Clarion FB Alumni Day
  
            Clarion first year head coach Chris Weibel has the Golden Eagles off to a 2-0 start in 2015. The Golden Eagles look to make it three in a row this Saturday, September 19, when Clarion hosts Cheyney at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1pm. The game will also serve as Football Alumni Day.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Cheyney can be heard on the Golden Eagle radio network, which includes WCCR-FM, 92.7 in Clarion and WKQW-FM, 96.3 in Oil City, as well as on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski providing the play by play and Joe Lodanosky offering color commentary.
 

            "It was very important to get the season off to a good start and we've been able to accomplish that thus far," said first year head coach Chris Weibel. "We have to focus now on Cheyney and the game at hand. Continuing that momentum, play hard and play together as a team is what we are stressing. We are also reminding our players about our theme of 'Restoring the Pride' of Clarion football in 2015." A 2010 Clarion Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Weibel spent the previous 11 seasons as an assistant coach, and the last two as offensive coordinator.
 
            Last week Clarion jumped out to a 20-7 halftime lead, and led 27-7 in the third quarter, before holding on to win 27-21 on Thursday night. The Eagles opened 2015 with an impressive 40-13 win at Lock Haven.
 
            The Golden Eagles were 2-9 overall and 2-7 in the PSAC-West a year ago under former head coach Jay Foster. Weibel has focused the Golden Eagle players, staff and alumni on "changing the culture" at Clarion – and working to restoring its proud football tradition.
 
CHEYNEY (0-2) UNDER INTERIM COACH CHRIS ROULHAC
 
            Cheyney is led by interim head coach Chris Roulhac, who actually coached at Cheyney from 1993-95. The Wolves have played well this year, losing a tough 29-22 opener to Lincoln, and last week a 44-6 loss at Gannon. In the Gannon game Cheyney trailed 14-6 at halftime.
 
            Cheyney currently has a 34-game losing streak.
 
            CLARION LEADS OVERALL SERIES 10-1
 
            Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 10-1 margin dating back to 1948. The last game in the series was a 27-6 win at Cheyney in 2014. Before that Clarion finished its 2009 season with a 32-12 win 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.
 
CLARION OFFENSE GETTING 434 YARDS IN 2015
 
            The Clarion offense is getting 434 yards per game (#8 in PSAC), including 111.5 on the ground (#14 in PSAC) and 322.5 through the air (#4 in PSAC).
 
SIMMONS STARTS AT QUARTERBACK
 

 
            Connor Simmons (Jr. New Palestine, In.) is the Eagles starting qb. He has hit on 45 of 68 passes (66.2%) for 645 yards and 6 td's. His 407 passing yards in the opener against LH were fifth most in a single game in Clarion history. In 2014 he started 8 games and completed 129 of 261 passes for 1,808 yards and 13 td's. He also rushed for 57 yards and 5 td's. In his career he has completed 174 of 329 passes for 2,453 yards and 19 td's.
 
            Also ready for action is Darelle Carson (Jr. Pgh-Perry) who has two years of experience as a starting quarterback. Last season he completed 25 of 73 passes for 276 yards and 1 td, while running for 118 yards. Carson 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.
 
LEHMAN, DEITRICK, NICHOLAS, MOORER & FRYE LEAD RECEIVERS
 
            Returning to catch passes for the Eagles will be senior wideouts Matt Lehman (Jr. Lower Burrell/Burrell), Mark Nicholas (Jr. Export/Franklin Regional) and Jaron Moorer (Sr. Rochester, N.Y.), along with Eric Frye (Jr. – Pgh – Perry) and tight end Zach Deitrick (Jr. Upper St. Clair).
 
            Lehman, in his third season, caught 13 passes for 142 yards and 2 td'. In 2014 he grabbed 25 passes for 540 yards and 2 td's and latched onto 13 passes for 159 yards and 1 td in 2013. He has 51 career catches for 841 yards and 5 td's.
 
            Nicholas, a 3-year starter, has collected 4 passes for 12 yards. He had 12 catches for 100 yards and 3 td's in 2014 and 15 passes for 285 yards and 3 td's in 2013. He has 38 career catches for 491 yards and 8 td's.
 
Moorer has 1 catch for 30 yards and 1 td. He clutched 11 passes for 328 yards and 2 td's last year, while Frye also has 1 catch in 2015 for 8 yards.  Last year he collected 10 catches for 135 yards and 1 td, and had 6 receptions for 154 yards and 2 td's in 2013.
 
            Deitrick has 2 catches for 37 yards. In 2014 he caught 14 passes for 273 yards and 4 td's.
 
            Also making strong receiving contributions are Kevin Genevro (Jr. St. Marys/ECC), Kyle Evans (Fr. Forte Meade, Md.) and Gage Clark (So. Natrona Hts., Highlands). Genevro is second on the team with 9 grabs for 67 yards and 2 td's, while Evans, a true freshman, has 7 grabs for 96 yards and 1 td. Clark has 3 catches for 53 yards.
 
WILLIAMS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2015
 
            Sophomore running back Delrece Williams (Homestead/Steel Valley) leads the team with 32 carries for 127 yards and 1 td. Williams toted the pigskin 82 times for 370 yards and 6 td's, plus caught 6 passes for 8 yards, and returned 26 kickoffs for 658 yards in 2014.  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.
 
            Freshman KaDarrius Campbell (Leonardtown, Md.) has also been sharp with 26 carries for 88 yards and 1 score. Campbell is a transfer from Saint Francis.  
 
CRESS BROTHERS LEAD OFFENSIVE LINE
 
            The "O" line will be paced by brothers Cameron Cress (Sr. Mars) at center and Shane Cress (Sr. Mars) at left tackle. Cameron has started for two years at center and makes all the line calls up front, while Shane, a three-year letterwinner and returning starter at left tackle, anchors the line. Also back to lead the way up front are Josh Wiskeman (So. Leechburg/Kiski) and Jake Heigel (So. Dubois/Brockway) at right tackle, Rodolfo Ceniceros (So. Pgh – North Allegheny), Zack Morris (Fr. Pgh – Upper St. Clair) and Shane McKillop (So. Freeport) at the guard spots.
 
9 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
 
            Clarion's defense made strong improvements in 2014 and the Eagles look to continue that trend with 9 starters and 21 lettermen returning in 2015. Clarion is giving up 345.5 yards of total offense (#5 in PSAC) per game including 159 rushing (#5 in PSAC) and 186.5 passing (#5 in PSAC).
 
BELL, SHORT & FRAGALE LEAD DEFENSIVE FRONT
 
            The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line returning in 2015, paced by talented returning starters Kwame Bell (Sr. Philadelphia), Brandon Short (Sr. New Brighton) and Andrew Fragale (Sr. Emporium/Cameron County).
 

            Bell, who developed into a dominant lineman a year ago at defensive end, has 4 hits, 1 tfl', and 2 fumble recoveries this season. Last year he had 55 tackles, 9 qb sacks for -57 and 14 tfl's for -78 yards. He also caused 3 fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles. Short a three-year letterwinner, has 3 tackles to start the season. He posted big numbers at end in 2014. In 8 games he notched 45 hits, 8 sacks for -53 yards, 16 tfl's for -75 yards, 1 fumble caused, 1 blocked kick and 1 fumble recovery. He was the PSAC-West defensive P.O.W. vs Seton Hill with 11 stops, 6 tfl's and 2 sacks. Fragale, a three-year starter at noseguard, has 7 hits and 2 sacks with a fumble caused. In 2014 he posted 34 tackles, 5 tfl's, 1 sack, 2 fumbles caused and 1 recovered in 11 games. In 32 career games he has 100 jolts, 29 tfl's (-75), 12 sacks (-50), 6 fumbles caused, 3 recovered and 1 break-up.
 
            Also ready to have big years up front are 2014 part-time starter Matt Koerper (Jr. Seven Fields/Seneca Valley) at tackle, Jake Tumminello (So. Mars) and Avery Howsare (So. Altoona) at ends and Lucas Nickerson (Sr. Mayville, N.Y.) on the line. Koerper is off to a quality start with 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble caused and 2 recoveries. Tumminello has 2 hits and 1 tfl, while Howsare has 1 stop. Nickerson gained valuable playing time and lettered last year.
 
YAUGER & DAVIS RETURN AS EAGLE LINEBACKERS
 
            The Clarion linebacking corps will be led by the return of veterans seniors Rocco Yauger (Sr. Penn Trafford) and Jared Davis (Sr. Pgh-Allderdice).
 
Yauger, a 3-year starter, is leading the team with 17 stops, 1 tfl', 1 fumble caused and a pass break-up.  He was second on the team last year with 75 tackles to go with 2 tfl's. He had 57 stops with 1 tfl and 1 int in 2013, and collected 64 hits, 8 tfl's and 1 sack as a freshman in 2012. He has career numbers showing 213 tackles, 12 tfl's, 1 sack and 1 int.
 
Davis, meanwhile has gained starting experience in each of the last two years. He has 6 hits and 1 fumble recovery this year. In 2014 he had a career high 36 tackles, 4 tfl's, 1 fumble recovery and 1 break-up in 2014. Jared has 85 career stops and 8 tfl's with 3 fumble recoveries and a break-up.
 
Also expecting to see time on the inside will be senior Eddie Kurtz (Pgh – Avonworth), Michael Collier (Jr. Beaver Falls) and Pitt transfer Jacob Craig (Jr. Berlin Brothers Valley). Kurtz has earned two letters at linebacker and on special teams getting 7 tackles in 11 games last year, and has played in 22 career games with 11 stops and 1 tfl. Collier has 6 stops in 2015. He missed the 2014 season with injury but had a stellar 2013 collecting 36 tackles, 4 tfl's, an interception and a break-up. Coach Weibel is high on Craig, who played in 2 games at Pitt last year (1 tackle).
FOUR VETERANS RETURN AT CORNER
 
            Myles Edmonds (So. Odenton, Md.), Tyler Tucker (Sr. Westside, Tx.). Adam Lynch (Jr. Pgh – Brashear) and Kwaku Asamoah (Sr. Indiana) have all started in the secondary and will lead the 2015 Golden Eagles at corner. Edmonds has 7 stops and caused a fumble in 2015. He notched 38 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 break-up in 2014. Tucker, who has earned 3 letters, has moved from safety to corner. As a freshman in 2012 he had 31 hits, 7 tfl's and 2 break-ups at corner, with 24 stops and 2 tfl's in 2013. Lynch, missed the first two games with an injury and is questionable for this week as well. He posted 35 hits and 5 break-ups last year. The 2-time letterwinner has 64 career stops, 3 int's and 8 pass break-ups. Asamoah, who has earned 3 letters, has made 8 hits in 2015. He played in 9 games in 2014 with 9 stops and 2 break-ups. He has 43 career tackles and 4 break-ups.
 
McNAMARA, & LIBERTO ANCHOR AT SAFETY
 
            Maybe the strongest part of the Golden Eagle defense is at the safety position where three-year starters Cory McNamara (Sr. Ontario, N.Y.) and Chris Liberto (Sr. Springdale) await the enemy.
 
            Cory McNamara has notched 8 tackles and a fumble recovery this year. In 2014 and he ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 64, plus had 3 interceptions, 2 break-ups, 2 tfl's, 1 fumble caused and recovered and blocked a kick. In 2013 he led the Golden Eagles with 87 tackles and 12 pass break-ups (Ranked #2 in the PSAC. Adding 1 interception and 1 tfl.  He had a game high 14 tackles vs Gannon. Cory now has 190 tackles, 14 break-ups, 5 int's, 4 tfl's, 2 fumbles recovered and 1 caused.
 
            Liberto has opened strong in 2015 with 14 tackles, 3 tfl's, 1 int, and 1 break-up. Chris notched 55 hits, 6 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery last year after two years at running back.
 
Also seeing plenty of time at the safety spots will be Connor Scott (Jr. Pgh – Upper St. Clair), Colton McKay (So. Moon) and Trevon Gaines (So. Pgh – Brashear). Scott has 1 int and 1 fumble recovery this year. He collected 27 tackles and an interception last year, including a 15-yard int return for a td at Millersville. McKay has 13 tackles this season and notched 25 hits in 2014, while Gaines played in 6 games and gained experience while collecting 4 stops.
 
ESPOSITO, AYERS & WHITE BACK ON SPECIAL TEAMS
 
            The Clarion special teams will be anchored by junior placekicker Phil Esposito (Jr. Brockway),  special teams snapper Eric White (Sr. Clearfield) and punter Scott Ayers (Jr. Bethesda, Md.). Esposito is 4 of 4 in field goals in the opener and 7 of 8 in PAT's. He had a PAT blocked at LH, which was his first failed conversion of his career. He missed most of 2014 with an injury. In 2013 he was 25 of 25 in PAT's and 5 of 17 in field goals, and is looking to 2015 as his best season yet. White, Clarion's snapper for punts and PAT's/Field Goals, returns to that position again in 2015 for the fourth straight season. Ayers is averaging 43.5 yards per punt in 2015 after averaging 37.5 yards per punt, dropping 12 punts inside the 20 in 2014.
 
TRAUTZ ENGINEERS CHEYNEY OFFENSE
 
            Cheyney's offense is getting 279.5 yards per game (#15 in PSAC). The running game is solid getting 162 yards per game (#7 in PSAC), while the passing game is netting 117.5 yards per contest (#15 in PSAC).
 
            Directing the offense is sophomore Dominick Trautz. He has completed 17 of 47 passes for 235 yards and 2 td's with 2 int's.
 
            Sophomore running back Brandon French leads the Wolves with 176 yards on 35 carries – a per carry average of 5.0 yards. Also toting the pigskin is Jalen Jana, also a sophomore, who has 79 yards and 1 td on 17 tries – a 4.6 average per carry.
 
            The receiving corps is led by Jowan Lewis-Kearse, who has 4 grabs for 109 yards. Also clutching passes are Terel Gissendanner (2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 td), Nigel Wiley (3 catches) and running back Devin Miller (3 grabs, 35 yards).
 
WOLVES DEFENSE #7 IN TOTAL DEFENSE - #1 IN PASS DEFENSE IN PSAC
 
            Cheyney's defense is ranked #7 in the PSAC giving up only 368.5 yards of total offense per game. Opponents are getting 206.5 rushing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game and only 162 passing yards per outing (#1 in PSAC).
 
            Up front the Wolves are led by Terrick Carson (14 stops, 4 tfl's) and Joseph Bryant (6 hits, 1 sack) at tackle and Rashod Knight (7 hits, 3 tfl's) and Julian Feggins (12 tackles, 2.5 tfl's) at the end posts.
 
            The linebackers are also strong with Keyson Dingle (14 hits) tied for the team lead in tackles, with Daryll Ellison (8 stops,  1.5 tfl's, 1 int) and Baja Rowe (7 jolts, 1.5 tfl's) leading the way.
 
            The secondary features Marvin Easter (8 stops) and Shaquille Benjamin (1 int) at the corners and Gary Brown (5 tackles) and Marvin Morris (4 tackles) at safety.
 
CLARION - CHEYNEY PAST GAMES – 2014 – CLARION 27 CHEYNEY 6: Tied 0-0 at halftime, Clarion came out fast in the second half and scored a 27-6 win at Cheyney… Delrece Williams rushed for 2 td's and 78 yards, while Connor Simmons came on to complete 12 of 17 for 196 yards and 1 td… Matt Lehman caught 3 for 91 yards and Mark Nicholas 4 for 54 yards and 1 td…  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.
 
 
Weibel played at Clarion from 1993-98 --- In 1995 led Clarion to a 6-4 record completing 159 of 268 passes (59.3%) for 2,017 yards and 14 td's. In 1996 he led the Eagles to an 11-3 overall record, the PSAC-West title, the NCAA Division II East Region Crown and a berth in the NCAA "Final Four" before losing in the final seconds to Northern Colorado 19-18. Weibel earned NCAA D-II All-America honors completing 208 of 356 passes (58.4%) for 2,880 yards and 32 td's. Clarion won the Lambert Cup - top team in the East. …Weibel holds all four key career passing records at Clarion including passing attempts (1,065), completions (586), passing yards (7,845) and passing td's (65).