The Clarion University football team closes out the 2012 football season this Saturday, November 10, when the golden Eagles host West Chester at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 1pm, with 13 seniors honored in pre-game ceremonies.
 
            Thirteen seniors will be honored in pre-game ceremonies and they include Aaron Barlow (WR/Ambridge), Anthony Becoate (TE/McKeesport), Rob Irwin (TE/Bellefonte), Ken Johnson (QB/Pgh – Schenley), Andrew Moore (OL/Pgh – Brashear), Sean Motley (DE/West Mifflin), Andrew Paronish (DB/Northern Cambria), Eli Rupert (OL/Indiana-Apollo Ridge),Nate Sipes (LB/Curwensville), Ryan Slack (DL/N. Huntingdon – Norwin), Anthony Stimac (CB/E. Brady/Karns City), A.J. Vercelli (OL/Gibsonia – Pine-Richland) and Ryan Wolfe (TE/Delmont-Greensburg-Salem).
 
            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 week of the 2012 season with a 4-6 overall record and a 2-5 mark in the PSAC-West. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 48-13 loss to Edinboro and a 45-0 loss at #16 IUP. Three 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 23-53.
 
WEST CHESTER 6-4 OVERALL/4-3 IN PSAC-EAST
 
            West Chester, led by 10^th year head coach Bill Zwaan, enters the game with a 6-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the PSAC-East. West Chester opened 2012 with a 41-21 loss at Delaware, then rattled off four straight wins over Gannon (21-17), Millersville (56-14), Kutztown (45-24) and California (37-34), lost to East Stroudsburg 35-28, defeated LIU- Post (41-6), lost 42-24 to Shippensburg, defeated Cheyney (59-14) and last week lost a 24-23 decision to Bloomsburg.
 
            Zwaan has a 10-year record of 76-43 at West Chester and has thee Eastern Division titles (2004, 07, 08) under his belt.
 
 
WEST CHESTER LEADS OVERALL SERIES 18-3
            The series between the two schools has West Chester leading 17-3 in games dating back to 1960. West Chester won that first game in 1960 by a 49-14 margin. Clarion defeated West Chester in 1966 in the PSAC Championship game 28-26, then lost to the Rams the next season 27-7 again in the PSAC title game. Clarion defeated West Chester in 2000 (28-21) and in 2002 (34-28). West Chester has won the last five games including a 35-17 win in 2003, a 20-17 victory at Memorial Stadium in 2004 and a 43-14 win at West Chester in 2005, a 49-21 win at Clarion in 2006 and another 49-21 win at West Chester in 2007.
 
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGING 391.6 YARDS & 17 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 391.6 (#8 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game including 161.6 rushing yards (#9 in the PSAC) and 230 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 636 yards and 5 td's (record 88 yd td run at LIU-Post), while completing 184 of 350 passes for 2,296yards and 14 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 1,955 career yards (10^th at Clarion) and 16 td's on 421 attempts. Next up on the list is Demetric Gardner (1,961 yards – 1998-01). He has now passed for 4,157 career yards (346 of 683) and 26 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 49 catches for 807 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. Reid now has 73 career catches for 1,088 yards and 4 td's. Barlow has 38 catches for 424 yards, while Becoate has 26 catches for 225 yards and 4 td's. He clutched 13 aerials for 186 yards and 1 td last year and now has career totals of 54 catches, 614 yards, 8 td's. Nicholas and Perry are true freshmen. Nicholas has 7 catches for 94 yards and 2 td's, while Perry has 23 grabs for 272 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.), rushed for 534 yards and 3 td's on 124 carries, but injuries have kept him to only 6 games played and he will likely miss the finale against West Chester. Thomas rushed for 158 yards and 1 td at LIU-Post. Ready to tote the pigskin will be Travis Day (Fr. Hempfield) with 254 yards and 3 td's and  Chris Liberto (Fr. Springdale) 189 rushing yards, 7 catches, 75 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 EAGLE DEFENSE
 
            The Golden Eagles are yielding 380 yards per game (#8 in the PSAC) including 132 rushing (#7 in  PSAC)  and 248.8 passing yards (#10 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 51 hits, 15 tfl's and 13 sacks this year and is ranked #2 in the PSAC and #3 in D-II in sacks. He had 29 tackles, 4 sacks and 7 tfl's last year. Bostick has 29 tackles, 7 tfl's, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception. Heintz (43 hits, 12 tfl's, 8 sacks), Motley (4 tfl's, 2 sack), Shuey (28 stops, 7 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 41 hits,  has only played in 8 games – including partially in two others.. Palmiere leads the team with 77 tackles and 6 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.
 
Seeing plenty of time will be linebacker Rocco Yauger (Fr. Penn Trafford), who is #2 on the team with 58 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 51 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 163 tackles, 4 int's, 2 tfl's.
 
Stimac, a team captain in 2012, has 38 hits this season. 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 126 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 16 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 fumble caused, with Long collecting 48 jolts, 5 tfl's and 3 break-ups. McWreath has 27 stops and 5 tfl's, King 18 hits and 1 int and Asamoah 10 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 36.8 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.
 
MATTEI & WHITE LEAD RAM OFFENSE
 
            West Chester's offense is averaging 431.8 yards of offense (#6 in PSAC) per game including 182.5 rushing (#5 in PSAC) and 249.3 passing (#7 in PSAC) per game.
 
            The offense is led by qb Mike Mattei, who has hit on 151 of 252 passes for 2,350 yards and 25 td's.
 
            The running and passing game is potent behind the leader, Rondell White. White has rushed for 1,321 yards and 10 td's, while also grabbing 48 passes for 597 yards and 7 td's. Other top receivers include Jim Kelly (41 grabs, 635 yards, 6 td's) and Erick Brundidge (20 catches, 378 yards, 5 td's).
 
RAM DEFENSE RANKED #6 IN PSAC
 
            The West Chester defense is ranked #6 in total defense in the PSAC in 2012 yielding 374.1 yards of offense per game. The Rams are allowing 124.8 rushing yards (#3 in PSAC)  yards per game and 249.3 passing yards (#11 in PSAC) per outing.
 
            Up front Lew Esposito (17 hits, 4.5 tfl's) and Eric Edwers (28 stops, 6 tfl's) man the end posts with Demrick Cook (40 hits, 4 tfl's) and Anthony McCloseky (25 jolts, 5 tfl's) at the tackle posts.
 
            Top hitters include inside linebackers Ronnell Williams (11 tackles, 7 tfl's, 3 int's) and Mike Labor (43 jolts), along with outside backer Shaun Krautzel (56 stops, 2 int's).
 
            The secondary has free safety John O'Donnell (57 tackles, 3 int's), strong safety Carl Barnes (55 hits), and corners Ali-Haj Shabazz (37 jolts, 1 int) and Bob Sabol (46 stops, 1 int).
 
CLARION NOTES:   CLARION – WC won 49-21 in 2007 – the game was tied three times, 7-7, 14-14 and 21-21 --- but WC scored twice before halftime to take a 35-21 lead and never looked back … WC's Bill Zwann passed for 354 yards and 5 td's … 2006 – WC won 49-21 at Clarion … with WC leading 27-21 at halftime ... Emmanuel, Odom and Foradora scoring first half td's ... But WC scored 3 unanswered td's in the second half to win ... Mark Rupert passed for 302 yards ... Pierre Odom had a career day catching 6 passes for 246 yards and 1 td ... WC's Zwann passed for 195 yards and 2 td's ... Osunde rushed for 130 and 1 td and Washington caught 2 passes for 76 yards and 1 td... In 2005 the Rams led 30-14 at halftime and scored two td's in the third quarter to put the game away… WC outgained Clarion 487-274 … Osunde rushed for 94 yards and 1 td, wile freshman receiver Mike Washington stole the show grabbing 7 passes for 242 yards an 5 td's…  Clarion defeated West Chester 28-21 in 2000... Clarion rushed for 378 yards and passed for 141 for a total offense of 519... Robert Walker ran for 211 yards and 1 td in that game .... WC was held to 191 yards, including only 56 rushing ... Clarion also won 34-28 over the Rams in 2002 ... The Eagles again rushed for 344 yards and passed for 94, for a total offense of 438 ... Glenn Lovelace ran for 181 yards and 2 td=s, while Adam Almashy rushed for 100 yards ... Both games were in Clarion ... West Chester won in 2003 by a 35-17 score ... Clarion had 303 yards of offense (175 rushing), while WC had 384 (151 rushing)... Osagie Osunde scored on a 78 yard punt return and a 78-yard run for td=s ... He had 96 yards on 7 carries ... In 2004 at Clarion, the Rams edged Clarion 20-17 ... Clarion had 200 yards of offense and WC had only 258 ... WC was led by Osunde who rushed for 88 yards and 1 td on 25 carries... Clarion=s Marcus Lowe rushed for 59 yards and 1 td, and freshman qb Erik Yonish completed 12 of 17 passes for 111 yards and rushed for 39 yards and 1 td…