First FB Road Trip of 2013
 
CLARION (3-1) VISITS EAST STROUDSBURG (3-1) SATURDAY OCT. 5 AT 6:05PM
 
            After losing its first game of the 2013 season, 45-25 to Gannon last Saturday, the Golden Eagles travel the length of I-80 East this Saturday, October 5, to play East Stroudsburg in a PSAC interdivisional game. Kickoff at Eiler-Martin Stadium is set for 6:05pm.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and ESU can 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.
 
            The game is also being produced by Sportsfever TV and will be rebroadcast on Wednesday, October 9 on ROOT Sports starting at 7pm and The Comcast Network on Thursday Oct. 10 at 7pm. Jon Schaeffer and Phil Schoener will call the game with Shanna Muscavage on the sideline.
 
FOSTER IN 8^TH SEASON/ CLARION 3-1
2009 EAGLES 8-3 - 2^ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8^TH IN SUPER REGION 1

            Clarion eighth year head coach Jay Foster has opened the 2013 season with a bang sporting a 3-1 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the PSAC-West. In the season opener freshman placekicker Phil Esposito booted a game-tying field goal on the last play of regulation, then the Golden Eagles won in overtime 39-38. Clarion then defeated Lock Haven 30-13 and two weeks ago edged Mercyhurst 20-13. Last Saturday in the annual Homecoming Day game the Golden Eagles lost to Gannon 45-25. All four games were home at Memorial Stadium. The 3-0 start was the best to open a season since 1996. Clarion went on to finish 11-3, win the PSAC-West and advance to the NCAA D-II semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Northern Colorado 19-18.
 
            The Golden Eagles were 4-7 overall last year and 2-5 in the PSAC-Western Division. Wins came against Fairmont State (7-0), Gannon (13-7), East Stroudsburg (31-27) and Lock Haven (30-28).
 
            The 2011 Golden Eagles were 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the West, while the team was 4-7 in 2010 and 3-4 in the PSAC-West. Clarion's top year under Foster came in 2009 when Clarion was 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the West and finished the year ranked 8^th in the final NCAA Division II East Region Poll. Foster was named the PSAC-Western Division "Coach of the Year" for his efforts. Foster enters the game with a career record of 26-54.
 
 
ESAT STROUDSBURG (3-1) – COACH DOUDS IN 40^TH SEASON
 
            Veteran ESU head coach Denny Douds is in his 40^th year as head coach of the Warrior program and his 48^th overall with East Stroudsburg. He has a career record at ESU of 240-168-3 and has the second most wins of any active coach in NCAA Division II.
 
            The Warriors own an impressive 3-1 record to start the 2013 season. The Warriors opened the season with a 21-14 home win over American International, then hit the road for three straight road games and defeated Seton Hill 70-7, lost 41-31 to Shippensburg and then trounced Cheyney 40-6.
 
            Douds has led ESU to 9 PSAC –East titles (1975, 76, 78, 80, 82, 83, 91, 2002, 2003), three PSAC titles (1975, 78, 82) and one tie with Shippensburg in 1976. ESU has been to the NCAA Playoffs 5 times under Douds including 2009, 08, 05, 04 and 1991.
 
 
ESU LEADS SERIES 8-4 DATING BACK TO 1978

            East Stroudsburg and Clarion have played some important games in their history, twice playing each other for the PSAC championship. East Stroudsburg won the first meeting in 1978 by a 49-4 margin in the PSAC title game hosted at Memorial Stadium. In 1983 the two teams played again for the PSAC Championship and Clarion won that game 27-14. That game was the first PSAC "State Game" held at a neutral site - Hershey. The games, which are always exciting, saw Clarion win 37-34 in 1986, 25-3 in 1987 and last year's win, a 31-27 come-from-behind win at Memorial Stadium. The Warriors won seven straight games in the series including 37-33 in 2000, 33-27 in 2001, 31-21 in 2003, 38-24 in 2004, 56-0 in 2005, 49-28 in 2008 and 45-31 in 2009, before Clarion's win last season.
 
CLARION OFFENSE 367.2 YARDS & 28.5 PPG IN 2013
 
            The Clarion offense is averaging 367.2 yards of total offense per game in 2013, including 169.2 yards on the ground and 198 through the air. Clarion ranks 9^th in total offense, 9^th in rushing offense and 10thin passing offense.
 
QB DARELLE CARSON DIRECTS THE OFFENSE
 
            Senior signal caller Ben Fiscus (Sr. Indiana) was sidelined in the second quarter against Lock Haven and will miss the remainder of the 2013 season with a leg injury. Red-shirt freshman qb Darelle Carson (Pgh – Perry) has started the last two games and will lead the offense the remainder of the season.
 
            Carson has played in three games and has hit on 28 of 54 passes for 454 yards and 3 td's with 2 int's. Carson, an excellent athlete, has also rushed for 156 yards and 1 td on 55 carries.
 
            Matt Futkos (Fr. Youngstown/Austintown Fitch) is the backup.
 
            Fiscus, A Third Team FB Gazette Super Region 1 and First Team PSAC-West choice a year ago, had completed 24 of 40 passes for 338 yards and 4 td's with 0 interceptions and rushed for 90 yards and 2 td's. In four years Fiscus has rushed for 2,087 yards and 18 td's on 460 carries, while completing 386 of 756 passes for 4,679 yards and 31 td's. He ranks 8^th at Clarion in career rushing yards, 8^th in rushing attempts, 4^th in passing attempts, 3rd in completions and 7^th in passing yards.
 
REID, NICHOLAS & DEITRICK TOP RETURNING RECEIVERS
 
            Returning to catch passes from Fiscus will be senior Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.), sophomore Mark Nicholas (So. Export/Franklin Regional) and Mike Deitrick (Jr. Upper St. Clair). 
 
            Reid has 5 catches for 54 yards, while Nicholas has 12 catches for 231 yards and 3 td's, with Deitrick leading all receivers with 15 grabs for 149 yards and 2 td's.
 
            Reid led the team in 212 with 52 catches, for 849 yards and 2 td's. Combined with 24 catches for 281 yards and 2 td's in 2011, Reid has grabbed 81 career passes for 1,184 yards and 4 td's. Nicholas caught 7 passes for 94 yards and 2 td's in 2012 as a true freshman. Deitrick, a veteran tight end, caught 12 aerials for 163 yards and 1 td last season.
 
            Also seeing plenty of time are wideouts Caleb Mancini (Jr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk), Enrico Canello (So. Keystone Oaks), red-shirt freshman Matt Lehman (Burrell) and freshman Eric Frye (Pgh – Perry).  Mancoini has 6 catches for 117 yards this season.
 
THOMAS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2013
 
            Junior Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) is off to a strong start at running back in 2013. He leads the team with 307 yards and 2 td's on 62 carries (5.0 p/c). In 2012 he played in 6 games (injured the other 5) and rushed for  534 yards on 124 carries with 3 td's. He has 841 career rushing yards and 5 td's on 186 tries. His top game was 25 carries, 156 yards and 1 td versus LIU-Post.
 
Sophomore Travis Day (So. Hempfield) will also see plenty of time. Day, a multi-purpose back, has rushed for 118 yards and 2 td's, while also catching 3 passes for 74 yards this season. Last year he rushed for 295 yards and 3 td's on 62 carries last year.
 
FELKER, KUNDICK & PERFILIO LEAD TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE
 
            The "O" line was banged up in the pre-season. Expected to start on the "O" line will be captain and tackle Mike Felker (6-4, 285, Sr. Gibsonia/Pine Richland) and guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 270, Jr. Beaver). Felker a three-year starter at left tackle, has been a second team PSAC-West choice in 2012 and 2010. Also a Capital One first Team Academic All-District 1 choice, Mike has started all 34 games in his career. Kundick, a starter at left guard in 2012, returns to solidify the left side. Center/tackle Terrance Perfilio (6-3, 290, Sr. Farrell) is a questionmark for Saturday with an injury. Perfilio started the first 4 games at right tackle with regular starter tackle Ryan Barrick (6-5, 270, Jr. Easton) sidelined. Barrick is back and will start if Perfilio is unable to play. Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Jr. Ambridge) or Shane Cress (6-3, 275, So. Mars)  will start at right guard, Cameron Cress (6-3, 275, So.) will start at center. Also seeing time this week will be guard Mark Divins (6-3, 290, Sr. Clarion) and tackle Paul Branagan (6-4, 280, Fr. Cornell).
 
10 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
 
            Defense wins championships and the Golden Eagles return 10 starters and plenty of veteran experience in 2013.Clarion is yielding 367.2 yards of total offense per game including 126 rushing yards per game and 241.2 passing yards. The Golden Eagles defense is currently ranked #8 in the entire PSAC in total defense, 10^th in rushing defense and 11^th in pass defense.
 
HOWSARE & BOSTICK LEAD DEFENSIVE FRONT
 
            The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line returning in 2013, paced by Third Team FB Gazette All-American and captain Julian Howsare (Jr. Altoona) at defensive end and captain Adam Bostick (Sr. Manheim Twp.) at defensive tackle.
 
            Howsare has 30 tackles, 9 tfl's, 4 sacks and 2 fumbles caused this season. Last year he had 58 tackles, 14 sacks for -89 yards and 16 tfl's for -102 yards. He also had 4 fumbles caused, 3 break-ups, and 1 blocked kick. In three seasons Julian has notched 117 career tackles, 22 sacks for -123 yards and  32 tfl's for -152 yards. Bostick, who missed two games, returned last wek to post 1 tackle. Last year he collected 29 tackles, 3 sacks for -10, 7 tfl's for -20, 2 fumbles caused, 2 break-ups and 1 interception in 2012. He has 55 career tackles, 14 tfl's, 5 sacks, 2 fumbles caused, 2 break-ups and 1 int.
 
            Also returning up front are starters Jacob Heintz (Jr. Pine Richland) and Andrew Fragale (So. Emporium/Cameron County), along with veterans  Matt Shuey (Jr. Johnsonburg), Zach Newquist (Jr. Indiana), Brandon Short (So. New Brighton) and Robert Steinstraw (So. Washington/Trinity).
 
            Fragale is on fire at noseguard posting 16 tackles, 9 tfl's and 4 sacks to start the year. Heintz has posted 12 hits and 1 sack, with Newquist getting 14 jolts, 4 tfl's and 2 sacks. Shuey has contributed 15 hits, 3 tfl's, 1 sack.
 
            Heintz had a tremendous 2012 collecting 53 hits, 9 sacks, 14 tfl's and 1 break-up, while Fragale pitched in with 23 stops, 4 sacks and 8 tfl's. Shuey had 31 tackles and 7 tfl's a year ago, with Short posting 14 tackles, 1 tfl). Newquist, who had earned a starting noseguard spot entering 2012, was injured in camp and did not play. He is healthy again and posted 11 hits and 2 sacks in 2011.
 
EAGLE LINEBACKERS STRONG IN THE MIDDLE
 
            Junior Brian Palmiere (Jr. Tarentum/Deer Lakes), and sophomores Rocco Yauger (So. Penn Trafford), Jared Davis (Allderdice) and Kyle McWreath (Washington/Trinity) return to anchor a strong linebacking corps.
 
            Palmiere, who played the first half vs Kutztown and has not returned since, is expected back in the lineup this week. He led the Golden Eagles with 89 tackles, plus added 3 sacks and 8 tfl's with 2 fumbles caused in 2012. In three seasons Brian has collected 144 tackles, 20 tfl's and 3 fumbles caused. Yauger currently has 12 hits and 1 int. this season, (64 last year with 8 tfl's), while Davis has 12 hits and McWreath 29 stops and 4 tfl.'s  McWreath had 29 hits, 5 tfl's and 1 sack last year. Davis contributed 14 stops and 2 tfl's in 2012.
 
EAGLE SECONDARY RETURNS EXPERIENCED PLAYERS
 
            The Golden Eagle secondary has quality and depth in 2013.
 
            The corner positions have Cory McNamara (So. Ontario, N.Y.), Kwaku Asamoah (So. Indiana), Cory Lauer (So. Franklin Regional) and Adam Lynch (Fr. Brashear) vying for time. McNamara leads the team with 37 hits and 1 interception, In 2012 he posted 31 hits and 1 interception. Asamoah has 11 stops, and Lynch has made 9 jolts with 1 int and 3 break-ups in 2013.
 
            The safety spots will have Matt Long (Sr. Pgh – North Catholic), Peter Rivera (Jr. Bethlehem Catholic) and Malik King (So. Cornell) as starters. Long had 19 hits, 2 int's (vs Mercyhurst) and 2 break ups this year, while collecting 54 jolts and 5 tfl's a year ago. Rivera posted 7 jolts this season after posting 22 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. King is having a top seasonwith 15 hits, 2 tfl's 1 int and 1 fumble recovery.
 
            Also looking for time at safety will be Mike Zak (Sr. Orchard Park N.Y.), Tyler Tucker (So. Westside Tx.),  and Ren Yonker (Sr. Johnsonburg). Zak has 9 tackles, Tucker has 14 hits and 1 tfl.and Yonker 11 jolts and 1 tfl.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE CONWAY/ESPOSITO
 
            The Clarion special teams are anchored by punter Nathan Conway (Sr. Lock Haven/Central Mountain) and freshman placekicker Phil Esposito (Brockway). Conway, a four-year starter (2009, 2011-13), is averaging 43.0 yards pre punt this season. He averaged 36.4 yards per punt in 2012, with 5 knocked out inside the 20. He averaged 35.2 yards per punt in 2011 with 16 inside the 20, and averaged 37.9 as a freshman in 2009. Sophomore long snapper Eric White (Clearfield) returns after an outstanding freshman season in 2012. Freshman Phil Esposito booted a 45-yard field goal with no time remaining in regulation to send the Kutztown game into overtime. He is 5 of 9 in field goals and 11 of 11 in PAT's for 26 points.
 
 
EXPLOSIVE ESU OFFENSE GETS 40.5 PPG & 505.2 YPG
 
            Brace yourselves - again. Last week it was Gannon. This week even more offense from ESU. The Warriors are getting a whopping 505.2 yards of offense per game, including 230 rushing yards and 275.2 passing yards. ESU ranks #4 in the PSAC in scoring offense (40.5), #4 in total offense, #3 in rushing and #6 in passing.
 
SOLTES, HEALY & BLEILER LEAD OFFENSE
 
            East Stroudsburg sophomore quarterback Matt Soltes is off to a hot start in 2013. He has completed 74 of 144 passes for 1,049 yards and 11 td's with only 1 int. In fact, he has gone 139 straight attempts without an interception. Soltes, a mobile qb, has also rushed for 220 yards and 2 td's.
 
            The running game is paced by Robert Healy and Gerald VanDeCruz at tailback and Thomas Tippett at fullback. Healy leads the team with 427 rushing yards and 2 td's on 69 attempts (6.2 p/c). Van De Cruz also has 100 yards and 1 td this season. Tippett, mostly a blocker, has 6 rushes and 3 rushing td's.
 
            The receiving corps is very talented with Robert Bleiler (25 cacthes, 384 yards, 3 td's) leading the way. Also ready to snare the pigskin will be Jon Schnaars (16 grabs, 154 yards, 2 td's), Steven Jones (11 catches, 261 yards, 5 td's), and Joe Welk (7 grabs, 53 yards).
 
ESU FEATURES STINGY DEFENSE – 17 PPG & 302 YPG
 
            The ESU defense is one of the best right now in the PSAC. The Warriors rank #3 in scoring defense (`17ppg), #2 in total defense (302.8), #6  in rush defense 105.3) and #4 in pass defense (197.5).
 
            Up front the Warriors are led by end Brandon Gattelli (7 hits, 1 tfl) and Sam Trunzo (12 tacl;es, 2.5 tfl's), along with tackles Bryan Thomson (17 stops, 1.5 sacks) and Jon Noble (13 stops, 4 tfl's, 1 sack).
 
            The ESU linebacking corps is always solid and this year led by top tackler Cody Simcox (30 stops, 3.5 tfl's). Also protecting the middle are Darius Jckson (22 hits, 3 tfl's, 1 int) and Kaje Cowans (18 jolts, 2.5 tfl's).
 
            Leading the secondary are free safety Dean Vitale (27 tackles, 2 int's), strong safety Anthony Singlar (22 jolts, 4 tfl's) and corners Konrad Mims (13 hits) and Teron Dobbs (6 tackles, 3 int's, 5 passes defended).
 
CLARION – ESU SERIES: ESU LEADS 8-4 : In the 1983 PSAC title game at Hershey, Clarion rallied in the fourth quarter for its 27-14 win ... Clarion led 10-0 on a 1-yard run from Elton Brown and a 23-yard field goal from Eric Fairbanks... ESU took a 14-10 lead in the third on a 44-yard punt return from Chris Gerhard... With two qb's (Pat Carbol & Kevin Hanlon knocked out during the game) Dave Lammers came on and tossed an 85-yard td pass to All-American Terry McFetridge with 11:02 left in the game, and a 50-yard td pass to Bob Green with 5:18 left to seal the win... Eric Fairbanks added a 24-yard field goal to round out the scoring... Clarion had 344 yards in that game including 157 rushing and 187 passing ... All-American Elton Brown had 140 yards and 1 td on 30 carries ... Lammers was 3 of 7 passing for 142 yards and 2 td's... McFetridge caught 3 for 103 yards and 1 td and Green had 2 grabs for 56 yards and 1 td... ESU had -16 yards rushing and 100 yards passing for a total offense of 84 yards ... QB Andy Baranek (2 of 2, 11 yards) was hurt in the first quarter and did not return ... Charlie Diskin was 11 of 24 passing for 89 yards ... Clarion's "D" had a PSAC Championship record 13 qb sacks in that game for a -95 yards ... John Hughes and Jon Haslett had 4 sacks each, Kevin Ewing had 2 sacks.
In 2012 CLARION 31 ESU 27 – Clarion trailed 27-17 in the fourth quarter, but Rob Irwin caught a 5-yard td pass from Ben Fiscus with 7:04 remaining, then Clarion droive 82 yadrs in 14 plays to win the game on a Travis Day 3 yard td run with 27 seconds remaining… Clarion had 514 yards T.O. --- Ben Fiscus ran for 167 yards, plus completed 19 of 30 for 245 yards and 1 td… Bobby Thomas rushed for 89 yards and 2 td's… Aaron Barlow made 6 catches for 69 yards… Julian Howsare had 8 tackles, 4 sacks and a fumble caused to lead the defense… Soltes completed 17 of 32 passes for 256 yards and 1 td… Dusty Reed caught 6 passes for 113 yards and 1 td… In 2009 ESU won 45-31 at Eiler-Martin Stadium – ESU outgained clarion 415-399 … Clarion led 7-0 on Tyler Huether to Matt Foradora 23-yard td pass … ESU led 28-14 at halftime … clarion rallied to within 28-21 on an Alfonso Hoggard 5-yard run – and within 35-24 early in the fourth on a 45-yard field goal from robert Mamula – but ESU pulled away to win late … Huether was 19 of 33 for 307 yards and 3 td's … Matt Ward, Jacques Robinson and Foradora caught td passes … ESU qb Matt Marshall hit 23 of 29 passes for 316 yards and 3 td's … In 2008 ESU won 49-28 ... ESU led 35-7 at halftime and never looked back ... Clarion outgained ESU 460-458 ... Nick Sipes rushed for 115 and Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 105 ... QB Gino Rometo hit on 22 of 35 for 238 yards and 1 td ... Jacques Robinson grabbed 7 passes for 94 yards ... ESU's Tim Roken was 24 for 33 passing for 420 yards and 5 td's ... Sam Shuman caught 9 for 141 and 2 td's, Drew Stem 7 for 132 ... IN 2004 Clarion lost at ESU 38-24, but the game was really in doubt until the final minutes... Clarion jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the second quarter... Dando's 1-yard run, Kyle Snoke's 43-yard field goal and Marcus Lowe's 71-yard run had the Eagles in front... ESU narrowed it to 17-14 at halftime on a Carfagno 1-yard run... ESU tied the game, then took a 24-17 lead on a 23-yard pass from Terwilliger to Culver... Clarion tied the game early in the fourth 24-24 on a Dando 1-yard run... Lucas scored the go-ahead td with 7:04 left on a 27-yard jaunt... He iced the game with 1:48 left on a 39-yard run... Clarion had 330 yards of offense.... Marcus Lowe 119 rushing yards, 1 td ... Dando 18 of 30 for 160 yards ... ESU 507 yards ... Lucas 156 rushing yards and 2 td's ... Terwilliger 15 of 28 for 219 yards and 2 td's ... Clarion opened the 2003 season against ESU at Memorial Stadium in the first night game ... ESU defeated Clarion 31-21... Clarion rushed for 241 yards including 84 from Frantz Charles and 48 from Felton Woulard, both qb's ... Carfagno rushed for 99 yards, while Terwilliger, in his first college game, hit 11 of 28 passes for 188 yards and 3 td's... In 2001 at Stroudsburg High School, ESU scored with 1:53 remaining on a 16-yard A. Castiglioni run to win 33-27.