INDIANA, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle football team fell to their second nationally-ranked opponent in as many weeks, dropping a 45-0 decision to #17/16 IUP at George P. Miller Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Clarion struggled to move the ball against the Crimson Hawks' defense.
 
Clarion (3-7, 2-5 PSAC West) never stopped fighting against IUP, continuing to work for stops and pushing the ball down the field. However, the Golden Eagles were unable to muster much on the ground against the Crimson Hawks, finishing with just 60 rushing yards on the day. Leading the team in rushing was Khalil Owens, who carried 13 times for 43 yards.
 
Defensively, the Golden Eagles were led by Drew Blon and Shane Kemper, who recorded 10 tackles apiece. Blon also contributed a tackle for loss, making him one of four Golden Eagles to finish with a TFL on the day. Jordan Villafane had three tackles, two pass break-ups and a tackle for loss.
 
IUP struck first in the first quarter, with Duane Brown and Dayjur Stewart both scoring the first of their respective multi-touchdown days. That made it 14-0 early, though Clarion made a push toward the end zone late in the first quarter. Starting a drive at their own 30-yard line, Owens ripped off a 14-yard rush up the middle on first down, and quarterback Zach Benedek connected with Tony Powell to convert a 3^rd-and-11 down to the IUP 29-yard line. Owens nearly converted another long third down, rushing for 13 yards on a 3^rd-and-14, but the running back was stuffed on a short fourth down attempt to end the threat.
 
The Crimson Hawks responded with the second of three touchdown passes to Brown, capping a six-play drive that made it 21-0. Brown caught his third score of the half to set the deficit at 28-0.
 
The Golden Eagles held IUP to a field goal on their opening drive of the third quarter, stopping the Crimson Hawks at the 17-yard line. The teams traded punts on the next two possessions, and indeed Clarion forced another IUP punt with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter. That said, the Crimson Hawks tacked on several more scores the rest of the way en route to the win.
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