GREENSBURG, Pa. – Clarion hopes to bounce back into the winners column this week as the Golden Eagles travel to Seton to play the Griffins on Saturday, October 18 in a PSAC-West game. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Offutt Field in downtown Greensburg.

All the game action between Clarion and Seton Hill 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 9TH SEASON — CLARION 2-4/2-3 IN 2014
2009 EAGLES 8-3 — 2ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8TH IN SUPER REGION 1

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. Two weeks ago the Golden Eagles were flat in the second half – after trailing only 10-7 at halftime, lost to undefeated Gannon 33-7 and lost the last two weeks to Mercyhurst (28-0) and Edinboro (56-28).

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 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 29-65.

SETON HILL ENTERS GAME (1-5; 1-4)

Seton Hill enters the game with a 1-5 record overall and a 1-4 mark in the PSAC-Western Division. Second year head coach Isaac Collins has watched his team open the season with a 55-30 loss to Shippensburg, then defeat Lock Haven 27-16. The Griffins have lost four in a row since to West Chester (45-10), Slippery Rock (63-19), Cal (31-21) and IUP 51-28).

Seton Hill had a 1-10 record last year and have a two-year mark of 2-15 under coach Collins.

CLARION LEADS SERIES 1-0

Clarion and Seton Hill met last year at Memorial Stadium in the first game of the series between the two schools and Clarion won the game 41-2. Matt Lehman and Julian Howsare blocked punts and recovered them in the endzone for td’s to give Clarion a 13-0 lead. Seton Hill returned a PAT attempt for a 2-point conversion, but later in the second quarter Travis Day scored on a 5-yard run to give the Eagles a 20-2 halftime lead and the Eagles went on to a 41-2 victory.

CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGING 263.3 YARDS IN 2014

The Clarion offense returns 8 starters on a unit that averaged is averaging 263.3 yards of offense (#15 in PSAC) in 2014. The running game is getting 117.8 yards (#11 in PSAC) and the passing game is netting 145.5 yards per game (#13 in PSAC).

SIMMONS STARTING AT QB

Sophomore transfer Connor Simmons (So. New Palestine, In.), has started three games this season and is expected to start on Saturday. He has completed 47 of 83 passes (56.6%) for 635 yards and 5 td’s this season, along with 71 rushing yards and 2 td’s.

Darelle Carson (So. Pgh-Perry), the starter at Mercyhurst and the team’s first two games, has completed 21 of 62 passes for 238 yards and 1 td. He has also rushed for 95 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.

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), Eric Frye (Jr. Pgh-Perry), and Caleb Mancini (Sr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk).

Deitrick, a senior co-captain, 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 last three games, is third on the team with 10 catches for 135 yards and 1 td, while Nicholas, who missed the last two games but is expected back this week, has 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, leads the team with 13 catches for 225 yards in 2014 and 26 career catches for 384 yards and 1 td. Mancini has 5 catches for 103 yards this year and 26 for 379 yards in his career.

Also expected to contribute to the offense is tight end Zach Deitrick So. Upper St. Clair) who has 7 grabs for 151 yards and 2 td’s this season.

THOMAS & WILLIAMS KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2014

Senior running back Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) and freshman Delrece Williams (Fr. Homestead/Steel Valley) lead a strong backfield in 2014. Thomas has opened the 2014 season with 198 yards and 1 td on 50 tries. In 3 years he now has 354 rushes for 1,491 yards and 11 td’s, along with 21 catches for 174 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 66 carries for 302 yards and 6 td’s, plus 3 catches for 9 yards and 12 kickoff returns for 297 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.

KUNDICK & CRESS LEAD TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE

The “O” line will has talented starters returning in guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 280, Sr. Beaver) and center Cameron Cress (6-3, 270, Jr. Mars). 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.

Also starting up front are tackle Shane Cress (6-3, 280, Jr.), guard Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Sr. Ambridge) and freshman tackle Jake Heigel (6-3, 270, Fr. DuBois/Brockway).

Hoping to return this week are veteran starting tackles Ryan Barrick (6-6, 280, Sr. Easton) and Paul Branagan (6-4, 280, So. Coraopolis/Cornell), who have missed the first six games with injury.

9 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE

Clarion’s defense has improved in 2014 with nine starters and a host lettermen returning. In the opening six games Clarion has limited its opponents to 317.5 yards of total offense (#5 in PSAC), including 140.5 yards rushing (#9 in PSAC) and 177 yards passing (#1 in PSAC).

HOWSARE, SHUEY & BELL LEAD DEFENSIVE FRONT

The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line 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) 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 40 tackles, 5 sacks and 8 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 210 tackles, 49 tfl’s for -219 yards, 33 sacks for -175 yards, 6 fumbles caused, 7 blocked kicks, 9 break-ups and 2 int’s.

Shuey meanwhile has posted 25 hits and 9 tfl’s and 4 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 100 stops, 27 tfl’s (-84 yards), 7 sacks, 2 break-ups and a fumble caused.

Bell is having a standout season in 2014 posting 33 stops, 10 tfls for -55, 6 sacks for -42, 3 fumbles caused and 1 recovery. He has 39 career tackles, 11 tfl’s, 6 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 25 stops and 4 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 84 hits, 10 sacks for -45 yards, 26 tfl’s for -69 yards, 5 fumbles caused, 2 recovered and 1 break up. Newquist, who missed the first 4 games, has 7 tackles. In 2013 he made 32 stops, 3 sacks, 7 tfl’s, 3 break-ups and 1 fumble caused. His career numbers include 50 tackles, 9 tfl’s, 5 sacks, 4 break ups, 1 fumble caused.

Short has had a strong start with 22 jolts, 7 tfl’s and 5 sacks, while Koerper has collected 16 stops, 1 sack and 4 tfl’s. Last year he had 19 tackles, 1 sack and 3 tfl’s.

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 has 16 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 172 tackles, 24 tfl’s (-64), 8 sacks (-42), 3 fumbles caused, 1 recovered and 1 break-up.

Yauger meanwhile has 25 this season. He had 57 stops and 1 int a year ago, and now has 146 tackles, 9 tfl’s (-15), 1 sack, and 1 int in two seasons. Davis, who gained starting experience a year ago, has 19 tackles and 3 tfl’s this season. He had 29 hits, 2 tfl’s and 1 fumble recovery in 2013.

McNAMARA LEADS 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 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 35 tackles, 1 break-up and 1 fumble recovery this year. In two seasons Cory has 153 tackles, 13 break-ups, 2 int’s and 2 tfl’s.

The safety spots are covered by Travis Day (Jr. Jeannette/Hempfield), Chris Liberto (Jr. Springdale), Connor Scott (So. Pgh. Upper St. Clair), along with Tyler Tucker (So. Westside, Tx.) and Jerome Matthews (Jr. Pgh- Schenley)

Day, who moved to safety from running back, has 31 tackles, 1 tfl and 3 break-ups this season. He also returned 5 punts for 67 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 22 hits and 2 tfl’s this season. Scott meanwhile has made a strong contribution with 18 hits, 2 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 4 tackles this season, while posting 24 tackles, 2 tfl’s and 1 break-up in 2013. Matthews has 13 hits, 1 tfl and 1 fumble recovery.

The corner positions will have Cory Lauer (Jr. Franklin Regional) Myles Edmonds (Fr. Odenton, Md./Arundel), Adam Lynch (So. Pgh-Brashear), and Kwaku Asamoah (Jr. Indiana) all seeing plenty of time. Lauer has 16 tackles and 4 break-ups, Edmonds has 23 stops, Lynch 14 tackles and Asamoah 7 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.

AYERS & LEAD SPECIAL TEAMS

The Clarion special teams will be anchored by sophomore Scott Ayers (Bethesda, Md.) and special teams snapper Eric White (Jr. Clearfield). Ayers is averaging 37.7 yards per punt and is 12 for 14 in PAT’s. White, Clarion’s snapper for punts and PAT’s/Field Goals, is a third year starter on special teams.

SETON HILL OFFENSE AVERAGES 377 YPG/ 22.5 PPG

The Seton Hill offense is averaging 377 yards (#8 in PSAC) of total offense per game including 71.8 rushing yards (#15 in PSAC) and 305.3 passing yards (#4 in PSAC) per contest.

The Griffins offense will be led by senior quarterback Drew Jackson who has completed 147 of 281 passes for 1,644 yards and 11 td’s. He has thrown only 4 int’s.

Ready to catch passes from Jackson are talented receivers F.J. Williams, Jarvis McClam and Eric Brown. Williams is fourth in the entire PSAC with 42 catches for 531 yards and 3 td’s, while McClam has 21 grabs for 179 yards and 1 td, and Brown checks in with 17 receptions for 243 yards and 2 td’s.

The running game has talent in Brandon Stout. He has rushed 91 times for 295 yards and 1 td, while also catching 26 aerials for 125 yards. Khalil Howard has 87 rushing yards with 4 td’s on the ground.

SETON HILL DEFENSE YIELDS 495.3 YDS PER GAME

Seton Hill has given up 495.3 yards of total offense per game (#15 in PSAC) in 2014. The Griffins have given up 209 yards rushing (#14 in PSAC) and 286.3 passing yards (#13 in PSAC).

The defensive front features Jeremy Dixon (2 tfl’s) and Alex Attia (22 hits, 3.5 tfl’s) at the tackles, with Arthur Tsapdong (32 hits, 8 tfl’s, 5.5 sacks) and Soeiser Alani (11 stop) a the ends.

Inside linebacker Tyler Zimmer has 29 tackles this season, but has missed two games. Outside linebackers Tim Johnson (36 jolts, 6 tfl’s) and Chase Parker (29 tackles, 3 tfl’s) anchor the middle.

The secondary is led by safety Josh Falatovich, who leads the team with 44 hits and 2 int’s. Safety Ricardo Housen (28 hits) and corners Phillip Moreland (23 stops) and Otis Williams (27 tackles) heads the secondary.

CLARION – SETON HILL SERIES: – (2014 – Clarion 41 Seton Hill 2): … Clarion totaled 351 yards of offense to SH’s 179 a year ago … Clarion rushed for 282 yards and passed for only 69 … Clarion scored on two blocked punts to go ahead 13-0 … Matt Lehman blocked a punt in the first quarter that landed in the endzone and he pounced on it for a 7-0 lead … Julian Howsare also blocked a punt and recoevered it in the endzone for a 13-0 lead at 11:44 of the second… SH returned the PAT for a 2-point defensive conversion for the Griffin’s only score… Later in the second quarter Travis Day capped 60-yard drive with a 5-yard td run and Clarion led 20-2 at halftime … Bobby Thomas scored on runs of 32 and 1 yard, and Eric Frye caught a 12-yard td pass from qb Darelle Carson to finish the scoring – on a 41-2 Eagle victory … Carson led with 73 yards rushing and completed only 5 of 14 passes for 69 yards and 1 td … Thomas rushed for 59 and 2 td’s, and Day 53 yards and 1 td. Rocco Yauger and Julian Howsare had 10 tackles each, while Howsare had 3 tfl’s and 2 blocked kicks in the game.