GOLDEN EAGLES HOST VULCANS IN KEY PSAC-WEST GAME

Although Clarion's 20-19 loss to Shippensburg last Saturday was costly in making the NCAA Playoffs, the Golden Eagles return to the PSAC-West wars this week with a key contest against California - Pa. Kickoff at Clarion's Memorial Stadium is set for 1pm.

HEAR EAGLES ON WCCR-FM & REDZONE

Saturday's game can be heard on WCCR-FM, 92.7 and on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski and Dave Katis describing all the action.

CLARION 5-3 OVERALL & 1-2 in PSAC-WEST

Ninth year Clarion head coach Malen Luke enters the game with a 5-3 overall record and an 1-2 mark in the PSAC-West. Clarion opened the season with a quality showing in a 27-14 loss at #8 ranked and NCAA D-IAA power Youngstown State. The Eagles rattled off three straight wins against Millersville 24-3, Glenville State (59-38) and Kutztown (31-7). Then the Eagles went toe to toe against IUP before falling in the fourth quarter 28-14. The Eagles rebounded with two solid wins against West Chester 34-28 and Edinboro before dropping a tough 20-19 decision to Shippensburg. Clarion was ranked 7th in the East Region in last week's poll. Coach Luke enters the game with a 46-49 record at Clarion and a PSAC-West mark of 23-28. Luke's 15-year career collegiate record is 83-70, including a 37-21 mark in 7 years at Defiance.

CALIFORNIA 6-2 OVERALL & 1-2 in PSAC-WEST UNDER JOHN LUCKHARDT

First year California head coach John Luckhardt has his Vulcans firing on all cylinders with a 6-2 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the PSAC-West. The Fire Gods opened the 2002 season with a 45-0 win at Geneva and a 14-6 triumph at Fairmont State. Cal then defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 24-17 and Cheyney 51-7 before dropping a 41-16 game at Slippery Rock. After defeating Lock Haven 34-19, Cal lost a 20-9 decision at IUP, then defeated Mansfield last Saturday night 17-9. Coach Luckhardt had a great 17-year career at NCAA Division III Washington & Jefferson (1982-98) before being hired at Cal. He led W&J to a 137-37-2 record while winning 13 PAC titles, 5 Regional Championships and 11 NCAA appearances. W&J also was the D-III runner-up in 1992 and 1994. Luckhardt's 18-year career record currently stands at 143-39-2.

CLARION LEADS SERIES 36-32-3 DATING BACK TO 1927

Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 36-32-3 margin dating back to 1927. In the last ten seasons Clarion leads by a 6-4 margin. Clarion wins over that span came in 1992 (23-18), 1995 (20-10), 1996 (45-14), 1999 (28-14), 2000 (32-28) and 2001 (29-22). Cal wins came in 1993 (26-14), 1994 (41-31), 1997 (30-0) and 1998 (30-28).CLARION RANKS #1 IN PSAC IN RUSHING OFFENSE

Clarion is averaging 27.4 points per game (#5 in PSAC) and 350.5 yards of total offense (#7 in PSAC). The Eagles ranked third in the nation last week in rushing offense and are currently getting 266.2 yards per game (#1 in PSAC), while averaging 84.2 yards per game passing (#14 in PSAC).

Directing the Eagle offense is senior quarterback Adam Almashy. He has rushed for 336 yards and 4 td's on 101 carries. He has also hit on 46 of 104 passes for 586 yards and 4 td's. In his 4-year career he currently has 1,162 rushing yards and 16 td's on 516 carries. He also has hit on 341 of 774 passes for 4,697 yards and 40 td's. He is third on the all-time td pass list and moved by Tim Myers (39; 1988-92).

The running backs include Robert Walker at tailback, plus Glenn Lovelace, Brandon Sweeney, Kareem Shelton and Justin Sickeri at the halfbacks. Walker leads the team with 606 yards and 8 td's on 122 carries. Walker now has 1,744 career yards and 23 rushing td's on 294 carries. He needs 63 yards to catch former great Steve Nolan (1,807; 1971-74) for 7th on the all-time list and is tied for second on the career rushing td list with 23 td's (Elton Brown - 23; 1981-84).

Lovelace has gained 301 yards and 4 td's on 31 carries and now has 753 career yards at Clarion as a sophomore. Sweeney, a freshman, is second on the team with 399 yards and 3 td's on 63 tries, while Shelton (127 yards, 1 td) and Sickeri (1 receiving td) see plenty of time.

Clarion's receivers include Ben Culver (11 catches, 207 yards, 1 td), Ed Rivers (4 catches, 102 yards, 1 td) and tight end Tom Pore (8 receptions, 105 yards).

CLARION DEFENSE LEADS PSAC IN SACKS & TFL'S

Clarion's defense is yielding 21.1 points (#6 in PSAC) and 324.1 yards (#8 in PSAC) of total offense per game. Opponents are getting 145.1 rushing yards (7th in PSAC) and 179.0 passing (#9 in PSAC) yards per game. Clarion leads the PSAC with 31 qb sacks and 78 tfl's.

Up front the Golden Eagles are led by noseguard Troy Bowers (48 hits, 17 tfl's, 8 sacks) and tackles Tim Connolly (39 stops, 9 tfl's, 3 sacks), George O'Brien (26 tackles, 7 tfl's) and Ben Heisel (3 tfl's).

The perimeters are protected by Jabari Weatherspoon (49 jolts, 13 tfl's, 6 sacks, 1 int), Kevin Platz (17 hits, 6 tfl's, 5 sacks), Brock Luke (13 stops) and Derek Puchalsky (4 tfl's).

Inside linebackers Scott McGrady and Shaun Saad anchor the middle. McGrady leads the team with 69 stops, 7 tfl's, 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, while Saad has 34 tackles and 2 sacks. Also seeing time is Zach Gourley (10 hits).

The secondary is led by free safety Bo Busch (64 hits, 3 break-ups), strong safety Emil Johnson (35 tackles, 1 int) and corners Myron Hargon (19 stops, 3 int's, 6 break-ups), Kerwin Cledanor (21 tackles, 3 int's) and James Charles 15 tackles).

The special teams have played consistently well. Punter Ken Crawford is averaging 39.9 yards per boot , while freshman placekicker Chris Carlton is 6 for 9 in field goals and 23 of 25 PAT's. Culver, Clarion's punt return specialist, is averaging 11.6 per return.

CAL OFFENSE LED BY CLEMONS & LEDONNE

Cal's offense is averaging 26.2 points per game (#6) and 422.4 yards of total offense (#1 in the PSAC). The Vulcans are getting 205.2 rushing yards (#3 in PSAC) and 217.1 passing yards (#5 in PSAC) per game.

Cal QB Brandon LeDonne, who injured his non-throwing arm prior to the SR game, returned last Saturday to start against Mansfield and completed 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards. On the season he has connected on 81 of 132 passes for 947 yards and 7 td's with 5 interceptions. He has also run for 163 yards and 3 td's on 40 carries. If LeDonne is not ready, Dustin Strayer will step in having completed 49 of 80 passes for 674 yards and 4 td's.

The Cal receivers are led by Garvin Graves (63 catches, 777 yards, 4 td's) and Dedric Anderson (3 grabs, 554 yards, 6 td's), plus tight end Robin Brown (14 catches, 118 yards).

The running game is le by Wesley Clemons and Claude Whitaker. Clemons is #4 in the PSAC averaging 98.3 yards per game. He has rushed for 688 yards and 7 td's on 112 carries, while Whitaker has 424 yards and 3 td's on 95 tries. Fullback Tayon Mitchell has 199 yards and 3 td's on 35 carries.

VULCAN DEFENSE LED BY SCOTT & ARNOLD

Cal's defense is ranked #1 in the PSAC yielding only 14.9 points per game and 228.8 yards (#1 in PSAC) per game. Vulcan opponents are only getting 73.6 rushing yards (#1 in PSAC) and 155.1 passing yards (#3 in PSAC) per game.

Up front the Vulcans are led by noseguard Chris McKnight (14 hits, 3 sacks), tackle Ernest Genes and ends Jason Ellis (25 stops, 5 sacks) and Dan Smith (5 tfl's).

The Fire God linebackers are strong with Kevan Scott leading the team with 66 tackles and 10 tfl's, along with Matt Onyshko (45 jolts, 5 tfl's) and Eric Kooser (20 stops).

The secondary is led by R.J. Abercrombie (18 tackles, 2 int's) and Jarred Ntakrah (16 hits), along with strong safety Yadin Collins (18 tackles, 5 tfl's) and free safety Jon Arnold (56 jolts) who leads the PSAC with 7 interceptions.

CLARION NOTES: Last year Clarion topped the Vulcans 29-22 at Memorial Stadium ... The Eagles ralled from a 22-14 halftime deficit with a third quarter td from Glenn Lovelace and a 2-yard run in the fourth from Demetric Gardner with 9:01 left... Clarion outgained Cal 362-292 ... Adam Almshy ran for 120 yards and 2 td's and completed 2 of 9 passes for 52 yards ... Cal QB LeDonne completed 7 of 20 passes for 80 yards, while Strayer came on and was 2 for 2 for 78 yards and 1 td... Clarion travels to Lock Haven on November 9th, then returns home to host Slippery Rock on November 16th for the season finale... The SRU game will also be Senior Day at Clarion.