CLARION — For a football team with 27 players on its varsity roster, injuries and turnovers can lead to a long night.

That certainly was the case for Union Thursday.

The Golden Knights entered their game with Clarion with two of their top players, senior quarterback Matt Gagliano and junior wideout Zach Traister, on the sideline with injuries.

Six turnovers in the first half made matters worse as Union (0-6, 0-6) dropped a 47-7 KSAC contest to the Bobcats (4-2, 4-2) at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

"Matt and Zach bring so much heart and leadership to the field," said Knights coach Jeremy Lipps. "And with them not able to go, it showed."

Gagliano (stomach) and Traister (leg) both sustained the injuries in last week's 42-12 loss to Moniteau. Both have a chance to return by the end of the season.

Gagliano has passed for 579 yards and six touchdowns this year and Traister, his favorite target, has grabbed 19 receptions for 315 yards and three scores.

Kurtis Shirey, who has played wide receiver most of the season, was under center for Union Thursday.

Shirey's 1-yard run on fourth down from his own 34-yard line kept Union's first drive of the game going early in the first quarter.

But he was intercepted on the next play by Clarion's Corbin Ragley, who returned the ball 16 yards to Union's 22.

Jon Kemmer scored five plays later and added the extra point to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 6:54 left in the opening period.

It was the first of four Shirey interceptions.

"The turnover battle just did not go our way," said Lipps. "Clarion likes to protect the ball with that great running game."

Kemmer added two more scoring runs in the first half, and junior Kevin Grejda scored three times by halftime, the last on a 26-yard interception return with 4:36 remaining in the second quarter that gave the hosts a 41-0 lead.

Clarion's Joel Matticks added a 66-yard scoring run to open the second half.

Union's lone score was set up by a 30-yard Taylor Smith punt return late in the third quarter.

On the next play, Trent Switzer ran 37 yards for a touchdown before Richie Corle's extra point closed the scoring.

Clarion 47, Union 7

Union 0 0 7 0— 7Clarion 20 21 6 0—47U C9 First Downs 932-148 Rushes-Yards 29-18616 Passing Yards 176-15-4 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 2-6-0164 Total Yards 2033-2 Fumbles/Lost 0-03-21 Penalties-Yards 3-15

First QuarterC — Jon Kemmer 5 run (Kemmer kick), 6:54C — Kemmer 3 run (Kemmer kick), 2:11C — Kevin Grejda 6 pass from Brandon Heeter (kick failed), 1:08

Second QuarterC — Grejda 11 pass from Heeter (Kemmer kick), 7:23C — Kemmer 10 run (Grejda pass from Heeter), 5:35C — Grejda 26 interception return (kick blocked), 4:36

Third QuarterC — Joel Matticks 66 run (kick blocked), 11:41U — Trent Switzer 37 run (Richie Corle kick), 3:20

Individual Statistics

Passing: Union, Curtis Shirey 6-15-16-4. Clarion, Brandon Heeter 2-5-17-0, Dylan Reinsel 0-1-0-0.

Rushing: Union, Colby Davis 14-59, Curtis Shirey 15-40, Trent Switzer 3-49. Clarion, Jon Kemmer 11-41, Erik Hartle 2-26, Kevin Grejda 2-26, Brandon Heeter 2-(-11), Dylan Reinsel 3-11, Kris Burkhart 5-23, Lewis Armstrong 3-4, Joel Matticks 1-66.

Receiving: Union, Taylor Smith 2-4, Trent Switzer 1-3, Shawn Earley 1-6, Colby Davis 2-3. Clarion, Kevin Grejda 2-17.