The Golden Eagle football team returns home this Saturday, November 3, as Clarion entertains PSAC-West rival Edinboro at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
 
            Saturday's game will be taped for tv by the Sportsfever Television Network and replayed on Wednesday, Nov. 7^th at 5pm on ROOT Sports. Dan Watson will be on play-by-play with Scott Bacon providing color commentary.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Edinboro can be heard on the Golden Eagle Football radio 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.
 
FOSTER IN 7^TH SEASON/ CLARION POSTS 3-8 MARK IN 2011
2009 EAGLES 8-3 - 2^ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8^TH IN SUPER REGION 1
 
            Clarion head coach Jay Foster, in his seventh season leading the Golden Eagles, has his team heading into the final two weeks of the 2012 season with a 4-5 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the PSAC-West. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 45-0 loss at #16 IUP last Saturday. Two weeks ago Clarion defeated Lock Haven on the game's final play – 30-28 – driving 90-yards in 13 plays to win on a 3-yard td pass from Ben Fiscus to Anthony Becoate. Prior to LH the Eagles lost back to back games to Slippery Rock (28-20) and #16 ranked California (41-22). Clarion won its two previous games including an exciting 31-27 come from behind win over East Stroudsburg and a 13-7 win on the road at Gannon. Clarion opened the year with a thrilling 7-0 win over WVIAC foe Fairmont State. A game televised live on ROOT Sports on Thursday, August 30, Clarion took a 7-0 lead in the third quarter when junior qb Ben Fiscus hit freshman Mark Nicholas on a 27-yard td pass. The defense went on to pitch a shutout – including a goal line stand in the final 30-seconds – to post the victory. The Golden Eagles had eight turnovers in game 2 in its 46-26 loss at LIU-Post, despite outgaining the Pioneers in total offense 538-375. Clarion then dropped a hard-fought 22-14 decision at Mercyhurst in the PSAC-West opener.
 
            The Golden Eagles were 3-8 in 2011 and posted a 2-5 mark in the rugged PSAC-Western Division. The Golden Eagles won three of their final six games, including wins over Lock Haven (54-6), Gannon (28-21) and Millersville (34-20). Other close losses include a 42-38 setback in the final seconds against Mercyhurst after leading 38-14 in the third quarter, and close losses to Fairmont State (31-17) and Edinboro (21-10).
 
            The 2010 Eagles were 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the rugged PSAC-West, while the 2009 squad was 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the West and earned an 8^th place ranking in the NCAA D-II East Region final poll. Coach Foster was named the 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year”. Foster enters the game with a career record of 23-52.
 
EDINBORO 3-5 OVERALL/2-4 IN PSAC-WEST
 
            Edinboro, led by seventh year head coach Scott Browning, who has a collegiate coaching record of 48-28, has 26-years of experience under his belt as an assistant and head coach with the Fighting Scots dating back to 1986. He has been part of 8 NCAA playoff teams with the boro, one as a head coach in 2009 leading the Scots to a 9-4 overall record, while just missing the playoffs in 2010 with a 9-2 slate.
 
            The Scots opened 2012 with a 30-14 loss at #19 Bloomsburg and a 24-14 loss to #14 ranked California. Edinboro won three straight over Lock Haven (35-19), LIU-Post (31-24 ot) and Gannon (44-24), before losing to IUP (26-10), Slippery Rock (38-31 ot) and Mercyhurst (24-21).
 
 
EDINBORO LEADS SERIES 41-39-2 DATING BACK TO 1926
            Edinboro took the lead in the series between the two schools with wins in 2011 (21-10) and in 2010 (31-14) and leads the overall series 41-39-2 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 18 games Edinboro has the edge by an 12-6 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).
 
 
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGING 390.9 YARDS & 18.1 PPG IN 2012
 
            The Clarion offense has rolled up 505 yards vs Cal, 514 against ESU and 538 yards against LIU-Post earlier in the season. The Eagles are now averaging 390.8 (#8 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game including 159 rushing yards (#7 in the PSAC) and 231.9 passing yards (#8 in the PSAC).
 
QB BEN FISCUS LEADS OFFENSE
 
            Junior signal caller Ben Fiscus (Jr. Indiana), the PSAC-West Offensive Player of the Week” vs ESU and LH this year,  leads Clarion's offense. Fiscus has rushed for 554 yards and 4 td's (record 88 yd td run at LIU-Post), while completing 167 of 318 passes for 2,087yards and 13 td's. He set Clarion records versus Cal for completions (36) and attempts (64), while passing for 410 yards (4^th most in school history). Since earning the starting qb spot midway through 2010 Fiscus has rushed for 1,873 career yards (10^th at Clarion) and 15 td's on 410 attempts. Next up on the list is Demetric Gardner (1,961 yards – 1998-01). He has now passed for 3,948 career yards (329 of 651) and 25 td's.  In 2011 Ben was Clarion's leading rusher and ranked 10^th in the PSAC in rushing with 737 yards and 5 td's on 155 attempts (10 games). He also hit on 100 of 207 passes for 1,148 yards and 5 td's. He rushed for 204 yards and 2 td's against Lock Haven. The backup is Anthony Omogrosso (So. Beaver Falls).
 
REID, BARLOW, PERRY & BECOATE LEAD RECEIVERS
 
            Ready to catch passes from Fiscus will be junior Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.), Aaron Barlow (Sr. Ambridge), Anthony Becoate (Sr. McKeesport), Mark Nicholas (Fr. Export/Franklin Regional) and Nick Perry (Fr. Bumpass, Va.).
 
            Reid leads the team with 46 catches for 746 yards and 2 td's, and also led the team in 2011 with 24 grabs for 281 yards and 2 td's. Reid caught 9 aerials for 212 yards against LIU-Post this year, the 212 yards tied for third most in a single game with Tom Kurts who had 212 vs Shippensburg in 1967. Barlow has 34 catches for 384 yards, while Becoate has 21 catches for 189 yards and 3 td's. He clutched 13 aerials for 186 yards and 1 td last year and now has career totals of 49 catches, 578 yards, 7 td's. Nicholas and Perry are true freshmen. Nicholas has 7 catches for 94 yards and 2 td's, while Perry has 19 grabs for 202 yards and 3 td's.
 
            Also expected to see action are Caleb Mancini (So. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk) and Garrett Sigler (Fr. Ford City), along with tight ends Rob Irwin (Jr. Bellefonte), Mike Deitrick (So. Upper St. Clair) and Evan Mastele (Jr. Pgh – North Catholic).
 
THOMAS, DAY, LIBERTO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2012
 
            Former safety turned running back Bobby Thomas (So. Reading/Exeter Twp.), has had a very successful debut in 2012. He missed Cal & SR, returned for Lock Haven but was injured again, missed IUP and is questionable for this week's game. Thomas is second on the team with 124 rushes for 534 yards and 3 td's (Ranks #6 in PSAC at 89.0) while also catching 6 passes for 52 yards. Thomas rushed for 158 yards and 1 td at LIU-Post. Last year at safety he posted 38 tackles and 1 tfl as a red-shirt freshman. Ready to tote the pigskin will be Travis Day (Fr. Hempfield) with 250 yards and 3 td's and  Chris Liberto (Fr. Springdale) 99 rushing yards, 6 catches, 68 receiving yards.
 
FELKER, VERCELLI, PERFILIO LEAD OFFENSIVE LINE
 
            The “O” line has three talented starters returning in captain and tackle Mike Felker (6-4, 280, Jr. Gibsonia/Pine Richland), guard Andrew Vercelli (Sr. Gibsonia/Deer Lakes) and center Terrance Perfilio (Jr. Farrell). Felker in his third season as a starter and 2010 PSAC-West selection, while Vercelli was a PSAC-West choice in 2011. Perfilio had several starts at center a year ago and is a 2-year letterwinner. Also starting up front are Ryan Barrick (So. Easton)  at tackle and either Matt Kundick (So. Beaver) or Eli Rupert (Sr. Indiana-Apollo Ridge) at the other guard spot. Also seeing time will be Tyler Edwards (So. Ambridge) at tackle, Shane Cress (Fr. Mars) and at guards and Andrew Moore (Jr. Brashear) and Cameron Cress (Fr. Mars) at center.
 
8 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
 
            The Golden Eagles return 8 starters from last year's unit, as well as some quality young players to provide quality overall depth for 2012. Clarion is yielding 359 yards per game (#4 in the PSAC) including 133.7 rushing (#7 in  PSAC)  and 22.3 passing yards (#8 in the PSAC). 
 
DEFENSIVE FRONT LOOKS SOLID
 
            Clarion's defensive line has been strong in the first two games. Paving the way up front are Julian Howsare (So. Altoona), Adam Bostick (Jr. Lititz), Jacob Heintz (So. Pine-Richland), Sean Motley (Sr. West Mifflin), Matt Shuey (So. Johnsonburg), Andrew Fragale (Fr. Emporium/Cameron County and Ryan Slack (Sr. Norwin). Howsare had 4 sacks and 8 hits against ESU and won his second consecutive PSAC West P.O.W. Award.  Howsare has 45 hits, 15 tfl's and 13 sacks this year and is ranked #1 in the PSAC and #2 in D-II in sacks. He had 29 tackles, 4 sacks and 7 tfl's last year. Bostick has 25 tackles, 6 tfl's, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception. Heintz (36 hits, 11 tfl's, 8 sacks), Motley (2 tfl's, 1 sack), Shuey (24 stops, 6 tfl's), Fragale (23 hits, 8 tfl's, 4 sacks) and Slack (2 tfl's).
 
SIPES & PALMIERE ANCHOR CLARION LINEBACKERS
 
            The strength of the Clarion defense might well be in its linebacking corps. It doesn't get much better than Nate Sipes (Sr. Curwensville) and sophomore Brian Palmiere (So. Tarentum/Deer Lakes). Sipes has 39 hits,  missed the Cal game, re-injured in the SR game and missed the LH and IUP games. He is questionable for Saturday. Palmiere leads the team with 68 tackles and 5 tfl's. Sipes was an All PSAC-West selection in 2011 leading the team and finishing #3 in the PSAC with 99 tackles. He also chipped in with 4 tfl's, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 break-ups. Palmiere meanwhile had a strong season as a true freshman posting 43 hits, 5 sacks, 12 tfl's, 1 fumble recovery and 1 fumble caused in 9 games.
 
            Starting at linebacker if Sipes cannot go will be Rocco Yauger (Fr. Penn Trafford), who is #2 on the team with 54 tackles, plus has chipped in with 8 tfl's. Also expecting to see some time will be Jared Davis (Fr. Pgh – Allderdice).
 
STIMAC & PARONISH LEAD TALENTED EAGLE SECONDARY
 
            Senior corner Anthony Stimac (East Brady/Karns City) and safety Andrew Paronish (Sr. Hastings/Northern Cambria) lead a quality secondary in 2012. Paronish, the PSAC-West “Defensive Player of the Week” against Fairmont, has 46 tackles, 2 fumbles caused, 2 int's and 1 fumble recovery. He had 41 stops, 2 tfl's, 1 fumble recovery and 1 fumble caused in 2011 and has career numbers showing 157 tackles, 4 int's, 2 tfl's.
 
            Stimac, a team captain in 2012, is sixth on the team with 37 hits. He is a three-year starter who holds the Clarion record for longest interception return for a td, which was a 100-yard return at Slippery Rock a year ago. Stimac had 54 hits, 2 int's, 2 tfl's and 2 beak-ups in 2012. In his career he has posted 125 tackles and 2 int's.
 
            Also leading the secondary are transfer Kyle McWreath (So. Washington/Trinity HS),  Mike Zak (Jr. Orchard Park, N.Y.), Peter Rivera (So. Allentown/Bethlehem Catholic), Malik King (Fr. Coraopolis/Cornell), Matt Long (Jr. Pgh – North Catholic), Tyler Tucker (So. Westside, Tx.), Cory McNamara ( and Kwaku Asamoah (Fr. Indiana). Zak has 13 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 fumble caused, with Long collecting 41 jolts, 5 tfl's and 3 break-ups. McWreath has 26 stops and 5 tfl's, King 18 hits and 1 int and Asamoah 9 tackles.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS WELCOME BACK CONWAY
 
            The Clarion special teams will be anchored again by punter Nathan Conway (Jr. Lock Haven/Central Mountain), who will also double as the Clarion placekicker in 2012.
 
            Conway, in his third year as the starter (2009, 2011) at punter, is averaging 36.9 yards per punt. Last year he averaged 35.2 yards per punt, but the average was a bit deceiving – pointed out coach Foster. Conway booted 16 punts inside the 20, and had 14 punts fair caught.  He averaged 37.9 yards per punt as a freshman in 2009.
 
HARRIS LEADS EDINBORO OFFENSE/AVERAGING 350.5 YARDS PER GAME
 
            Edinboro's offense is averaging 350.5 yards per game (#12 in PSAC) including 87.5 rushing yards (#14 in PSAC) and 263 passing yards (#5 in PSAC).
 
            Talented junior quarterback Cody Harris has completed 190 of 290 passes (65.5%) for 2,104 yards and 13 td's. A very mobile qb, he has also run for 181 yards and a team leading 8 td's. In two games against Clarion in his career Harris has completed a whopping 38 of 46 passes (82.6%) for 435 yards and 3 td's.
 
            The Scots top receivers include wideouts Marcus Johnson (40 catches, 531 yards, 5 td's), Ben Eisel (24 grabs, 347 yards, 2 td's), Kevin Sonnie (23 receptions, 215 yards, 1 td) and tight end Shawn Walker (22 grabs, 218 yards, 1 td).
 
            The running game is led by Brian Davis (153 yards, 1 td; 10 catches, 56 yards) and D'Andrea Vaughn (230 yards, 1 td; 19 catches, 149 yards).
 
EDINBORO DEFENSE #9 IN PSAC YIELDING 390 YARDS PER GAME
 
            The Edinboro defense is ranked #9 in total defense in the PSAC in 2012 yielding 390 yards of offense per game. The Scots are allowing 181 rushing yards (#10 in PSAC)  yards per game and 213 passing yards (#5 in PSAC) per outing.
 
            Up front the Edinboro defense is led by noseguard Nick Soto (18 hits, 2.5 tfl's), tackle Chris Williams (25 jolts, 4 tfl's) and ends Domenic Principale (14 tackles, 2 tfl's) and Bobby Kmetz (23 stops, 2 tfl's).
 
            The linebacking corps has the second ranked tackler on the team in Bruce Davis (70 stops, 11.5 tfl's), Corey Hayes (42 hits, 3.5 tfl's, 1 int) and Jimmy Grove (16 jolts).
 
            The secondary has the team's top hitter and #2 tackler in the entire PSAC in free safety Kenny Pettis (90 tackles, 2 int's) and strong safety Veuntrae Robinson 58 tackles, 1 int). The corners are Brandon Williams (51 stops, 2 int's) and Maleek Toran (9 jolts, 1 int).
 
CLARION NOTES:   CLARION – EDINBORO SERIES – (2011) Edinboro won last year 21-10 at Sox Harrison Stadium on Sportsfever TV … The Scots jumped out to a 21-10 halftime lead – no scoring in second half… Down 21-3 in the second quarter – running back Patrick Graham-Murphy scored on a 4-yard run in his first game at running back to make it 21-10  … He ended the game with 174 rushing yards and 1 td …Fiscus completed only 3 of 15 passes for 39 yards … Cody Harris was 19 of 23 for 203 and 2 td's …  Edinboro won in 2011 31-14 at Clarion … Edinboro led 14-7 at halftime … Clarion scored 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 on Sportsfever … 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..