Struggling Golden Eagles Football Team Looks to Get on Track vs. Mercyhurst Saturday

Chris Rossetti

Chris Rossetti

Published September 21, 2017 4:20 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) –In search of its first win, the Clarion University football team will entertain Mercyhurst at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

(Photo of Greg Leorard. Photo courtesy of Clarion University Athletics)

Clarion Game Notes

The Lakers come into the game at 1-2 overall, while Clarion is 0-3. This is the PSAC West opener for both squads. The game will be broadcast locally on 92.7 FM and 96.3 FM and will be televised on PA SportsFever (check local listings) as well as online on ESPN3/WatchESPN.

The game closes out a three-game homestand for the Golden Eagles, who have struggled on offense through three games scoring just 20 points on the season while being shut out twice, including a 31-0 loss to Shippensburg last week.

Despite bringing in Division I transfer quarterback Asiantii Woulard, who was rated as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation a few years back, the offense has been abysmal ranking next-to-last in the PSAC in points per game (6.7 ppg), last in total offense (215.3 yards per game), next-to-last in rushing yards per game (59.3) while picking up 2.1 yards per carry, which is also next-to-last in the conference, and next-to-last in passing yards per game (156.0) while completing a conference-worst 33.3 percent of its passes.

Woulard has been one of the bigger culprits going 27 of 84 passing (32.1 percent) for 395 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. While he has been hurt by some dropped passes, it isn’t completely on the receivers.

The dual-threat part of Woulard’s game has also been non-existent has he has run the ball just six times in three games for negative 20 yards with a long run of 20 yards.

Woulard isn’t getting any help from a ground game that is “led” by Kyle Evans, who has rushed for 120 yards on 53 carries, a 2.3 yards-per-carry average. The Golden Eagles haven’t scored a rushing touchdown this season.

With the offense going nowhere, the defense is wearing down by evidence of Clarion allowing 59 of the 96 points it has allowed this season after halftime.

But, the defense is giving up the second-most rushing yards in the PSAC (193.0 yards per game), which is a big reason the Golden Eagles rank 14th of 16 teams in the PSAC in yards allowed (428.3).

Mercyhurst was predicted to finish eighth in the PSAC West division in 2017, one year after finishing 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the division. The Lakers opened the season with back-to-back losses to Hillsdale and Kutztown, though neither loss was by more than one score. They earned their first win of the year last week with a 25-20 victory on the road at East Stroudsburg.

E’Andre Smith is averaging a healthy 82.5 yards per game on the ground, including a 4.9 yards per carry average, though he is yet to reach the endzone. Quarterback Doug Altavilla has thrown for 455 yards and two touchdowns in three games and has run for another, and has only thrown one interception.

Defensively, Mercyhurst ranks 11th in the PSAC allowing 381.7 yards per game.

EXTRA-POINTS

  • This is the 10th meeting between the two teams. Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 5-4 but Clarion has won the last two meetings including 35-34 last year in game that saw Clarion behind 28-7 in the second half before scoring 28 unanswered points.
  • Receiver Greg Leonard shattered his previous career-highs in catches and receiving yards against Shippensburg, finishing with seven grabs for 157 yards.
  • Linebacker Layne Skundrich recorded his third straight double-digit tackle game, notching 13 stops against Shippensburg.
  • After winning the first seven games under third-year head coach Chris Weibel, Clarion is just 4-14 in the last 18.
  • Clarion hits the road next week to face Edinboro at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30.

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