Football | 9/8/2015 1:23:00 PM

 
            After opening the 2015 with an impressive 40-13 win at Lock Haven last Thursday night, the Golden Eagles return to Memorial Stadium for the home opener on Thursday, September 10 against Millersville. Kickoff for the game produced by Sportsfever TV will be at 6:06pm.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Millersville 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.
 
            The game will also be produced by Sportsfever TV with Scott Bacon providing the play-byplay, Phil Schoener as color analyst and Colin Riccobon on the sideline. The game will air live nationwide on ESPN 3 and ESPN College Extra, along with WPGH-PGH (53.2), WJAC-Johnstown (6.2), WHP-Harrisburg (21.2), WPHL-Philadelphia (17.4), WETM-Elmira, N.Y. (18.2) and Blue Ridge Cable. (See list below - local listings for over air, Satellite and Cable Channels).
 
            "Winning the season opener was awesome," said Clarion first year head coach Chris Weibel. "That was then – this is now. We have to refocus our efforts on a well coached Millersville team and get prepared for week two. We are excited to be returning home and continue 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.
 
            Clarion had an impressive 40-13 season opening win at Lock Haven last Thursday night under first year  coach Chris Weibel. Junior quarterback Connor Simmons lit up the Bald Eagles for 407 passing yards and 4 td's in the win. The Eagles defense forced 5 turnovers to limit LH to only 13 points.
 
            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.
 
MILLERSVILLE (0-1) LOST 2015 OPENER TO URSINUS IN FIVE OVERTIMES
 
            Millersville also opened their 2015 football season last Thursday night and suffered a tough loss, in five overtimes, to Ursinus 18-9 at Biemesderfer Stadium. Regulation play ended in a 0-0 tie and the two teams went into overtime. Both hit field goals in the first stanza, and both scored td's and missed the two-point conversion in the third OT. In the fifth, Ursinus won the game on a Corey Kelly 10 yard run.
 
            Marauder head coach Greg Breitbach is in his third season at Millersville and has a career record of 2-21. He was 1-10 in 2014 and 1-10 in 2013. He came to Millersville after serving five seasons as the offensive coordinator at North Dakota.
 
            CLARION LEADS MILLERSVILLE SERIES 8-6 DATING BACK TO 1929
 
            Clarion leads the series between the two schools 8-6. Last year Clarion traveled to MU and won 55-16. In 2011 Clarion won at MU by a 34-20 final score. Patrick Graham Murphy ran for a school record 266 yards and 5 td's in that game. In 2010 Clarion won 49-10 at Memorial Stadium with Alfonso Hoggard rushing for 211 yards and 3 td's. The Marauders defeated Clarion 13-10 at Memorial Stadium in overtime in 2003. In 2002 Clarion won at Millersville 24-3. Clarion also won in 1998 by a 38-31 margin, while Millersville defeated Clarion in 1997 (31-25), 1995 (41-35) and 1994 (40-27).
 
            Perhaps the most memorable game between the two was in 1977 when Clarion defeated the Marauders 25-24 in the PSAC title game at Millersville. Bill May booted a late field to provide the winning points. Clarion also topped MU 30-25 in 1967 and 33-14 in 1966, the year Clarion went 10-0. Millersville won games in 1929 and 1930.
 
 
CLARION OFFENSE GETS 519 YARDS IN 2015 OPENER
 
            The Clarion offense posted 519 yards and 40 points in the season opener last week. Clarion passed for 407 yards and collected 112 yards on the ground.
 
SIMMONS STARTS AT QUARTERBACK
 
            Connor Simmons (Jr. New Palestine, In.) is the Eagles starting qb. He clicked on 29 of 43 passes for 407 yards and 4 td's in the opener. His 407 passing yards 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.
 
            Also ready to call the signals 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 8 passes for 115 yards and 1 td against Lock Haven. 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 46 career catches for 814 yards and 4 td's.
 
            Nicholas, a 3-year starter, collected 4 passes for 12 yards last week. 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 had 1 catch for 30 yards and 1 td in the opener. 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, a significant contributor in 2014, 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, in his collegiate opener, had 6 catches for 112 yards and 1 td, Evans, a freshman, had 5 grabs for 70 yards and 1 td, and Clark 3 catches for 53 yards.
 
WILLIAMS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2015
 
            Sophomore running back Delrece Williams (Homestead/Steel Valley) rushed for 43 yards on 12 carries in the opener. 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. He had a game high 92 rushing yards and 2 td's versus Millersville. 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.) led Clarion last week with 55 yards and 1 td on 19 carries. 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 yielded 401 yards in the opener including 195 rushing yards and 206 passing yards. 
 
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, had 2 fumble recoveries against Lock Haven. 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, had 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, had 3 hits and 1 sack against LH. In 2014 he posted 34 tackles, 5 tfl's, 1 sack, 2 fumbles caused and 1 recovered in 11 games. In 31 career games he has 96 jolts, 28 tfl's (-75), 11 sacks (-50), 5 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 had a strong 2014 with 30 stops, 1 sack and 5 tfl's, and is moving from end to tackle. Tumminello played 7 games and posted 9 stops, 1 sack and 2 tfl's, while Howsare notched 3 hits playing linebacker and on special teams. 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, led the team with 12 tackles and a fumble caused last week. 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 208 tackles, 11 tfl's, 1 sack and 1 int.
 
            Davis, meanwhile has gained starting experience in each of the last two years. He had a career high 36 tackles, 4 tfl's, 1 fumble recovery and 1 break-up in 2014. He had 29 hits, 2 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery in 2013 and now has 80 career stops and 8 tfl's with 2 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 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 made 4 stops and caused a fumble last week. He notched 38 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 break-up. 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 game one 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, made 3 hits in the opener. 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 posted 3 tackles and a fumble recovery against LH. 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 185 tackles, 14 break-ups, 5 int's, 4 tfl's, 2 fumbles recovered and 1 caused.
 
            Liberto also had a strong opening game with 8 tackles and an interception. Chris notched 55 hits, 6 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery last year and is expecting an even better 2015.
 
            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 collected 27 tackles and an interception last year, including a 15-yard int return for a td at Millersville. McKay had 6 tackles in the opener 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 was 2 of 2 in field goals in the opener and had a PAT blocked, 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 averaged 41 yards per punt in the opener. He played in all 11 games last year and averaged 37.5 yards per punt, dropping 12 punts inside the 20.
 
QB BLAKE CAHIL DIRECTS MARAUDER OFFENSE
 
            Millersville's offense gained 221 yards last week in the season opener against Ursinus. The Marauders featured 178 running yards and 43 passing yards.
 
            Directing the offense is red-shirt freshman Blake Cahill. He completed 9 of 27 passes for 43 yards, while also running 7 times for 6 yards.
 
            The backfield features Cimirrow Moat at tailback, who was converted from playing receiver a year ago. He carried 26 times in the opener and gained 76 yards. Also toting the pigskin will be Sheldon Snell (5 carries, 50 yards) and Phil Overton (10 tries, 22 yards).
 
            The receiving corps is led by Kevin Wiggins (4 catches, 23 yards) and Sean Quarterman (1 catch 1 yard). Wiggins is a threat any time he catches the ball. He had 43 grabs for 402 yards and 4 td's last year.
 
MARAUDER DEFENSE STINGY IN 2015 OPENER
 
            The Millersville defense was stalwart in the season opener giving up only 250 yards through four quarters and five overtimes. Ursinus only managed 61 rushing yards and 198 passing yards on the day.
 
            Up front MU will be led by veteran Drew Seaburg  (31 hits, 3.5 tfl's in 2014) and Ryan McIntyre (2 tackles, 1 sack in opener) at end, Logan Kinser (4 stops, 2 tfl's, 1 sack) and Morgan Faughman (8 stops, 1 fumble caused, 1 tfl) at tackle and likely Dwight Chavis at nose.
 
            The linebackers are talented with red-shirt freshman Rob Varner (15 hits, 2.5 tfl's, 1 int), the reigning PSAC-East Defensive P.O.W., leading the way. Also back are Sene Polamalu (5 stops, 2.5 tfl's), Sean Dugan (5 hits, 2 tfl's, 1 sack), and Brendan Thompson (3 hits) leading the way.
 
            The secondary features strong safety Rasheed Johnson (11 hits, 1 int), who was second on the team with 82 tackles a year ago. Free safety P.J. Santos (7 stops, 1 int), who had 4 int's a year ago, and corners Joey Pham (5 tackles, 1 int) and Alpha Kahn (3 stops, 1 break-up) steady the secondary.
 
            Punter Evan Stahl averaged 43.3 yards per punt in the opener and was 1 of 2 in field goals.
 
STN affiliates airing the telecast live:
 
ESPN 3 (available to more than 99 million households, ESPN3 is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
 
ESPN College Extra (Live TV available to AT&T Uverse, DirecTV, Bright House Networks, Cox, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and select NCTC  subscribers)
 
WPGH 53.2 (53.2 over-the-air, Comcast 208, Comcast 189, Armstrong 94, Verizon 466) Pittsburgh/Clarion
 
WHP 21.2 (21.1 over-the-air, Comcast 19, Armstrong 15, Blue Ridge 133, Nittany 99, Verizon 21, DirecTV 22) Harrisburg/Lancaster/York/Carlisle/Lebanon
 
WJAC 6.2 (6.2 over-the-air, Comcast 110-187-202-248, Armstrong 410, Atlantic Broadband 110, Windstream 16, Laurel Highland 15) Johnstown/Altoona/State College
 
WETM 18.2 (18.2 over-the-air, Time Warner 11, Blue Ridge 8, Haefele 204) Elmira, NY & Mansfield, PA
 
WPHL 17.4 (17.4 over-the-air, Comcast 253, Verizon 468) Philadelphia/Lehigh Valley/South Jersey
 
 
           
CLARION NOTES: CLARION – MILLERSVILLE – 2014 – CLARION 55 MU 16: Clarion led 7-0 late in the second quarter when Connor Scott intercepted an MU pass and returned it 15 yards ofr a td with only 26 seconds left before intermission and then scored on a 9-yard pass from Connor Simmons to Mark Nicholas with 4 seconds left for a 21-0 halftime lead – Clarion cruised from there… Delrece Williams had 92 rushing yadrs and 2 td's, connor Simmons was 8 of 10 passing for 84 yards and 1 td. Eric Frye had 6 ctches for 96 yadrs and 1 td… 2011 – Clarion won 34-20 at Millersville … Patrick Graham Murphy had a record day rushing for a new school record of 266 yards and 5 td's on 35 carries… Clarion led 27-3 late in the third quarter and coasted to victory… He scored on runs of 79, 50, 16, 10 and 3 yards …  … 2010 – Clarion won 49-10 last year … Alfonso Hoggard closed his career with a bang rushing for 211 yards and 3 td's, while QB Ben Fiscus rushed for 104 yards and 2 td's, plus hit on 6 of 13 passes for 96 yards and 1 td…. Clarion led 28-3 at halftime … Hoggard scored on runs of 53, 64 and 6 yards…2003 – Clarion lost 13-10 in overtime … Clarion tied the game on a Mark Hofmeister 42-yard field goal with 6:16 left in the fourth quarter … Millersville won in overtime on a Sean Hughes 40-yard field goal … Felton Woulard rushed for 133 yards and passed for 81 yards in the game … Pierre Odom caught 2 passes for 72 yards and 1 td (63 yarder) … MU's Omar Sanders rushed for 105 yards and 1 td … Clarion had 9 fumbles in the game … In 2002 Clarion won 24-3 … Adam Almashy rushed for 56 yards and 1 td, plus passed for 86 yards … Backup qb Frantz Charles rushed for 72 yards and 1 score … Clarion led 7-3 at halftime – then Kerwin Cledanor intercepted an MU pass and returned it 50 yards for a td in the third … Chris Carlton booted a 26-yard field goal and Frantz Charles had a 6-yard td run…. Bo Busch had 9 tackles and Shaun Saad posted 6 hits and 1 sack… In Clarion's 38-31 win over Millersville in 1998, the two teams combined for 962 yards of offense... Clarion had 133 rushing and 322 passing ... Clarion QB Chris Weibel completed only 12 of 30 passes for 322 yards and 3 td's ... Current Clarion receivers coach Alvin Slaughter grabbed 6 passes for 193 yards and 2 td's ... Millersville passed for 436 yards begind QB Drew Folmar (29 of 45) ... Sean Scott led MU with 12 catches for 227 yards... Clarion defeated Millersville in the 1977 PSAC Championship game…  Bill May's late field goal won the game 25-24..
 
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).