CLARION, Pa. — Coming off a big win over Shippensburg last week, Clarion starts its home season when it welcomes Lock Haven to Memorial Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Sept. 14.

(Photo courtesy of Clarion University Athletics)

The game can be heard on the radio with Mike Kalinowski and Joe Lodanosky on the call on 96.3 WKQW-FM an hour before kickoff. The game will also be carried on PA Sports Fever TV and on ESPN+.

This will be the 67th all-time meeting between the Golden Eagles and Bald Eagles, with Clarion owning a 49-16-1 advantage in the all-time series with Lock Haven. Clarion has beaten Lock Haven in each of their last nine meetings, including a 30-21 victory on the road in 2018.

The Golden Eagles are coming off a 48-28 road win at Shippensburg, marking the first time Clarion has defeated the Red Raiders since the 2000 season. Running back Mylique McGriff rushed for 179 yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns against Shippensburg, earning PSAC West Offensive Co-Athlete of the Week honors. The Golden Eagles rushed for 341 yards as a team against the Red Raiders, their best single-game total since totaling more than 400 yards against Lock Haven in 2011. Running back Ross Greece scored his first career touchdown against Shippensburg last week, scoring as a fullback to put Clarion ahead by a touchdown. Linebacker Trent Rogers scored on a pick-six against the Red Raiders, the first defensive touchdown by a Clarion player since last year’s win over Gannon and the first pick-six since 2015.

The Golden Eagles scored 48 points against Shippensburg, their first 40-point effort against a PSAC opponent since 2016 and highest scoring output since 2015.

Senior safety Sam Fareri earned Google Cloud Academic All-America honors a year ago, making him the fourth Golden Eagle in as many years to make his way onto the team. Fareri led the team with four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2018 and ranked second in tackles.

Clarion entered the season having graduated four of its five all-conference selections from a year ago, including First Team All-PSAC West selection Brandon Vocco.

Senior defensive lineman Saif Khan is the lone returning all-conference selection, having earned Second Team honors in 2018.

Scouting The Bald Eagles

Lock Haven was predicted to finish eighth in the PSAC East this season, one year after taking sixth out of seven teams in the East division. They started their season on a strong note, walloping Lincoln (Pa.) at home to the tune of a 57-13 final score. The Bald Eagles scored on every possession of the first half, notching six touchdowns and a field goal, while the defense forced three turnovers in the first half alone. Kicker Charles Hayes earned PSAC East Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors after going a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals against the Lions.

Quarterback Kyle Knight returned to action and was difficult to contain, scoring four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and recording 375 yards of total offense (296 passing, 79 rushing). Preseason All-American tight end Jalen Jackson had 107 receiving yards and a score.

Series History

This will be the 67th meeting between the Golden Eagles and the Bald Eagles, with Clarion owning a 49-16-1 advantage in the all-time series with Lock Haven. Clarion has enjoyed a nine-game win streak over Lock Haven dating back to the 2008 season. The last Bald Eagle win came in the 2007 season finale, a 17-14 overtime decision that sealed a winless season for the Golden Eagles.

The two teams met in the second game of the season last year, with Clarion winning a rain-soaked 30-21 decision at Hubert Jack Stadium. The Golden Eagles forced eight turnovers, including a total of six interceptions that stands as the most for a single game since 1999 and a potential program record. Sam Fareri was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week after recording six tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.