CLARION RALLY FALLS SHORT – LOSES TO SAINT FRANCIS 27-13
 
                (Loretto, Pa.): Clarion backup qb Connor Simmons (So. New Palestine, Ind.) and running back Delrece Williams (Fr. Steel Valley) rallied the Golden Eagles for 13 second half points but the rally fell short and Clarion lost its 2014 football season opener at Saint Francis 27-13 on Saturday afternoon.
 
                Saint Francis an FCS team in the NEC Conference raised its overall record to 1-1, while the Golden Eagles, a member of the PSAC and NCAA D-II, dropped to 0-1. The game was played at DeGol Field.
 
                Saint Francis jumped to a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions of the contest.
 
                Clarion's first possession was a three and out, and Saint Francis blocked the Eagles punt attempt  from its own 23 and recovered at the Clarion 14. Two plays later Khairi Dickson scored on a 3-yard run and SFU led 7-0 at 13:03 of the first.
 
                Clarion qb Darelle Carson had a pass intercepted on the next possession at the Clarion 38 putting the Red Flash back in business. On the second play Dickson scampered 33-yards to paydirt giving SFU a 14-0 lead with 11:57 left in the first.
 
                The Golden Eagles settled down after that and played a strong football game. Late in the first quarter Clarion drove from its own 47 to the SFU 13. On fourth and 3 at the SFU 6, Delrece Williams tried the middle of the Red Flash line but was stopped for no gain and the Eagles turned the ball over on downs.
 
                In the second quarter Clarion drove from its own 26 to the SFU 1. On third and goal at the 1 Bobby Thomas skirted left end for an apparent Eagle td, but holding on the play took the td off the board and put the ball back at the Eagle 11. Thomas rushed for 3 yards and a Carson incomplete pass stopped that drive as well.
 
                Saint Francis went ahead 21-0 just before intermission when the Flash drove 80 yards in 10 plays and qb Max Ward scrambled 16 yards with only 25 seconds left for the touchdown.
 
                SFU's Lance Geesey booted field goals of 47 and 35 yards in the third quarter pushing the lead out to 27-0, but Clarion rallied back.
 
                Connor Simmons ( left) came into the game at qb late in the third and took the Eagles on a 5-play, 66-yard scoring drive. Simmons completed 2 passes for 27 yards in the drive. On second at six at the SFU 11, Williams took the handoff and sprinted left beating everyone to the pylon and Clarion's first td of the season. The Eagles went for 2, but Simmons pass was incomplete.
 
                Clarion got the ball back at the SFU 39, following a Travis Day 32 yard punt return. Simmons pushed the Eagles to the endzone, hitting Mark Nicholas on a big 12 yard pass to the SFU 9, then on second down hit Nicholas on an 8-yard td pass to the back of the right endzone. Scott Ayers booted the PAT and the lead was down to 27-13 with 8:23 remaining in the fourth.
 
                The Eagles got the ball back with 5:07 left, but couldn't move the ball and SFU was able to run out the clock.
 
                Clarion totaled 221 yards of total offense, including 136 rushing and 85 passing. Simmons completed 6 of 9 aerials for 50 yards and 1 td. Carson was 5 off 14 for 35 yards.
 
                Carson was the tam's top rusher with 42 yards on 1 carries, while Delrece Williams had 41 yards and 1 score on only 9 carries. Bobby Thomas gained 34 yards on 10 tries.
 
                Clarion's defense was led by Julian Howsare (7 tackles, 2 tdl's, 1 sack) and Cory McNamara (7 hits). (Howsare - right)

                Saint Francis totaled 275 yards of offense including 189 rushing and 86 passing. Max Ward hit on 5 of 8 passes for 44 yards. The offensive story for the Red Flash was Khairi Dickson, who had 148 rushing yards and 2 td's on 25 carries.
 
                Clarion travels to Millersville next Saturday for a 4pm kickoff.