The Golden Eagles open their 2013 gridiron season on Saturday, September 7 when Clarion hosts Kutztown at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in a game that will also serve as “Family Day”.
All the game action between Clarion and Kutztown 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 BEGINS 8TH SEASON/ CLARION POSTS 4-7 MARK IN 2012
2009 EAGLES 8-3 – 2ND IN PSAC-WEST – 8TH IN SUPER REGION 1
Clarion eighth year head coach Jay Foster has welcomed back 19 starters and 36 letterman in 2013. Foster enters the game with a career record of 23-54.
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 8th in the final NCAA Division II East Region Poll. Foster was named the PSAC-Western Division “Coach of the Year” for his efforts.
KUTZTOWN PRE-SEASON #4 IN EAST/7-4 RECORD IN 2012
DREW FOLMAR FIRST SEASON AS HEAD COACH
Kutztown, picked to finish fourth in this year’s PSAC-East pre-season poll, had unprecedented success under former head coach Ray Monica from 2006 – 2012. The Golden Bears were 45-34 under Monica, including the Bears first NCAA D-II Playoff appearance in 2010 and their first PSAC championship and NCAA Playoff win in 2011. Kutztown was 10-2 and first the PSAC-East in 2010, 10-2 and first in the East in 2011 and 7-4 a year ago.
New head coach Drew Folmar was the offensive coordinator the last three years where the Bears scored 466, 487 and 490 points respectively.
In 2012 Kutztown sported a 7-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the PSAC-East. Wins came over Saint Anselm (58-6), Slippery Rock (56-49), Cheyney (56-7), East Stroudsburg (59-33), Millersville (59-3), Edinboro (47-21) and LIU-Post (14-12). The Bears finished the season 4-0 outscoring its opponents 186-69.
Losses a year ago came against California (48-45), Bloomsburg (44-37), West Chester (45-24) and Shippensburg (73-35).
CLARION LEADS KUTZTOWN 14-7 IN SERIES DATNIG BACK TO 1941
Clarion leads the overall series between the two schools 14-7 dating back to 1941. Since 1998 Clarion and Kutztown have dueled to a 6-6 record in games played between 1998-2008. Kutztown won in 2009 by a final score of 25-6. Clarion rallied from a 20-0 halftime deficit at Kutztown in 2008 to win 26-20. Other Clarion wins came in 2005 (29-23 in 4 overtimes – which set a PSAC record for most ot’s in a game), 2002 (31-7), 2001 (36-7), 1999 (31-21) and 1998 (23-16).
Kutztown also has wins in 2007 (35-13), 2006 (27-10), 2004 (25-14), 2003 (20-19),2000 (17-14).
The game between the two schools with the most on the line came in 1980 when Clarion downed Kutztown 15-14 in the PSAC title game at Clarion.
CLARION OFFENSE AVERAGED 387.6 YARDS & 17.1 PPG IN 2012
The Clarion offense returns 8 starters on a unit that averaged 17.1 ppg and 387.6 yards of total offense per game. Clarion averaged 156 rushing yards and 231.6 passing yards per game.
QB BEN FISCUS LEADS OFFENSE
Senior signal caller Ben Fiscus (Sr. Indiana) will lead Clarion’s offense. Fiscus, a Third Team FB Gazette Super Region 1 and First Team PSAC-West choice a year ago, had his best season in 2012. 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 three years Fiscus has rushed for 1,997 yards and 16 td’s on 437 carries, while completing 362 of 716 passes for 4,341 yards and 27 td’s. He ranks 9th at clarion in career rushing yards, 8th in attempts, 4th in passing attempts, 4th in completions and 9th in passing yards.
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, a real speedster, had a breakout season in 2012 when he led the team 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 76 career passes for 1,130 yards and 4 td’s. Nicholas, a talented wideout, 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.
Veteran receivers who should catch plenty of passes in 2013 include wideouts Caleb Mancini (Jr. Beaver Falls/Blackhawk) and Enrico Canello (So. Keystone Oaks), with red-shirt freshman Matt Lehman (Burrell) expected to contribute.
THOMAS RETURNS TO KEY RUNNING BACKS IN 2013
Junior Bobby Thomas (Reading/Exeter Twp.) was converted from defense to offense in 2012 and he had a standout season. Only playing in 6 games because of injury, Thomas still managed 534 rushing yards on 124 carries with 3 td’s. He also caught 6 passes for 52 yards. His top game was 25 carries, 156 yards and 1 td versus LIU-Post. Also expected to tote the pigskin are sophomores Travis Day (So. Hempfield) and Chris Liberto (So. Springdale). Day, who has excellent speed, rushed for 295 yards and 3 td’s on 62 carries last year. He also caught 6 passes for 54 yards. Liberto meanwhile is a tough, inside runner who totaled 201 yards on 64 tries, with 7 receptions for 75 yards.
FELKER, BARRICK, KUNDICK & PERFILIO LEAD TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE
The “O” line will have four talented starters returning in captain and tackles Mike Felker (6-4, 285, Sr. Gibsonia/Pine Richland), tackle Ryan Barrick (6-5, 270, Jr. Easton), guard Matt Kundick (6-2, 270, Jr. Beaver) and center 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 33 games in his career. Barrick, who started at right tackle a year ago and has earned two letters. 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. Vying for the right guard spot are veterans Tyler Edwards (6-4, 300, Jr. Ambridge) and Shane Cress (6-3, 275, So. Mars). Edwards owns two letters, while Cress ;ettered a year ago. Also vying for time are Cameron Cress (6-3, 250, So. Mars) at center, Mark Divins (6-3, 290, Sr. Clarion) at guard and Paul Branagan (6-4, 280, Fr. Cornell) at tackle.
10 STARTERS RETURN ON IMPROVED EAGLE DEFENSE
Defense wins championships and the Golden Eagles return 10 starters from last year’s unit, as well as a number of letterwinners who saw plenty of time and will battle for positions in 2013. Clarion yielded 387.1 yards of total offense and 29.5 points per game in 2012. Foster believes the 2013 unit will improve on those numbers. Clarion yielded 142.5 rushing yards and 244.5 passing yards a year ago.
HOWSARE & BOSTICK LEAD DEFENSIVE FRONT
The Golden Eagles have a strong defensive line returning in 2013, paced by Third Team FB Gazette All-American Julian Howsare (Jr. Altoona) at defensive end and captain Adam Bostick (Sr. Manheim Twp.) at defensive tackle.
Howsare had an unbelievable 2012 season posting 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 two seasons Julian has notched 87 tackles, 18 sacks for -104 yards and 23 tfl’s for -126 yards. Bostick 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).
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.
PALMIERE & YAUGER RETURN AS EAGLE LINEBACKERS
Although very strong up front, the Eagle defense is also excited about the returning talent at inside linebacker. Junior Brian Palmiere (Jr. Tarentum/Deer Lakes) and sophomore Rocco Yauger (So. Penn Trafford), return after starting in 2012. Palmiere led the Golden Eagles with 89 tackles, plus added 3 sacks and 8 tfl’s with 2 fumbles caused. In two seasons Brian has collected 142 tackles, 20 tfl’s and 3 fumbles caused. Yauger stepped up a year ago, when Nate Sipes was injured, to be ranked second in tackles with 64, plus 1 sack and 8 tfl’s.
Also vying for time at inside linebacker are Kyle McWreath (So. Washington/Trinity) and Jared Davis (So. Allderdice). McWreath is moving over from strong safety to play inside. He had 29 hits, 5 tfl’s and 1 sack last year. Davis contributed 14 stops and 2 tfl’s.
EAGLE SECONDARY RETURNS EXPERIENCED PLAYERS
The Golden Eagle secondary was banged up a year ago. But in the aftermath, a lot of players gained experience and the unit will benefit this year with talented players and excellent depth.
The corner positions appear to 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 started in 2012 and posted 31 hits and 1 interception, while Asamoah made 11 tackles last year, Lauer had 10 stops and Lynch is a promising red-shirt freshman.
The safety spots will likely have Matt Long (Sr. Pgh – North Catholic), Peter Rivera (Jr. Bethlehem Catholic) and Tyler Tucker (So. Westside Tx.) as starters. Long had 54 jolts and 5 tfl’s a year ago, while Rivera posted 22 tqackles, 2 sacks, 6 tfl’s and 1 fumble recovery. Tucker had 14 hits.
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 had 21 tackles and 2 tfl’s in 2012, while King also started and had 18 hits and 1 int. King missed 5 games with injury.Yonker made 16 hits.
SPECIAL TEAMS WELCOME BACK CONWAY
The Clarion special teams will be anchored again be placekicker punter Nathan Conway (Sr. Lock Haven/Central Mountain). Conway, a three-year starter (2009, 2011. 2012), 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 and freshman Phil Esposito (Brockway) will be the placekicker to start the season.
KUTZTOWN OFFENSE AVERAGED 44.5 PPG & 481.1 TOTAL OFFENSE IN 2012
The Kutztown offensive in a word – Explosive.
The 2012 version averaged 44.5 ppg while posting 481.1 yards of offense per outing. The Bars gained an average of 126.5 yards on the ground and 354.5 yards through the air.
FRESHMAN WERNER TO LEAD BEAR ATTACK
True freshman QB Alec Werner is ready to lead the Bear offense. Werner, who attended Bishop McDevitt high school, passed for 6,952 yards and 54 td’s in his career while leading his team to two District 3 Class AAA titles and appearances in the PIAA semifinals and finals. His backup is Josh Luckenbaugh who completed 54 of 80 aerials for 522 yards and 3 td’s last season.
The receiving corps returns plenty of talent in Brett Fox, Kodi Reed and Anthony Kelly. Fox caught 48 passes for 765 yards and 9 td’s last season, while Reed collected 31 pigskins for 456 yards and 6 td’s with Kelly getting 7 aerials for 108 yards and 2 td’s.
The ground game returns top rusher Curtis Wortham and fullback Justin Michalik. Wortham rushed 140 times for 932 yards and 15 td’s in 2012 while also catching 13 passes for 144 yards. Michalik rushed 1 time for 4 yards.
KUTZTOWN DEFENSE EXPECTS IMPROVED 2012 SEASON
The Golden Bear defense yielded 31 ppg and 404.8 yards of offense per outing in 2012. Opponents were able to run for 150.5 yards per game and pass for 254.3 yards per contest.
The defensive line will be led by end Zach Greenwald, who was second in tackles last year with 84. He also managed 6.5 sacks and 10 tfl’s. Joining him up front will be noseguard Eric Condron (32 hits, 3.5 tfl), tackle Tyrone Brown (30 stops, 3 tfl’s) and end Michael Gallagher (8 hits).
The linebacking corps is the strength of the defense. Middle linebacker Sam Dixon-Dougan (90 tackles) led the team in 2012. Teammate Matt Connors (46 stops) also clogs the middle.
The secondary boasts the return of Cody Kelso (33 hits, 3 int’s), English Peay (42 jolts, 1 int), Cody Waltimyer (28 tackles) and Anthony DiNolfi (17 stops).
CLARION – KUTZTOWN SERIES NOTES: Kutztown won 25-6 in 2009 … KU led 7-0 at halftime on a Dontay Wilson 14 yard run … KU kicker Matt Dineen booted a 21-yard field goal at 4:04of the third to make it 10-0… Clarion tight end Matt foradora caught an 8-yard td pass from Tyler Huether at 2:06 of the third – but a blocked PAT return for KU made it 12-6 Bears …. KU added two field goals and a td run in the fourth to put the game away … Huether completed 27 of 47 passes for 242 yards and 1 td & Jacques Robinson caught 10 passes for 84 yards … Wilson rushed for 90 yards and 1 td and QB Shane Martin rushed for 1 td and passed for 140 yards for KU … Clarion won 26-20 in 2008 – … Down 20-0 at halftime, qb Gino Rometo scored on a 1 yard run with 8:19 left in the third .. Eddie Emmanuel scored on runs of 4 and 15-yards in the third quarter, and then Rometo scored the game-winner with 4:14 left on a 1-yard run. The winning drive went 93 yards in 13 plays .. The game was not decided until the final seconds… the Clarion “D” made a goal line stand to win the game … Kutztown had first and goal at the Clarion 1 but failed to score… LB Joe Fox made the sack of Kutztown qb Shane Martin at the 2 to preserve the win … Rometo completed 13 of 21 for 121 yards … Emmanuel rushed 25 times for 113 yadrs and 2 td’s … KU’s Dontay Wilson rushed for 104 yards and 1 td … KU won the 2007 meeting 35-13, but the game was pretty evenly played … Clarion led 316-306 in total offense, but several key mistakes proved costly… KU opened the scoring on a Tom Cressman 23-yard interception return for a td in the first… Clarion qb Tyler Huether hit Herb Carraway on a 65-yard td to tie the game 7-7 … Two missed first half field goals proved costly – and KU took the lead for good on an 18-yard td pass from Kyle Spotts … A Clarion fumble deep in its ow territory in the second helped set up a KU td that put the Bears up 21-7 in the second… Clarion kicked a field goal before halftime to make it 21-10… Another third quarter field goal made it 21-13 in the third, but spotts hit Will brown for a 32-yard td that broke the game open… Spotts passed for 209 yards and 4 td’s, 2 to Elfren Quiles … Clarion’s Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 107 yards, while Huether passes for 197 and 1 td… In 2006 where KU defeated Clarion 27-10, Clarion outgained Kutztown 324 – 323 … Clarion had 186 rushing and 138 passing – Kutztown 96 rushing, 227 passing … Clarion took a 10-6 lead in the second quarter when qb Mark Rupert hit Dane Williams on a 25-yard td pass … Late in the half Clarion had a 3-yard punt giving Kutztown field position at the Clarion 44, which turned into 2-yard td run by Maurice Adams with 26-seconds left before half … Adams came out and returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for a td that proved to put the game out of reach… Emmanuel had 88 rushing yards & Odom caught 6 passes for 71 yards … Adams rushed for 68 and 1 score, while Elfren Quiles caught 7 passes for 120 yards and 1 score… In Clarion’s 4 overtime win in 2005 (29-23), Eagle qb Brandon Dando scored the game-winner on a 3-yard run in the 4th OT, then the defense held… Clarion outgained Kutztown 385-188 yards… Dando completed 15 of 28 passes for 143 yards, plus ran for 2 td’s… Tyrone Buckner gained 106 rushing yards on 39 attempts … Kutztown QB Spotts completed 21 of 41 passes for 152 yards and 1 td … Maurice Adams gained 62 yards on 19 carries… In 2004’s 25-14 loss at Kutztown, Clarion made three turnovers that led directly to 21 second half Kutztown points … Marcus Lowe rushed for 86 yards and 2 td’s on 20 carries. Brandon Dando completed 11 of 22 passes for 141 yards and Joe Farkas caught 3 passes for 72 yards. Bo Busch led the “D” with 10 tackles, Tim Connelly had 8 stops and 4 tfl’s… Kutztown’s Bria had 118 yards and 1 td rushing … Kutztown outgained Clarion 292-251 in total yardage… In 2003′s 20-19 loss to Kutztown the Golden Eagles outgained Kutztown 449-216 and outrushed the Bears 317 – 22… Clarion fumbled 8 times and lost 6, plus missed the game tying PAT, which were the keys to the game … Felton Woulard completed 7 of 16 passes for 132 yards and Ron Rivage caught 4 passes for 102 yards… Brandon Sweeney led the team with 96 rushing yards and 2 td’s, with Woulard getting 89 and Glenn Lovelace 12 carries for 82 yards… Kutztown qb Jeremy Copleand completed 10 of 26 passes for 194 yards and 2 td’s… Bria gained 61 yards on 27 carries… Trevor Smith caught 7 passes for 174 yards and 2 td’s, including a 77-yarder… In Clarion’s 31-7 win in 2002 the Eagles rushed for 306 yards on 62 carries … Adam Almashy rushed for 40 yards and 2 td’s, plus threw for another to lead the way … Robert Walker gained 86 on 20 carries, while Brandon Sweeney had 66 on 12 tries and Frantz Charles added 40 on 6 carries … Clarion senior offensive tackle Reggie Wells headed the offensive line that day … Wells has retired from the NFL this season after 10 seasons … He played in 119 career games while starting 93 … He played mostly for the Arizona Cardinals as a starting left guard (2002-2009) – helping them to an NFC Title on Jan. 18, 2009 with a 32-25 win over the Philadelphia Eagles … AZ lost in the Super Bowl to the Pgh Steelers 27-23 on Feb. 1, 2009…. Wells was the Captain of the Offense in the Super Bowl. He played in Philadelphia in 2010, Carolina in 2011 and finished with San Diego in 2012… In Clarion’s 1980 PSAC title game win over Kutztown 15-14, the Golden Eagles dominated the statistics of that game outgaining KU 373-114 and outrushing KU 256-31, but won the game in the fourth quarter with a 27-yard Bill May field goal with 12:55 remaining… the defense made the points stand up not letting KU past its own 40 yard line in its final possessions… Jay Kumar led Clarion with 130 rushing yards and John McCullough had 124 … QB Bob Beatty hit on 10 of 22 passes for 117 yards and 1 td … a 7-yard td pass to Kumar in the third quarter …