The Joe Lodanosky Show

Week 9 Golden Eagle Report Card
30-28 win over IUP
by: Joe Lodanosky
www.thejlshow.com

I missed the Mercyhurst game due to a wedding, I missed a good one.

Quarterback- It was fitting, on Senior Day that QB Tyler Huether played like a senior. No, 11 of 16 for 153 aren’t All American type numbers, quite pedestrian in fact. However, there is more to the story. Huether ran 13 times for 56 yards and a score, when you take the 4 sacks into consideration, it was for 35 yards and a score. It was those runs that made a difference in the outcome of the ball game. When he felt pressure he wisely tucked it and ran it, he took what the defense gave him, and didn’t force anything that may result in an interception. Don’t let IUP’s record fool you and the stats back it up, they are one of PSAC’s top defenses. His 11 completions found 5 different targets, 5 to Foradora, one of which was likely the greatest throw of Huether’s career. The 29 yard hook up to Foradora that was perfectly placed over the head of the dropping middlebacker and just shy of the hard charging safety, it was one of the best throws I have ever seen period. A

Running Backs- 25 carries, 162 yards and 2 TD’s is becoming the norm for the undersized and nationally unappreciated Alfonso Hoggard. This kid is for real. His productivity of 292 all purpose yards against one of the better defenses in the country was simply a brilliant performance. I am forced to use an example that we can all relate to, Barry Sanders. Hoggard’s ability to make people miss in the hole and start and stop on a dime, is reminiscent of Sanders. The Golden Eagles added a new wrinkle this week, lining John Fuhrer up as a full back in the “I” with Hoggard behind him. It worked for the first score of the game with Fuhrer scampering in from 11 yards out, not being touched and completely fooling the IUP “D”. Fuhrer ended the day with 4 carries for 17 yards and the score. Hoggard’s 162 yards is the season’s best individual effort against IUP. A+

Wide Receivers- Senior Matt Foradora caught 5 balls for 59 yards. Jacques Robinson caught 3 balls for 59 yards. Hoggard, Bunney, and Ward each had a grab as well. It should be noted that IUP’s Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is considered to be the 7th best CB in April’s NFL draft. He is projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. He may have had an affect on Clarion only throwing it 15 times. The Golden Eagle WR’s did a good job of blocking down field. I felt that this was one of Foradora’s best games in terms of blocking, with Rob Irwin getting knocked out with an injury he had little choice and stepped up to the occasion. B+

Offensive Line- I mentioned that Hoggard’s 162 yards was the most yards given up to a single player all year. What I left out was, Clarion’s 208 total rushing yards was the most yards gained on the ground against IUP all year. That is a direct result of a dominant performance by the offensive line. John Kalchthaler and Chris Kincaid played their last game at Memorial Stadium, what a way to go out. Giving up 4 sacks knocks their grade down a little, but still an impressive performance. A-

Defensive Line- Barrington Morrison recorded 2 TFL’s and a sack, John Reichert added a sack, and John Hackel was in on 10 tackles, that is production from your “D” Line. I was very concerned with the way the opening drives of the 1st and 2nd half went, Clarion was getting gashed on the ground. After some adjustments were made in both cases, they kept one of the league’s best RB tandems in check. Tobias Robinson ran for 112 yards and 2 scores on 28 carries, while Harvie Tuck carried it 11 times for 32 yards and a score. The Golden Eagle “D” held IUP to just 2.8 yards a carry. A

Linebackers- Despite the crazy numbers that Hoggard put up, it was Joe Fox that won the Hager Paving Player of the Game. Fox accounted for 15 tackles, 3 TFL’s, a sack and a forced fumble. Every time Clarion needed a play on the defensive side of the football, it was Fox who stepped up. As a group the LB’s did a great job maintaining contain and keeping the IUP ground game check. As the game went on they really tackled well. A

Secondary- Nick Sipes has been making a great case for Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Saturday’s performance could only help his case, 19 tackles, 2 TFL’s, and a sack. Clarion held IUP’s Pat Smith to just 10 of 15 passing for 147 yards and a TD. 60 yards and the score came on one play. Daily Whitten may have saved the game breaking up a pass on the final drive of IUP. Shawn Sopic added 4 solo tackles and a pass break up. Chris Wilson was the leading tackler in the secondary with 7 stops. A+

Special Teams- Things started out pretty rough when Nathan Conway’s first punt was blocked by Myke Wells and led to IUP’s 2nd TD. After that, Clarion tightened things up. The Clarion kick coverage was great holding Akwasi Owusu-Ansah to just 51 return yards. Hoggard returned 5 KO’s for 117 yards. Mamula was 3 of 4 in PAT’s, blocked, and made a 22 yard FG. B

Overall- Clarion scored 20 unanswered points after failing behind 21-10. IUP isn’t as good as IUP has been in years past, but make no mistake about it; they still have plenty of talent. In reality nobody played particularly well in the early going, but it was they way that they responded and bounced back that earned the grades that I gave them. This was the type of game that Clarion would have folded up shop and gotten blown out in years past, but there was no quit in the Golden Eagles. The past couple of weeks Clarion has won games by making plays down the stretch, to me that’s a sign that the program is turning the corner. A It will take another great effort if they want to earn their 7th win of the season this week at Edinboro.