CLARION, Pa. — Clarion ninth year head coach Jay Foster is excited about the 2014 version of Clarion University football with 19 starters and 44 lettermen returning for the Blue and Gold. (Photo: Julian Howsare, Concsensus Pre-Season All-American)
The players reported on Wednesday, August 13 and currently have 93 players in camp.
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. Clarion defeated Seton Hill 41-2 and lost a close 9-7 decision at Edinboro late in the year. Foster’s Eagles played hard and aggressive during the 2013 campaign.
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 8th in the final NCAA Division II East Region Poll. Foster was named the PSAC-Western division “Coach of the Year” for his efforts.
“We are looking forward to camp and the 2014 season,” said coach Foster. “I like the talent we have assembled on offense, defense and special teams and believe we can compete with our front line players in the PSAC. We really need to stay away from injuries as the season rolls on to give us the best chance to win. I believe 0ur offense has some weapons and can strike from anywhere on the field. The defense is very strong up front and we hope with that strength we can apply pressure to our opponents and cause a lot of turnovers. We simply need to stay healthy.”
CLARION OPENS 2014 WITH THREE STRAIGHT ROAD GAMES
In 2014 the Golden Eagles open the season with three straight away games including a season opening trip to St. Francis on September 6 at 1 p.m., followed by trips to Millersville on Sept. 13 (4 p.m.) and Cheyney on September 20 (1 p.m.). The Golden Eagles home opener is set for September 27 against Gannon (2 p.m.) which will also serve as the annual Homecoming Day game. Other home games are against Edinboro on October 11 (6 p.m.), California on October 25 (1 p.m.), Slippery Rock on November 8 (12 p.m.) and Kutztown on November 15 (12 p.m.).
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGED 315.6 YARDS & 21.6 PPG IN 2013
The Clarion offense returns eight starters on a unit that averaged 21.6 ppg and 315.6 yards of total offense per game. Clarion averaged 178.8 rushing yards and 136.8 passing yards per game.
QB BATTLE SHAPING UP IN PRE-SEASON CAMP
Darelle Carson (So. Pgh-Perry) returns as the starting quarterback, having started the final nine games and playing in a total of 10 games during the 2013 season. Battling him for the starting spot will be sophomore transfer Connor Simmons (So. New Palestine, In.)
(Photo: Darelle Caroson, So. Pgh-Perry)
Carson is the returning starter having completed 85 of 195 passes for 1,170 yards and 5 TDs in 2013, while also running the pigskin 157 times for 564 yards and 6 TDs. A talented athlete who can run and deliver the deep pass, Carson improved as an overall quarterback during the 2013 season and in Spring practice according to Foster. Carson had a game-high 130 rushing yards and 1 TD vs. Edinboro and passed for 215 yards and 2 TDs against Gannon.
Simmons, who also had a strong showing in Spring drills, is an accurate passer who has learned the Eagle offense quickly. Foster feels Simmons is a smart quarterback who reads defenses well and scrambles well.
DEITRICK, NICHOLAS, LEHMAN & MANCINI TOP RETURNING RECEIVERS
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) and Caleb Mancini (Sr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk).
Deitrick, an outstanding tight end, led the team in 2013 with 24 catches for 239 yards and 2 TDs. He has 42 career catches for 450 yards and 4 TDs. Nicholas, a talented wideout, grabbed 15 passes for 285 yards and 3 TDs a year ago. In two seasons he has 22 catches for 379 yards and 5 TDs. Lehman, only a sophomore, latched onto 13 passes for 159 yards and 1 TD in 2013, while Mancini also clutched 13 aerials for 207 yards. Mancini has 21 career catches for 276 yards.
Also expected to contribute to the offense at wideout are Eric Frye (Jr. Pgh-Perry – six catches, 154 yards, 2 TDs in 2013) and Enrico Canello (Jr. Pgh-Keystone Oaks – 5 grabs, 64 yards – 2013). Backup tight end Zach Deitrick So. Upper St. Clair) also grabbed 3 passes for 47 yards a year ago.
THOMAS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2014
Senior running back Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) returns to lead a strong backfield for the Golden Eagles in 2014. Thomas, who converted to running back in 2012 from a defensive back spot in 2011, has had a very strong career. Last year, Thomas led Clarion with 180 carries for 759 yards and 7 TDs, while also catching 9 aerials for 87 yards. In two years at running back Thomas has 304 carries for 1,293 yards and 10 rushing TDs. He also has 15 catches for 139 yards. He has a single game high of 156 rushing yards in 2012 against LIU-Post and 147 yards against Lock Haven in 2013.
(Photo: Bobby Thomas, Sr. Reading/Exeter Twp.)
Also set to tote the pigskin are Travis Day (Jr. Jeannette/Hempfield) and Delrece Williams (Fr. Homestead/Steel Valley). Day, a two-year veteran, carried the ball 66 times for 303 yards and 4 TDs last year, while also catching 6 passes for 82 yards. He also rushed 62 times for 295 yards and 3 TDs in 2012 while also posting 6 catches for 57 yards. Day’s career numbers show 128 carries for 598 yards and 7 TDs, with 12 catches for 139 yards. Top game was 77 rushing yards versus Lock Haven last year.
Williams, who looked very good in Spring practice, hopes to bring another dimension to the Clarion backfield. 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 TDs.
BARRICK, KUNDICK & CRESS LEAD TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE
The “O” line will have four 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 two-year starter and three-year letterwinner, returns to his familiar right tackle spot. 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, will start at left tackle, while veteran and part-time starters Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Sr. Ambridge) and Shane Cress (6-3, 280, Jr.) will battle for the starting spot at right guard.
9 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
Clarion’s defense looks to take 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. Clarion yielded 407.4 yards of total offense and 29.1 points per game in 2013. Foster believes the 2014 unit will improve on those numbers. Clarion yielded 171.5 rushing yards and 235.9 passing yards a year ago.
HOWSARE & SHUEY LEAD DEFENSIVE FRONT
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 and All PSAC-West selection Matt Shuey (Sr. Johnsonburg) at defensive tackle.
Howsare has had incredible back-to-back seasons. The 2013 PSAC-West Defensive POY, Howsare posted 83 tackles, 18 TFLs for -75 yards, 10 sacks for -58 yards, 4 blocked kicks, 4 break-ups, 2 INTs and 2 fumbles caused. He recorded 14 tackles, 4 TFLs and 1 sack vs Gannon, had 2 INTs and a blocked kick vs Slippery Rock, and 10 hits, 3 TFLs, blocked 2 kicks and recovered 1 for a TD against Seton Hill.
(Photo: Julian Howsare, Sr. Altoona)
In 2012 Julian posted 58 tackles, 14 sacks for -89 yards and 16 TFLs for -102 yards. He also had 4 fumbles caused, 3 break-ups, and 1 blocked kick. In three seasons Julian has notched 170 tackles, 41 TFLs for -201 yards, 28 sacks for -162 yards, 6 fumbles caused, 7 blocked kicks, 9 break-ups and 2 INTs.
Shuey meanwhile posted 31 tackles, 3 sacks for -33 yards, 9 TFLs for -43 yards and 1 fumble recovery a year ago. Posting 31 hits and 7 TFLs in 2012, Shuey has a career total of 75 stops, 18 TFLs (-58 yards), 3 sacks, 2 break-ups and a fumble caused.
Plenty of talent returns up front with noseguards Andrew Fragale (Jr. Emporium/Cameron County) and Zach Newquist (Sr. Indiana) ready for action, along with Brandon Short (Jr. New Brighton) and Matt Koerper (So. Seven Fields/Seneca Valley).
Fragale notched 36 tackles, 5 sacks (-26 yards), 14 TFLs (-35 yards), 2 fumbles caused and recovered in 2013. His career numbers total 59 hits, 9 sacks for -39 yards, 22 TFLs for -53 yards, 3 fumbles caused, 2 recovered and 1 break up. Newquist meanwhile was right behind with 32 stops, 3 sacks, 7 TFLs, 3 break-ups and 1 fumble caused. His career numbers include 43 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 sacks, 4 break ups, 1 fumble caused.
Short contributed 9 hits last year, while Koerper collected 19 tackles, 1 sack and 3 TFLs.
PALMIERE & YAUGER RETURN AS EAGLE LINEBACKERS
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 was injured in the first game against Kutztown last year and slowed the remainder of the season. In 8 games he had 24 tackles and 2 TFLs. In 2012 Palmiere led the Golden Eagles with 89 tackles, plus added 3 sacks and 8 TFLs with 2 fumbles caused. In three seasons Brian has collected 156 tackles, 22 TFLs (-62), 8 sacks (-42), 3 fumbles caused, 1 recovered and 1 break-up.
Yauger meanwhile has had two good seasons at linebacker and poised for his best year. He had 57 stops and 1 int a year ago, and now has 121 tackles, 9 TFLs (-15), 1 sack, and 1 INT in two seasons. Davis, who gained starting experience a year ago, had 29 hits, 2 TFLs and 1 fumble recovery in 2013.
McNAMARA & KING LEAD CLARION SECONDARY
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 corner Cory McNamara (Jr. Ontario, N.Y.).
Junior cornerback Cory McNamara led the Golden Eagles in 2013 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 had a game high 14 tackles vs Gannon. In two seasons Cory has 118 tackles, 12 break-ups, 2 INTs and 2 TFLs.
The corner positions also have Cory Lauer (Jr. Franklin Regional) Adam Lynch (So. Pgh-Brashear), and Kwaku Asamoah (Jr. Indiana) vying for time at corner where they all have had starting roles. Lauer had 12 tackles last year, Lynch notched 29 hits, 3 INTs for 36 yards and 3 break-ups and Asamoah with 20 hits and 2 break-ups.
The safety spots show Malik King (Jr. Cornell), Tyler Tucker (So. Westside, Tx.) and converted running back Chris Liberto (Jr. Springdale) leading the way. King, a two-year starter, had 30 hits, 2 INTs for 20 yards, 1 fumble caused and recovered, 1 sack and 2 TFLs a year ago. He has 48 career stops, 3 INTs and 2 break-ups. Tucker gained starting experience last year and posted 24 tackles, 2 TFLs and 1 break-up. Liberto, who moved to a safety spot in the Spring, had a great experience and is looking forward to making a strong contribution to the defense.
(Photo: Malik King, Jr. Cornell)
Also looking for time will be Jerome Matthews (Jr. Pgh- Schenley) who had 18 hits and TFL last year.
ESPOSITO & WHITE BACK ON SPECIAL TEAMS WELCOME
The Clarion special teams will be anchored by sophomore placekicker Phil Esposito (So. Brockway) and special teams snapper Eric White (Jr. Clearfield). Esposito made the game-tying field goal with no time left against Kutztown in the 2013 season opener, helping Clarion to a 39-38 OT win over Kutztown. He had all 25 PAT’s last year and was 5 of 17 field goals. White, Clarion’s snapper for punts and PAT’s/Field Goals, returns to that position again in 2014.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion is tradition rich in football … 27 straight non-losing seasons from 1961-87, a 52-year (1961-2012) record of 284-233-6 and 10 PSAC-West titles (1966, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 92, 96 and 2000).
