Live Stats | Live Audio | Game will be re-broadcast on Root Sports Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Wednesday via SportsFever TV

ALF Homecoming Day
 
CLARION (3-0; 1-0) HOSTS GANNON (2-1; 1-0) SATURDAY SEPT. 28 AT 2PM
 
            Clarion ALF (Autumn Leaf Festival is in the air!
 
It's ALF week in Clarion and the red-hot Golden Eagle football team has another tough contest this Saturday, September 28, when Clarion hosts Gannon at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2pm. The annual ALF Parade starts at noon.
 
            All the game action between Clarion and Gannon 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 8^TH SEASON/ CLARION 3-0
2009 EAGLES 8-3 - 2^ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8^TH IN SUPER REGION 1

            Clarion eighth year head coach Jay Foster has opened the 2013 season with a bang sporting a 3-0 record and a 1-0 mark in the PSAC-West. In the season opener freshman placekicker Phil Esposito booted a game-tying field goal on the last play of regulation, then the Golden Eagles won in overtime 39-38. Clarion then defeated Lock Haven 30-13 and last week edged Mercyhurst 20-13. All three games were home at Memorial Stadium. This week's game against Gannon will be the Eagles fourth consecutive home contest to open the 20113 season. The 3-0 start is the best to open a season since 1996. Clarion went on to finish 11-3, win the PSAC-West and advance 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 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 26-54.
 
 
GANNON UPSETS S.R. - STARTS 2013 AT 2-1/1-0
 
            Gannon football fans also have a lot to cheer about since the Golden Knights are off to a 2-1 start and a 1-0 mark in the PSAC-West in 2013 under second year head coach Brad Rzyczycki. Gannon opened the year with a 36-33 win over Lake Erie on the road. Two weeks ago The Golden Knights lost their home opener 56-41 to West Chester, but bounced back last Saturday with an impressive 38-27 win over Slippery Rock.
 
            Gannon was 3-8 in 2012 in Rzyczycki's first season, so he enters Saturday's game with a career record of 5-9.
 
CLARION LEADS SERIES 4-1 SINCE 2008

            Although the series only started in 2008 between the two schools, all five games in this series have been exciting. Last year, in a driving rainstorm in Erie, Clarion prevailed 13-7 as all the game scoring happened in the first half. In 2011 Clarion defeated Gannon 28-21 at Memorial Stadium. QB Ben Fiscus scored on a 1-yard run with 8-minutes left which provided the winning margin. Three years ago at Gannon the Golden Eagles won 11-10 when Fiscus scored on a 20-yard run with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter. In 2009 Clarion won at Memorial Stadium 42-21 behind a 4-td performance from Alfonso Hoggard. In 2008 Gannon defeated Clarion 31-24 in a game that wasn't decided until the game's final play. Clarion trailed 31-24 late in the game, but had the pigskin on the Gannon 26-yard line with only 15-seconds remaining. The Golden Eagles took 4 shots into the endzone, but all failed and Gannon held on for the win.
 
CLARION OFFENSE 379.7 YARDS & 29.7 PPG IN 2013
 
            The Clarion offense is averaging 379.7 yards of total offense per game in 2013, including 187.3 yards on the ground and 1192.3 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 and sat out last Saturday's game against Mercyhurst.  He is questionable for the Gannon 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 8^th at Clarion in career rushing yards, 8^th in rushing attempts, 4^th in passing attempts, 3rd in completions and 7^th in passing yards.
 
            If Fiscus is unable to play, red-shirt freshman Darelle Carson (Pgh – Perry) will lead the offense. In his first collegiate start against Mercyhurst Carson completed 9 of 18 passes for 209 yards and 1 td, while running for 85 yards. In two games he has completed 13 of 26 aerials for 239 yards and 1 td, while running 33 times for 123 yards and 1 td.
 
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 5 catches for 54 yards, while Nicholas has 9 catches for 182 yards and 2 td's, with Deitrick leading all receivers with 10 grabs89 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 81 career passes for 1,184 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), red-shirt freshman Matt Lehman (Burrell) and freshman Eric Frye (Pgh – Perry).
 
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 232 yards and 1 td on 52 carries (4.5 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 766 career rushing yards and 4 td's on 176 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 111 yards and 2 td's, 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 three 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, will be ready to play 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 and plenty of veteran experience in 2013.Clarion is yielding only 332.3 yards of total offense per game including only 107.7 rushing yards per game and 224.7 passing yards. The Golden Eagles defense is currently ranked #7 in the entire PSAC in rushing and total defense.
 
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 16 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 103 tackles, 21 sacks for -119 yards and 28 tfl's for -144 yards. Bostick, who has missed the last two games, 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 14 tackles, 9 tfl's and 4 sacks to start the year. Heintz has posted 8 hits and 1 sack, with Newquist getting 9 jolts, 4 tfl's and 2 sacks. Shuey has contributed 10 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 last two games with an injury, is expected to return. He 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 currently has 8 hits and 1 int. this season, (64 last year with 8 tfl's), while Davis has 10 hits and McWreath 19 stops and 3 tfl.'s  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 23 hits and 1 interception, In 2012 he posted 31 hits and 1 interception. Asamoah has 7 stops, and Lynch has made 9 jolts with 1 int and 3 break-ups 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 15 hits, 2 int's (vs Mercyhurst) and 2 break ups this year, while collecting 54 jolts and 5 tfl's a year ago. Rivera posted 5 jolts this season after posting 22 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 tfl's and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. Tucker has 7 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 6 hits, King has posted 14 tackles1 int, 1 fumble caused and recovered and Yonker 9 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 40.6 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 4 of 8 in field goals and 7 of 7 in PAT's for 21 points.
 
 
EXPLOSIVE GANNON OFFENSE GETS 38.3 PPG & 472 YPG
 
            Brace yourselves. Gannon's offense is averaging 38.3 points per game and 472 yards of total offense per outing. The Knights are getting 174.7 rushing yards and 297.3 passing yards per game. Gannon ranks 5thin the PSAC in scoring and total offense and third in passing offense.
 
NADLER & JONES LEAD OFFENSE
 
            Knight quarterback Liam Nadler leads the offense in 2013 completing 73 of 123 passes (59.3%) for 892 yards and 8 td's with 3 interceptions. Nadler has also rushed for 51 yards and 2 td's.
 
The running game will definitely test the Clarion front 7. Tailback Jansen Jones ranks third in the PSAC in rushing with 490 yards and 3 td's on 81 carries (6.0 p/c). His average of 163.3 rushing yards per game ranks him 8^th in the nation (NCAA D-II) in yards per game average. He rushed 38 times for 181 yards and 2 td's against SRU last week.
 
            The receiving corps is led by a corps of talented receivers in Quad Law (20 catches, 270 yards, 2 td's), Abraham Ocasio (15 grabs, 229 yards, 2 td's), Justin Caliste (15 receptions, 156 yards) and Jesstin Hamm (13 grabs, 146 yards, 3 td's).
 
 
GANNON DEFENSE YIELDING 38.7PPG & 562 YPG
 
            The Gannon defense has had to play three very potent offenses in its first three games of the season. Opponents are getting 38.7 ppg and 562 yards per outing. The enemy rushes for 279 yards and passes for 283 yards per game.
 
            Up front the Knights have Qwaheem Marshall (8 tackles, 1.5 tfl's) and Chris Dollard (7 hits, .5 tfl's) at the tackles, with Trenton Donald (18 stops, 1 tfl) and Nick Pipitone (14 stops, 2 sacks) at the ends.
 
            The linebacking corps is solid with Luke Rankie (23 jolts, 2.5 tfl's), Rico Wright II (19 tackles) and Tim Petro (13 stops) leading the way.
 
            The Knights will have Tashawn Sneed (13 tackles, 1 int), Ta'Von Bailey (13 hits) and Kailan Chavis (11 tackles) at the corners, with Mike Zanders (29 stops, 2 int's) and Ke'Shaun Allen (9 jolts) at the safeties.
 
            CLARION NOTES:  Recently – Clarion started 3-0 in 1996 and 3-0 in 1995 … In 1996 the Golden Eagles lost at Youngstown State 51-10 in game 4; while the 1995 squad lost 41-35 to Millersville to snap that 3-game streak … Clarion's last 4-game winning streak to open a season came in 1984 (Clarion lost game 5 that year to Slippery Rock 28-3)… Clarion opened 7-0 in 1983.
 
CLARION – GANNON SERIES: CLARION LEADS SERIES 4-1 --- 2012 – CLARION 13 GANNON 7 … Played in a driving rainstorm … Gannon's Tashawn Sneed returned an interception 62 yards for a td and Gannon led 7-0 in the first … Ben Fiscus hit Mike Deitrick on an 11-yard td pass last in the first and Fiscus hit Nick Perry on a 17-yarder with 44-seconds left before intermission for the final – 13-7.. Clarion had 272 total yards  - 210 on the ground… Gannon had 112 of total offense – 33 rushing … Thomas rushed 32 times for 106, and Fiscus 12 rushes for 94 … he also completed 7 of 22 and 2 td's … Nadler completed 16 of 38 for 79 yards and Jansen Jones 19 rushes for 59 yards… Howsare led the defense with 6 tackles, 2 tfl's, 1 sack and 1 fumble caused… 2011 – CLARION 28 GANNON 21 --- the 2011 game was tied 14-14 at halftime … Clarion went in front 21-14 in the third quarter when Brandon Akins ran 32-yadrs for a score… then in the fourth, with 8:43 left – Ben Fiscus capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard td run to put the Eagles in front 28-14 … Gannon scored on a Jerry Smith 2 yard pass from Ty Watson with 49-seconds left – Clarion recovered the onside kick … Clarion had 421 yards of offense – including 247 rushing … Patrick Graham-Murphy had 155 rushing yards and 1 td … Fiscus completed 11 of 18 aerials for 174 yards and 1 td … Clarion's defense held Gannon to -14 rushing yards on 21 attempts … Alex Papson had 9 carries for -5 yards … Jansen Jones had 5 carries for 19 … Dan Tapscott completed 17 of 27 passes for 266 yards and 2 td's … 2010 Clarion won 11-10 in a wild game … Clarion had a first quarter safety to lead 2-0 … Gannon's Chris cook intercepted a Fiscus pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a td … Eagle kicker Robert mamula set a new school record with a 50-yard field goal before the half to make the score 7-5 Gannon… The Knights Jeremy Ditzler booted a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-5, before Clarion qb Fiscus scored on a 20-yard run with 4:39 left to win the game… Alfonso haggard rushed for 119 yards and caught 3 passes for 16 yards…  Clarion won the 2009 game 42-21 … Clarion outgained Gannon 365-355 …Clarion outrushed Gannon 217-120, but Gannon won the air war 235-148 … It was Clarion's Alfonso Hoggard who made the difference… He rushed for 134 yards and 3 td's on runs of 7, 1 and 41 yards … He also returned a kickoff 87-yards for a td on his way to 257 yards of total offense… Jacques Robinson grabbed 9 passes for 83 yards and Tyler Huether completed 15 of 22 for 148 yards … Gannon's Jon Richardson rushed for 68 yards and 1 td … qb Zach Boedicker completed 13 of 23 passes for 134 yards and 1 td … Gannon won the 2008 game at Gannon 31-24 … The Knights outgained Clarion 309-247... The Eagles outdistanced Gannon in passing 208-175, but Gannon won the ground war 134-39... Clarion qb Gino Rometo completed 20 of 40 for 208 yards and 2 td's ... Hoggard grabbed 9 passes for 59 yards and 1 td, with Jacques Robinson getting 5 catches for 45 yards and 1 score... Boedicker was 4 of 9 for 94 yards, and Richardson rushed for 83 yards and 2 td's... Gannon led 28-10 in the third quarter when Clarion defensive end John Hackel scooped up a Gannon fumble and raced 46-yards for a Clarion td to make in 28-17... After Gannon kicked a field goal to make it 31-17, The Eagles cut the lead to 31-24 when Rometo hit Jacques Robinson for 20-yards and a td with 5:10 remaining in the game ... Clarion had their next drive stopped at the Gannon 21 on downs, then got the ball back with 44-seconds left and drove again into scoring position... A 33-yard pass from Rometo to Matt Foradora to the Gannon 26 had Clarion with a first down with about 15 seconds left.... Rometo lofted four passes into the endzone, the final one as time ran out, and Gannon defended all four to preserve the win.