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 27-61.
 
 

 
            In 2014 the Golden Eagles open the season with three straight away games including a season opening trip to St. Francis on September 6 at 1pm, followed by trips to Millersville on Sept. 13 (4pm) and Cheyney on September 20 (1pm). The Golden Eagles home opener is set for Sept. 27^th against Gannon (2ppm) which will also serve as the annual Homecoming Day game. Other home games are against Edinboro on October 11 (6pm), California on October 25 (1pm), Slippery Rock on November 8 (Noon) and Kutztown on November 15 (Noon). 
       

                Saint Francis enters the game having lost its season opener last Saturday night to #11 ranked Fordham by a score of 52-23.
 
                The Red Flash are led by fifth year head coach Chris Villarial, who was an All-America offensive lineman at IUP and went on to an outstanding NFL career with the Chicago Bears. He played 11 years in the NFL including stints with the Bears (1996-2004) and the Buffalo Bills (2004-2006) and was a 2-time All-Pro.
 
                Last year Villarial led the Red Flash to a 5-6 overall record with impressive wins over Lincoln (38-7), Monmouth (28-10), Sacred Heart (24-10), Bryant (23-20) and Robert Morris (23-3). Villarial enters the game with a career record of 13-32.
 

 
            If you go back to 1953 you will see the only meeting between the two schools. Clarion won that game by a 7-6 margin.
           

 
            The Clarion offense returns 8 starters on a unit that averaged 21.6 ppg and 315.6 yards of total offense per game. Clarion averaged 178.8 rushing yards and 136.8 passing yards per game.
 

 
            Darelle Carson (So. Pgh-Perry) returns as the starting quarterback, having started the final 9 games and playing in a total of 10 games during the 2013 season. Battling him for the starting spot has been sophomore transfer Connor Simmons (So. New Palestine, In.)
 
            Carson is the returning starter having completed 85 of 195 passes for 1,170 yards and 5 td's in 2013, while also running the pigskin 157 times for 564 yards and 6 td's. A talented athlete who can run and deliver the deep pass, Carson improved as an overall quarterback during the 2013 season and has had a solid Fall camp according to Foster. Carson had a game-high 130 rushing yards and 1 td vs Edinboro and passed for 215 yards and 2 td's against Gannon.
 
            Simmons, who also had a strong showing in Spring drills, is an accurate passer who has learned the Eagle offense quickly. Foster feels Simmons is a smart quarterback who reads defenses well and scrambles well.
 

 
            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) and Caleb Mancini (Sr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk).
 
            Deitrick, an outstanding tight end, led the team in 2013 with 24 catches for 239 yards and 2 td's. He has 42 career catches for 450 yards and 4 td's. Nicholas, a talented wideout, grabbed 15 passes for 285 yards and 3 td's a year ago. In two seasons he has 22 catches for 379 yards and 5 td's. Lehman, only a sophomore, latched onto 13 passes for 159 yards and 1 td in 2013, while Mancini also clutched 13 aerials for 207 yards. Mancini has 21 career catches for 276 yards.
 
            Also expected to contribute to the offense at wideout are Eric Frye (Jr. Pgh-Perry – 6 catches, 154 yards, 2 td's in 2013) and Enrico Canello (Jr. Pgh-Keystone Oaks – 5 grabs, 64 yards – 2013). Backup 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.) returns to lead a strong backfield for the Golden Eagles in 2014. Thomas, who converted to running back in 2012 from a defensive back spot in 2011, has had a very strong career. Last year Thomas led Clarion with 180 carries for 759 yards and 7 td's, while also catching 9 aerials for 87 yards. In 2 years at running back Thomas has 304 carries for 1,293 yards and 10 rushing td's. He also has 15 catches for 139 yards. He has a single game high of 156 rushing yards in 2012 against LIU-Post and 147 yards against Lock Haven in 2013.
 
            Also set to tote the pigskin are Delrece Williams (Fr. Homestead/Steel Valley) and Johnnie Martin (So. Mt. Joy/Donegal).  
 
            Williams, who looked very good in Spring and Fall practice, hopes to bring another dimension to the Clarion backfield. 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. Martin played in two games a year ago and rushed 7 times for 45 yards while catching two passes for 22 yards.
 

 
            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, returns 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, will start at left tackle, while veteran and part-time starters Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Sr. Ambridge) and Shane Cress (6-3, 280, Jr.) will battle for the starting spot at right guard.
 
 

 
            Clarion's defense looks to take 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. Clarion yielded 407.4 yards of total offense and 29.1 points per game in 2013. Foster believes the 2014 unit will improve on those numbers. Clarion yielded 171.5 rushing yards and 235.9 passing yards a year ago.
 

 
            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 has had incredible back-to-back seasons. 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 three seasons Julian has notched 170 tackles, 41 tfl's for -201 yards, 28 sacks for -162 yards, 6 fumbles caused, 7 blocked kicks, 9 break-ups and 2 int's.
 
            Shuey meanwhile posted 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 75 stops, 18 tfl's (-58 yards), 3 sacks, 2 break-ups and a fumble caused.
 
            Plenty of talent returns up front with 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).
 
            Fragale notched 36 tackles, 5 sacks (-26 yards), 14 tfl's (-35 yards), 2 fumbles caused and recovered in 2013. His career numbers total 59 hits, 9 sacks for -39 yards, 22 tfl's for -53 yards, 3 fumbles caused, 2 recovered and 1 break up. Newquist meanwhile was right behind with 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 contributed 9 hits last year, while Koerper collected 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 was injured in the first game against Kutztown last year and slowed the remainder of the season. In 8 games 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 three seasons Brian has collected 156 tackles, 22 tfl's (-62), 8 sacks (-42), 3 fumbles caused, 1 recovered and 1 break-up.
 
            Yauger meanwhile has had two good seasons at linebacker and poised for his best year. He had 57 stops and 1 int a year ago, and now has 121 tackles, 9 tfl's (-15), 1 sack, and 1 int in two seasons. Davis, who gained starting experience a year ago, 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 had a game high 14 tackles vs Gannon. In two seasons Cory has 118 tackles, 12 break-ups, 2 int's and 2 tfl's.
 
            Also back as a starting safety is Malik King (Jr. Cornell), along with Tyler Tucker (So. Westside, Tx.) and converted running back in Chris Liberto (Jr. Springdale). King, a 2-year starter, 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. Tucker gained starting experience last year and posted 24 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 break-up. Liberto, who moved to a safety spot in the Spring, had a great experience and is looking forward to making a strong contribution to the defense.
 
            Also moving to safety is former 2-year running back Travis Day (Jr. Jeannette/Hempfield). Day 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 looking for time will be Jerome Matthews (Jr. Pgh- Schenley) who had 18 hits and  tfl last year.
 
            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, where they all have had starting roles. 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 placekicker Phil Esposito (So. Brockway) and special teams snapper Eric White (Jr. Clearfield).  Esposito made the game-tying field goal with no time left against Kutztown in the 2013 season opener, helping Clarion to a 39-38 OT win over Kutztown. He had all 25 PAT's last year and was 5 of 17 field goals. White, Clarion's snapper for punts and PAT's/Field Goals, returns to that position again in 2014.
 

 
            The Red Flash offense gained 242 yards of total offense against Fordham in the 2014 opener. Saint Francis had 206 yards rushing and 36 yards passing. The numbers mirror a team that prefers to rush the pigskin. In 2013 SFU averaged 283.8 yards per game including 168 rushing and 115.8 passing.
 
            The starting qb will likely be sophomore Max Ward. He completed 3 of 11 passes for 15 yards against Fordham, while rushing the ball six times for -38 yards. Ward passed for 1,108 yards and 5 td's a year ago. Also playing last week was Zack Drayer who completed 2 of 3 passes for 21 yards and rushed 2 times for 13 yards.
 
            The running game is paced by junior Khairi Dickson. Dickson rushed 33 times for 244 yards and 2 td's, including a 48 yard td run for the Red Flash in the fourth quarter. Last year Dickson rushed for 247 yards and 3 td's.
 
            Top wide receivers are Franklyn Williamson, Terell Smith and Anthony Abeid at wideout and Frank Failace at tight end. Williamson caught 2 passes for 21 yards in the opener, while Failace also had 2 grabs for 9 yards. Abeid had 17 catches for 204 yards in 2013, while Smith clutched 13 passes for 233 yards and 2 td's a year ago.
 

 
            Facing #11 Fordham in the opener last week, the Red Flash defense yielded 427 yards of total offense including 241 rushing and 186 passing. A year ago SFU yielded only an average of 318.5 yards of offense per game. That total included 156.8 rushing and 161.7 passing.
 
            Playing a 3-4 defense, the front wall is anchored by nose tackle Lorenzo Coscarelli, along with ends Shane Morris and Broday Maughan-Evanson. Coscarelli had 4 tackles and 1 tfl in the opener, while Morris had 3 stops and Maughan-Evanson 4 hits. The latter posted 33 stops 2.5 tfl's and 1 int      a year ago.
 
            The linebackers are a key to the defense with Bishop Neal and Semo Sila on the outside and Solomon Leaeno and Dave Coleman on the inside. Neal, who had 3 tackles against Fordham, was the team's leading tackler in 2013 with 79 stops, 16.5 tfl's and 4 sacks. Sila chipped in with 2 hits and a break-up on Saturday. He had 21 stops last year. Leaeno posted 4 tackles, 1 tfl and 1 fumble recovery against Fordham, while Coleman had 2 hits on Saturday. Last year Coleman notched 49 stops and 3.5 tfl's.
 
            The secondary has DaQuan Minter and Mike Dennis at the corners, with Cody Reimers at strong safety and Lorenzo Jerome at free safety. Minter had 2 hits and 2 break-ups against Fordham (42 stops, 6 int's in 2013), and Dennis posted 3 jolts (22 tackles, 1 int, 7 break-ups in 2013). Reimers made 5 hits on Saturday, with Jerome the team's leading tackler contributing 10 hits, 1 tfl, and 2 break-ups in the opener. Jerome had 56 tackles and 6 int's in 2013.
 
            CLARION NOTES: Saint Francis is a member of the (NEC) Northeast Conference) … Other members include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart, Wagner, Duquesne and Robert Morris…  Clarion is tradition rich in football ... 27 straight non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 53-year (1961-2013) record of 288-240-6 and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000).