PSAC-WEST SHOWDOWN CLARION (3-0) GRIDDERS VISIT TOP RANKED GANNON (3-0) SATURDAY With a 3-0 record under his belt, Clarion first year head coach
Chris Weibel travels to Erie, Pa. this Saturday, September 26, for the PSAC-West opener against Gannon, who was picked first in the West in the PSAC pre-season coaches poll. Kickoff at McConnell Family Stadium is set for Noon.
All the game action between Clarion and Gannon 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 having the play by play and Joe Lodanosky the color commentary.
"We are looking forward to the challenge of playing an outstanding Gannon team this Saturday," said Weibel. "They have great skill athletes. The offense is very strong with (Liam) Nadler at quarterback, (Brock) Jones at running back, and Quinter and Hamm at the receivers. They can be explosive and we will be challenged to keep them in check. Their defense is also very strong. For us we need to concentrate on playing our game and do the things that have brought us to this point. Play hard every play, be aggressive and smart and let the chips fall where they may. We also look at this game as a part of our 2015 season 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.
Clarion jumped out to a 31-6 halftime advantage against Cheyney last week and rolled to a 59-6 win. The 53-point winning margin was the third highest in golden Eagle football history. A little over two weeks ago Clarion defeated Millersville 27-21 after getting out to a 20-7 halftime lead. 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.
GANNON AN IMPRESSIVE 3-0 IN 2015 UNDER COACH BRAD RZYCZYCKI The Gannon Golden Knights are off to a 3-0 start in 2015 defeating Southern Connecticut state 26-22 on the road, then returned home to defeat Cheyney 44-6, and last week knocked off Kutztown on the road 66-31.
Led by fourth year head coach Brad Rzyczycki, the Knights were 8-2 a year ago and 6-2 in the PSAC-West, while going 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the West in 2013 and 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the West in his first season in 2012.
CLARION LEADS SERIES 4-3 SINCE 2008 Although the series only started in 2008 between the two schools, the series between the two schools has been very exciting. Last year Gannon won by a 33-7 margin, but led only 10-7 at halftime. In the 2013 game, which was also Clarion's Homecoming Day game at Memorial Stadium, Gannon had a strong performance in defeating the Golden Eagles 45-25. In 2012, in a driving rainstorm in Erie, Clarion prevailed 13-7 as all the game scoring happened in the first half. In 2011 Clarion defeated Gannon 28-21 at Memorial Stadium. QB Ben Fiscus scored on a 1-yard run with 8-minutes left which provided the winning margin. Four years ago at Gannon the Golden Eagles won 11-10 when Fiscus scored on a 20-yard run with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter. In 2009 Clarion won at Memorial Stadium 42-21 behind a 4-td performance from
Alfonso Hoggard. In 2008 Gannon defeated Clarion 31-24 in a game that wasn't decided until the game's final play. Clarion trailed 31-24 late in the game, but had the pigskin on the Gannon 26-yard line with only 15-seconds remaining. The Golden Eagles took 4 shots into the endzone, but all failed and Gannon held on for the win.
CLARION OFFENSE GETTING 429.3 YARDS IN 2015 The Clarion offense is getting 429.3 yards per game (#8 in PSAC), including 129.3 on the ground (#9 in PSAC) and 300 through the air (#3 in PSAC).
SIMMONS STARTS AT QUARTERBACK Connor Simmons (Jr. New Palestine, In.) is the Eagles starting qb. He has hit on 62 of 99 passes (62.6%) for 866 yards and 10 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 191 of 360 passes for 2,674 yards and 23 td's.
Also ready for action is
Darelle Carson (Jr. Pgh-Perry) who has two years of experience as a starting quarterback. He is 2 of 3 passing this season for 34 yards and 1 td. 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 wideouts
Matt Lehman (Jr. Lower Burrell/Burrell), Mark Nicholas (Sr. 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, has caught 19 passes for 238 yards and 5 td's. 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 57 career catches for 937 yards and 8 td's.
Nicholas, a 3-year starter, has collected 7 passes for 37 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 41 career catches for 516 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 has 3 catches in 2015 for 32 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 3 catches for 52 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 8 grabs for 99 yards and 1 td. Clark has 4 catches for 64 yards.
WILLIAMS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2015 Sophomore running back
Delrece Williams (Homestead/Steel Valley) leads the team with 48 carries for 193 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 40 carries for 160 yards and 2 scores. 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 have continued that trend with 9 starters and 21 lettermen returning in 2015. Clarion is giving up 264 yards of total offense (#2 in PSAC) per game including 109 rushing (#5 in PSAC) and 155 passing (#1 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 5 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 9 hits and 2 sacks with a fumble caused. He receovered a fumble in the endzone against Cheyney for a td. In 2014 he posted 34 tackles, 5 tfl's, 1 sack, 2 fumbles caused and 1 recovered in 11 games. In 33 career games he has 102 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 11 tackles, 4 tfl's, 3 sacks, 2 fumbles caused and 2 recoveries.
Tumminello has 4 hits and 2 tfl's, while
Howsare has 5 stops and a blocked kick. 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 19 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 215 tackles, 12 tfl's, 1 sack and 1 int.
Davis, meanwhile has gained starting experience in each of the last two years. He has 9 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 88 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 24 career games with 14 stops and 1 tfl. Collier has 8 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). He posted a 27 yard interception return for a td against Cheyney.
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 12 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 three 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 10 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. He missed last week's game with an injury and is questionable this week. 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 16 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 14 tackles and an int this season and notched 25 hits in 2014, while
Gaines meanwhile has 6 stops this season.
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 5 of 6 in field goals this year and 15 of 16 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. In hiscareer he has now made 10 of 26 field goals and 45 of 46 P:AT's.
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 42.7 yards per punt in 2015 after averaging 37.5 yards per punt, dropping 12 punts inside the 20 in 2014.
NADLER ENGINEERS EXPLOSIVE KNIGHT OFFENSE To say that Gannon has an explosive offense might be an understatement. The Knights gathered a school record 712 yards of offense last week at Kuztown, including 300 rushing yards and 412 passing yards. Gannon is getting 460 yards per game (#6 in PSAC), including 207 rushing yards (#5 in PSAC) and 253 passing yards (#8 in PSAC) per game.
The engineer of this high-powered offense is senior qb Liam Nadler. Nadler has completed 58 of 90 passes (64.4%) for 759 yards and 11 td's. His QB efficiency of 175.62 is the best in the PSAC and ranks 9
th in all of Division II. Most impressive is the fact that he has not thrown an interception in 265 attempts, dating back to an October 4, 2014 game against Slippery Rock. He passed for 2,750 yards and 21 td's a year ago with only 4 int's.
His main targets will be Eli Quinter and Jesstin Hamm. Quinter, a freshman, has 18 catches for 186 yards. Hamm meanwhile has 17 grabs for 267 yards and a whopping 8 td's. Brendan Klemensic has 7 receptions for 125 yards and 2 td's.
The running game is paced by senior Brock Jones. Jones has 47 carries for 384 yards and 5 td's, and is averaging 8.2 yards per carry. He is the #1 running back in the PSAC. Jones last year rushed for 1,628 yards and 16 td's. Tyler Johnson also has 20 carries for 145 yards and 1 td and is averaging 7.2 per carry.
GANNON DEFENSE YIELDING 397.3 YARDS PER GAME Gannon's defense is giving up 397.3 yards of offense per game (#10 in PSAC) including 145.7 rushing yards (#6 in PSAC) and 251.7 passing yards (#12 in PSAC).
Up front the Knights feature Chris Dollard at noseguard (9hits, 1 sack), Trenton Donald (15 hits, 2 sacks, 1 int) and Matthew Gawlik (15 stops, 1 sack) at the ends.
The Knights look to their linebackers to make plays and leading tackler Joshua Wiechelt (41 tackles) leads the team. Also collecting stops are Tim Petro (16 jolts) and Nico Mendieta (24 tackles, 3.5 tfl's).
Gannon uses a three safety system with Mike Phillips (39 hits, 3.5 tfl's), Mike Zanders (25 hits, 3 break-ups) and Rico Wright (16 hits) leading the way.
Nick Bengal (6 hits) and Foster Reznor (11 tackles) will start at corner.
NCAA D-II NATIONAL RANKINGSCLARION – PASSING OFFENSE #22/ TEAM PASSING EFFICIENCY #14/TOTAL DEFENSE #23/ PASSING YARDS ALLOWED #28/ TURNOVERS CREATED #1/TURNOVER MARGIN #2.
IND.
Connor Simmons- Passing TD's #7, Pass Efficiency #15/ Passing Yards #28, Total Offense #32/
Scott Ayers – Punt Avg. #14;
Matt Lehman – Receiving TD's #5/ Fumbles Recovered –
Kwame Bell &
Matt Koerper - #1/
Phil Esposito – field goals Per Game #10.
GANNON –PASSING OFFENSE #54/TEAM PASSING EFICIENCY #12/RUSHING OFFENSE #48/
IND. – Liam Nadler- Passing TD's #3, Pass Efficiency #9, Passing Yards #42, Total Offense #44/ Jesstin Hamm – Receiving TD's #1, Brock Jones Yards P/C #8, Rushing TD's #5, Rushing Yards #15/ Trenton Donald – Fumbles Recovered #1.
CLARION – GANNON SERIES: CLARION LEADS SERIES 4-3 --- 2014 GANNON 33 CLARION 7: Clarion led 7-3 with 34-seconds left ni the first when QB
Connor Simmons scored on a 7-yard run … Liam Nadler made it 10-7 at halftime a 21-yard td pass to Klemensic… Gannon had a big second half outscoring Clarion 23-0 to get the win .. Simmons was 7 for 19 passing for 96 yards and Bobby thomas rushed for 42 yards … Jones rushed for 213 and Nadler passed for 246 and rushed for 3 td's…
2013 – GANNON 45 CLARION 25 … Clarion led the game 7-0 early when
Bobby Thomas ran 38 yards for a td … Gannon scored 35 unanswered points and led 35-14 at halftime … Clarion drew to within 35-17, but Gannon answered with a Liam Nadler 12 yd td pass to Jansen Jones in the third to seal the win… Thomas rushed for 80 yards and 1 td – Carson completed 15 of 28 for 215 and 2 td's …
Mike Deitrick caught 5 passes for 60 yards … Nadler completed 22 of 26 for 291 yards and 3 td's … Justin Caliste had 9 grabs for 112 yards and Jansen Jones rushed for 167 yards and 2 td's … Gannon outgained Clarion 472 – 335…
2012 – CLARION 13 GANNON 7 … Played in a driving rainstorm … Gannon's Tashawn Sneed returned an interception 62 yards for a td and Gannon led 7-0 in the first … Ben Fiscus hit
Mike Deitrick on an 11-yard td pass last in the first and Fiscus hit Nick Perry on a 17-yarder with 44-seconds left before intermission for the final – 13-7.. Clarion had 272 total yards - 210 on the ground… Gannon had 112 of total offense – 33 rushing … Thomas rushed 32 times for 106, and Fiscus 12 rushes for 94 … he also completed 7 of 22 and 2 td's … Nadler completed 16 of 38 for 79 yards and Jansen Jones 19 rushes for 59 yards… Howsare led the defense with 6 tackles, 2 tfl's, 1 sack and 1 fumble caused…
2011 – CLARION 28 GANNON 21 --- the 2011 game was tied 14-14 at halftime … Clarion went in front 21-14 in the third quarter when Brandon Akins ran 32-yadrs for a score… then in the fourth, with 8:43 left – Ben Fiscus capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard td run to put the Eagles in front 28-14 … Gannon scored on a Jerry Smith 2 yard pass from Ty Watson with 49-seconds left – Clarion recovered the onside kick … Clarion had 421 yards of offense – including 247 rushing … Patrick Graham-Murphy had 155 rushing yards and 1 td … Fiscus completed 11 of 18 aerials for 174 yards and 1 td … Clarion's defense held Gannon to -14 rushing yards on 21 attempts … Alex Papson had 9 carries for -5 yards … Jansen Jones had 5 carries for 19 … Dan Tapscott completed 17 of 27 passes for 266 yards and 2 td's …
2010 Clarion won 11-10 in a wild game … Clarion had a first quarter safety to lead 2-0 … Gannon's Chris cook intercepted a Fiscus pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a td … Eagle kicker Robert mamula set a new school record with a 50-yard field goal before the half to make the score 7-5 Gannon… The Knights Jeremy Ditzler booted a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-5, before Clarion qb Fiscus scored on a 20-yard run with 4:39 left to win the game… Alfonso haggard rushed for 119 yards and caught 3 passes for 16 yards…
Clarion won the 2009 game 42-21 … Clarion outgained Gannon 365-355 …Clarion outrushed Gannon 217-120, but Gannon won the air war 235-148 … It was Clarion's
Alfonso Hoggard who made the difference… He rushed for 134 yards and 3 td's on runs of 7, 1 and 41 yards … He also returned a kickoff 87-yards for a td on his way to 257 yards of total offense… Jacques Robinson grabbed 9 passes for 83 yards and Tyler Huether completed 15 of 22 for 148 yards … Gannon's Jon Richardson rushed for 68 yards and 1 td … qb Zach Boedicker completed 13 of 23 passes for 134 yards and 1 td …
Gannon won the 2008 game at Gannon 31-24 … The Knights outgained Clarion 309-247... The Eagles outdistanced Gannon in passing 208-175, but Gannon won the ground war 134-39... Clarion qb Gino Rometo completed 20 of 40 for 208 yards and 2 td's ... Hoggard grabbed 9 passes for 59 yards and 1 td, with Jacques Robinson getting 5 catches for 45 yards and 1 score... Boedicker was 4 of 9 for 94 yards, and Richardson rushed for 83 yards and 2 td's... Gannon led 28-10 in the third quarter when Clarion defensive end John Hackel scooped up a Gannon fumble and raced 46-yards for a Clarion td to make in 28-17... After Gannon kicked a field goal to make it 31-17, The Eagles cut the lead to 31-24 when Rometo hit Jacques Robinson for 20-yards and a td with 5:10 remaining in the game ... Clarion had their next drive stopped at the Gannon 21 on downs, then got the ball back with 44-seconds left and drove again into scoring position... A 33-yard pass from Rometo to Matt Foradora to the Gannon 26 had Clarion with a first down with about 15 seconds left.... Rometo lofted four passes into the endzone, the final one as time ran out, and Gannon defended all four to preserve the win.
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).
