Football | 9/30/2014 1:30:00 PM

Photo - RB Bobby Thomas 
            After losing a tough 33-7 decision to Gannon on Saturday in the ALF Homecoming game, Clarion hits the road again this week to play at Mercyhurst in another PSAC-West contest. Kickoff at Tullio Field is set for 1pm.
 
            The game, produced by the Sportsfever Televison Network, will air live on ESPN 3, Fox Sports Ohio, Blue Ridge Cable, WPMT (43.3), WNEP (16.2); WPHL (17.4) and WETM (18.2). Full rebroadcast of the the game will be on Fox Sports Ohio (Oct. 6 –Noon/ Oct. 9 – 9pm), The Comcast Network (Oct. 8 – 5am), and Root Sports (Oct. 15 – 6pm) with Scott Bacon and Dan Watson on the call.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Mercyhurst 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.
  
            Clarion opened its 2014 football season losing a hard-fought 27-13 decision at FCS opponent Saint Francis on Sept. 6, then came back strong the next two games against Millersville and Cheyney. Clarion dropped the Marauders 55-16 and then ran past Cheyney 27-6. Last Saturday the Golden Eagles were flat in the second half – after trailing only 10-7 at halftime, lost to undefeated Gannon 33-7. In a new twist in the PSAC this season, the PSAC Crossover games on Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 (games involving East vs West teams) counted in the Western and Eastern Division standings. This new rule gives the PSAC-West schools a total of 9 divisional games.
 
            The Golden Eagles were 4-7 overall last season and 2-5 in the PSAC-Western Division. Clarion opened the 2013 grid campaign on a three-game winning streak opening with a 39-38 overtime win against Kutztown, a 30-13 win over Lock Haven and a 20-13 upset win over Mercyhurst – all at home.
 
            Injuries took their toll, especially the season ending injury to PSAC-West first team qb Ben Fiscus, who was injured during the Lock Haven game and out for the season.
 
            The Golden Eagles were also 4-7 overall in 2012 and 2-5 in the PSAC-Western Division, while Clarion was 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the West in 2011 and 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the West in 2010.
 
            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 8^th 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 29-63.
  
            Don't let the record fool you, Mercyhurst and veteran head coach Marty Schaetzle, who is in his 13^th season, is 0-4 to start the 2014 season but has played the top teams in the region. The Lakers opened 2014 with a tough 27-21 road loss at Bentley, lost 38-14 at #9 rated West Chester, lost 38-22 to #15 ranked Bloomsburg, and last week lost 41-7 to previous top 20 nationally ranked IUP. Schaetzle has a career record at Mercyhurst of 62-74.
 
            Schaetzle led Mercyhurst to a 7-4 overall record a year ago and a 4-3 mark in the Western Division. In 2012 the Lakers were 9-2 overall and tied for first place 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. Since joining the PSAC in 2008, Schaetzle has an overall record of 41-31 and a Western Division mark of 26-19
             Mercyhurst leads the six game series between the two schools by a 4-2 margin since beginning its new PSAC-West rivalry in 2008. Last year Clarion jumped out to a 20-0 first half lead, then held off a Mercyhurst rally to win 20-13. Two years ago the Golden Eagles 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.
  
            The Clarion offense returns 8 starters on a unit that averaged is averaging 286 yards of offense (#13 in PSAC) and 25.5 points per game (#10 in PSAC) in 2014. The running game is getting 148.2 yards (#9 in PSAC) and the passing game is netting 137.8 yards per game (#14 in PSAC).
 
            Sophomore transfer Connor Simmons (So. New Palestine, In. - photo left) has started the last two games and played in all 4 this season. He has completed 33 of 55 passes (60%) for 426 yards and 3 td's this season, along with 91 rushing yards and 2 td's.
 
            Darelle Carson (So. Pgh-Perry) started the first two games of 2014 and has completed 12 of 33 passes for 125 yards and 1 td. He has also rushed for 82 yards. Last year he started the team's final 9 games and completed 85 of 195 aerials for 1,170 yards and 5 td's, while also running for 564 yards and 6 td's on 157 tried.
 
  
            Returning to catch passes for the Eagles will be senior tight end Mike Deitrick (Sr. Upper St. Clair), and wideouts Mark Nicholas (Jr. Export/Franklin Regional), Matt Lehman (So. Lower Burrell/Burrell), Eric Frye (Jr. Pgh-Perry), and Caleb Mancini (Sr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk).
 
            Deitrick, an outstanding tight end, has caught 5 aerials for 48 yards. He led the team in 2013 with 24 catches for 239 yards and 2 td's. He has 47 career catches for 498 yards and 4 td's.
 
            Frye, who missed the Gannon game, is second on the team with 10 catches for 135 yards and 1 td, while Nicholas leads the team with 11 grabs for 97 yards and 3 td's. Frye has 16 career receptions for 289 yards and 3 td's. Nicholas grabbed 15 passes for 285 yards and 3 td's a year ago and now has 33 catches for 476 yards and 7 td's.  
 
             Lehman, only a sophomore, has 7 grabs for 133 yards in 2014 and 20 career catches for 292 yards and 1 td. Mancini has 2 catches for 66 yards this year and 23 for 342 yards in his career.
 
            Also expected to contribute to the offense is tight end Zach Deitrick So. Upper St. Clair) who has 4 grabs for 59 yards this season.
  
            Senior running back Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) and freshman Delrece Williams (Fr. Homestead/Steel Valley - photo right) lead a strong backfield in 2014. Thomas has opened the 2014 season with 135 yards and 1 td on 33 tries. In 3 years he now has 337 rushes for 1,428 yards and 11 td's, along with 19 catches for 143 yards. Thomas had 759 yards and 7 td's on 180 carries and has a single game high of 156 yards in 2012 against LIU-Post, and 147 vs L.H. in 2013.
 
            Williams has had an impressive start to 2014. The team's leading runner has 51 carries for 249 yards and 5 td's, plus 1 catch for 6 yards and 5 kickoff returns for 151 yards. A senior at Steel Valley High in the Fall of 2010, Williams set the WPIAL regular season rushing record of 2,149 yards in 9 games. He had a season total of 2,388 yards and a WPIAL leading 34 td's.
 
            Also set to tote the pigskin is Johnnie Martin (So. Mt. Joy/Donegal) who has 4 carries for 19 yards and 1 td this season.
  
            The "O" line will has talented starters returning in tackle Ryan Barrick (6-6, 280, Sr. Easton), guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 280, Sr. Beaver) and center Cameron Cress (6-3, 270, Jr. Mars).  Barrick, a 2-year starter and three-year letterwinner, has missed the first four games with an injury but hopes to return this week to action. Kundick, also a starter at left guard a year ago, has two letters on the O-line. Cameron Cress started a number of games at center last year and will return anchor the line and make all the line calls up front.
 
            Paul Branagan (6-4, 280, So. Coraopolis/Cornell), who gained some starting time in 2013, has missed the first four games after projecting to start at left tackle.  He could return this week. Veterans Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Sr. Ambridge) and Shane Cress (6-3, 280, Jr.) are now starting at right guard and left tackle respectively. Jake Heigel (6-3, 270, Fr. DuBois/Brockway) will likely start at right tackle for the fourth straight week.
 
  
            Clarion has taken a big step forward in 2014 with nine starters and a host lettermen returning to what could be the unit's best squad in a few years. In the opening four games Clarion has limited its opponents to 329 yards of total offense (#5 in PSAC), including 173.8 yards rushing (#10 in PSAC) and 155.2 yards passing (#1 in PSAC).  
  
            The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line returning in 2014, paced by two-time Third Team FB Gazette All-American Julian Howsare (Sr. Altoona) at defensive end, All PSAC-West selection Matt Shuey (Sr. Johnsonburg - photo left) at defensive tackle and Kwame Bell (6-3, 265, Jr. Philadelphia) at end.
 
            Howsare, the PSAC-West Defensive P.O.W. against Millersville, has opened the season with 31 tackles, 5 sacks and 7 tfl's. The 2013 PSAC-West Defensive POY, Howsare posted 83 tackles, 18 tfl's for -75 yards, 10 sacks for -58 yards, 4 blocked kicks, 4 break-ups, 2 int's and 2 fumbles caused. He recorded 14 tackles, 4 tfl's and 1 sack vs Gannon, had 2 int's and a blocked kick vs Slippery Rock, and 10 hits, 3 tfl's, blocked 2 kicks and recovered 1 for a td against Seton Hill.
 
In 2012 Julian he posted 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 his career Julian has notched 201 tackles, 48 tfl's for -218 yards, 33 sacks for -175 yards, 6 fumbles caused, 7 blocked kicks, 9 break-ups and 2 int's.
 
            Shuey meanwhile has posted 20 hits and 7 tfl's and 3 sacks in 2014  Last year he had 31 tackles, 3 sacks for -39 yards, 9 tfl's for -49 yards and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. Posting 31 hits and 7 tfl's in 2012, Shuey has a career total of 95 stops, 25 tfl's (-77 yards), 6 sacks, 2 break-ups and a fumble caused.
 
            Bell is having a standout season in 2014 posting 22 stops, 7 tfls for -41, 4 sacks for -28, 3 fumbles caused and 1 recovery. He has 28 career tackles, 8 tfl's, 4 sacks.
 
            Plenty of talent returns up front with noseguards Andrew Fragale (Jr. Emporium/Cameron County) and Zach Newquist (Sr. Indiana), along with Brandon Short (Jr. New Brighton) and Matt Koerper (So. Seven Fields/Seneca Valley).
 
            Fragale, who has 15 stops and 2 tfl's in 2014, had 36 tackles, 5 sacks (-26 yards), 14 tfl's (-35 yards), 2 fumbles caused and recovered in 2013. His career numbers total 74 hits, 9 sacks for -39 yards, 24 tfl's for -62 yards, 4 fumbles caused, 2 recovered and 1 break up. Newquist, who missed the first 4 games, will return to action this week. In 2013 he made 32 stops, 3 sacks, 7 tfl's, 3 break-ups and 1 fumble caused. His career numbers include 43 tackles, 9 tfl's, 5 sacks, 4 break ups, 1 fumble caused.
 
            Short has had a strong start with 18 jolts, 5 tfl's and 4 sacks, while Koerper has collected 12 stops, 1 sack and 4 tfl's. Last year he had 19 tackles, 1 sack and 3 tfl's.
  
            The Clarion linebacking corps will be led by the return of veterans Brian Palmiere (Sr. Tarentum/Deer Lakes), Rocco Yauger (Jr. Penn Trafford) and Jared Davis (Jr. Pgh-Allderdice). Palmiere has 8 hits and 2 tfl's in 2014. In 8 games in 2013 he had 24 tackles and 2 tfl's. In 2012 Palmiere led the Golden Eagles with 89 tackles, plus added 3 sacks and 8 tfl's with 2 fumbles caused. In his career Brian has collected 164 tackles, 24 tfl's (-64), 8 sacks (-42), 3 fumbles caused, 1 recovered and 1 break-up.
 
            Yauger meanwhile has 18 this season. He had 57 stops and 1 int a year ago, and now has 139 tackles, 9 tfl's (-15), 1 sack, and 1 int in two seasons. Davis, who gained starting experience a year ago, has 13 tackles and 3 tfl's this season. He had 29 hits, 2 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery in 2013.
  
            The Golden Eagle secondary is looking to have a strong season in 2014, especially if the unit can stay healthy. Back to lead the defense is Cory McNamara (Jr. Ontario, N.Y.).
 
            Junior cornerback Cory McNamara has moved to strong safety to anchor the defense. Last year he led the Golden Eagles with 87 tackles and 12 pass break-ups (Ranked #2 in the PSAC. Adding 1 interception and 1 tfl rounded out a quality season. He has 24 tackles, 1 break-up and 1 fumble recovery this year. In two seasons Cory has 142 tackles, 13 break-ups, 2 int's and 2 tfl's.
 
            The safety spots are covered by Malik King (Jr. Cornell), Travis Day (Jr. Jeannette/Hempfield), Chris Liberto (Jr. Springdale), Connor Scott (So. Pgh. Upper St. Clair), along with Tyler Tucker (So. Westside, Tx.).
 
            King, a 3-year starter, missed the last three games and is questionable this week. He had 30 hits, 2 int's for 20 yards, 1 fumble caused and recovered, 1 sack and 2 tfl's a year ago. He has 48 career stops, 3 int's and 2 break-ups.
 
            Day, who moved to safety from running back, has 19 tackles, 1 tfl and 2 break-ups this season.  He also returned 4 punts for 58 yards. He carried the ball 66 times for 303 yards and 4 td's last year, while also catching 6 passes for 82 yards. He also rushed 62 times for 295 yards and 3 td's in 2012 while also posting 6 catches for 57 yards. Day's career numbers show 128 carries for 598 yards and 7 td's, with 12 catches for 139 yards.
 
            Also moving over to the defense from running back is Chris Liberto. Liberto has 10 hits and 1 tfl this season. Scott meanwhile has made a strong contribution with 11 hits, 1 tfl and a 15-yard int return for a td against Millersville.
 
            Tucker gained starting experience last year but missed the opener with an injury. He has 3 tackles this season, while posting 24 tackles, 2 tfl's and 1 break-up in 2013.
 
            Also looking for time will be Jerome Matthews (Jr. Pgh- Schenley) who has 12 hits, 1 tfl and 1 fumble recovery.
 
            The corner positions will have Cory Lauer (Jr. Franklin Regional) Adam Lynch (So. Pgh-Brashear), and Kwaku Asamoah (Jr. Indiana) all seeing plenty of time. Lauer has 11 tackles and 2 break-ups,  Asamoah 5 jolts. Lauer had 12 tackles last year, Lynch notched 29 hits, 3 int's for 36 yards and 3 break-ups and Asamoah with 20 hits and 2 break-ups.
 
  
            The Clarion special teams will be anchored by sophomore Scott Ayers (Bethesda, Md.) and special teams snapper Eric White (Jr. Clearfield).  Ayers is averaging 36.2 yards per punt and is 11 for 13 in PAT's. White, Clarion's snapper for punts and PAT's/Field Goals, is a third year starter on special teams. 2013 placekicker Phil Esposito (So Brockway) was injured in Fall camp and is still not available.
  
            The Mercyhurst offense is averaging 231 yards (#15 in PSAC) of total offense per game including 68 rushing yards (##16 in PSAC) and 163 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per contest.
 
            Mercyhurst has used two quarterbacks on offense this season including Brendan Boylan and Zach Emerick. Boylan has connected on 31 of 64 passes for 358 yards and 3 td's with 3 int's. He has also rushed for 14 yards. Emerick meanwhile has clicked on 30 of 51 passes for 265 yards and 1 td with 2 int's. Emerick has lost 22 yareds rushing while running for 2 td's.
 
            All-PSAC running back Brandon Brown-Dukes leads the running game with 220 yards and 1 td on 67 tries. Drew Robinson has 8 carries 35 yards.
 
            The receiving corps features tight end R.J. Miller (14 catches, 132 yards, 1 td), and receivers Jaquan Williams (12 receptions, 232 yards, 2 td's) and Brad Novak (8 catches, 49 yards).
  
            Mercyhurst gives up 365 yards of total offense per game (#8 in the PSAC), including 168 yards rushing (#9 in PSAC) and 197 passing yards (#5 in PSAC).
 
            The defensive front features James Karasek (9 stops) at noseguard, with Nick Kurpakus (8 stops, 1 tfl) and Benji Abercrombie (12 jolts) at the ends.
 
            The second line of defense features linebackers Nick Slonac (18 tackles, 3 tfl's, 1 sack), Garrett Wild (16 stops) and Joe Dever (25 hits, 2 tfl's) in the middle.
 
            The secondary features free safety Colin Kimball (27 tackles, 2 tfl's, 2 int's) free safety, Pat Behm (20 jolts, 1 tfl) at strong safety, and Michael Foster (25) stops, 2 tfl's, 1 sack at weak safety, with Keith robinson (12 hits, 1 int) and Dorian Stevens (6 tackles) at the corners.
 
CLARION – MERCYHURST SERIES NOTES: 2013 – CLARION 20 MERCYHURST 13 – Clarion freshman placekicker Phil Esposito kicked 2 field goals (in the first quarter), Travis Day scored on a 1-yard run and freshman qb Darelle Carson hit Eric Frye on a 46-yard td pass to give clarion a 20-0 lead with 4:02 left in the first… Laker rb Brandon Brown-Dukes lit up the scoreboard with a 77-yard td run in the third to make it 20-13 – but the Eagle defense held in the fourth for the Clarion win … Carson was 9 of 18 passing for 209 and 1 td … plus rushed for 85 yards … Brown-Dukes ran for 140 yards and 1 td in the loss… 2012 – Mercyhurst won 22-14 … The Lakers were heavy to Pat Bruner and a 20-yard td pass from Vendemia to Devyn Woods… the Eagles bounced back in the favorites, but Clarion was in the game to the end… Mercyhurst led 13-0 at halftime on  38 yd pass from qb Antony Vendemia 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 catches, 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 yards 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 4^th 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.