glenn Lovelace rushed for 164 yards and 2 td's on 23 carries ... Joe Farkas had 5 grabs for 81 yards and 1 td ... Cal rushed for 170 yards and passed for 272 ... Bagwell gained 191 yards and 2 td's on 21 attempts ... Ruggiero was 1 for 3 for -2 yards before suffering a season ending injury ... Matt Humbert completed 15 of 27 passes for 274 yards and 2 td's ... Marc Huddleston had 8 catches for 92 yards, while Claude Whitacre had 5 catches for 148 yards and 2 td's ... In 2003 at Cal's Adamson Stadium the Vulcans rallied in the fourth quarter for a 13-7 win over Clarion ... Wes Clemons scored on a 2-yard run with 11:09 left to win the game ... Clarion outgained Cal 316-160 and outrushed Cal 250-60, but 3 lost fumbles and an interception that spelled defeat for Clarion ... Brandon Dando had his first collegiate start and rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries, and completed 9 of 22 for 66 yards... QB John Aitken was 10 of 24 for 100 yards... In 2002 Clarion rushed for 265 yards, outgained Cal 351-136 and held the ball for 39:07 in the 31-6 win over Cal... Brandon Sweeney blocked a punt in the second quarter that teammate Brandon Whitman caught in mid-air and returned 5 yards for a td to give Clarion a 14-6 halftime lead... Clarion added 17 unanswered second half points ...  Robert Walker rushed for 169 yards and 2 td's on 27 carries... Adam Almashy hit 5 of 14 passes for 86 yards and 1 td... Cal's Wesley Clemons gained 35 yards on 12 carries... QB Brandon LeDonne completed 3 of 26 passes for 81 yards... Four years ago (2001) Clarion topped the Vulcans 29-22 at Memorial Stadium ... The Eagles rallied from a 22-14 halftime deficit with a third quarter td from Glenn Lovelace and a 2-yard run in the fourth from Demetric Gardner with 9:01 left... Clarion outgained Cal 362-292 ... Adam Almashy ran for 120 yards and 2 td's and completed 2 of 9 passes for 52 yards ... Cal QB LeDonne completed 7 of 20 passes for 80 yards, while Strayer came on and was 2 for 2 for 78 yards and 1 td... In 2000 at Cal the Eagles won 32-28... Clarion had 422 yards to Cal's 350 ... Almashy completed 11 of 24 passes for 177 yards ... Mike McCullum grabbed 4 for 104, including a 75-yarder to the Cal 16 with about one minute to play, setting up Almashy's game-winning 2-yard run with 46-seconds left... Clarion's defense caused a critical Cal fumble in that game at the Clarion 6 yard line prior to the game-winning td drive... Dennis Yu recovered the fumble with 1:50 remaining in the game ... Cal All-America running back Wesley Cates rushed for a game high 182 yards and 2 td's on 26 carries.