![[Bullet]](../tribullet.gif)
Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index
SHIPPENSBURG, PA - Something had to give when one of the best ground games in Division II met one of the best rushing defense in Division II. Unfortunately for Edinboro, the offense got the better of the defense at Shippensburg on Saturday, as the tenth-ranked Red Raiders celebrated Homecoming and the opening of PSAC West action with a 17-10 win over the Fighting Scots. Shippensburg remains undefeated at 5-0 while Edinboro balances at 2-2.
Shippensburg entered the game ranked seventh in Division II in rushing offense at 277.8 yards per game, while Edinboro came in fourth in rushing defense, giving up just 135 yards in three games, or 45.0 ypg. The Red Raiders ended the afternoon with 262 yards on 52 carries, with All-American fullback John Kuhn leading the way with 123 yards on 32 rushes. In actuality, the Fighting Scot defense held its won with the Red Raider ground game much of the game, but the Wing T attack broke off ten runs of 10 yards-or-more.
Edinboro's inability to sustain its own ground game and a slew of penalties, plus three turnovers, played as large a role in the defeat at Shippensburg's ability to run the ball. The Fighting Scots managed just 97 yards rushing on 27 carries against a Red Raider defense ranked 13th in the country against the rush. Overall Shippensburg's defense was ranked 12th in total defense, and gave up just 275 total yards to the Fighting Scots. Shippensburg finished the day with 382 total yards.
The Fighting Scots led the PSAC in fewest penalties a year ago, and had committed just 13 for 110 yards through three games. But Edinboro was whistled for 13 penalties for 101 yards, many either giving Ship 1st-and-5 situations or keeping drives alive.
Following a scoreless first quarter Edinboro took a 3-0 lead on Kody Robertson's (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) 20-yard field goal with 8:45 left in the second quarter. The score was set up by a 57-yard pass from Justin Bouch (Brackenridge, PA/Highlands) to Justin Lipscomb (Roaming Shores, OH/Grand Valley). It was Edinboro's first pass completion of the day and came after a conservative Edinboro attack saddled with poor field position had run on six consecutive downs and 12 of its first 14 plays.
Shippensburg took the ensuing kickoff and drove 66 yards on just five plays, with a pair of Tony Gomez pass completions highlighting the march. On a 3rd-and-7 play he found Tim Devanney for 31 yards to the EU 32. One play later Gomez hooked up with a steaking Patrick Ferguson in the end zone for a 32-yard TD pass and a 7-3 lead.
It appeared the score would remain that way heading into the half, but Edinboro's Matt Phillips (Monaca, PA/Monaca) fumbled at the EU 29 while struggling for extra yardage, with Ship recovering with 1:51 left in the half. The Edinboro defense held the Red Raiders to a 30-yard field goal by Jamie Reder.
Shippensburg took the second half kickoff and increased the lead to 17-3 thanks to a six-play, 71-yard march. A 14-yard run by Ferguson, with a 15-yard facemask penalty added on, on a 3rd-and-4 play kept the drive alive, and three plays later Gomez threw his second touchdown pass, a 17-yarder to Andre McLaurin.
Holding a 17-3 lead with four minutes to play and the ball in Edinboro territory, Shippensburg looked ready to put the game away. But Tim Hyde (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) sacked Gomez and forced a fumble, which Seth Fragale (Emporium, PA/Cameron County) recovered at the Ship 47. Four plays later Bouch found former high school teammate Ryan Valasek (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) behind the Ship secondary for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Robertson's extra point made it 17-10 with 2:45 to play, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by Shippensburg and the Red Raiders proceeded to run out the clock.
Bouch completed 14 of 27 passes for 178 yards with a touchdown, but was guilty of two interceptions. Lipscomb had 5 receptions for 73 yards, with Valasek adding 4 catches for 67 yards. Andre Burke (Wilkinsburg, PA/Valley) paced the ground game with 67 yards on 19 carries.
Hyde led the defensive effort with 9 tackles, three for losses. Tom Davidson (Geneva, OH/Geneva) added 8 stops. Matt Barley (Springville, NY/Springville Griffith Inst.) had one of bhis best days as the Edinboro punter, averaging 40.8 yards on five punts.
Edinboro will play in its second straight Homecoming game next weekend, travelling to Clarion for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, October 2.
~ Fighting Scots ~
Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index
Created on ... September 25, 2004