CLARION GRIDDERS DEFEAT MILLERSVILLE 27-21 (Clarion, Pa.): Clarion qb
Connor Simmons passed for 238 yards and 2 td's, while
Delrece Williams rushed for 84 yards and 1 td as the Golden Eagles defeated Millersville 27-21 in an exciting game at Memorial Stadium on Thursday night.
Clarion raised its record to 2-0 on the season and Millersville dropped to 0-2.
Clarion led the entire game, but Millersville rallied in the fourth quarter and nearly spoiled the home opener for first year head coach
Chris Weibel.
With Clarion leading 27-14 late in the fourth, Millersville scored on a 19-yard pass from J.J> Paige to Phil Overton with 1:39 to play to make the score 27-21. The Marauders successfully ran the onside kick play with Sean Dugan recovering the kick at the Clarion 48.
Clarion's defense stepped up with the big play. Paige faded back to pass, but Eagles defensive tackle
Matt Koerper sacked Paige, knocked the pigskin out of his hand and linebacker
Jared Davis was on the spot with the recovery at the Clarion 48.
Clarion salted the game away as Williams ran twice for 9 yards, and qb Simmons used a qb sneak to gain a first down. The Eagles ran out the clock from there for its 27-21 victory.
"I'm proud of our team," said Weibel. "We showed a lot of character and we stepped up and made plays when we had to. That's a good sign."
Kevin Genevro Clarion jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its first possession and it only took three plays. On third and three at the Clarion 33,
Connor Simmons dropped back to pass and arched a perfect spiral to
Kevin Genevro, hitting the junior in stride at the Millersville 40 and Genevro raced to the endzone. The PAT by
Phil Esposito had the Eagles ahead 7-0 at 11:41 of the first.
Clarion drove deep into Millersville territory on its next two possessions, but had to settle for a 23 yard and 25 yard field goal by
Phil Esposito, giving Clarion a 13-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter Clarion drove 48 yards in 5 plays to make it 20-0. Simmons hit
Kyle Evans for 9 yards and
Khalil Webster for 3 to the Ville 36. Then Simmons found
Delrece Williams on patterns over the middle for 14 and 16 yards to the Marauder 6. On first and goal Simmons lofted a pass in the left corner to
Matt Lehman who outjumped the defender for the ball and the Eagle td.
Millersville closed to 20-7 on a Phil Overton 2 yard pass from Blake Cahill with 4:38 left before halftime.
Clarion jumped out to a 27-7 lead late in the third when
Delrece Williams scored on a 1 yard run, capping a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Esposito's PAT made it 27-7 with 6:44 left in the third quarter.
Millersville's Overton scored on a 19-yard pass from Paige with 1:39 left in the third, setting the stage for the exciting finish.
Clarion totaled 349 yards of offense, getting 111 rushing and 238 passing.
Simmons completed 16 of 25 passes for 238 yards and 2td's.
Matt Lehman caught 5 passes for 27 yards, while
Kevin Genevro had 3 grabs for 85 and 1 td.
Delrece Williams meanwhile rushed for 84 yards and 1 td on 20 carries.
Millersville had 290 yards of offense including 123 rushing and 167 passing. Blake Cahill completed 5 of 18 for 26 yards, while J.J. Paige hit on 14 of 23 aerials for 141 yards and 2 td's.
Phil Overton had 15 carries for 81 yards and Sean Quarterman made 7 catches for 47 yards and 1 td.
Clarion's defense saw
Colton McKay lead the team with 7 tackles,
Chris Liberto had 6 hits, 2.5 tfl's and 1 breakup, while
Matt Koerper had 2 fumble recoveries and a fumble caused.
Clarion returns to action on Saturday, September 19
th when the Golden Eagles host Cheyney at 1pm.
CLARION NOTES: The Golden Eagles instituted a new "Victory Bell" after the game …. Sponsored by the Clarion Football Alumni, the new bell is painted in school colors, blue and gold …. And the players after the game came over on the track and had an opportunity to ring the victory bell tonight…
