Box Score CARSON LEADS CLARION PAST MERCYHURST 20-13
(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion freshman quarterback
Darelle Carson (Pgh. Perry) passed for 209 yards and 1 td and rushed for 85 yards in his first collegiate start leading Clarion to a 20-13 win over Mercyhurst in an NCAA Division II football game played at Clarion's Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
The PSAC-West opener for both teams, Clarion raised its overall record to 3-0 and 1-0 in the West, while Mercyhurst dropped to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the West. The 3-0 start is the best for the Golden Eagles since starting 3-0 in 1996 when Clarion advanced to the NCAA D-II semifinals.
Carson, filling in for senior quarterback
Ben Fiscus (Sr. Indiana) who missed the game with a leg injury, stepped up to lead the Golden Eagles offense to 352 total yards. Clarion jumped out to a 20-0 first half lead and then held on in the second half for the win.
The Golden Eagles made a statement o n their opening drive going 62 yards in 16 plays from the Eagle 30 to the MErcyhurst 8. Carson completed 2 of 4 for 26 yards and rushed 5 times for 23 yards on the drive. Freshman placekicker
Phil Esposito (Brockway) booted a 25-yard field goal and Clarion led 3-0 at 6:23 of the first.
Clarion started its next possession at its own 42 and once again drove to the LAker 22 where Esposito came on to kick a 39 yard field goal and Clarion led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Clarion defense came up with a big interception by
Rocco Yauger (Trafford/Penn Trafford) at the MErcyhurst 35 and returned the pigskin 10 yards to the 25 to give the Eagles great field position. On third and 13 at the 28, Carson hit
Mark Nicholas (So. Export/Franklin Regional) for 27 yards to the 1.
Travis Day Jeannette/Hempfield) bolted over from the 1 on the next play and Clarion led 13-0 with 12:27 left before halftime.
Clarion safety
Adam Lynch (So. Pgh. Brashear) intercepted an Anthony Vendemia pass at the Clarion 7, and returned it 20 yards to the 27. A personal foul on MErcyhurst moved the pigskin to the Clarion 42. On third and 7 at the Clarion 45, Carson rushed for 9 yards and a key first down to the Laker 46. On the next play Carson faded back and fired a perfect 46-yard td pass to
Eric Frye (
Pgh. Perry) for a td and a 20-0 lead with 4:02 left before intermission.
MErcyhurst drove 64yards in 7 plays and scored its first td when Allen Jones bulled over from five yards out making the score 20-7 with 26 seconds left before halftime.
The Lakers closed to within 20-13 when Brandon Brown-Dukes dashed 77-yards for a touchdown with 11:03 left in the third quarter.
Clarion's defense came up big in the third and fourth quarters. Clarion safety
Matt Long (Sr. Pgh –
North Catholic) posted two interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal the win. His second came on fourth and 2 at the Clarion 29 with 1:20 left in the game.
"
Darelle Carson played an awesome game," said Clarion eighth year head coach
Jay Foster. "It wasn't just Darelle – though – we had a great effort from both sides of the ball. It was a classic team win. I think this could be a statement win for our program – it's a matter now of what we do with it from here."
Carson rushed 25 times for 85 yards, plus completed 9 of 18 passes for 209 yards and 1 td.
Travis Day rushed for 33 yards and 1 td on 10 carries, while
Bobby Thomas gained 28yards on 17 carries.
Mark Nicholas caught 4 passes for 83 yards.
Clarion's defense was led by
Kyle McWreath who had 9 hits and 2 tfl's, while
Jared Davis had 7 stops.
Matt Long ad 2 int's, while
Adam Lynch and
Rocco Yauger each had one.
Mercyhurst gained 315 yards of total offense. Anthony Vendemia completed 12 of 26 passes for 96 yards and 4 int's.
The Lakers running game were led by Brandon Brown-Dukes who had 140 yards and 1 td on 11 carries, while Allen Jones had 78 yards and 1 td.
Clarion returns home to host Gannon next Saturday for a 2pm kickoff. It will also be the annual ALF Homecoming Game.
