CLARION, Pa. --- Clarion (1-0) opened the season with a resounding home shutout, defeating Wheeling (0-1) 34-0 victory on the newly christened Al Jacks Field at Memorial Stadium. The Golden Eagles limited the Cardinals to 180 yards of total offense, including a paltry 32 rushing yards.

The victory marks Clarion's first shutout since they beat Fairmont State 7-0 on August 30, 2012.

After the two teams traded scoreless drives to start the game, Clarion got on the scoreboard with a six-play, 80-yard drive late the first quarter. Facing 3rd-and-7 from the Wheeling 45-yard line, Anthony Guercio tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Holt Egan, taking advantage of a falling defender for the score. Earlier in the drive, Zack Slomers contributed significantly with a 29-yard reception on another third down play, prompting the Cardinals to burn a timeout. 

The game once again turned into an offensive grind in the second quarter, but Clarion found success later in the period. Khalon Simmons provided consistent gains on the ground, and the dam finally broke on Guercio's 17-yard touchdown scamper with 4:37 to go, putting Clarion ahead 14-0. Andrew Kurtas' successful extra point kick capped off the scoring drive.

The second half opened with Clarion maintaining control, highlighted by another Guercio touchdown run. After converting a 3rd-and-10 with a pass to Austin VanHuss, Guercio took off from 23 yards out later in the drive, beating the defender to the pylon for his second rushing score of the game. 

The Cardinals' special teams committed a handful of miscues that prevented them from ever seizing the momentum. The first came at the 5:07 mark of the third quarter. With Clarion backed up in the shadow of their own goalposts, Frankie Passantino III booted a rugby style kick that was muffed by Nasir Rhem at the Clarion 41-yard line, with long snapper Michael Ippoliti hustling down the field and landing on the loose ball. Six plays later Guercio connected with Ja'Tawn Williams for a 19-yard touchdown pass, giving the Golden Eagles a 27-0 lead.

The second miscue came midway through the fourth quarter. At the 7:55 mark, Jesere Young recovered a muffed punt by Sajari Love at the Wheeling 21-yard line, setting up a drive that concluded with Simmons scoring a one-yard touchdown at 5:15. 

Guercio threw for 230 passing yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-29 passing. He also contributed significantly on the ground with 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Slomers was his most consistent target, hauling in five receptions for 79 yards. On the defensive side, Griffin Buzzell was a standout, recording 11 total tackles. Mathew McGregor added to the defensive efforts with one sack, while Zay Brisbane broke up four passes.

In their next game, Clarion will travel to face West Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday, September 4, at Cebe Ross Field in Buckhannon, W.Va. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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