Sports

CalU too much for the Golden Eagles

Clarion hosted the no. 4 ranked team in the nation, California University Vulcans Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Clarion held CalU to three points in the first half and went into the half with a 7-3 lead.

The Vulcans came back in the second half and took control of the game.

CalU was too much for the Clarion as they fell 24-9 taking them to 0-4 for the season and 0-1 in the PSAC-West Division. CalU is now 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC-West.

Clarion’s defense played solid in the first half holding the no. 1 scoring offense in the PSAC to only one field goal.

Clarion was forced to punt on its first possession, and CalU got the ball at its own 36 and drove to the Clarion 2-yard line.

CalU tried running the ball three straight times and on fourth and goal Clarion’s J.J. Eckels and Ryan Slack stopped Cal running back Lamont Smith from getting into the end zone.

Cal got the ball after another Golden Eagle punt and they were threatening to score again.

CalU ran a couple plays and were on the Clarion 4-yard at the end of the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter Clarion freshman defensive back Brandon Akins intercepted a Josh Portis pass at the Clarion 2-yard line keeping CalU out of the end zone.

CalU got on the scoreboard with Mark Domonkos 21-yard field goal giving CalU a 3-0 lead with 7:47 to go before halftime.

CalU got the ball back again and was on the Clarion 12-yard line when Clarion senior defensive end Ben Maund anticipated a screen pass to the CalU receiver Terrance Moore, tackling him for a 13-yard loss.

Domonkos missed a 42-yard field goal that hit the left upright with 37 seconds left in the half leaving the score at 3-0.

Clarion used those 37 seconds left in the quarter to drive 75-yards in six plays.

Clarion quarterback Eric Coxon passed to Jacques Robinson in the corner of the end zone on the final play of the half to give the Golden Eagles a 7-3 lead.

CalU opened the third quarter and drove 75-yards in 11 plays to take a 10-7 lead.

After a Clarion punt pinned CalU at its own 1-yard line, CalU drove 99-yards in 20 plays and scored on a 1-yard run by Jordan Scott, giving the Vulcans a 17-7 lead with 11:53 to go in the fourth.

The Clarion defense brought the game back within one score when the Golden Eagles registered a safety.

Clarion’s Alfonso Hoggard took the free kick at the Clarion 38 and returned it to the CalU 17 before he was tackled.

The return was called back for holding, placing the ball at the Clarion 42.

Two plays later, Coxon had a pass intercepted which led to another Cal touchdown that put the game out of reach for the Clarion.

“I was disappointed with the outcome of the game, but not with the effort and attitude of the players,” Clarion coach Jay Foster said.

Clarion wide receiver, Robinson, scored the lone touchdown for the Golden Eagles.

“I thought we as a team played hard but came up short. Even though we played tough against CalU it is unacceptable to accept losing.”

“We definitely did not think we would be 0-4 right now but we still got 7 games left to worry about. We have to win this week and get the first win of the season, no excuses,”
Robinson said.

Clarion had 133 yards of offense with Hoggard rushing for 24 yards and catching three passes for 36 yards.

Jacques Robinson had three catches for 50 yards and one touchdown.Coxon completed 10 of 24 passes for 104 yards. Strong safety Nick Sipes led the Eagle defense with 17 tackles.

Clarion will play Slippery Rock this Saturday at 2 p.m.