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2000-2001 Press Release Index
EDINBORO, PA - Bernard Henry (Wadesboro, NC/Anson) scored three touchdowns to lead Edinboro to a 31-17 victory over California (PA). The win evened Edinboro's record to 1-1 in PSAC West action and 2-3 overall. California (PA) was playing its PSAC West opener, and had a three-game winning streak snapped to fall to 3-2. The contest was played before a Homecoming crowd of 5,400.
Henry, a senior tailback who ranks second in the PSAC in rushing, opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game with a 32-yard run. That concluded a 3-play, 80-yard drive which began when Steve Tryon (Amherst, NY/Amherst) hooked up Chris Buehner (Hopwood, PA/laurel Highlands) on a 43-yard pass on the game's first play. Tryon was making his first start of the season.
The Vulcans answered with a 30-yard field goal by Jason Gross (Venetia, PA/Peters Township), but on the ensuing kickoff, Henry went 99 yards for an Edinboro touchdown and a 14-3 lead. The kickoff return was the third-longest in Edinboro history and the first for Henry.
Edinboro built the lead to 21-3 with just 38 seconds left in the first half. Tryon threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Stephane Lubin (Brampton, ONT/Brampton Centennial) to cap an 8-play, 90-yard drive. The touchdown pass was the first of the season for Edinboro. The drive featured a 48-yard burst by Henry as he had 102 yards rushing at the half.
Cal closed the gap to 21-10 with an 8-play, 80-yard march in the third quarter, Joe Signorella (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) covering the final two yards. Henry answered with his third touchdown a minute later, going 64 yards on the second play following the kickoff. It marked his third touchdown of at least 60 yards this season.
Edinboro used a time-consuming 17-play, 63-yard march which took up 9:13 to go up 31-10 on Sean McNicholas' (Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) 35-yard field goal. The Vulcans scored on the game's final play, with Signorella again scoring on a two-yard run.
Edinboro gained 67 yards on the ground against a Vulcan defense ranked 19th in rushing defense, giving up just 99.5 yards per game. Henry led the way with 198 yards on 16 rushes, his third straight 100-yard game and the ninth of his career. John Williams (Millgrove, ONT/Waterdown) added 66 yards on 18 carries. Tryon, a transfer from Robert Morris, completed 5 of 10 passes for 95 yards. Buehner caught 3 balls for 58 yards.
Cal finished with 200 yards on the ground, although standout rusher Wesley Cates (Westerville, OH/Westerville) was held to 91 yards on 19 carries. A year ago, Cates burned the Fighting Scots for 286 yards. Signorella added 43 yards on 12 rushes and completed 9 of 18 passes for 127 yards.
GAME NOTES:
Henry moved into ninth place in career rushing with 1,716 yards, passing Derrick Russell and Keith Collier. The 198 yards was the second-highest total of Henry's career, topped only by his 263 yards vs. Mercyhurst two weeks ago. Edinboro outgained Cal, 362 yards to 327. Cal entered the game ranked second in the PSAC in scoring defense (12.8 ppg.), second in total defense (237.0 ypg.) and third in rushing defense. Sean McNicholas' 72-yard punt was the second-longest in school history, eclipsed only by Kevin Conlan's 82-yard kick against Clarion in 1983. James Cowart (Pittsburgh, PA/Linsly School, WV) recorded his first career interception for Edinboro in the fourth quarter. Cal had not given up more than 16 points in a game in 2000.
~ Fighting Scots ~
Created on ... September 3, 2000