Football | 11/10/2017 3:21:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG (6-4, 4-3 PSAC East) vs CLARION (1-9, 1-6 PSAC West)
Saturday, November 11, 2017 (1:00 PM)
Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium - Bloomsburg, Pa.

GAME NOTES
Bloomsburg Game Notes
Clarion Home Page
PSAC Week 11 Notes

GAME COVERAGE
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RELATED LINKS
Bloomsburg - Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Clarion - Schedule | Roster | Statistics

SERIES HISTORY
Bloomsburg leads the all-time series, 8-4-1
Streak: Bloomsburg 6W

Last Meeting: September 9, 2017 at Clarion (Bloomsburg 29, Clarion 20)
First Meeting: September 29, 1934 at Clarion (Bloomsburg 0, Clarion 0)
Largest Bloomsburg Win: September 22, 2007 at Clarion (52-10)
Largest Clarion Win: October 9, 1993 at Clarion (40-18)

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
- The game with Clarion is the 14th in the series between the two schools, dating back to the first meeting in 1934. Bloomsburg has an 8-4-1 record in the series, with a mark of 4-2 at home and 4-2-1 on the road. The only home losses to the Golden Eagles were in 1946 and 1992. The Huskies have won the last six in the series beginning with a 24-10 victory in 2006.

- The Huskies and Golden Eagles will meet for the second time this season on Saturday. While BU has played the same team twice in a year seven times since 2005, all were once in the regular season and then again in the postseason. The last time they faced the same team twice in the regular season was in 1945 (home-and-home series with East Stroudsburg and Lock Haven) against a Bloomsburg team made up of naval cadets training at the school during the Second World War. The last time the same team was faced twice in a non-war regular season was Scranton High School in 1901.

- Redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) needs 96 rushing yards to give him 1,000 for the season. The Huskies have had at least one 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last seven seasons, in 13 of the last 14, and in 15 of the last 17 years.

- Redshirt juniors Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) (18 TFL, 9 sacks) and Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) (11 TFL, 7 sacks) lead a Huskies' defensive unit that has posted a PSAC-leading 31 sacks on the season. Clarion, meanwhile, has allowed the most sacks (30) in the PSAC. Klinger's 18 tackles for a loss is the most by a BU player since Justin Shirk had 21.5 during the 2014 season. However, Shirk played 13 games that year.

- The victory at East Stroudsburg on October 21 clinched Bloomsburg's 19th consecutive winning season dating back to 1999. It is the third-longest streak in PSAC history, behind West Chester's 31 (1940-42, 1945-72) and Clarion's 22 (1964-85). The 19 straight seasons with at least six victories continues a PSAC record. Bloomsburg has now posted a winning record in 23 of the last 24 years.

LAST WEEK
Bloomsburg allowed 20 first-quarter points and could not dig itself out of the hole as the Huskies dropped a 20-6 decision at Shippensburg. Bloomsburg was limited to just a pair of field goals from Ryan Abbott (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School) on Saturday as the Huskies saw their streak of 126 consecutive games of scoring a touchdown come to an end. The Huskies also saw their string of 62 straight games of reaching double figures in scoring on the road come to a halt. Nate Monroe (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) posted a career-high 11 total tackles to lead the way in that department. Alex Annan (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) had a career-high 10 stops while Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) continued to torment opposing quarterbacks as he finished with a career-high-tying ten tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) had a pair of sacks and forced two fumbles - one of which he recovered. Dexter Jordan (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) had two interceptions - his first two of the season - while Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) had the other.

The Golden Eagles fell in a road shootout on Saturday, dropping a 38-28 decision to Gannon at McConnell Family Stadium. The Clarion defense did its best to limit the high-powered Gannon offense, intercepting four passes and recovering one fumble for a five-turnover day on the road.  They harassed Golden Knights quarterback Jimmy Keefe to the tune of a -1.3 quarterback rating, holding him to 5-of-11 for 34 yards and the four picks. Mylique McGriff exploded in the running game for Clarion, finishing with 216 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, giving him a 7.4 yards per carry average on the afternoon.  Kyle Evans made the most of his lone carry on the day, punching in a touchdown from one yard out in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28.

STREAKS SNAPPED
Bloomsburg entered last Saturday's game at Shippensburg having scored at least one touchdown in 126 consecutive games and having reached double figures in 62 straight contests. However, both those strings came to a screeching halt on Saturday as the Huskies were limited to only a pair of field goals from redshirt junior Ryan Abbott (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School) in the loss.

HOUSE OF HORRORS
Bloomsburg has struggled at Redman Stadium this season as the loss to Lock Haven dropped the Huskies to 2-3 on their home turf. Prior to this season, the Huskies had not lost three home games in a single season since 1999, when they finished 3-3 at Redman Stadium. The last losing season at home was in 1993 (2-3) and the last four-loss season came in 1992 when the team was 0-4.

SACK ATTACK
Bloomsburg has recorded 29 sacks over the last eight games after collecting only two through the first two weeks. Bloomsburg now leads the PSAC with 31 sacks on the season - 15th-most in the country. Saturday's opponent, Clarion, has allowed a PSAC-high 30 sacks on the year. Individually, redshirt junior Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) ranks second in the PSAC with nine sacks on the season. Redshirt junior Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) is tied for fourth with seven while redshirt senior Scott Beltz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl) has four sacks to put him in a tie for 20th in the conference.

GETTING IN THE BACKFIELD
Redshirt junior Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) is enjoying a breakout campaign in 2017 as he has become has force to be reckoned with for opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks. Klinger has moved into second in the PSAC in both categories as he has 18 tackles for a loss and nine quarterback sacks on the season. He trails only Slippery Rock's Marcus Martin in both categories. He has 14.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks over the course of the last six weeks. With two tackles behind the line of scrimmage on Saturday, he would become the first Husky with 20 tackles for a loss in a season since Justin Shirk finished with 21.5 during the 2014 campaign.
 
ANOTHER QUITEH LEADS THEM
Redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) rushed for a career-high 168 yards during the 38-28 win at East Stroudsburg. It was his fourth 100-yard game of the season - he picked up his first collegiate 100-yard rushing effort as he carried the ball 29 times for 118 yards in the victory at Clarion on September 9, while also hitting the century mark against Cheyney and West Chester. Quiteh leads the Huskies with 904 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 187 carries. He ranks seventh in the PSAC in rushing yards per game (90.9) and he has led the Huskies in rushing in eight of the ten games. Quiteh is the younger brother of Bloomsburg's - and the PSAC's - all-time leading rusher, Franklyn Quiteh who compiled 7,523 rushing yards from 2010-13. Franklyn won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top player in Division II during his senior season of 2013 after rushing for 2,195 yards and 29 scores. He was a three-time Harlon Hill finalist.  

PALUBINSKY IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Redshirt senior quarterback Chris Palubinsky (Ringtown, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) ran for a pair of touchdowns during the 27-24 loss to Lock Haven. The scores gave him ten rushing touchdowns on the season - most by a Bloomsburg quarterback in a single season in school history. The previous record was eight held by both Dan Latorre in 2008 and Tim Kelly in 2015. Latorre also rushed for seven in 2007 while Kelly (2013 and 2014) and Eric Miller (1999) each rushed for six in a single season.

Also against Lock Haven, Palubinsky became the tenth quarterback in school history to throw for at least 3,000 in his career as he accomplished the feat with his final completion of the day - a 10-yard connection with redshirt sophomore Jay Popson (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) on the game's final drive. Palubinsky has thrown for 3,121 yards in his career and trails Pat Carey (2009-11) by 527 yards to move into ninth on the school's all-time list.

DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN
Bloomsburg scored 17 points in the first half of the loss to Lock Haven and built up a ten-point lead (17-7). It marked only the fifth time in 427 home games, since the 1923 season, that the Huskies have led by ten or more at the half and lost. The Huskies' record with those scenarios over that period of time is now 129-5. The only two losses with leads greater than ten came in 1989 when Bloomsburg led Cheney at the half 21-0 and lost 31-28, and in 1969 against Adelphi when a 14-0 lead at the break ended in a 16-14 defeat. Bloomsburg's record in home games since 1923 when scoring 17 or more in the first half is now 118-8.

GOING STREAKING
Bloomsburg's victory over Cheyney earlier this season marked the 28th consecutive win over the Wolves in the all-time series. Bloomsburg has not lost to Cheyney since a 31-28 setback, in Bloomsburg, on October 14, 1989. The winning streak represents a school-record against a single opponent. Meanwhile, with the win the following week at Millersville, the Huskies have now won 18 consecutive contests against the Marauders dating back to a 31-21 loss at home during the 1999 campaign. The Huskies also clinched their 19th consecutive winning season with the victory at East Stroudsburg. Bloomsburg's last losing season came in 1998 when the Huskies went 5-6. It is the third longest streak in PSAC history, behind West Chester's 31 (1940-42, 1945-72) and Clarion's 22 (1964-85). The 19 straight seasons with at least six victories continues a PSAC record. Bloomsburg has now posted a winning record in 23 of the last 24 seasons.

300 GAME
Bloomsburg rushed for a season-high 300 yards at East Stroudsburg, averaging 6.1 yards on 49 carries. It marked the most rushing yards in a game by the Huskies since running for 309 yards in a double-overtime victory over Lock Haven on November 7, 2015 and the team improved to 11-0 under head coach Paul Darragh when rushing for at least 300 yards in a game.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
At East Stroudsburg, redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) established a new career-high with 168 yards and two scores on 24 carries. Redshirt sophomore Alex Gooden (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) also got over the century mark with 108 yards on 19 carries. The duo became the first pair of Bloomsburg backs to rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since Eddie Mateo (269) and Dai'Shon Munger (143) accomplished the feat in a 41-10 win over then-#7 West Chester on October 25, 2014.

GROUND GAME
Bloomsburg totaled only 332 total yards on the ground during the first three contests of the season (110.7 per game) but has combined to rush for 1,401 yards (200.1 per game) in the last seven contests. With 200-plus rushing yards in four of the last seven games, Bloomsburg has now totaled at least 200 rushing yards in a game 34 times in 57 career games under head coach Paul Darragh. Bloomsburg is 31-3 in those contests.

THROUGH THE AIR
Bloomsburg is averaging only 173.7 passing yards per game - 13th fewest in the conference. Only Cheyney (172.6), Lock Haven (164.8), and Clarion (163.3) average fewer than the Huskies. However, the duo of redshirt sophomore Michael Allen (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) and redshirt sophomore Jay Popson (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) have emerged as one of the top receiving tandoms in the conference. Allen leads the team in both receptions (44) and yards (556) while Popson is second as he has hauled in 31 passes for 500 yards. The duo has combined for 75 of the team's 137 receptions (54.7%) and 1,056 of the team's 1,737 receiving yards (60.8%). Popson caught seven passes for 121 yards in the season opener against Stonehill - the first time a Bloomsburg receiver eclipsed 100 yards receiving yards in a game since Connor Gades hauled in 102 yards against Lock Haven on November 7, 2015. Meanwhile, Allen caught seven passes for a career-high 91 yards against Kutztown. As a team, the Huskies only had 10 catches for 104 yards against the Golden Bears.

MONROE EARNS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Redshirt junior linebacker Nate Monroe (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts during Saturday's 20-19 victory at West Chester. It marks the first time in his collegiate career that he has been honored with a weekly accolade from the conference and he became the fourth different Huskies' player to earn a weekly honor this season. Monroe blocked an extra point attempt late in the second quarter which proved to be the difference as the Huskies earned a one-point victory on the road at West Chester to knock the Golden Rams from the ranks of the unbeaten in divisional play on Saturday. Monroe was also involved in a tackle of West Chester quarterback Paul Dooley short of the goal line on a two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter. That play kept the Golden Rams' lead at five points and enabled the Huskies to pick up the go-ahead score with 1:39 left in regulation. Monroe also led the Huskies with seven total tackles and had a half a tackle for a loss during the win.

GARY EARNS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Redshirt junior Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts during the Huskies' 48-19 victory over Cheyney. Gary, the PSAC leader in sacks a season ago, was up to his old tricks on Saturday as he finished the day with five total tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry. Gary's three sacks tied a career high and his four tackles for a loss established a new career best. His second sack of the game also proved to be his second forced fumble of the season and led to a 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown by freshman Aaron Trumino (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley).

SCHWARTZ EARNS FIRST WEEKLY AWARD
Senior Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Huskies' 27-10 win over Gannon. Schwartz, arguably, had the best game of his collegiate career as he led the Huskies with nine total tackles (seven solo), a sack, and an interception during the Huskies' 17-point win. He was also an integral part in limiting Gannon's offense to only 10 points (34 below Gannon's season average) and 321 yards of total offense (176.5 below Gannon's season average). The nine tackles established a new career-high for Schwartz and the sack was the first of his collegiate career (37 career games). His interception came late in the fourth quarter - at the Bloomsburg 37-yard line - and led to an Abbott field goal with under a minute remaining to put the game out of reach. It was Schwartz' first interception since November 8, 2014 during a victory at Lock Haven.

ABBOTT EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Redshirt junior placekicker Ryan Abbott (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School) was named the PSAC East Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Huskies' 29-20 victory at Clarion. Abbott was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points as he helped the Huskies to their first win of the 2017 campaign. It marked a new career-high in field goals made in a game for Abbott – his previous high was two set on two different occasions last season (at Cheyney on September 24 and at IUP on November 12). He connected on a 30-yard field goal late in the first half which, at the time, gave the Huskies a 17-13 lead over the Golden Eagles. His 35-yarder on the Huskies' first drive of the second half tied the game at 20-20 and then his 33-yard boot late in the third quarter gave Bloomsburg the lead for good at 23-20.

SERVICEMEN
Schwartz spent four years in the service, serving as a lance corporal before promotion to corporal. During his time in the Marines, Schwartz was deployed for nine months in Kunjak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where he worked as an infantry machine gunner. Deployed in 2009, he spent his days in a combat position on top of a truck, responsible for tactical employment of a heavy machine gun to provide direct fire in support of his unit. He also served a tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea with an expeditionary unit. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Alex Findura (Bloomsburg, Pa./Woodland (Ga.)) also served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry for four years. Findura's training and experience led him to become a member of an elite team called the Body Bearers, stationed in Washington D.C.  As a part of the Body Bearers, Findura was tasked with aiding in the funerals of fallen soldiers.

JONASSEN ENTERS BU HALL OF FAME
Former Husky great Eric Jonassen was inducted into the Bloomsburg University Hall of Fame on October 27 as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Jonassen is the father of starting center, Seth Jonassen (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley). Eric Jonassen was a dominant offensive lineman for two seasons on the Huskies' football team and earned a number of postseason accolades during his time at Bloomsburg. He was a two-time First Team All-PSAC selection and collected numerous All-American honors including being named Second Team AP All-American in 1990, First Team AP All-American in 1991, and First Team AFCA All-American in 1991. He was also tabbed a First Team Football Gazette All-American twice. After his collegiate career, Jonassen was drafted in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played three seasons in San Diego, participating in Super Bowl XXIX, and then played two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 1997 season. Other members of this year's class were Michele Baylor Kane (women's lacrosse), Kathy Frick (field hockey, women's lacrosse coach), Chuck Laudermilch (women's soccer coach), Ralph Moerschbacher (men's swimming), and Michelle Wolyniec (women's cross country/track and field).

SCOUTING CLARION
Clarion enters Saturday's matchup seventh in the PSAC West with a record of 1-9 (1-6 in the PSAC).  The Golden Eagles lone win on the season came against Seton Hill in a 33-28 contest on Oct. 7.  Clarion was projected to finish seventh in the coaches' preseason poll after a 4-7 finish a year ago when they claimed fifth in the PSAC West.

The Golden Eagles have been struggling on the offensive side of the ball only scoring 154 points for an average of 15.4 points per game; finding the end zone only 19 times this season.  Freshman running back Mylique McGriff has been a bright spot for the struggling Clarion offense.  McGriff has rushed for 768 yards on the season, 216 of which came last week against Gannon University.  His 76.8 yards per game put him at eighth in the PSAC trailing Bloomsburg's own Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West).  The Golden Eagles are led through the air by sophomore quarterback Jeff Clemens.  Throwing for 753 yards in his seven games this year, Clemens is 14th in the PSAC averaging 107.6 yards per game.  Clarion has been receiving a helping hand from junior running back Kyle Evans' special teams play this season.  Evans has accounted for 429 return yards in 24 attempts.  Clarion enters the weekend with the 15th ranked offense in the PSAC.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bald Eagles have allowed an average of 375.4 yards per game this season, placing them at seventh in the PSAC.  Junior linebacker Layne Skundrich who has accounted for 98 total tackles on the season leads Clarion's defense.  Skundrich 9.8 tackles per game gives him sole claim to third in the PSAC.  Fellow senior linebacker Avery Howsare has been strong contributor to the defense forcing three fumbles and accounting for 41 tackles on the season.  Clarion has controlled the air, hauling in 12 interceptions on the year.  Safety, Sam Fareri has accounted for three of the teams interceptions on the season.