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THE GAME
    Lock Haven heads West again this weekend, traveling to Clarion University for its final road contest of the 2003 season on Sat., Nov. 8. Game time at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium is set for 1 p.m.  The game can be heard locally on WBPZ-1230 AM and online at www.nsnsports.com. 

THE SERIES
     The Clarion Golden Eagles bring a 38-13-1 series advantage into action this Saturday, including wins in the last four seasons. The Golden Eagles also have a strong hold over Lock Haven when the Bald Eagles are on the road, Clarion winning in each of the last 10 games played in its own home stadium.

First Meeting: 1928 - LHU 12, Clarion 0
The Last Time Clarion Won: 2002; 34-31 at Hubert Jack Stadium
The Last Time LHU Won: 1998; 35-28 at Hubert Jack Stadium
The Last Time LHU Won at Clarion: (Prior to 1965)
The Last Time Clarion Won at Memorial Stadium: 2000; 42-20

THE LAST TIME VERSUS CLARION
      Both teams posted big offensive numbers but it was the Golden Eagles who came out on top, 34-31, in what was Lock Haven’s final home contest of the season. Clarion improved to 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the PSAC West with the win, while Lock Haven fell to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the West. 
      Lock Haven held a 17-14 lead after three quarters, but Clarion recorded a 20-point fourth quarter, gaining the scoring edge with a six-yard touchdown run by Brandon Sweeney with just over 11 minutes to go in the game. Zach Gourley picked up a fumbled ball and returned it for score, boosting Clarion’s fourth-quarter lead to 28-17. 
      LHU’s Tim Storino and Marcus Burkley connected for a 52-yard touchdown pass to move the Bald Eagles back to within striking distance, 23-28. Clarion quarterback Adam Almashy evaded the defense at the line of scrimmage then broke for a 55-yard touchdown run, giving the Golden Eagles a 34-23 lead. Despite another Haven score on a touchdown catch by Scott Anderson, time ran out with Clarion holding on to the 34-31 advantage.

SCOUTING CLARION
       The Golden Eagles are 1-8 overall and 0-4 PSAC West following a 13-7 loss on the road at California (Pa.) last weekend. 
       Clarion’s offense has predominantly relied on its running game, posting 186.6 yards per game on the rush in comparison with 91.6 yards passing. Freshman Felton Woulard, who had been serving as the Golden Eagles’ quarterback, has taken the ball on 119 attempts, posting 435 yards and two touchdowns on the run. Sophomore halfback Brandon Sweeney leads Clarion with five touchdowns, including the team’s only score last weekend on a 58-yard run. Sweeney currently averages 40.0 yards per game. Jason Warner (28.8ypg, 1 TD), Marcus Lowe (30.7 ypg, 1 TD) and Glenn Lovelace (23.0 ypg) are all also potential threats in the ground game.
       Freshman Brandon Dando is expected to start at quarterback after playing for the first time last Saturday. Dando went 9-for-21, throwing for 66 yards. 
       Junior Ed Rivers is the top name on the depth chart at wide receiver and averages 7.9 yards receiving a game. Freshman Pierre Odom leads the Clarion receivers with 19 catches for 265 yards including one of only three touchdowns scored by the team via the pass. 

LHU's leading running-back 
Maurice Walker covered 91 yards
 last Saturday and currently averages 
61.6 yards per game.

THE COACHES

Lock Haven is led by fourth-year mentor Head Coach Mark Luther (Penn State, ‘92). The 2002 PSAC West Coach of the Year, Luther’s Bald Eagles went 4-7 last season -- the first four-win season since 1998.           He owns a 10-23 overall mark in three seasons at the helm of the Lock Haven gridders. Luther assumed the head role following five years of service as an LHU assistant from 1994-1998, acting as defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant to former head coach Nick Polk.

The Clarion Golden Eagles are led by tenth year head coach Malen Luke (Westminster, '76).  Luke assumed the helm at Clarion after six years at Defiance College, where he turned around a losing program to build a 37-21 record.  He is currently 48-50-0, including an 11-3 season in 1997 in which the Golden Eagles advanced to the NCAA Final Four

        Defensively, Clarion boast the PSAC’s leader in tackles for loss in senior nose guard Troy Bowers. Bowers has racked up 21 tackles for loss among his 58 total stops this season. He is also second in the conference and leads the squad with 6.5 sacks. Bowers is joined up front by junior tackle Ben Heisel (28 TT, 9 TFL, 3 sacks) and sophomore end Matt Niedbala (10 TT). 
        Senior outside linebacker Jabari Weatherspoon leads Clarion with 68 tackles including eight for loss. Junior outside linebacker Tim Connolly is second on the team with 10 tackles for loss and a total of 40 tackles. Clarion also starts inside linebackers Matt Morris (57 TT, 6 TFL), a freshman, and sophomore Brock Luke (10 TT, 1 TFL). 
        Sophomore free safety Bo Busch is second on the squad with 65 tackles and leads the way with four forced fumbles. Starting strong safety Emil Johnson has 52 tackles including nine for loss. Clarion’s top two cornerbacks are senior Myron Hargon, who has four pass breakups and 18 total tackles, and sophomore James Charles, who has posted seven break-ups and one interception along with 29 tackles. 
       Freshman placekicker Mark Hofmeister has hit five-of-nine field goals with a long of 48 yards. Hofmeister is also 10-of-14 on point after attempts. Punter Joe Farkas averages 35.2 yards a kick. 
       Myron Hargon is deep to run back opponent punts, averaging 11.6 yards an attempt. Hargon has run back one for a touchdown. Brandon Sweeney has handled most of the returns on kickoffs, averaging 21.4 yards in 19 attempts including one run back for a touchdown. 

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE 
       The Haven’s offensive production against Slippery Rock seemed to be revived after its performances in the previous two weeks, though scoring has still been hampered by untimely penalties and turnovers. 
        Junior running back Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) totaled his second-best effort of the season against the Rock, carrying the ball for 91 yards on 20 attempts. Chelstan Anderson (Halifax/Halifax) (31.0 ypg, 3 TDs) took the ball on three occasions for six yards on Saturday. Tailback Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois) (18.3 ypg) and halfback Josh Stadulis (Willow Grove/Academy of the New Church) (3.3 ypg) have also been active.
       Troy Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) was the quarterback of choice against Slippery Rock, completing 16 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. On the season, Wile averages 88.9 yards a game with a total of six touchdowns. Back-up signal caller Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) could also see time behind center -- the senior averages 55.5 yards a game and has thrown for two touchdowns this season. 
       The Bald Eagles will be without their leading receiver Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) who is out due to injury. Regular starter and senior Scott Anderson (Cortland, Ohio/Lakeview) (8 recep., 15.1 ypg, 1 TD) will assume leadership over a wideout unit which also includes red-shirt frosh Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) (22 recep., 41.8 ypg, 5 TDs). Smith caught five passes for 45 yards and his fifth touchdown of the season versus the Rock last Saturday. Other receivers include senior Adam Angelici (Bethel Park/Bethel Park)(12.4 ypg, 2 TDs) and sophomore Danson Mwaura (Leola/Conestoga Valley) (7.4 ypg) along with tight end Jason Walther (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) (9.0 ypg, 1 TD).
        Up on the line, the Bald Eagles are expected to front the usual five anchored by sophomore center Jason Scott (Linden/Williamsport). Aaron Nicklas (St. Marys/St. Marys Area) and Steve Szoboscan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) man the two guard slots while Kevin Scheidler (Millersburg/Millersburg Area) and Bill Cook (York/Central York) are positioned on either end.


THE DEFENSE 
        Senior linebackers Dan Wissinger (Johnstown/Ferndale Area) and Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) led LHU against Slippery Rock, Wissinger posting eight stops and Metz adding seven tackles including two for loss. Metz continues to lead the Haven and ranks among PSAC leaders with 70 total tackles including 11 behind the line of scrimmage. Wissinger is LHU’s second-leading defender with 54 total tackles. Junior Charles Cannon (Braddock Hills/Woodland Hills) had two stops last Saturday and has 38 on the season, a total that includes six for loss.
        Defensive end Devin O’Rourke (Montgomery/Montgomery) posted his third sack of the year against the Rock offense and tallied five tackles to bring his overall total to 28 stops including 5.5 for loss. On the opposite end, Dustin Shaffer (Mayport/Redbank Valley) also recorded a sack on Saturday along with four tackles, upping his season numbers to 26 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss. 
         Tackles Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) and Jason Kasheta (Carbondale/Carbondale Area) continue to hold down the starting role up front, Hendricks carrying 22 total stops and Kasheta totaling 10 tackles.
Strong safety Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) is still third among Haven defenders with 47 tackles despite sitting out of last Saturday’s contest. He is joined by free safety Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport), who has 33 tackles on the season. Starting at the pair of cornerback positions are Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley) (20 TT, 3 PB) and Ngoyi Mukusa (Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe) (41 TT, 3 PB).


SPECIAL TEAMS 
         Rafael Smith and Maurice Walker will be deep for kickoff returns, Smith averaging 17.6 yards on eight attempts this season, while Walker has run back one for nine yards. Smith will also be handling punt returns.
        Danny Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) is fourth in the conference with seven field goals including a long kick of 37 yards. He is also 12-for-14 on point after attempts.

###LHU###