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            Are you ready for some football!
 
            The Golden Eagles open their 2012 gridiron season on Thursday, August 30, when Clarion hosts WVIAC rival Fairmont State at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m.
 
            The game will be televised live on ROOT Sports Network (Pittsburgh) and air on satellite and cable networks across Pennsylvania and West Virginia, along with parts of Ohio and New York. Check your local listings for the correct channel. Jon Schaeffer will be providing the play by play in a production that will be done by the Sportsfever Television Network.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Fairmont State can also be heard on the Golden Eagle 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.
 
            Clarion will also be giving away 400 t-shirts to Clarion University students with valid ID's before the game. The promotion signals the start of a new “Eagles Nest” student seating section at Clarion home contests for selected sports. Students will be urged to get a new t-shirt and cheer from their “prime seat locations”. This new “Spirit Group” will be part of Eagle Nation, used to expand support for Golden Eagle athletics in the coming years.
 
FOSTER BEGINS 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
 
            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 19-47.
 
FAIRMONT STATE 7-4 IN 2011/RETURNS 14 STARTERS & 25 LETTERMEN
 
            Fairmont State is led by sixth year head coach Mike Lopez who returns 14 starters and 25 lettermen from last year's Fighting Falcon team. The 2011 squad finished 7-4 overall and 4-4 in the talented WVIAC conference.
 
            Fairmont opened 2011 with wins over Clarion (31-17) and WV Tech (45-14), lost an overtime thriller to Glenville state (36-30), then won three straight against West Liberty (41-12), Charleston (19-14) and Bowie State (49-20). A close loss to WV Wesleyan (21-14) was followed by a win over Seton Hill (38-20), a loss to concord (20-7), a win over West Virginia State (35-31) and a season ending los to talented Shepherd (38-21).
 
            Coach Lopez enters the season with a record of 26-29. The Falcons were picked to be fifth in the 2012 WVIAC pre-season poll.
 
CLARION LEADS OVERALL SERIES 10-7
 
            Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 10-7 margin in games dating back to 1982. From 1982-91 the two schools were regulars on the overall schedule with Clarion posting a 7-3 advantage. Clarion won the first five meetings including 1982 (24-12), 1983 (21-17), 1984 (21-13), 1985 (7-2) and 1986 (14-0). Fairmont won three straight starting in 1987 (14-8), 1988 (26-25) and 1989 (51-38), before the Golden Eagles answered with wins in 1990 (31-14) and 1991 (24-21). Clarion also won games in 1994 (29-19) and 1995 (48-13), before losing the 2007 renewal at Fairmont 21-14 and the 2008 game in Clarion by a 23-20 margin on the game's final play at Memorial Stadium. In 2009 Clarion traveled to Fairmont and won by a score of 33-21. Chris Wilson's 40 yard interception return for a td with 3:43 remaining sealed that win for the Eagles. The Falcons won 27-16 at Memorial Stadium in 2010 and 31-17 at Fairmont last season.
 
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGED 332.6 YARDS & 22.5 PPG IN 2011
 
            The Clarion offense returns 8 starters on a unit that averaged 22.5 ppg and 332.6 yards of total offense per game. Clarion averaged 218 rushing yards and 114.6 passing yards per game.
 
QB BEN FISCUS LEADS OFFENSE
 
            Junior signal caller Ben Fiscus (Jr. Indiana) will lead Clarion's offense. Fiscus, who earned a starting spot midway through the 2010 season, has rushed for 1,319 yards and 11 td's in his career, while passing for 1,861 yards and 12 td's entering 2012. 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. Starting the year as the backup will be  Anthony Omogrosso (So. Beaver Falls), who started the final game of 2011 at Millersville and helped Clarion to win.
 
REID, BEACOATE & IRWIN LEAD RECEIVERS
 
            Returning to catch passes from Fiscus will be junior Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.), Anthony Becoate (Sr.. McKeesport) and Rob Irwin (Jr.. Bellefonte). 
 
Reid, a real speedster who is a definite deep threat, led the team with 24 catches for 281 yards and 2 td's in 2011. Becoate, Irwin and Mike Deitrick (Upper St. Clair) and Evan Mastele (Pgh – North Catholic) lead the tight ends. Becoate clutched 13 aerials for 186 yards and 1 td last year and now has career totals of 28 catches, 389 yards, 4 td's. Irwin grabbed 9 passes for 65 yards last year, while Deitrick had 6 catches for 48 yards and 1 td. Veteran Caleb Mancini (So. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk) and freshman Mark Nicholas (Export, Franklin Regional) will also start at wideout, with Enrico Canello (Fr. Pgh – Keystone Oaks), Garrett Sigler (Fr. Ford City) and transfer Aaron Barlow (Sr. Ambridge) all seeing time.
 
THOMAS LOOKS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2012
 
            End of the season sensation Patrick Graham-Murphy is not back with the Golden Eagles in 2012. Former safety turned running back Bobby Thomas (So. Reading/Exeter Twp.) is expecting to step into the top  ball carrier position and lead the Eagle running attack. Thomas had an excellent Spring at running back, and the Eagles are hoping for a big year from the sophomore. He ran for over 1,000 yards his senior year in high school at Exeter Twp. Last year at safety he posted 38 tackles and 1 tfl as a red-shirt freshman. Others who could emerge here include Travis Day (Fr. Hempfield), Malcolm Hailstock (So. Farrell – 2011 at Cheyney), Chris Liberto (Fr. Springdale) and Cameron Dixon (So. Elizabeth Forward).
 
FELKER, VERCELLI, PERFILIO LEAD OFFENSIVE LINE
 
            The “O” line will have 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 is a two-year 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 vying for a starting spot up front are Ryan Barrick (So. Easton)  and Tyler Edwards (So. Ambridge) at tackles, and Eli Rupert (Sr. Indiana-Apollo Ridge) at the other guard spot. Also seeing time will be Shane Cress (Fr. Mars) and Matt Kundick (So. Beaver) at guards and Andrew Moore (Jr. Brashear) and Cameron Cress (Fr. Mars) at center.
 
8 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
 
            Defense wins championships and 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 yielded 412.1 yards of total offense and 31.4 points per game in 2011. Foster believes the 2012 unit is vastly improved. Clarion yielded 195.8 rushing yards and 216.3 passing yards a year ago.
 
HOWSARE LEADS DEFENSIVE FRONT
 
            Although All-America defensive end Barrington Morrison has graduated, the defensive line looks to be in good hands with Julian Howsare (So. Altoona) leading the way. Howsare, a defensive end, had 29 hits, 4 sacks and 7 tfl's as a freshman. He will be joined up front by Zach Newquist (Jr. Indiana), Adam Bostick (Jr. Lititz), Jacob Heintz (So. Pine-Richland), Sean Motley (Sr. West Mifflin), Matt Shuey (So. Johnsonburg) and Ryan Slack (Sr. Norwin).
 
            Newquist (11 hits, 2 sacks), Bostick (15 tackles, 3 tfl's), Heintz (13 stops, 1 tfl), Motley (12 tackles, 1 tfl), Shuey (13 hits, 2 tfl's) and Slack (5 jolts) all return as letterwinners with game experience. Red-shirt freshman Brandon Short (New Brighton) will also see plenty of time.
 
SIPES & PALMIERE ANCHOR CLARION LINEBACKERS
 
            The strength of the Clarion defense might well be in its linebacking corps. It doiesn't get much better than Nate Sipes (Sr. Curwensville) and sophomore Brian Palmiere (So. Tarentum/Deer Lakes). 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.
 
Also expecting to see some time are Jared Davis (Fr. Pgh – Allderdice), Eddie Kurtz (Fr. Avonworth) and Rocco Yauger (Fr. Penn Trafford).
 
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. Stimac, a team captain in 2012, 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 88 tackles and 2 int's.
 
            Paronish, also a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter, had 41 stops, 2 tfl's, 1 fumble recovery and 1 fumble caused in 2011. He has career numbers showing 112 tackles, 2 int's, 2 tfl's.
 
            Also looking for time in 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.) and Kwaku Asamoah (Fr. Indiana). Zak posted 34 hits and 2 tfl's last year, while Rivera notched 27 stops, 2 tfl's and 1 interception. Long also contributed 4 hits before an injury shortened his season.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS WELCOME BACK RUARK & CONWAY
 
            The Clarion special teams will be anchored again be placekicker Tyler Ruark (So. Whiteford, Md.) and punter Nathan Conway (Jr. Lock Haven/Central Mountain). Ruark had a solid freshman year in 2011 converting 30 of 31 PAT's, while making 6 of 11 field goals.
 
            Conway, a two-year starter (2009, 2011), averaged 35.2 yards per punt a year ago, but the average is 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.
 
TALENTED RB DANIEL MONROE LEADS EXPLOSIVE FAIRMONT OFFENSE
 
            In 2011 Fairmont State averaged 30 points per game and a healthy 325 yards of offense per contest. The “O” gained 163.6 yards on the ground and 161.8 through the air.
 
            Two-year starting qb Logan Moore decided to enroll at West Virginia. The offense will be directed by junior college transfer Bobby Vegas, who comes to the Falcons via College of DuPage in Glen Ellen, Ill. He completed 157 of 264 passes for 1,987 yards and 23 td's last year
 
            The running game is led by talented sophomore Daniel Monroe. Monroe rushed for 999 yards and 13 td's on 206 carries as a freshman, while also pulling in 13 aerials for 81 yards and 1 td. Monroe is a transfer from Florida State. Collin Alford is the backup at tailback, while Brad Callan will start at fullback.
 
            The receiving corps has Chris St. Hilaire, Matt Wilmer and Mark Sampson back as the wideouts and Sean Marion at tight end. St. Hilaire caught 33 passes for 525 yards and 4 td's last year, while Wilmer had 14 grabs for 200 yards and 4 td's. Sampson had 18 catches for 246 yards and 4 td's, while Marion had 11 catches for 101 yards.
 
FAIRMONT STATE DEFENSE RETURNS 6 STARTERS
 
            The Falcon defense yielded 22.1 points per game and 324.5 yards of offense per contest. The defense gave up 97.3 yards rushing and 227.3 passing for a total defense of 324.5 yards per game.
 
            Up front the Falcons are led by Anthony Domico (17 hits, 4 tfl's) at noseguard, Jordan Greathouse (24 stops, 8 tfl's, 6 sacks) and Jephte Leveille (13 tackles, 2 tfl's) at the ends.
 
            Running a 3-4 defense, Fairmont's strength is in its linebackers. Top tackler Garrett Davis (101 hits, 18 tfl's, 8 sacks) returns after a great 2011 season to lead the way. He is joined in the middle by Ryan Watts (37 tackles, 10 tfl's, 5 sacks). Newcomers Matthew Larrubia and Quincy Casmir expect to anchor the middle.
 
            The secondary will be led by strong safety Daniel Strosnider (44 tackles), corners Ryland Newman (39 hits, 2 int's) and Scott Davidson (33 tackles, 2 int's) and freshman free safety Leatis Jones.
 
            CLARION NOTES: FAIRMONT STATE SERIES NOTES: 2011- Fairmont defeated Clarion 31-17 … Fairmont led 14-10 at halftime – but two Daniel Monroe fourth quarter td runs of 46 and 87 sealed the deal … Clarion outgained FSU 426 to 316 but FSU big plays stole the show …. Monroe's 2 td runs and Matt Wilmer's 93-yard punt return were the difference … Clarion qb Ben Fiscus ran for 90 yadrs and 1 td, plus hit on 25 of 41 passes for 201 yards and 1 td … Monroe rushed 18 times for 161 yards and 2 td's … 2010 - Fairmont defeated Clarion 27-16 … Clarion led 16-7 in the third quarter … John Fuhrer scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter and Robert Mamula booted three field goals, the third with 10:06 left in the third quarter to give Clarion a 16-7 lead … Fairmont rallied with a 54-yard interception for a td by Ryan Newland in the third, then went ahead with 13:22 left in the fourth when Cody Reed went 33 yards for a td… P. Pincinat put the game away with a 1 yard td run with 5:22 left … Clarion outgained Fairmont 494-217 in total offense … 4 Clarion turnovers were critical in the loss … Alfonso Hoggard rushed for 143 yards and QB Eric Coxon completed 28 of 4 passes for 285 yards with 3 int's … Matt Ward caught 12 passes for 118 yards … FSU's Logan Moore completed 8 of 19 passes for 69 yards … Top rusher was Pinchinat who carried 7 times for 43 yards and 2 td's  … In 2009 at Fairmont State, Clarion won by a 33-21 margin… Clarion placekicker Robert Mamula was 4 for 4 in field goals connecting from 21, 30, 46 and 22 yards… Clarion was outgained by Fairmont 371-346 … Clarion led 16-14 at halftime – then a 1 yd td by Huether and a field goal by Mamula in the third made it 26-14… Chris Wilson's 40 yard interception return for a td with 3:43 was the game clincher… Clarion returned two int's for a td – Hoggard was injured in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game… QB Tyler Huether completed 20 of 41 passes for 253 yards … plus rushed for 25 yards and 1 td… Jacques Robinson had 7 catches for 85 yards and Matt Foradora also had 7 for 76 yards… Nick Sipes had 13 tackles and 1 sack… Ben Maund posted 9 with 3 tfl's … Fairmont's Brazill rushed for 56 yards and Victorio 53 yards… Perry Baker had 2 rushes for 51 yards, including a 54-yard td on a reverse… In Clarion in 2008 - Fairmont won 23-20 when Alex Ashley kicked a 39 yard field goal on the game's final play ... Clarion tied the game with 3:29 left when Nick Sipes ran 34-yards with a td... Fairmont outgained Clarion 302-271 ... Clarion qb Gino Rometo hit on 21 of 31 passes for 224 yards and 1 td ... Jacques Robinson caught 7 for 89 and 1 td, with Foradora grabbing 5 for 35 and Hoggard 4 for 71 yards... FSC's Bradford rushed for 53 yards and completed 10 of 22 for 184 and 2 td's ... Perry Baker caught 2 passes for 78 and 1 td - which went 72 yards ... Travis Hawthorne had 4 catches for 56 yards. In 2007 at Fairmont Clarion won the stat battle (435-361 total offense) and led into the fourth quarter 14-13, when FSC's Vick Bradford scored on a 1-yard run with 7:39 left to win the game 21-14... Clarion had first and goal at the in the final 2 minutes to try and win the game, but FSC's defense came up with the big stops and won the game ...  Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 103 yards and 1 td, and qb Tyler Huether passed for 230 yards and rushed for 81 more ... Pierre Odom caught 6 passes for 77 yards and 1 td, Jacques Robinson 5 catches and Alfonso Hoggard 2 grabs ... FSC's Doug Brazill rushed 33 times for 219 yards and 1 td ... Brazill had a big 56-yard run to the 1 yard line in the fourth quarter which set up Fairmont's game-winning score ... FSC was only 3 of 12 passing ... In 1995 Clarion won 48-13 at Fairmont ... Steve Witte rushed for 157 yards and 3 td's, plus caught 4 passes for 85 yards ... Current QB coach Chris Weibel completed 15 of 22 for 219 and 2 td's... Kim Niedbala led the defense with 11 tackles and a fumble caused ... FSC QB Jarrod Fergason completed 18 of 32 for 172 yards and 2 td's ... Teddy Murphy grabbed 8 passes for 82 yards and 2 td's for the Falcons...  In 1994 Clarion won 29-19 at Clarion's Memorial Stadium ... Steve Witte once again had 2 td's, 1 rushing and 1 receiving ... Clarion jumped to a big lead right before halftime with a Witte 12-yard td pass from Craig Ray, and then Kim Niedbala posted a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown (24 seconds apart), giving Clarion a 22-7 halftime lead.... Marlon Worthy opened the second half with a 93-yard kickoff return for a td and the Eagles had their first win of 1994...  Alim Kamara led the “D” with 14 tackles, 1 tfl', 1 fumble caused and recovered and a sack ... Clint Terza had 13 stops ... Fairmont halfback Thomas Foster rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries in that game ... Fergason hit 18 of 37 passes for 202 yards and 2 td's with 3 int's ... The first game in this series was in 1982 and Clarion won that game as well by a 24-12 margin at Fairmont State... Clarion tailback Geoff Alexander had a career day at Fairmont rushing 30 times for 237 yards and 1 td ... He scored the game's first td on an 80-yard run ... The game was secured with 14:07 left in the fourth qhen QB Dave Dragovich hit Terry McFetridge for a 5-yard td pass for the final margin... Clarion rushed for 319 on the day - Elton Brown also had 66 yards ...... Larry Farrell hit 12 of 34 passes for 249 yards and 2 td's for FSC... John Harbert caught 7 passes for 105 yards for the Falcons... Jeff Chalovich led Clarion's “D” with 14 tackles, 2 break-ups, 1 fumble caused ... Tony Colecchi had 5 hits and Mike May and Jim Trovato had sacks.