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BOX SCORE
EDINBORO, PA - A year ago the Edinboro University football team ran off a six-game winning streak to conclude the regular season and secure its first NCAA Division II playoff bid since 1995. Head coach Lou Tepper is hoping the same thing will happen this year. His Fighting Scots took care of the first part of the equation, defeating Lock Haven, 38-17, for its sixth straight triumph. Now Edinboro must wait until Sunday afternoon to find out if it is six teams selected for the Northeast Regional.
The victory boosted Edinboro's record to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the PSAC West, with the Fighting Scots finishing in a three-way tie with Shippensburg and Indiana(Pa.) for the PSAC West championship. It marks the first time Edinboro has won back-to-back PSAC titles, and a NCAA playoff bid would be just the second time a Fighting Scot team went to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. It previously happened in 1989 and 1990. The Fighting Scots entered the game ranked 24th in the AFCA Division II poll and were sixth in the Northeast Region rankings. Lock Haven concludes its season with a 3-8 record and 1-5 in the PSAC West.
Edinboro jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter, but a game Lock Haven team never allowed the Fighting Scots to pull away. After a three-and-out series for Lock Haven to start the game, Lincoln Bufalino's (Edinboro, PA/General McLane) 17-yard punt return gave the Scots excellent starting position at the LHU 36. Six plays later Edinboro reached paydirt when Justin Bouch (Brackenridge, PA/Highlands) found Justin Lipscomb (Roaming Shores, OH/Grand Valley) for a four-yard touchdown pass on third and goal. Kody Robertson (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) booted the first of five extra points.
The Fighting Scots scored on their second possession, as well, marching 63 yards on 10 plays to take a 14-0 lead with 1:38 left in the first period. Bouch was a perfect 4-for-4 on the drive for 53 yards, with Andre Burke (Wilkinsburg, PA/Valley). Pounding in from two yards out for his 17th touchdown. That ties him for second in season rushing touchdowns. Burke ended the afternoon with eighth 100-yard day with 136 yards on 24 carries. He now has 1,587 yards on 258 carries, ranking fourth in season rushing yards and season rushing attempts. He is one of six Northeast Region finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
A short 21-yard punt into a stiff wind gave lock haven the ball at the Edinboro 29 early in the second quarter, and the Bald Eagles took advantage with a three-yard run by Rob Kristiniak to close the gap to 14-7. The Scots were knocking on the door once again after another strong special teams play, as Ryan Valasek (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the LHU 36. Burke carried three times to the Lock Haven 7, and Bouch followed with a seven-yard scoring pass to Lipscomb with 6:42 left in the half.
Edinboro had two more opportunities to score before intermission but failed both times. The Fighting Scots marched from their own 24 to the LHU 26 but lost the ball on a fumble. Lock Haven returned the favor three plays later, with Dave Jazenski (Erie, PA/Iroquois) falling in a botched snap at the LHU 27 with 1:04 in the half. A 21-yard pass from Bouch to Nate Eimer (Oswego, IL/ West Aurora) moved the ball to the LHU 6, but three straight incompletions left the Scots facing fourth down. Robertson's 23-yard field goal attempt was wide left, snapping a streak of six straight successful three-pointers.
The second half featured four straight series with scores by the two teams. Lock Haven closed the margin to 21-10 on Danny Hagerman's 45-yard field goal at 10:41 of the third quarter. Mike Nesby set up the score with an interception. Edinboro boosted the margin to 28-10 with a time-consuming drive on the ensuing series. With Burke and Matt Phillips (Monaca, PA/Monaca) taking turns carrying the ball, the Scots marched 75 yards on 14 plays, chewing up 7 minutes and 23 seconds. Phillips capped the drive with a one-yard plunge.
The Bald Eagles put together their best drive of the day on the next series, going 60 yards in 11 plays, converting once on third down and once on fourth down. Kristiniak scored his second touchdown of the day, and just the fifth allowed by Edinboro on the ground all year, on a four-yard run.
The fourth straight series with a score ended with Edinboro boosting the lead back up to 38-17 with an 8-play, 65-yard march, featuring the bullish runs of 251 lb. fullback Phillips. He finished the march with a 10-yard run with 11:00 remaining.
The Fighting Scots tacked on a 22-yard field by Robertson with 2:51 to play for the final score.
Edinboro finished the afternoon with 456 total yards, including 261 yards on the ground, the fifth straight game with at least 200 yards rushing. In addition to Burke, Phillips ran for a season-high 74 yards on 10 carries. Bouch completed 14 of 23 passes for 194 yards with 2 TDs and an INT. Lipscomb caught a career-high 8 passes for 93 yards, moving into fifth place in career yards receiving with 1,824 yards. He also ranks fourth in career touchdown receptions with 15.
Lock Haven ended the day with 269 total yards, but did become just the fourth team to rush for 100 yards with 113 yards. Edinboro entered the game ranked tenth in Division II in rushing defense. Maurice walker led the way with 79 yards on 26 carries. Kristiniak completed 14 of 28 passes for 156 yards with an interception. Justin Marshall caught 6 passes for 50 yards.
Tim Hyde (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) led the Edinboro defense with 8 tackles and an interception. The pickoff broke the school record for interceptions with a season. Edinboro now has 27 interceptions, breaking the record of 26 set in 1971.
Edinboro must now wait until Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to find out if it makes its second straight trip to the NCAA Playoffs. The Division playoff field will be announced at that time on ESPNews.
On chances of making NCAA Playoffs: "I told the team we're really proud of them. We really love this group, whether there's another game or not. We had two years of kids who have done well in the classroom and exhibited character on the field and in the community. Tomorrow we'll find out if we make the playoffs. I'm optimistic. I really feel we'll be chosen."
At 2-2 did you think you had a chance to make playoffs: "I think we all felt there was a chance for a 7-3 team to make it. Now we know you have to win eight gamrs to go. There's no question we were in a familiar position to last year."
"I didn't really think we played a great game on offense or defense. With the exception of the missed field goal, we played well on special teams. I think Lock played hard, harder than I expected them to."
Talk about 75-yard drive and using Matt Phillips more: "We decided to give him the ball on inside zones, and he kept hammering at them. We ate up a lot of clock with that drive and scored some points. I think we took the momentum away from them."
~ Fighting Scots ~
Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index
Created on ... November 6, 2004