SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – PSAC Associate Commissioner Will Adair hosted the PSAC-Western Division Football Media Day at Slippery Rock University at Noon on Monday as IUP was installed as the pre-season favorite to win the Western Division according to the pre-season coaches poll. Clarion was picked to finish seventh.
The Golden Eagles enter the 2013 season under eighth year head coach Jay Foster returning 19 starters and 36 lettermen from a team that finished 4-7 overall last year and notched a 2-5 mark in the rugged PSAC-Western Division.
“We’re excited about getting the 2013 Fall camp started,” said Foster whose team reports to camp on Wednesday, August 14. “Every team would like to start the season with a high pre-season ranking, but my focus is on where we finish the season. That’s what really counts. I like our team this year and believe we have more pieces in place at key positions to have a quality season in 2013. We’ve proven we can play with these teams, it’s up to us to get the job done.”
IUP garnered seven of eight first place votes, while Mercyhurst was predicted to finish second and had one, first place vote. Rounding out the eight team field in order of finish was Slippery Rock third, California fourth, Gannon fifth, Edinboro sixth, Clarion seventh and Seton Hill eighth.
IUP and Mercyhurst tied for first place in the Western Division last year with 6-1 records, while Slippery Rock and Cal both ended up with 5-2 divisional marks. 2013 marks the first season in the PSAC-West for Seton Hill, who moves to the PSAC to compete in all sports from the WVIAC.
Clarion was represented at the media day by senior offensive tackle Mike Felker (Gibsonia, Pine Richland) and senior defensive end Adam Bostick (Lititz, Manheim Township).
Felker, a three-year starter at left tackle, was a second team PSAC-West All-Conference selection in 2012 and 2010.
Bostick, a senior, defensive end, has earned three letters with the Golden Eagles. Last year he posted 29 tackles, 7 tfl’s and 3 sacks, with 1 interception, 2 fumbles caused and 2 break-ups.
Spearheading the Clarion offense in 2013 is senior quarterback Ben Fiscus (Indiana). Fiscus completed 200 of 383 passes for 2,480 yadrs and 15 td’s last year, while running for 678 yards and 5 td’s, including a school record 88-yard td run at LIU-Post.
The top defender is returning third team FB Gazette All-American Julian Howsare (Jr. Altoona) at defensive end. The junior posted 58 hits, 16 tfl’s and 14 sacks a year ago as he terrorized opponent backfields.
Coach Foster begins his eighth season leading the Blue and Gold. He was the 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” leading the 2009 team to an 8-3 overall record, a second place finish in the PSAC-West with a 6-1 mark and earned an 8th place ranking in the NCAA Div. II East Region’s final poll.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion has six home games in 2013 – including the first four games of the season… On Sept. 7 Clarion hosts Kutztown at 1pm; then hosts Lock Haven on Sept. 14 at 6pm, Mercyhurst on Sept. 21 at 6pm, and Gannon for Homecoming on Sept. 28 at 2pm. The other two home games include Seton Hill on October 26 at 1pm and IUP on November 2 at 1pm…. Shippensburg was chosen to finish first in the Eastern Division, followed by Bloomsburg, West Chester, and Kutztown.
