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Complete
Box Score
EDINBORO, PA – Edinboro rallied from a
ten-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter, only to see IUP
freshman Nick Wallace kick a field at the end of regulation and
another in overtime to give IUP a 23-20 victory in overtime. The
contest was the PSAC West opener for both teams. Edinboro falls to
3-2 overall, while the Indians improve to 3-1. IUP snapped a
three-game losing streak to the Boro.
The overtime contest was the second in Edinboro
history, and the first since the Fighting Scots defeated Lock
Haven in the final game of the 1997 campaign, 29-23 in overtime.
Trailing 17-7 entering the fourth quarter, the
Fighting Scots pulled to within three points on a 15-yard
touchdown pass from Trevor Harris (Waldo, OH/Marion Pleasant)
to Kyle Witucki (Tarentum, PA/Highlands). The pass capped
a six-play, 76 yard drive after IUP had missed a 41-yard field
goal. The drive featured a 66-yard completion from Harris to Rich
Cerro (Franklin, PA/Franklin) on a 3rd-and-19 play, carrying
down to the IUP 19.
After forcing a three-and-out by IUP, Edinboro
put together another six play march, this one covering 58 yards.
On 3rd-and-3 from the IUP 37, Ulysee Davis (Bryans Road,
PA/Bishop McNamara) burst off right tackle for 29 yards to the
IUP 8. Prior to that run Edinboro had rushed for minus 19 yards.
Two plays later Davis scored his seventh touchdown of the season
on a one-yard run. Kody Robertson’s (Columbus,
OH/Hilliard Davidson) extra point was wide left, leaving
Edinboro with a 20-17 lead with 7:46 to play.
IUP would drive down to the Edinboro 26 on its
next possession, but Tauren Valentine (Allentown, PA/Dieruff)
halted the march with an interception. Edinboro failed to gain a
first down and was forced to punt with IUP taking over at its own
40 with 56 seconds left.
The Indians used a 32-yard hookup from Kevin
Weidl to Anthony Rodriguez to get down to the Boro 21 with 44
ticks left. Later in the drive Weidl connected with Dan Pickens on
a 15-yard pass play to the Edinboro 7 with 30 seconds left. The
Indians moved to the three before settling for a 25-yard field
goal from Wallace as time expired to send the game into overtime.
Edinboro had possession first in the overtime
period. The Fighting Scots failed to record a first down and had
to settle for a 40-yard field goal attempt by Robertson. The kick
was wide right.
The Indians also failed to gain a first down,
moving the ball to the Edinboro 19 before Wallace came in and
drilled the game-winning 37-yard field goal.
With a strong wind blowing from one end of the
field to the other, IUP decided to force Edinboro to move into the
wind to start the game. The strategy failed, however, when the
Fighting Scots promptly drove 69 yards in eight plays to take a
7-0 lead. Harris completed three passes for 62 yards into the
strong wind, the last a 20-yarder to Ryan Valasek (Natrona
Heights, PA/Highlands).
The Indians answered with a scoring drive of
their own, fueled by a 51-yard kickoff return by Rodriguez to the
Edinboro 34. Four plays later, aided by a holding call by the
Scots, Chris Morgan scored on a four-yard run to knot the score at
seven apiece.
The rest of the half belonged to the IUP
defense, as the Indians forced four Edinboro turnovers. Two of the
miscues led directly to IUP scores. The Indians recovered a fumble
at the Edinboro 40 late in the first quarter, leading to a 25-yard
field goal by Wallace at 14:06 of the second quarter.
The Indians went on top 17-7 less than a minute
later when Mike Reid picked up a Boro fumble and returned it 31
yards for a touchdown.
The Fighting Scots had a scoring opportunity
aborted later in the second quarter. With the ball at the IUP 10,
Harris’ pass was tipped and intercepted by Reid at the six.
Edinboro ended the day with 326 total yards,
while IUP had 281 yards. Most of Edinboro’s yards came
through the air, as the Indians stifled the Boro ground game.
Harris threw for 272 yards, the 12th-highest single-game total,
completing 15 of 25 passes with 2 TDs and an INT. The redshirt
freshman was sacked six times. Valasek hauled in 4 passes for 115
yards, his second straight 100-yard receiving effort and the third
of his career. Davis led the ground game with 54 yards on 26
carries.
Morgan led the IUP ground attack with 116 yards
on 24 rushes. The Indians finished with 107 yards rushing. Weidl
completed 14 of 28 passes for 174 yards.
Edinboro hosts California(Pa.) next Saturday,
October 7, in a matchup of last year’s PSAC West
co-champions. The annual Homecoming affair kicks off at 2:00 p.m.
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