Breast Cancer Awareness/Clarion Hospital Day

CLARION (3-4; 1-3) GRIDDERS HOST SETON HILL (0-7; 0-4) SATURDAY OCT. 26
 
            Clarion's 2013 football team returns to the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium this Saturday, October 26, to host PSAC newcomer Seton Hill in a Western Division matchup.  Kickoff is slated for 1pm. Saturday is also Breast Cancer Awareness/Clarion Hospital Day with the Clarion football team selling luminaries to raise money to benefit The Cancer Center at Clarion Hospital.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Seton Hill 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 30 on ROOT Sports starting at 7pm and The Comcast Network on Thursday Nov. 1 at 7pm. Jon Schaeffer and Phil Schoener will call the game with Shanna Muscavage on the sideline.
 
 
FOSTER IN 8^TH SEASON/ CLARION 3-4; 1-3
2009 EAGLES 8-3 - 2^ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8^TH IN SUPER REGION 1

            Clarion eighth year head coach Jay Foster saw his Golden Eagles open the 2013 season with three straight wins, then lose its last three contests to put his team at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the PSAC-West.
 
            In the 2013 season opener at Memorial Stadium, 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. In week two Clarion returned to Memorial Stadium and defeated Lock Haven 30-13, while the Golden Eagles edged Mercyhurst 20-13 in week three also at home. Week four saw Clarion host Gannon in the annual ALF Homecoming game and Clarion lost 45-25 to the Golden Knights. On the road the last three weeks, Clarion lost to East Stroudsburg (48-28), California (35-7) and Slippery Rock (34-13).
 
            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 26-58.
 
SETON HILL 0-7 OVERALL – 0-4 IN PSAC-WEST
 
            Seton Hill enters the game with an 0-7 record this season under first year head coach Isaac Collins. The Griffins opened 2013 with a 37-29 loss at Fairmont State, then home losses to East Stroudsburg (70-7) and IUP (26-0). Seton Hill then lost two road games at Edinboro (43-7) and at Shippensburg (73-27), before returning home to losses against Mercyhurst (50-19) and California (33-7).
 
 
FIRST GAME BETWEEN CLARION & SETON HILL
 
            The game on Saturday will be the first between Clarion and Seton Hill. Seton Hill joined the PSAC beginning in the Fall of 2013 as a league member – and is in the Western Division with the Golden Eagles.
 
CLARION OFFENSE 333.9 YARDS & 23.1 PPG IN 2013
 
            The Clarion offense is averaging 333.9 yards of total offense per game in 2013, including 166 yards on the ground and 167.9 through the air. Clarion ranks 12^th in total offense, 8^th in rushing offense and 12^th in 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 five games and played in 6 straight since relieving Fiscus. Carson suffered a leg injury at Slippery Rock and is questionable for Seton Hill. Carson's backup is freshman Matt Futkos (Youngstown, Oh./Fitch).
 
            Carson has completed 61 of 133 passes for 845 yards and 3 td's with 6 interceptions. Carson, an excellent athlete, has also rushed for 291 yards and 5 td's on 92 carries. Futkos has completed 1 of 1 attempts for -8 yards and rushed for 23 yards.
 
            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
 
            Expecting to catch passes from Carson will be senior Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.), sophomore Mark Nicholas (So. Export/Franklin Regional) and Mike Deitrick (Jr. Upper St. Clair). 
 
            Reid has 7 catches for 67 yards, while Nicholas has 15 catches for 285 yards and 3 td's, with Deitrick posting 18 grabs for 182 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 83 career passes for 1,197 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).  Mancini has 10 catches for 164 yards, Lehman 11 receptions for 150 yards and 1 td, Frye 2 grabs for 103 yards and 1 td and Canello 3 catches for 15 yards.
 
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 491 yards and 4 td's on 115 carries (4.3 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 1,025 career rushing yards and 7 td's on 239 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 152 yards and 2 td's, while also catching 6 passes for 82 yards this season. Last year he rushed for 295 yards and 3 td's on 62 carries last year. Also expected to see some time are Chris Liberto (So. Springdale) and Johnnie Martin (Fr. Mt. Joy/Donegal).
 
FELKER & KUNDICK LEAD TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE
 
            The "O" line has been a little banged up since Fall camp started, but continues to play well overall. Leading the "O" line are captain and left tackle Mike Felker (6-4, 285, Sr. Gibsonia/Pine Richland) and left guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 270, Jr. Beaver). Felker in his fourth year as a starter, 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 40 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), started the year as the starting right tackle. Out most of the Gannon game and missing the last two weeks, he could be back for this week's SR game. Right tackle Ryan Barrick (6-5, 270, Jr. Easton), who was sidelined in camp, returned against Gannon and started the last four games. Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Jr. Ambridge), has emerged as the starter at right guard, but Shane Cress (6-3, 275, So. Mars)  will see plenty of time. Cameron Cress (6-3, 275, So.) has been the 2013 starter 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
 
            The Clarion defense has returned 10 starters and plenty of veteran experience in 2013.Clarion is yielding  448.7 yards of total offense per game including 168.6 rushing yards per game and 280.1 passing yards. The Golden Eagles defense is currently ranked #15 in the entire PSAC in total defense, 10^th in rushing defense and 15^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 45 tackles, 11 tfl's, 5 sacks, 2 int's, 4 break-ups, 2 fumbles caused and a blocked punt 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 132 career tackles, 23 sacks for -133 yards and  34 tfl's for -169 yards. Bostick, who missed two games, has posted 6 tackles (2 tfl's). 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 21 tackles, 9 tfl's and 4 sacks to start the year. Heintz has posted 17 hits and 2 sacks, with Newquist getting 20 jolts, 5 tfl's and 3 sacks. Shuey has contributed 21 hits, 7 tfl's, 3 sacks.
 
            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), Kyle McWreath (Washington/Trinity) and Michael Collier (So. Beaver Falls) return to anchor the linebacking corps.
 
            Palmiere, who played the first half vs Kutztown and was injured, returned to see limited action the last three weeks. He has 6 stops this season. 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 138 tackles, 20 tfl's and 3 fumbles caused. Yauger currently has 31 hits and 1 int. this season, (64 last year with 8 tfl's), while Davis has 21 hits and McWreath 46 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. Collier meanwhile has 23 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 int.
 
EAGLE SECONDARY RETURNS EXPERIENCED PLAYERS
 
            Clarion will be looking to corners Cory McNamara (So. Ontario, N.Y.), Kwaku Asamoah (So. Indiana), Cory Lauer (So. Franklin Regional) and Adam Lynch (Fr. Brashear) to stop opposing wideouts. McNamara leads the team with 66 hits and 1 interception, In 2012 he posted 31 hits and 1 interception. Asamoah has 13 stops, Lynch has made 21 jolts with 2 int's and 3 break-ups and Lauer 7 tackles 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 has 37 hits, 2 int's (vs Mercyhurst) and 3 break ups this year, while collecting 54 jolts and 5 tfl's a year ago. Rivera posted 23 jolts this season after posting 22 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. King is having a top season with 21 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 14 tackles and 2 tfl's, Tucker has 18 hits and 1 tfl.and Yonker 24 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 43.8 yards per punt this season and is ranked 2^nd in punting average in the entire PSAC. He has a season long of 63 and has placed 11 punts inside the 20 yard line. 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 12 in field goals and 17 of 17 in PAT's for 32 points.
 
 
SETON HILL #16 IN TOTAL OFFFENSE IN PSAC
 
            Seton Hill's offense is averaging 13.7ppg (#14 in PSAC) and 218.6 yards per game (#16 in PSAC) of total offense. The Griffins are getting 77 rushing yards (#14 in PSAC) and141.6 passing yards (#15 in PSAC) per game.
 
OFFENSE LOOKING FOR A QUARTERBACK
            Seton Hill's offense has been stifled by injuries at quarterback in 2013. The Griffins are expected to start Jarvis McClam as their signal caller. He has completed 11 of 32 passes for 84 yards, but has only played in 3 games due to injuries. The backup will be Nick Halfhill who has connected on 65 of 118 passes for 626 yards and 6 td's.
 
            The running game will be led by QB McClam who leads the team with 178 yards and 1 td on 28 carries (6.4 p/c). Running backs Bennett Okoro (78 yards and Denzell Jackson (107 yards, 3 td's) expect to carry the pigskin.
 
            The Seton Hill wideouts have quality talent, especially Norman Darden (20 catches, 286 yards, 4 td's) and Erik Kerns (17 grabs, 187 yards, 2 td's).
 
 
SETON HILL DEFENSE LED BY LB TYLER ZIMMER
 
            The Seton Hill defense is giving up an average of 47.4 ppg (#16 in PSAC) and 439.1 yards per game (#13 in PSAC). Opponents are rushing for 195.1 yards per game (#13 in PSAC) and 244 passing yards (#13 in PSAC) per outing.
 
            The defensive line features Jamarious Richardson (2 stops) and Michael Akers (15 stops, 3.5 tfl's) at tackle and Arthur Tsapdong (22 tackles, 4 sacks) and Orlando Irby (14 hits, 2 tfl's) at the ends.
 
            The linebackers are extremely active with Tyler Zimmer leading the team with 55 hits and 5 tfl's, while Chase Parker (52 jolts, 9 tfl's) and Tim Johnson (40 stops) account for the to three tacklers on the team.
 
            The secondary has Phillip Moreland (28 hits, 2 int's) and Jordan Harper (31 hits) at the corners, with Christian Carter (19 tackles) and Ricardo Housen (28 tackles, 1 int) at the safeties.
 
            CLARION NOTES –  Seton Hill comes to Clarion on a 20-game losing streak… the Griffins last win was on October 29, 2011 against West Liberty (26-22) … Seton Hill finished that season with 2 losses, went 0-11 last year and 0-7 through the 2013 season … Clarion punter Nathan Conway ranks #7 in the nation with his 43.8 yard average … Clarion will host IUP on November 2^nd when 11 seniors will be honored in pre-game ceremonies… The 11 seniors are Adam Bostick, Nathan Conway, Mark Divins, Mike Felker, Ben Fiscus, Matt Long, Evan Mastele, Terrance Perfilio, Jon Reid, Ren Yonker, Mike Zak.