Clarion opened its 2014 football season losing a hard-fought 27-13 decision at FCS opponent Saint Francis on Sept. 6, then came back strong last Saturday to defeat Millersville 55-16. The win over Millersville puts Clarion at 1-0 in the PSAC-West, tied for first place with Gannon, Slippery Rock and Seton Hill, who all won their division openers last week.
 
            The Golden Eagles were 4-7 overall last season and 2-5 in the PSAC-Western Division. Clarion opened the 2013 grid campaign on a three-game winning streak opening with a 39-38 overtime win against Kutztown, a 30-13 win over Lock Haven and a 20-13 upset win over Mercyhurst – all at home.
 
            Injuries took their toll, especially the season ending injury to PSAC-West first team qb Ben Fiscus, who was injured during the Lock Haven game and out for the season. Clarion defeated Seton Hill 41-2 and lost a close 9-7 decision at Edinboro late in the year. Foster's Eagles played hard and aggressive during the 2013 campaign.
 
            The Golden Eagles were also 4-7 overall in 2012 and 2-5 in the PSAC-Western Division, while Clarion was 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the West in 2011 and 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the West in 2010.
 
            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 28-62.
 
 

 
            After three straight home games to open the 2014 season, Clarion will return to the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium next Saturday to host Gannon in the annual Homecoming Day game – which is also part of the ALF week. Other home games coming up are are against Edinboro on October 11 (6pm), California on October 25 (1pm), Slippery Rock on November 8 (Noon) and Kutztown on November 15 (Noon).
 
 

 
            The Cheyney Wolves opened 2014 with a 30-18 loss at Lincoln, then return home last Saturday for a 48-0 loss to Gannon. The Wolves were 0-11 last year, but played several games that went down to the wire before losing to Lincoln (33-28), Lock Haven (12-10), and Seton Hill (17-10). The Wolves have lost 23 straight – with their last victory coming at the start of the 2012 season, a 34-21 win over Lincoln. Anthony Johnson, who has been at Cheyney since 2010 and was the offensive coordinator from 2010-13, is the interim head coach.
 

 
            Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 9-1 margin dating back to 1948. The last game in the series was a 32-12 win for the Golden Eagles at Cheyney. The win capped an 8-3 season for Clarion and a #8 ranking in the East Region. Alfonso Hoggard had 102 rushing yards and 3 td's in the game. Clarion has also sported wins in 2008 (41-20), 2006 (21-18), 1985 (36-8), 1959 (40-6), 1958 (28-0), 1957 (20-7), 1949 (41-0) and 1948 (33-6). Cheyney's lone win came in 1984 by a score of 20-10.
 

 
            The Clarion offense returns 8 starters on a unit that averaged is averaging 289 yards of offense and 34 points per game in 2014. The running game is getting 171.5 yards and the passing game is netting 117.5
 

 
            Darelle Carson (So. Pgh-Perry) started the first two games of 2014 and has completed 10 of 26 passes for 101 yards and 1 td, while running for 70 yards. Last year he started the team's final 9 games and completed 85 of 195 aerials for 1,170 yards and 5 td's, while also running for 564 yards and 6 td's on 157 tried.
 
            Sophomore transfer Connor Simmons (So. New Palestine, In.) has played well in both games and has completed 14 of 19 passes for 134 yards and 2 td's, while running for 50 yards. Both qb's are likely to play on Saturday.
 

 
            Returning to catch passes for the Eagles will be senior tight end Mike Deitrick (Sr. Upper St. Clair), and wideouts Mark Nicholas (Jr. Export/Franklin Regional), Matt Lehman (So. Lower Burrell/Burrell), Eric Frye (Jr. Pgh-Perry), and Caleb Mancini (Sr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk).
 
            Deitrick, an outstanding tight end, has caught 2 aerials for 7 yards. He led the team in 2013 with 24 catches for 239 yards and 2 td's. He has 44 career catches for 457 yards and 4 td's.
 
            Frye leads the team with 9 catches for 129 yards and 1 td, while Nicholas has 4 grabs for 34 yadrs and 2 td's. Frye now has 15 career receptions for 283 yards and 3 td's. Nicholas grabbed 15 passes for 285 yards and 3 td's a year ago and now has 26 catches for 413 yards and 7 td's.  
 
             Lehman, only a sophomore, has 3 grabs for 20 yards in 2014 and 16 career catches for 179 yards and 1 td. Mancini has 1 catch for 24 yards this year and 22 for 300 yards in his career.
 
            Also expected to contribute to the offense are wideout and Enrico Canello (Jr. Pgh-Keystone Oaks – 5 grabs, 64 yards – 2013) and tight end Zach Deitrick So. Upper St. Clair) also grabbed 3 passes for 47 yards a year ago.
 

 
            Senior running back Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) and freshman Delrece Williams (Fr. Homestead/Steel Valley)  lead a strong backfield in 2014. Thomas has opened the 2014 season with 54 yards and 1 td on 17 tries. In 3 years he now has 321 rushes for 1,347 yards and 11 td's, along with 18 catches for 136 yards. Thomas had 759 yards and 7 td's on 180 carries and has a single game high of 156 yards in 2012 against LIU-Post, and 147 vs L.H. in 2013.
 
            Williams has had an impressive start to 2014. The team's leading runner has 24 carries for 133 yards and 3 td's, plus 1 catch for 6 yards and 5 kickoff returns for 151 yards. A senior at Steel Valley High in the Fall of 2010, Williams set the WPIAL regular season rushing record of 2,149 yards in 9 games. He had a season total of 2,388 yards and a WPIAL leading 34 td's.
 
            Also set to tote the pigskin is Johnnie Martin (So. Mt. Joy/Donegal) who has 4 carries for 19 yards and 1 td this season.
 

 
            The "O" line will have four talented starters returning in tackle Ryan Barrick (6-6, 280, Sr. Easton), guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 280, Sr. Beaver) and center Cameron Cress (6-3, 270, Jr. Mars).  Barrick, a 2-year starter and three-year letterwinner, has missed the first two games with an injury but hopes to return soon to his familiar right tackle spot. Kundick, also a starter at left guard a year ago, has two letters on the O-line. Cameron Cress started a number of games at center last year and will return anchor the line and make all the line calls up front.
 
            Paul Branagan (6-4, 280, So. Coraopolis/Cornell), who gained some starting time in 2013, has missed the first two games after projecting to start at left tackle. Veterans Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Sr. Ambridge) and Shane Cress (6-3, 280, Jr.) are now starting at right guard and left tackle respectively. Jake Heigel (6-3, 270, Fr. DuBois/Brockway) will start at right tackle for the third straight week.
 
 

 
            Clarion's has taken a big step forward in 2014 with nine starters and a host lettermen returning to what could be the unit's best squad in a few years. In the opening two games clarion has limited its opponents to 279.5 yards of total offense, including 157 yards rushing and 122.5 yards passing.  
 

 
            The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line returning in 2014, paced by two-time Third Team FB Gazette All-American Julian Howsare (Sr. Altoona) at defensive end and All PSAC-West selection Matt Shuey (Sr. Johnsonburg) at defensive tackle.
 
            Howsare, the PSAC-West Defensive P.O.W. last week against Millersville, has opened the season with 17 tackles, 3 sack and 5 tfl's. The 2013 PSAC-West Defensive POY, Howsare posted 83 tackles, 18 tfl's for -75 yards, 10 sacks for -58 yards, 4 blocked kicks, 4 break-ups, 2 int's and 2 fumbles caused. He recorded 14 tackles, 4 tfl's and 1 sack vs Gannon, had 2 int's and a blocked kick vs Slippery Rock, and 10 hits, 3 tfl's, blocked 2 kicks and recovered 1 for a td against Seton Hill.
 
            In 2012 Julian he posted 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 his career Julian has notched 187 tackles, 46 tfl's for -216 yards, 31 sacks for -173 yards, 6 fumbles caused, 7 blocked kicks, 9 break-ups and 2 int's.
 
            Shuey meanwhile has posted 9 hits and 5 tfl's and 1 sack in 2014  Last year he had 31 tackles, 3 sacks for -33 yards, 9 tfl's for -43 yards and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. Posting 31 hits and 7 tfl's in 2012, Shuey has a career total of 84 stops, 23 tfl's (-68 yards), 4 sacks, 2 break-ups and a fumble caused.
 
            Plenty of talent returns up front with tackle Kwame Bell (6-3, 265, Jr. Philadelphia), noseguards Andrew Fragale (Jr. Emporium/Cameron County) and Zach Newquist (Sr. Indiana) ready for action, along with Brandon Short (Jr. New Brighton) and Matt Koerper (So. Seven Fields/Seneca Valley).
 
            Bell has come on strong in 2014 with 8 tackles, 4 tfl's, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 1 fumble caused. Fragale, who has 5 stops and 2 tfl's in 2014, had 36 tackles, 5 sacks (-26 yards), 14 tfl's (-35 yards), 2 fumbles caused and recovered in 2013. His career numbers total 64 hits, 9 sacks for -39 yards, 24 tfl's for -62 yards, 4 fumbles caused, 2 recovered and 1 break up. Newquist will miss the first three weeks, In 2013 he made 32 stops, 3 sacks, 7 tfl's, 3 break-ups and 1 fumble caused. His career numbers include 43 tackles, 9 tfl's, 5 sacks, 4 break ups, 1 fumble caused.
 
            Short has had a strong start with 10 jolts and 2 sacks, while Koerper has collected 12 stops, 1 sack and 4 tfl's. Last year he had 19 tackles, 1 sack and 3 tfl's.
 

 
            The Clarion linebacking corps will be led by the return of veterans Brian Palmiere (Sr. Tarentum/Deer Lakes), Rocco Yauger (Jr. Penn Trafford) and Jared Davis (Jr. Pgh-Allderdice). Palmiere has 5 hits and 2 tfl's in 2014. In 8 games in 2013 he had 24 tackles and 2 tfl's. In 2012 Palmiere led the Golden Eagles with 89 tackles, plus added 3 sacks and 8 tfl's with 2 fumbles caused. In his career Brian has collected 161 tackles, 24 tfl's (-64), 8 sacks (-42), 3 fumbles caused, 1 recovered and 1 break-up.
 
            Yauger meanwhile has 8 this season. He had 57 stops and 1 int a year ago, and now has 129 tackles, 9 tfl's (-15), 1 sack, and 1 int in two seasons. Davis, who gained starting experience a year ago, has 8 tackles and 3 tfl's this season. He had 29 hits, 2 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery in 2013.
 

 
            The Golden Eagle secondary is looking to have a strong season in 2014, especially if the unit can stay healthy. Back to lead the defense is Cory McNamara (Jr. Ontario, N.Y.).
 
            Junior cornerback Cory McNamara has moved to strong safety to anchor the defense. Last year he led the Golden Eagles with 87 tackles and 12 pass break-ups (Ranked #2 in the PSAC. Adding 1 interception and 1 tfl rounded out a quality season. He has 13 tackles, 1 break-up and 1 fumble recovery this year. In two seasons Cory has 131 tackles, 13 break-ups, 2 int's and 2 tfl's.
 
            The safety spots are covered by Malik King (Jr. Cornell), Travis Day (Jr. Jeannette/Hempfield), Chris Liberto (Jr. Springdale) along with Tyler Tucker (So. Westside, Tx.).
 
            King, a 3-year starter, missed the Millersville game and could be out this week with an injury. He had 30 hits, 2 int's for 20 yards, 1 fumble caused and recovered, 1 sack and 2 tfl's a year ago. He has 48 career stops, 3 int's and 2 break-ups.
 
            Day, who moved to safety from running back, has 6 tackles, 1 tfl and 2 break-ups this season.  He also returned 2 punts for 39 yards. He carried the ball 66 times for 303 yards and 4 td's last year, while also catching 6 passes for 82 yards. He also rushed 62 times for 295 yards and 3 td's in 2012 while also posting 6 catches for 57 yards. Day's career numbers show 128 carries for 598 yards and 7 td's, with 12 catches for 139 yards.
 
            Also moving over to the defense from running back is Chris Liberto. Liberto has 5 hits and 1 tfl this season.
 
            Tucker gained starting experience last year but missed the opener with an injury. He has 1 tackle this season, while posted 24 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 break-up.
 
            Also looking for time will be Jerome Matthews (Jr. Pgh- Schenley) who has 8 hits, 1 tfl and 1 fumble recovery.
 
            The corner positions will have Cory Lauer (Jr. Franklin Regional) Adam Lynch (So. Pgh-Brashear), and Kwaku Asamoah (Jr. Indiana) all seeing plenty of time. Lauer has 6 tackles and 1 break-up,  Asamoah 3 jolts. Lauer had 12 tackles last year, Lynch notched 29 hits, 3 int's for 36 yards and 3 break-ups and Asamoah with 20 hits and 2 break-ups.
 
 

            The Clarion special teams will be anchored by sophomore Scott Ayers (Bethesda, Md.) and special teams snapper Eric White (Jr. Clearfield).  Ayers is averaging 34.6 yards per punt and is 8 for 9 in PAT's. White, Clarion's snapper for punts and PAT's/Field Goals, is a third year starter on special teams. 2013 placekicker Phil Esposito (So Brockway) was injured in Fall camp and is still not available.
 

            The Wolves offense is averaging 182 yards per game in 2014, including 111 rushing yards and 71 passing yards. Cheyney has scored 9 points per game
 
            Calling the signals on offense will be quarterback Michael Campbell. The freshman has completed 10 of 32 passes for 122 yards, 0 td's and 4 int's. Campbell has also rushed for -13 yards.
 
            The running game is led by Justin Watkins who has rushed for 101 yards and 1 td on only 20 carries. Right behind him is Khalil Rogers, who has 95 yards and 1 td on 24 attempts.
 
            The passing game looks to talented receivers in Khalif Dandy (4 catches, 56 yards), Dawon Matthews (2 receptions, 48 yards), Evan Beebe (3 grabs, 22 yards) and Justin Watkins (2 grabs, 17 yards).
 

            The Wolves on defense are giving up 356 yards a game and 39 points per contest. Opponents are getting 206.5 rushing yards and 149.5 passing yards per game in 2014.
 
            Up front Cheyney relies on noseguard Evander Wilson (6 tackles), tackle Brian Finley (5 stops) and end Joseph Bryant (8 stops, 1 tfl).
 
            The linebacking corps is led by talented linebacker Isaiah Fleming. Fleming leads the team with 32 tackles, 6 tfl's and 1 sack. Helping out at linebacker are Rashod Knight (3 tackles) and outside linebackers Darell Ellison (8 hits) and Chaplin Johnson Davis (4 tackles).
 
            The secondary features Monwell Brown (8 stops, 1 int) at strong safety and William Martin (1 int) at free safety, with Adam Dolphin and Jamil Williams (9 hits) at the corners.
 
            CLARION - CHEYNEY PAST GAMES – 2009 – Clarion 32 Cheyney 12 … Played at Cheyney – the Wolves had the game tied 12-12 at halftime, but the Golden Eagles scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to win 32-12… Alfonso Hoggard ran for 102 yards and 3 td's in the game … Tyler Huether had a strong day at QB completing 14 of 17 passes for 175 yards and 1 td… Jacques Robinson led all receivers with 8 catches for 104 yadrs and 1 td… Clarion finished the season 8-3 overall, 6-1  in the PSAC-West and ranked 8^th in the final NCAA D-II East Region Poll…  2008- Clarion 41 Cheyney 20 …  at Memorial Stadium Huether completed 18 of 27 passes for 251 yards and 2 td's ... Jacques Robinson caught 10 passes for 140 yards and 2 td's ... Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 133 yards and 3 td's on Senior Day ... Bobby Hogan rushed for 2 td;s for Cheyney ... 2006 - Clarion won an exciting 21-18 decision at Memorial Stadium... Clarion built a 21-6 halftime lead on Dwaon Woodard's 54-yard interception return for a td, Eddie Emmanuel's 16-yard td run and Matt Foradora's 38-yard leaping grab in the endzone on the final play of the first half - from Tyler Huether... Cheyney rallied with a Derrick Murry 43-yard td run and a Murry 22-yard td pass to Lamar Anthony to make it 21-18 ... Cheyney had the ball on the Clarion 2 for the final play with 0-seconds left (Clarion pass interference on "final play" put the ball on the 2) ... And Murry's pass for Dominique Curry fell incomplete in the endzone to preserve the win ... Cheyney outgained Clarion 328 - 267 ... Emmanuel rushed for 150 yards and 1 td ... Huether was 5 of 11 for 65 yards and 1 td ... Foradora had 4 catches for 75 yards and 1 td .... Murry meanwhile completed 16 of 33 for 185 and 2 td's .... Thompson played in that game and was 5 of 12 for 47 yards ... Woodard had 3 interceptions in that game and Jimmy Simmons had 7 tackles and 2 sacks ... Prior to that the previous game was in 1985 and Clarion won 36-8 at Memorial Stadium… John Desmond set the field goal record in that game booting a 49-yarder to open the scoring… Clarion had 278 yards of offense compared to 103 for Cheyney … Mick Kehoe ran for 100 yards and 1 td, Terry McFetridge caught 5 passes for 90 yards and 1 td, QB Doug Emminger hit 10 of 23 passes for 118 yards and Ray Sanchez rushed for 2 td's … Clarion held Cheyney to -12 yards of offense in the first half of that game… In 1984 at Cheyney the Wolves topped the Golden Eagles 20-10 in a big upset win… Clarion led 7-0 in the first on a Pat Carbol 6-yard run, and also led 10-0 with 7:49 left in the second when Eric Fairbanks booted a 40-yard field goal … Cheyney's Terrance Capers intercepted a Carbol pass and returned it 21 yards for a td to cut the lead to 10-6 at halftime… Michael Lee ran 6 yards for a td midway through the third quarter to give the Wolves a 12-10 lead… After the Wolves intercepted another pass at their own 38, they drove 62-yards in 8 plays to take a 20-10 lead with 8:19 left and the win … Clarion had 324 yards of offense… Elton Brown rushed for 74 yards on 17 carries, Robert Green had 4 catches for 66 yards and Russ Ford caught 3 for 60 … Carbol completed 12 of 27 tosses for 205 yards … Cheyney had 373 yards with Lee rushing for 108 yards on 29 carries … QB Clark Perry completed 15 of 30 for 159 yards and 1 td… Kevin Ewing had 21 tackles for the defense.