INDIANA, Pa. – The Clarion football team rang up a huge first quarter advantage but was unable to sustain its pace in the second half, falling 24-23 to the #23/25 IUP Crimson Hawks on Saturday. The Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-2 PSAC) will return home to face off against Slippery Rock a week from today.
Clarion scored 20 unanswered points in the first quarter, scoring on their first three possessions of the game to back IUP into a corner. The Crimson Hawks managed to get on the scoreboard with a touchdown in the second quarter and a field goal in the third before scoring 14 unanswered in the fourth quarter to get the win.
Mylique McGriff had his second straight 100-yard rushing game, toting the rock 30 times for 125 yards and a score.
Scott Florence scored his first career touchdown in the first quarter, and
Dana Jackson caught his fourth long touchdown pass in as many games with a 78-yard score on the Golden Eagles' first drive. Jackson's reception is the longest offensive play for Clarion this year.
The Golden Eagles came out ahead in the turnover battle, with
Corey Wells and
Joe Kucenski forcing fumbles that led directly to Clarion touchdowns.
Quinlin Lambert also intercepted IUP's Lenny Williams, giving Clarion 13 interceptions as a team on the season.
Clarion pounced all over an IUP mistake on the Crimson Hawks' first drive of the game, recovering from a fake punt to take possession. With the Crimson Hawks on the Clarion 20,
Brandon Vocco punched the ball loose from Williams' hands and
Corey Wells fell on top to put the Golden Eagles behind the wheel.
Jeff Clemens let loose a pass to Jackson, who took it 78 yards for the score to make it 6-0.
Things went from good to better on the ensuing kickoff.
Joe Kucenski ripped the ball from Mike Pietropola at the IUP 29 during the return, with
Keanu Young recovering to put the Golden Eagles in prime scoring position. Clarion worked the ball down to inside the 10-yard line before McGriff punched it in from six yards out to make it 13-0. The defense forced a three-and-out on the next IUP possession, and Florence scored the Golden Eagles' third touchdown of the quarter on 37-yard rush to make it 20-0.
IUP scored a touchdown before the end of the first half and made it 20-10 with a field goal at the 8:06 mark of the third quarter, though the Golden Eagles matched them on the next possession.
James Metzgar capped an 11-play, 53 yard drive with a 33-yard field goal to increase the lead to 13 points. The Crimson Hawks scored on a 24-yard pass from Williams to Dom McNeil to cut it to 23-17 at the 13:40 mark of the fourth quarter, and Williams found Matt Williamson with 3:49 left to put his team ahead 24-23. Clarion's final drive of the game stalled out just short of midfield as IUP took the win.
