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Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index
EDINBORO, PA - Edinboro employed a bruising ground game to claim a key PSAC West victory over Indiana(Pa.) on Saturday, 38-14. The victory boosted the Fighting Scots to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC West, while IUP falls to 4-3 and 2-1, respectively. Edinboro, winners of three in a row, came into the game ranked seventh in the Northeast Region while IUP was sixth.
A strong wind going from one end of the field to the other figured to play a huge role in the game, but Edinboro scored 24 points going into the wind while IUP managed just a touchdown. The fact the Fighting Scots were able to run the ball effectively negated the wind, as Edinboro ran for 278 yards. That set up a huge time of possession advantage, with Edinboro holding the ball for 36:05 compared to IUP's 23:55. In addition, the Fighting Scots converted 10 of 18 third downs.
The game featured plenty of firsts for Edinboro, as it was the first back-to-back wins over the Indians since 1978-79-80, and the first win at Sox Harrison Stadium over IUP since 1995, snapping a four-game losing streak. In addition, Andre Burke (Wilkinsburg, PA/Valley) continued his outstanding season with a career-high 219 yards on 36 carries. The junior tailback became the first runner in Edinboro history to rush for 200 yards in back-to-back games. Burke rushed for 203 yards a week ago against California(Pa.). That pushed his season total to 1,072 yards, already the 12th-highest season total. The 219 yards is tied for the 12th-highest single-game total, and was the fourth-highest total ever against IUP.
The game hardly looked like a runaway when IUP took the opening kickoff and drove 73 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown - into the wind. The score came on a 16-yard pass from Kevin Weidl to Pat Liebert, the fourth time the tow hooked up in the drive. Edinboro answered with a drive of its own, going 62 yards on just six plays thanks to Burke. He carried four times for 52 yards, with the final carry a 28-yard run up the middle for his 14th touchdown of the season.
A short punt into the wind set up Edinboro's next score, giving the Scots the lead for good. The punt traveled just seven yards, and IUP was called for a personal foul, as well, moving the ball to the IUP 27. After a pair of Burke runs Justin Bouch (Brackenridge, PA/Highlands) hooked up with Justin Lipscomb (Roaming Shores, OH/Grand Valley) for an 18-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
Edinboro went up 21-7 with 6"09 left to play in the second quarter when Matt Phillips (Monaca, PA/Monaca) bulled in from a yard out for the first of his two touchdowns. The score came after Weidl completed a pass to Joe Slappy at the IUP 47. Tom Davidson (Geneva, OH/Geneva) knocked the ball loose, with Tim Hyde (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) picking it up and returning it 23 yards to the IUP 21.
IUP got a break when Chaz Hollins recovered Burke's fumble at the Edinboro 33 late in the second quarter. On the very next play Weidl found Slappy open down the middle for a 33-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 21-14 with 2:25 left in the half. Edinboro again answered with an impressive 11-play, 57-yard drive as Bouch completed 6 of 8 passes and converted a key fourth down in the final seconds. He hit Aaron Fetty (Franklin, PA/Franklin) with a 14-yard pass to the IUP 3 with eight seconds remaining, then found Lipscomb in the left corner of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown with one second showing.
IUP had the wind in the third quarter, but the Edinboro defense held the Indians without a first down in the quarter. The offense, meanwhile, tacked on ten points to boost the lead to 38-14. Burke's 42-yard not only put him over 1,000 yards, but took the Scots down to the IUP 25. The drive stalled at the six, but Kody Robertson (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) came in and kicked a 24-yard field goal at the 6:14 mark.
On the very next play from scrimmage Weidl's pass was tipped by Brandon Banas (Buffalo, NY/McKinley) and intercepted by Seth Fragale (Emporium, PA/Cameron County) at the IUP 42. Bouch completed passes of 20 and 24 yards to Jeff Dinger (Conneaut, OH/Conneaut), the second carrying down to the IUP 1. On the next play Phillips scored his second touchdown.
Edinboro finished the day with 419 yards in total offense, while IUP had 306. The Indians were held to 58 yards rushing by an Edinboro defense which entered the game ranked second in the PSAC and 17th nationally in rushing defense at 93.3 ypg. Weidl completed 13 of 23 passes for 226 yards, but was intercepted three times. Liebert finished with 6 receptions for 110 yards.
Phillips complemented Burke with 48 yards on 12 carries and the two touchdowns. Bouch, meanwhile, was 14 of 22 for 141 yards with the 2 TDs and an interception. He moved into fourth place in career touchdowns with 28. Lipscomb caught 4 passes for 40, making it 29 straight games with at least one reception. He moved into fifth place in career receptions with 92.
The defense was paced by Fragale, who totaled 12 tackles, a sack and the interception. Elliott Page (Clairton, PA/Clairton) and Davidson also had interceptions, the team-high fifth of the year for Davidson.
After two straight games at home, Edinboro hits the highways for a pair of contests, beginning with a Saturday, October 23 date at Slippery Rock.
~ Fighting Scots ~
Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index
Created on ... October 16, 2004