CLARION — Finally, Matt Koerper is enjoying the best of two worlds at Clarion University.

The Seneca Valley graduate and Seven Fields resident is a red-shirt junior defensive tackle with the Golden Eagles. He is in his first year as a starter and Clarion is off to its best start since 2002, sporting a 4-0 record.

That's not by coincidence.

“Matt has caused issues for every opposing offense we've played,” Clarion line coach Brian Steiner said. “He's been making a lot of plays.

“Playing inside, he gets double-teamed a lot of times. His added muscle mass this year has really helped him in that regard.”

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Koerper estimates gaining 15 pounds of muscle during the off-season. He accumulated 30 tackles — including five tackles for loss — as a non-starter last year.

“I didn't want to put on any bad weight and lose any speed as a result,” Koerper said. “I concentrated on strengthening my thigh area so I wouldn't be pushed off the ball and it's paid off so far.”

Through four games, Koerper has picked up 16 tackles, eight solo stops, and is second on the team with 4.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks.

He had five tackles and took part in a pair of quartterback sacks in Saturday's 47-31 upset win at previously unbeaten and PSAC West preseason favorite Gannon.

“That was the biggest win of my football career,” Koerper said. “It proved we're legit, shows that we're really here.”

It also showed that Clarion's on-field success is matching Koerper's off-field success. He is carrying a 3.74 grade point average as an accounting major.

“My goal has always been to make academic all-conference, to show I'm a well-rounded student athlete,” Koerper said. “Now that we're winning on the field, I feel like I'm helping out there as well.

“Making all-conference in football would be great, but I don't want that to supersede any team goals or success. I want the team to keep winning, No. 1.

“I just hope to continue playing like I have been and see where that puts me at the end,” he added.

East Brady graduate and Clarion coach Chris Weibel said Koerper has come into his own this year through basic work ethic.

“He's just one of those kids who never takes a practice or a play off,” Weibel said. “He's a constant hard worker and that shows on the field.

“Matt lines up and battles against some 300-pounders inside and he's more than holding his own in there. Quickness has always been one of his assets as a lineman. Now he's got the strength to go with it.”

Koerper credits Steiner — who is also Clarion's recruiting coordinator — for bringing him along as a player.

“He's an awesome coach. He's one of the reasons I came here,” Koerper said. “He is really intense. If you take one snap off during drills, you'll be running after practice.”

Steiner chuckled at the thought.

“From Day 1 here, we've tried to get our linemen to work on pursuit every single day,” he said. “It's always about running to the football, about taking the ball away from the offense, whether it's a game or a practice.

“It's full go, all of the time. We won't accept anything less.”

Weibel was an All-American quarterback at Clarion and guided the Golden Eagles to the Division II semifinals in 1996.

He believes similar football glory can still be attained at Clarion.

“If we want it, we have to take it,” Weibel said. “You do that by taking no plays off. You go at it hard every day.

“Matt Koerper is a real leader in that regard.”

Koerper said the Golden Eagles were confident going up to Gannon.

“We knew we could do it,” he said. “Our first three games weren't against great competition (Lock Haven, Millersville and Cheyney) and we knew that. Still, we know how well we can play. We had to prove it against one of toughest teams and we did that.

“Our offense has been so much better than it's been in the past. The defense is feeding off their success. Now, we just have to keep it going.”