CLARION RUNS PAST CHEYNEY 27-6
 
                (CHEYNEY, PA.): After a scoreless first half, Clarion qb Connor Simmons ran and passed for a td, and running back Delrece Williams notched 2 td runs as the Golden Eagles ran past Cheyney 27-6 in NCAA D-II football on Saturday afternoon.
 
                Held at O'Sields – Stevenson Stadium, Clarion raised its overall record to 2-1 and is 2-0 in the PSAC-West, while Cheyney is 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC-East. A new PSAC rule has the last two weeks of crossover games counting in divisional records for the first time this season.
 
                Clarion had three red zone possessions in the first half but the Golden Eagles were turned away each time.
 
                The Golden Eagles came out of the locker room at halftime and drove 55 yards in 9-plays to take a 6-0 lead over the Wolves. Delrece Williams (photo left)  did the majority of the work in the drive, rushing 7 times for 33 yards. Clarion had first and goal at the 5 yard line when qb Connor Simmons rolled left, turned up field and dove into the endzone for the score. The PAT missed wide right but Clarion had a 6-0 lead at 9:56 of the third.
 
                Clarion was on the verge of scoring again on its next possession, driving to the Cheyney 2, but a fumble on the handoff exchange between Simmons and Bobby Thomas at the 2 yard line was recovered by Cheyney's Baja Rowe, stopping another Clarion scoring threat.
 
                Cheyney took a big gamble on its next possession, going for it on fourth and 1 at its own 37. The interior of the Eagle defense stopped qb Michael Campbell for no gain on an attempted qb sneak and Clarion had great field position for its second score.
 
                Clarion drove 37-yards in 8 plays. Two big plays were a 17-yard pass from Simmons to Mike Deitrick, and a 12 yard run by Delrece Williams, which put the ball on the Cheyney 7. Two plays later Williams scored from 2-yards out and Clarion led 13-0 at 11:35 of the fourth quarter.
 
                Following a Travis Day 15-yard punt return to the Cheyney 30, Clarion was set up for its next score. Simmons hit a 13-yard pass to Zach Deitrick, and then hit Mark Nicholas (photo right)  in the back of the endzone for a 12-yard td pass, giving Clarion a 20-0 lead with 9:18 to play.
 
                Clarion's final score came on a 58-yard, 12-play drive – which was capped by a brilliant Delrece Willliams run on fourth and goal at the Cheyney 4. Williams ran outside left tackle, was stopped by two Wolves, broke the tackle, spun 180, reversed his field and dashed inside the right pylon for the score. Scott Ayers PAT made it 27-0 with2:19 left in the game.
 
                Cheyney added a td on a Michael Campbell 1-yard run with 8 seconds remaining to make the final score Clarion 27 Cheyney 6.
 
                Clarion had 358 yards of total offense on the day, including 143 rushing and 215 passing. Connor Simmons completed 12 of 17 passes for 191 yards and 1 td, plus ran for 12 yards and a td.
 
                Delrece Williams led the runners with 78 yards and 2 td's on 18 carries. Bobby Thomas had 39 yards on 8 tries.
 
                Matt Lehman caught 3 passes for 91 yards, while Mark Nicholas had 3 for 49 yards and 1 td.
 
                The Clarion defense once again was led by Julian Howsare who had 9 hits and 2 sacks, while Kwame Bell made 7 stops and 2 sacks, with Brandon Short getting 6 hits and 2 sacks.
 
                Cheyney had 226 yards of offense including 96 rushing and 130 passing. Michael Campbell hit on 10 of 19 aerials for 130 yards, plus rushed for a td.
 
                Clarion opens its home season next Saturday when the Golden Eagles host undefeated Gannon in PSAC-West play. The game, which is also the ALF Homecoming Game, is set for a 2pm kickoff.