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PSAC-West Opener
CLARION (2-0) HOSTS MERCYHURST (1-1) SATURDAY SEPT. 21 AT 6PM
Clarion has started the exciting 2013 season with a 2-0 record and opens PSAC-Western Division play this Saturday, September 21, when the Golden Eagles host Mercyhurst at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 6pm.
All the game action between Clarion and Lock Haven 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.
FOSTER IN 8TH SEASON/ CLARION 2-0
2009 EAGLES 8-3 - 2ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8TH IN SUPER REGION 1
Clarion eighth year head coach Jay Foster has opened the 2013 season with a bang having defeated Lock Haven last Saturday 30-13, and also the opener on September 7th when Clarion dusted Kutztown 39-38 in overtime. This is the first 2-0 start for the football team since 1996 when the golden Eagles went on to finish 1-3 overall and advanced to the NCAA D-II semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Northern Colorado 19-18.
The Golden Eagles were 4-7 overall last year and 2-5 in the PSAC-Western Division. Wins came against Fairmont State (7-0), Gannon (13-7), East Stroudsburg (31-27) and Lock Haven (30-28).
The 2011 Golden Eagles were 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the West, while the team was 4-7 in 2010 and 3-4 in the PSAC-West. Clarion's top year under Foster came in 2009 when Clarion was 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the West and finished the year ranked 8th in the final NCAA Division II East Region Poll. Foster was named the PSAC-Western Division "Coach of the Year" for his efforts. Foster enters the game with a career record of 25-54.
MERCYHURST 1-1 TO START 2013
Mercyhurst head coach Marty Schaetzle, who is in his 12th season, brings the Lakers to Clarion with a quality 1-1 overall record. Mercyhurst opened 2013 with a tough 17-16 loss at Bentley, then bounced back last week and defeated Millersville 49-7. Schaetzle has a career record of 56-67.
Schaetzle led Mercyhurst to a 9-2 overall record in 2012 and a first place tie in the PSAC-West with a 6-1 mark. The Lakers were also 10-3 overall and 6-1 in the West in 2010 including the PSAC-West and PSAC team titles, and a spot in the NCAA Regional finals before losing.
MERCYHURST LEADS SERIES 4-1
Mercyhurst leads the five-game series between the two schools by a 4-1 margin since beginning its new PSAC-West rivalry in 2008. Last year Clarion traveled to Mercyhurst and lost a hard-fought 22-14 decision. In 2011 Clarion led the game at Memorial Stadium 38-14 in the third quarter, but the Lakers rallied to win 42-38. Mercyhurst won the 2010 game at Tullio Field 38-14, while Clarion won the 2009 contest by a 29-25 margin, rallying from a 25-17 fourth quarter deficit to claim victory. The Lakers won the first game in 2008 by a 41-7 score at Mercyhurst.
CLARION OFFENSE 391 YARDS & 34.5 PPG IN 2013
The Clarion offense is averaging 391.1 yards of total offense per game in 2013, including 207 yards on the ground and 184 through the air.
QB BEN FISCUS QUESTIONABLE FOR SATURDAY
Senior signal caller Ben Fiscus (Sr. Indiana) was sidelined in the second quarter against Lock Haven last Saturday and his status is up in the air for the Mercyhurst game. A Third Team FB Gazette Super Region 1 and First Team PSAC-West choice a year ago, he has completed 24 of 40 passes for 338 yards and 4 td's with 0 interceptions. He has also rushed for 90 yards and 2 td's. Last year he completed 200 of 383 passes for 2,480 yards and 15 td's with 13 int's. Fiscus set a Clarion record for single game completions (36) and attempts (64) for 410 yards against Cal last season.
In 2011 Fiscus rushed for 737 yards and 5 td's, while passing for 1,148 yards and 5 td's, while in 2010 he rushed for 582 yards and 6 td's, plus passed for 713 yards and 7 td's.
In four years Fiscus has rushed for 2,087 yards and 18 td's on 460 carries, while completing 386 of 756 passes for 4,679 yards and 31 td's. He ranks 8th at Clarion in career rushing yards, 8th in rushing attempts, 4th in passing attempts, 3rd in completions and 7th in passing yards.
If Fiscus is unable to play, red-shirt freshman Darelle Carson (Pgh – Perry) will lead the offense. In the Lock Haven game Carson ran 11 times for 38 yards and 1 td, plus completed 4 of 8 passes for 30 yards.
REID, NICHOLAS & DEITRICK TOP RETURNING RECEIVERS
Returning to catch passes from Fiscus will be senior Jon Reid (Stafford, Va.), sophomore Mark Nicholas (So. Export/Franklin Regional) and Mike Deitrick (Jr. Upper St. Clair).
Reid has 4 catches for 45 yards, while Nicholas has 5 catches for 99 yards and 2 td's, with Deitrick leading all receivers with 9 grabs76 yards and 2 td's.
Reid led the team in 212 with 52 catches, for 849 yards and 2 td's. Combined with 24 catches for 281 yards and 2 td's in 2011, Reid has grabbed 80 career passes for 1,175 yards and 4 td's. Nicholas caught 7 passes for 94 yards and 2 td's in 2012 as a true freshman. Deitrick, a veteran tight end, caught 12 aerials for 163 yards and 1 td last season.
Also seeing plenty of time are wideouts Caleb Mancini (Jr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk), Enrico Canello (So. Keystone Oaks) and red-shirt freshman Matt Lehman (Burrell).
THOMAS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2013
Junior Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) is off to a strong start at running back in 2013. He leads the team with 199 yards and 1 td on 35 carries (5.7 p/c). In 2012 he played in 6 games (injured the other 5) and rushed for 534 yards on 124 carries with 3 td's. He has 733 career rushing yards and 4 td's on 159 tries. His top game was 25 carries, 156 yards and 1 td versus LIU-Post.
Sophomore Travis Day (So. Hempfield) will also see plenty of time. Day, a multi-purpose back, has rushed for 78 yards and 1 td, while also catching 2 passes for 65 yards this season. Last year he rushed for 295 yards and 3 td's on 62 carries last year.
FELKER, KUNDICK & PERFILIO LEAD TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE
The "O" line was banged up in the pre-season. Expected to start on the "O" line will be captain and tackle Mike Felker (6-4, 285, Sr. Gibsonia/Pine Richland), guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 270, Jr. Beaver) and center/tackle Terrance Perfilio (6-3, 290, Sr. Farrell). Felker a three-year starter at left tackle, has been a second team PSAC-West choice in 2012 and 2010. Also a Capital One first Team Academic All-District 1 choice, Mike has started all 34 games in his career. Kundick, a starter at left guard in 2012, returns to solidify the left side. Perfilio, the returning starter at center, also saw starting time in 2010 and has three letters. He has started the first two games at right tackle with starter Ryan Barrick out. Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Jr. Ambridge) will likely start at right guard, while Cameron Cress (6-3, 275, So.) will start at center. Guard Shane Cress (6-3, 275, So. Mars) and tackle Ryan Barrick (6-5, 270, Jr. Easton), both projected as starters, could be back this weekend. Guard Mark Divins (6-3, 290, Sr. Clarion) and tackle Paul Branagan (6-4, 280, Fr. Cornell) will see time..
10 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
Defense wins championships and the Golden Eagles return 10 starters from last year's unit, as well as a number of letterwinners who saw plenty of time and will battle for positions in 2013. Clarion is yielding only 341 yards of total offense per game including only 52 rushing yards per game and 289 passing yards. The Golden Eagles run defense is currently ranked #2 in the entire PSAC.
HOWSARE & BOSTICK LEAD DEFENSIVE FRONT
The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line returning in 2013, paced by Third Team FB Gazette All-American and captain Julian Howsare (Jr. Altoona) at defensive end and captain Adam Bostick (Sr. Manheim Twp.) at defensive tackle.
Howsare has 11 tackles, 5 tfl's, 3 sacks and 1 fumble caused this season. Last year he had 58 tackles, 14 sacks for -89 yards and 16 tfl's for -102 yards. He also had 4 fumbles caused, 3 break-ups, and 1 blocked kick. In three seasons Julian has notched 98 tackles, 21 sacks for -119 yards and 28 tfl's for -144 yards. Bostick returns to start up front after collecting 29 tackles, 3 sacks for -10, 7 tfl's for -20, 2 fumbles caused, 2 break-ups and 1 interception in 2012. He has 55 career tackles, 14 tfl's, 5 sacks, 2 fumbles caused, 2 break-ups and 1 int.
Also returning up front are starters Jacob Heintz (Jr. Pine Richland) and Andrew Fragale (So. Emporium/Cameron County), along with veterans Matt Shuey (Jr. Johnsonburg), Zach Newquist (Jr. Indiana), Brandon Short (So. New Brighton) and Robert Steinstraw (So. Washington/Trinity).
Fragale is on fire at noseguard posting 12 tackles, 9 tfl's and 4 sacks to start the year. Heintz has posted 5 hits in one game, with Newquist getting 7 jolts, 4 tfl's and 2 sacks. Shuey contributed 6 hits, 3 tfl's, 1 sack.
Heintz had a tremendous 2012 collecting 53 hits, 9 sacks, 14 tfl's and 1 break-up, while Fragale pitched in with 23 stops, 4 sacks and 8 tfl's. Shuey had 31 tackles and 7 tfl's a year ago, with Short posting 14 tackles, 1 tfl). Newquist, who had earned a starting noseguard spot entering 2012, was injured in camp and did not play. He is healthy again and posted 11 hits and 2 sacks in 2011.
EAGLE LINEBACKERS STRONG IN THE MIDDLE
Junior Brian Palmiere (Jr. Tarentum/Deer Lakes), and sophomores Rocco Yauger (So. Penn Trafford), Jared Davis (Allderdice) and Kyle McWreath (Washington/Trinity) return to anchor a strong linebacking corps.
Palmiere, who sat out the LH game with an injury, led the Golden Eagles with 89 tackles, plus added 3 sacks and 8 tfl's with 2 fumbles caused in 2012. In three seasons Brian has collected 144 tackles, 20 tfl's and 3 fumbles caused. Yauger has 6 hits this season, (64 last year with 8 tfl's), while Davis has 3 hits and McWreath 10 stops and 1 tfl. McWreath had 29 hits, 5 tfl's and 1 sack last year. Davis contributed 14 stops and 2 tfl's in 2012.
EAGLE SECONDARY RETURNS EXPERIENCED PLAYERS
The Golden Eagle secondary has quality and depth in 2013.
The corner positions have Cory McNamara (So. Ontario, N.Y.), Kwaku Asamoah (So. Indiana), Cory Lauer (So. Franklin Regional) and Adam Lynch (Fr. Brashear) vying for time. McNamara leads the team with 20 hits and 1 interception, In 2012 he posted 31 hits and 1 interception. Asamoah has 6 stops, and Lynch has made 7 jolts in 2013.
The safety spots will have Matt Long (Sr. Pgh – North Catholic), Peter Rivera (Jr. Bethlehem Catholic) and Tyler Tucker (So. Westside Tx.) as starters. Long had 13 hits and 2 break ups this year, while collecting 54 jolts and 5 tfl's a year ago. Rivera posted 2 jolts in the opener before missing the LH game. He had 22 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. Tucker has 5 hits and 1 tfl.
Also looking for time at safety will be Mike Zak (Sr. Orchard Park N.Y.), Malik King (So. Cornell), and Ren Yonker (Sr. Johnsonburg). Zak has 5 hits, King has posted 10 tackles1 int, 1 fumble caused and recovered and Yonker 5 jolts and 1 tfl.
SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE CONWAY/ESPOSITO
The Clarion special teams are anchored by punter Nathan Conway (Sr. Lock Haven/Central Mountain) and freshman placekicker Phil Esposito (Brockway). Conway, a four-year starter (2009, 2011-13), is averaging 42.1 yards pre punt this season. He averaged 36.4 yards per punt in 2012, with 5 knocked out inside the 20. He averaged 35.2 yards per punt in 2011 with 16 inside the 20, and averaged 37.9 as a freshman in 2009. Sophomore long snapper Eric White (Clearfield) returns after an outstanding freshman season in 2012. Freshman Phil Esposito booted a 45-yard field goal with no time remaining in regulation to send the Kutztown game into overtime. He is 2 of 5 in field goals and 7 of 7 in PAT's for 13 points.
MERCYHURST OFFENSE GETS 32.5 PPG & 384 YPG
Mercyhurst has a very potent offensive unit. The Lakers are averaging 32.5ppg and 384 yards per game in 2013. The offense is averaging 191.5 rushing yards and 192.5 passing yards.
VENDEMIA & BROWN-DUKES LEAD OFFENSE
Laker quarterback Anthony Vendemia has completed 32 of 47 passes (68.1%) for 323 yards and 3 td's with 0 interceptions.
The running game will definitely test the Clarion front 7. Tailback Brandon Brown-Dukes has already rushed for 219 yards and 4 td's in two games this season. He is averaging 7.1 yards every time he touches the pigskin. Last year he rushed for 1,295 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman. He is joined in the backfield by Allen Jones II (73 yards, 1 td) and fullback Jeff Groene (4 catches, 30 yards, 1 td).
The receiving corps is led by Jaquan Williams (6 catches, 61 yards), R.J. Miller (5 grabs, 54 yards, 1 td) and Vladimir Rock (4 receptions. 55 yards).
MERCYHURST DEFENSE RANKED #3 IN PSAC
The Mercyhurst defense is ranked #3 in the entire PSAC yielding only 291 yards per game, and #3 in scoring defense allowing only 12 points per game. The Lakers are giving up only 107 rushing yards and 184 passing yards per game.
Up front the Lakers have noseguard Serge Augustin (2 sacks), and ends Matt Hyland (5 stops, 2 tfl's) and Dustin Galich (7 tackles, 2 tfl's).
The linebacking corps is solid with Niko Otto (6 jolts) in the middle and Pat Behm (10 stops) and Garrett Wild (4 hits, 1 tfl) on the outside.
The secondary features Colin Kimball (8 tackles, 3 interceptions), Mike Brown (9 hits, 4 tfl's,1 int) and Michael Foster (11 hits) at the safeties and Tevin Stewart (8 stops) and Keith Robinson (4 tackles) at the corners.
CLARION – MERCYHURST SERIES NOTES: 2012 – Mercyhurst won 22-14 … The Lakers were heavy favorites, but Clarion was in the game to the end… Mercyhurst led 13-0 at halftime on 38 yd pass from qb Antony Vendemia to Pat Bruner and a 20-yard td pass from Vendemia to Devyn Woods… the Eagles bounced back in the third quarter with a 19-yard td pass from Ben Fiscus to Jon Reid to make it 13-7 at 5:27 … Mercyhurst scored 9 points to go ahead 22-7… Clarion rallied for a 1-yard td run by Fiscus with 3:25 left to pull within 22-14 … the Lakers were able to run out the clock… Fiscus completed 14 of 31 passes for 162 yards and 1 td and ran for 31 yards and 1 td… Bobby Thomas had 71 rushing yards on 18 carries … Aaron Barlow 4 cacthes, 31 yards and Reid 3 grabs for 51 and 1 td … Vendemia hit on 8 of 20 passes for 118 yards and 2 td's … Brown-Dukes rushed for 157 yadrs and 1 td … 2011 - Wild game – Clarion led 38-14 in the third quarter when corner Chris Wilson returned an interception 99-yards for a td… Clarion qb Ben Fiscus went out after halftime with an injury … Mercyhurst roared back for a 42-38 win scoring the games final 4 td's – the last coming on a 1-yard run by Richie Sanders with 32-seconds left in the game … Clarion had 318 yards of offense for the game – but only 34 yards in the second half … Patrick Graham-Murphy led Clarion with 107 rushing yards and 3 td's … Fiscus completed 7 of 11 passes for 122 yards and rushed for 77 yards on 5 carries before leaving the game … Mercyhurst had 548 yards total offense … Sanders rushed for 125 yards and 3 td's, with Allen Jones getting 59 yards and 1 td … Anthony Vendemia completed 21 of 35 passes for 352 yards and 2 td's … Trevor Kennedy caught 10 aerials for 166 yards … Mercyhurst won In 2010 38-14 – even though Clarion jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter … Chris Wilson returned an interception 97 yards for a td and Alfonso Hoggard scored on a 3 yard run … Mercyhurst tied the game 14-14 by halftime and score twice in the third quarter to take control of the game … Clarion had 179 yards of offense, the Lakes had 421 … Travis Rearick passed for 264 yards and 4 td's … Hoggard rushed for 78 yards and 1 td … Clarion won the 2009 game 29-24 … Clarion outgained Mercyhurst 374-288 … Clarion had 91 yards rushing and 283 passing … Hoggard had a big day running for 88 yards and 2 td's, along with 2 catches for 53 yards and 1 td … Hoggard scored the game-winner on a 22-yard run with 2:18 left … Mercyhurst led 19-7 entering the 4th quarter… Mamula hit a 31-yard field goal, then Hoggard scored on a 36-yard pass from Tyler Huether … On the ensuing kickoff Mercyhurst's Andrew Bailey went 93 yards to put the Lakers back in front 25-17… With 5:43 left Huether hit Jacques Robinson on a 25-yard td pass, but the 2-point PAT failed and the Lakers led 25-23… Hoggard scored with 2:18 left and the defense did the rest… Huether 20 of 333 for 283 and 2 td's .. Robinson caught 7 passes for 96 yards and 1 td … Laker QB Joe Laffey completed 15 of 27 for 185 and 2 td's … Trevor Kennedy had 4 for 74 yards … 2008 - Mercyhurst won the game 41-7 at Mercyhurst in the series opener .. The Lakers had 418 yards of offense to Clarion's 168 ... Mercyhurst jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead on a 31-yard td run by Ben Jennings and two td passes by Garrett Kensy ... Jennings had 137 yards and 1 td on 23 carries ... MC rushed for 268 yards ... Kensy hit 10 of 17 for 138 yards and 3 td's ... Clarion's Gino Rometo completed 11 of 19 passes for 100 yards, while Tyler Huether came on in the fourth to complete 2 of 4 passes for 43 yards and 1 td ... Foradora and Robinson had 4 catches each, while Hoggard had 3 grabs for 58 yards and 1 score.
