FIGHTING SCOTS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME, 23-14, OVER KUTZTOWN

KUTZTOWN, PA - You can pardon Edinboro University head coach Lou Tepper if he says he's had enough of Homecoming games. The Fighting Scots played in their fifth Homecoming game of the season, coming away with a hard-fought 23-14 win at Kutztown, scoring the final 16 points. The victory improves Edinboro's record to 4-1 in Homecoming contests. More importantly, the Fighting Scots, ranked sixth in the Northeast Region, have now won five straight games to improve to 7-2 overall.

An inspired Kutztown team jumped out to a 7-0 lead just three plays into the game when Jeremy Wesley took a short bubble screen pass from Jeremy Copeland and turned it into a 57-yard touchdown. Edinboro had a three-and-out series, but the third play of Kutztown's next drive was key for Edinboro. Chris Avery (Berea, OH/Berea) picked off a Copeland pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, tying the score at 7-7 less than three minutes into the game.

The tie lasted for all of 14 seconds, as James Brooks took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. It marked the first kickoff return for a touchdown against the Fighting Scots since 2001 when Dave Brown of Shippensburg turned the trick.

Edinboro's next three scores were courtesy of Kody Robertson (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson), who booted field goals of 23, 29 and 25 yards. The first came with 2:46 left in the first quarter, concluding an eight-play, 65-yard drive. The first quarter ended with Kutztown ahead, 14-10.

A 26-yard punt return by Lincoln Bufalino (Edinboro, PA/General McLane) set up the next score, as Robertson was true from 29 yards out midway through the second quarter. Edinboro put together one more drive in the quarter, moving to the Kutztown 37 before the march stalled. The half ended with Edinboro trailing 14-13, the first time the Scots have trailed at the half since the Shippensburg game in week four.

Edinboro controlled play in the second half, holding the ball for over 20 minutes, yet scored just twice. They took the opening kickoff and marched to the Kutztown 17, but committed its only turnover of the day, losing a fumble. Kutztown would only have the ball for ten plays in the period. After recovering the fumble, the Golden Bears moved to the Edinboro 30, but Copeland threw his third interception of the day, with Tom Davidson (Geneva, OH/Geneva) recording the first of his two interceptions, this one in the end zone.

The Fighting Scots put together a long drive that used up 7 minutes and 17 seconds, covering 15 plays and 73 yards, but had to settle for Robertson's 25-yard field goal with 44 seconds left in the third quarter. That gave Edinboro its first lead of the game at 16-14. The Scots converted three third downs in the drive, with Justin Bouch (Brackenridge, PA/Highlands) finding Justin Lipscomb (Roaming Shores, OH/Grand Valley) for 18 yards on 3rd-and-5, then hooking up with Lipscomb for a 15-yard gain on 3rd-and-10, down to the Golden Bear 15.

The Golden Bears drove into Edinboro territory early in the fourth quarter, reaching the 30 before a sack by Brandon Banas (Buffalo, NY/McKinley) forced Kutztown to punt. Edinboro answered with another long drive, and this time the Scots didn't settle for three points. Going 80 yards in 11 plays, Andre Burke (Wilkinsburg, PA/Valley) scored his 16th touchdown of the season on a two-yard run to give the Scots a 23-14 lead with 4:22 remaining. The drive took 6 minutes and 19 seconds, with Burke carring five times for 36 yards. Bouch again came up with a pair of big third down completions, both to Ryan Valasek (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands). The first covered 35 yards on a 3rd-and-3 play, and the second was a nine-yarder on 3rd-and-8, going down to the KU 11. Edinboro scored three plays later.

Burke fell short of his fourth consecutive 200-yard effort, but still finished with 159 yards on 33 carries. The junior tailback has now rushed for 1,451 yards, the fifth-highest season total. His 16 TDs is tied for third. Edinboro finished the day with 210 yards rushing and 401 yards in total offense. Phillips added 52 yards on 12 carries. Bouch completed 16 of 26 passes for 191 yards, moving into second place in career completions (384) and fourth place in career attempts (634). Valasek hauled in 3 passes for 69 yards, with Lipscomb adding 3 for 39 yards. He has now caught at least one pass in 31 straight games. Ed Brown (North Springfield, PA/ Cathedral Prep) also had 3 receptions for 28 yards.

The defense turned in a strong effort after giving up the long pass early, with that representing one quarter of Kutztown's 232 yards. The Golden Bears were limited to 50 yards rushing, the sixth team to fail to rush for 100 yards. A.J. Cousins (Chillicothe, OH/Chillicothe) led the way with a career-high 9 tackles. Edinboro entered the game ranked fifth in the country in turnover margin, and added to that with four interceptions. The Scots now have 26 interceptions for the season, tying the school record set in 1971.

Edinboro concludes the regular season next Saturday, November 6, hosting Lock Haven. A win would assure the Scots of no worse than a tie for their second straight PSAC West title.

~ Fighting Scots ~

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Created on ... October 30, 2004