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Nov. 3, 2009
CLARION GRIDDERS AT CHEYNEY SATURDAY IN 2009 FINALE After defeating #21 Edinboro last Saturday 30-17, Clarion rolls into its final game of the 2009 regular season on a five game winning streak as the Golden Eagles travel to Cheyney to take on the Wolves on Saturday, November 7th. Kickoff is set for Noon. The game can also be heard on the Golden Eagle Football network, which includes WCCR-FM, 92.7 and WKQW-FM, 96.3, as well as on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski doing the play by play and Joe Lodanosky offering color commentary.
CLARION 6-1; 7-3/FOSTER IN 4TH SEASON AS HEAD COACH The Golden Eagles are riding a five game winning streak, its first such streak wince 1996 when Clarion was 11-3 and went to the NCAA Div.II semifinals. The last six game winning streak was in 1992 when the Eagles won their final 6 games on the field to win the PSAC-West title. Last Saturday Clarion knocked off #21 Edinboro 30-17 at Sox Harrison Stadium and finished the PSAC-West season with a 6-1 record and a second place finish. QB Tyler Huether rushed for 91 yards and 3 td’s, plus passed for 169 yards to lead the Eagles. Two weeks ago Clarion defeated IUP 30-28, led by Hoggard’s personal record 292 All-Purpose yards, while rushing for 162 yards and 2 td’s. Three weeks ago Clarion posted a big 29-25 win over Mercyhurst, rallying from a 19-7, fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Lakers. Alfonso Hoggard had 196 All-Purpose yards and three td’s to lead the way. Clarion posted a 27-10 win at Slippery Rock on Thursday, October 8th. Hoggard ran for 205 yards and 2 td’s and defensive back Daily Whitten picked off two Rock passes and returned one 41-yards for a touchdown. Five weeks ago the Eagles started their winning streak with a 42-21 Homecoming win over Gannon. Hoggard led the way in that game as well with 257 All-Purpose yards and 4 td’s. Clarion’s last loss came 6 weeks ago on the final play of the game at Cal - losing 35-31. The Eagles opened PSAC-West play with a 24-0 home win over Lock Haven. In the Cal game Clarion led 31-28 with 4:40 remaining on a 44-yard td pass from Tyler Huether to Jacques Robinson. Cal went ahead with 1:01 left 35-31, but the Eagles drove to the Cal 27 before trying a game-winning pass as time ran out that was intercepted at the goal line. The game had 8 lead changes. In Clarion’s 24-0 win over Lock Haven, Clarion’s defense held Lock Haven to -7 rushing yards, while Alfonso Hoggard had 214 all-purpose yards and 2 td’s. Clarion opened 2009 with an impressive 33-21 win at Fairmont State, lost the home opener to Kutztown 25-6 and lost at East Stroudsburg 45-31. Clarion head coach Jay Foster is in his fourth season leading the Golden Eagles. He spent the last three seasons rebuilding the team, playing as many as 30 freshman at a time, and last year posted a 3-8 overall record. Coach Foster’s team has had a strong season in 2009. He has a career record of 11-32.
CHEYNEY 0-10 OVERALL/0-7 IN PSAC-EAST Cheyney enters the game with an 0-10 record overall and finished the PSAC-East with an 0-7 mark. The Wolves opened the season with a 41-20 loss to Lincoln, followed by losses to Mercyhurst (45-15), Gannon (30-9), C.W. Post (51-0), East Stroudsburg (37-0) Kutztown (35-21), Millersville (47-36), Bloomsburg 928-6), West Chester (59-0) and last week to Shippensburg (31-10). In last week’s game against Shippensburg, Cheyney was within 17-10 in the final 8 minutes of the game when the Raiders scored with 7 minutes left, and then again with 35-seconds left to win 31-10. The Wolves are led by second year head coach Jeff Braxton.
CLARION LEADS OVERALL SERIES 8-1 Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools by a 8-1 margin in games dating back to 1948. Clarion’s eight wins were in 1948 (33-6), 1949 (41-0), 1957 (20-7), 1958 (28-0), 1959 (40-6), 1985 (36-8), 2006 (21-18) and last year by a 41-20 margin. Cheyney’s win came in 1984 by a 20-10 score.
EAGLES 5TH IN PASSING & 7TH IN PSAC IN TOTAL OFFENSE Clarion’s offense has been able to move the pigskin in 2009 averaging 348.3 yards of total offense (#7 in PSAC) per outing. The Eagles are getting 206.7 passing yards (5th in PSAC) and 141.6 rushing yards (8th in PSAC) per game. Senior quarterback Tyler Huether leads the offense hitting on 170 of 298 passes (57%) for 2,067 yards and 9 td’s this season. He has now completed 469 of 908 passes for 5,709 yards and 29 td’s in his career. He has also rushed for 983 yards and 12 td’s. His best previous season was in 2007 when he completed 150 of 294 passes for 1,859 yards and 9 td’s. Huether now ranks 2nd in career completions, pass attempts and passing yards at Clarion. Former QB and current coach Chris Weibel (1993-98) leads with 586 completions, 1,065 attempts, and 7,845 passing yards.
ALL-AMERICAN HOGGARD LEADS BACKFIELD Junior All-Purpose back Alfonso Hoggard, has had five straight outstanding performances and earned PSAC-West "Offensive Player of the Week" honors in the first two. Last week he rushed for 99 yards and 1 td and had 125 all-purpose yards against Edinboro. Two weeks ago he rushed for162 yards and 2 td’s, and had 292 All-Purpose yards against IUP. Three weeks ago he rushed for 88 yards and 2 td’s, plus caught a 36-yard td pass against Mercyhurst. Against Slippery Rock Hoggard ran for 205 yards and 2 td’s on 33 carries, plus returned two punts for 20 yards. Against Gannon he had 257 All-Purpose Yards and 4 td’s (3 rushing & one 87-yd kickoff return). This year Hoggard has 198 carries for 944 yards (104.9 per game) and 14 td’s. He also has 5 catches for 86 yards and 1 td. He is averaging 186 All-Purpose Yards per game. A Football Gazette Second Team All-American in 2008 as a all-purpose player, Hoggard latched onto 41 aerials for 472 yards and 2 td’s, rushed for 180 yards on only 44 attempts, averaged 10.4 yards per punt return (21 returns, 219 yards) and 23.1 yards per kickoff return. The 2007 PSAC "Rookie of the Year" has 93 career catches for 1,049 yards and 6 td’s. Also seeing time this week will be red-shirt freshman John Fuhrer, who has 198 yards and 1 td’s on 56 attempts.
ROBINSON & FORADORA LEAD TALENTED RECEIVING CORPS The Golden Eagles have one of the most talented receiving corps in the PSAC with All-Region players Jacques Robinson and Matt Foradora in the lineup. In 10 games Robinson is second among all PSAC receivers with 62 catches for 715 yards and 4 td’s, while Foradora has with 39 catches for 469 yards and 3 td’s. Robinson was a third team Super Region 1 selection in 2008 at wide receiver, led the PSAC’s regular season with 70 catches (3rd best at Clarion) for 849 yards and 8 td’s as a sophomore. Robinson has 155 career catches and is 4th in Clarion history. He also has 1,795 receiving yards (7th at Clarion). Foradora grabbed 37 passes for 367 yards and 3 td’s last year. A 2007 red-shirt, Foradora was a third team FB Gazette East Region choice in 2006 with 24 receptions for 295 yards and 4 td’s. He now has 103 career catches for 1,164 yards and 10 td’s. Also catching passes will be Craig Bunney (30 grabs, 408 yards) and Matt Ward (26 catches, 301 yards, 1 td).
CLARION 7TH IN PSAC IN TOTAL DEFENSE Seven starters and 18 lettermen return for a Clarion defense that has improved in 2009. The Eagles currently rank 7th in the PSAC in total defense yielding 307.5 yards per game, including 117.1 rushing yards (5th in PSAC) and 190.4 passing yards (13th in PSAC). Clarion has connected on 16 turnovers in 10 games.
HACKEL, KUSICK & REICHERT LEAD D-LINE Up front the Eagles will feature starters John Hackel, Barrington Morrison, John Reichert and Kory Kusick up front. Hackel has 49 stops, 6 tfl’s, Morrison 43 tackles, 13 tfl’s, 6 sacks, Reichert 34 stops, 8 tfl’s, 5 sacks) and Kusick 7 hits, 1 tfl. Also seeing time is David Dunn (20 tackles, 8 tfl’s).
FOX, MOYEMONT, MACIULIS & ROBINSON PACE LB’S Third year starting linebacker Joe Fox (62 jolts, 9 tfl’s), Steven Moyemont (44 tackles, 7 tfl’s), Arminas Maciulis (34 hits, 1 int) and Reggie Robinson (22 hits, 3 tfl’s, blocked punt) lead the linebackers.
SIPES & SOPIC ANCHOR SECONDARY The secondary is anchored this year by juniors Nick Sipes and Shawn Sopic at the safety spots. Sipes returned to the "D" after spending last year with the offense. He leads the team and is #1 in the PSAC with 108 tackles, 11 tfl’s, 6 sacks and 1 fumble caused. Sopic has collected 52 hits and 2 tfl’s. Joining them in the secondary are corners Daily Whitten and Chris Wilson, plus safety James Eckels. Whitten has 29 stops and 4 int’s (2 returned for td’s), while Wilson has 65 hits and 2 int (returned 1 for td) with Eckels getting 29 jolts. Also seeing plenty of time are Aaron Gluvna (12 tackles, 1 int.), Anthony Stimac, (18 hits), Andrew Paronish (13 stops), Chris Smeltzer (28 hits, 4 tfl’s) and Alex George (4 tackles, 1 int).
CONWAY HANDLE SPECIAL TEAMS Freshman Nathan Conway is averaging 37.7 yards per punt and will also handle the placekicking chores on Saturday.
CHEYNEY’S OFFENSE RANKED 15TH IN T.O. & #6 IN RUSHING Cheyney’s offense in 2009 is ranked 15th in the league in total offense getting 238.7 yards per game. Mainly a rushing team, the Wolves rank 6th in the PSAC in rushing with 144.8 yards per game. Cheyney also gets 93.9 passing yards per game. The offense is directed by quarterback Angel Rodriguez. He has hit on 52 of 106 passes for 736 yards and 2 td’s, and has only thrown 5 int’s. He is a talented runnner, and has gained 475 yards and 6 td’s on 114 carries. Rodriguez rushed for 207 yards and 4 td’s, plus passed for a td in Cheyney’s 47-36 loss to Millersville. Top receivers include John Newman (18 grabs, 205 yards), Travis Taltoan (12 catches, 237 yards, 1 td), Dominic Crowell (10 catches, 133 yards 1 td) and Adam Madden (8 receptions, 162 yards, 1 td). The running game is led by Ron Hunter, who has rushed 111 times for 567 yards and 3 td’s. His top game was 86 yards and 1 td against Mercyhurst. John Newman has carried the ball 21 times for 135 yards and 1 td, including an 81 yard performance on 6 carries against Shippensburg last Saturday.
CHEYNEY’S DEFENSE #15 IN TOTAL "D" & #15 VS RUN Cheyney’s defense is rated #15 in total defense permitting 405.4 yards per game. Opponents are getting 223.8 rushing yards (#15 in PSAC) and 181.6 passing yards (#9 in PSAC) per game. Up front the Wolves are led by noseguard James Parker (32 hits, 8 tfl’s) and tackles Tim Hume (42 stops, 8.5 tfl’s) and Ben Thompson (34 stops, 3 tfl’s). The linebackers include Joseph Morris (65 tackles, 2 int’s), Jack Petion (59 jolts, 6 tfl’s), Bryan Payne (45 hits) and Franklin Lyburn (43 tackles, 6.5 tfl’s). The secondary features top tackler Demel Chambers (72 hits, 7.5 tfl’s, 2 int’s) at strong safety, Carl Meeks (26 tackles, 2 int’s) at free safety, and Stan Banks(28 jolts, 3 int’s) and Carl Meeks (26 stops, 2 int’s) at the corners. The defense has 12 interceptions this season. CLARION NOTES: Clarion is on a 5-game win streak ... Clarion had a 5-game streak in 1996 when the Eagles went to the NCAA D-II Semifinals.... The last 6-game win streak came in 1992 when on the field, Clarion won its final 6 games of the year to win the West title.
PSAC PLAYER RANKINGS: Clarion - Jacques Robinson CLARION - CHEYNEY PAST GAMES - |
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