RELEASE DATE: 9/1104

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CLARION USES BIG PLAYS IN SECOND HALF TO RALLY PAST MANSFIELD -- BENNETT BECOMES MU'S ALL-TIME RECEPTION YARDAGE LEADER

CLARION       34        MANSFIELD 20

Mansfield – Marcus Lowe rushed for 170 yards including touchdowns of 5, 13, and 66 yards to rally Clarion past Mansfield 34-20 in a PSAC crossover game at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.

Mansfield recovered an on side kick on the opening kickoff of the game and marched to the Clarion 17 yard line before Sean Hair connected on a 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

After holding Clarion to a three-and-out, the Mountaineers took over on their 44 yard line.

Six plays later Joe Bennett streaked down the left sideline on a third-and-three and hauled in a 34-yard touchdown catch from sophomore quarterback Matt Hilderbrand for a 10-0 lead. It was Hilderbrand’s first collegiate start.

Clarion got on the scoreboard with  :51 remaining in the first half on a 17-yard touchdown catch by Pierre Odom from Brandon Dando. The extra-attempt was blocked by Jason Zeigler to give Mansfield a 10-6 lead at halftime.

Clarion would take the lead with two third quarter touchdowns. Dan Tucker caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Dando for a 13-10 lead followed by a 5-yard touchdown run by Lowe to go up 20-10.

Mansfield cut the margin to 20-13 on a 23-yard field goal by Hair early in the fourth quarter, before Lowe answered for Clarion with touchdown runs of 13 and 66-yards.

Mansfield closed the game to 34-20 with just over three minutes remaining on a Corey Mishura 18-yard touchdown pass from David Fetzer.

Clarion rushed for 321 yards while holding Mansfield to 57 yards on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Matt Hilderbrand completed 14-of-28 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start. Joe Bennett caught seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. He becomes the Mountaineers all-time reception yardage leader with 2,512 career yards, passing Duane MacDonald's(1987-90) 2,497 yards. Senior Corey Mishura had three catches for 36 yards and a TD. Poohbear McNeal was held to 47 yards on 22 carries.

Junior defensive back Ronnie Montgomery had an exceptional game picking off two interceptions and returning them 48-yards. He also had two pass break ups and seven tackles along with 91-yards in kickoff returns.

Senior defensive backs Daricus Haynes and Joe Frick led the defensive effort with eight tackles each. Andre Turner, Jason Twedt and Luke Alex each were credited with six stops.

Clarion improves to 1-2 while Mansfield falls to 0-3.