Impractical PSAC Scheduling Has Clarion Facing Bloomsburg for Second Time in 2017 in Season Finale

Chris Rossetti

Chris Rossetti

Published November 9, 2017 5:16 am
Image

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A short-sighted PSAC scheduling quirk has Clarion and Bloomsburg facing off for the second time in 2017 Saturday in Bloomsburg.

(Photo courtesy of Clarion University Athletics)

The Huskies (6-4) beat Clarion (1-9), 29-20, in Clarion on September 9. The original schedule had Bloomsburg hosting IUP and Clarion traveling to West Chester, but because IUP won the PSAC West and West Chester won the PSAC East the two will meet in the PSAC Title Game Saturday, and instead of switching around the conference crossover schedule to avoid a rematch of an earlier season game the conference, as has been its practice since reinstituting the PSAC Title game a few years ago, just had IUP’s opponent and West Chester’s opponent face each other.

Thus, the rematch of a game that saw Bloomsburg trail 20-17 at halftime before scoring on two Ryan Abbott field goals and a Chris Palubinsky touchdown run in the second half to pull out the win.

It is a different Clarion team the Huskies are facing this time around, as Asiantii Woulard was still considered the great quarterback hope for the Golden Eagles in the first matchup despite going 13 of 31 for 175 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

But Woulard is off the team — he either quit or was thrown off, Clarion wouldn’t confirm which other than to say he wasn’t with the team anymore — and Jeff Clemens has taken over.

There isn’t much difference in Clemens’ numbers (61 of 140, 753 yards, 5 TDs, 4 Ints) compared to Woulard’s (62 of 160, 880 yards, 5 TDs, 7 Ints)/

Clemens isn’t the only new face in the Golden Eagles offense to face Bloomsburg in the second meeting.

Mason Standard didn’t catch a pass in the game against the Huskies the first time around but is Clarion’s leading receiver with 29 catches for 430 yards and six touchdowns on the season, while Mylique McGriff carried the ball just three times for 14 yards in the September meeting with Huskies but has turned into the leading rusher for Clarion on the year with 768 yards and four touchdowns on 135 carries.

While Clarion’s offense looks different, Bloomsburg’s looks the same led by Palubinsky, the quarterback, who has thrown for over 1,7000 (1,737) on the year while going 137 of 267 with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was 17 of 32 for 174 yards with a touchdown and a pick in the first game vs. Clarion.

Qmac Quiteh is the leading rusher for the Huskies with 904 yards and seven scores, while Alex Gooden has added 656 yards and three scores. Quiteh had 118 yards on 29 carries in the first game against Clarion, while Gooden didn’t see a carry.

Michael Allen (44 catches, 556 yards, 6 TDs), Jay Popson (31 catches, 500 yards) and Ethan Price (19 catches, 320 yards) lead the Bloomsburg receivers.

EXTRA POINTS

  • Clarion is trying to win a season finale for the first time since 2011 when it beat Millersville, 34-20.
  • Since starting the 2015 season 7-0 under then first-year head coach Chris Weibel, the Golden Eagles are 5-20 their worst 25-game stretch since going 5-20 from early 2007 through mid-2009.
  • The Golden Eagles haven’t beaten Bloomsburg since topping the Huskies in the 1996 NCAA Division II playoffs when Weibel was the starting quarterback.
  • Recent Articles

    Community Partner