EDINBORO Fighting Scots (0-4, 0-1 PSAC West) at INDIANA(PA) Crimson Hawks (2-1, 1-0 PSAC West)
 Indiana(Pa.) Game Notes 
Radio:  WFSE 88.9 (Streamed on www.edinboronow.com)
TV:  none

The Game Story
Edinboro hits the road for the second time in 2015, still in search in win number one. A young Fighting Scots' squad turned in an inspired effort last week before suffering a 37-30 loss to California(Pa.) in their PSAC West opener. That left Edinboro at 0-4 for the season. Edinboro opened the season with a 30-10 loss to Saint Joseph's(Ind.), followed by a 20-13 setback to Shippensburg. The first road game of the season resulted in a 56-12 loss at East Stroudsburg.

Indiana(Pa.) looks to celebrate Homecoming against Edinboro. The Crimson Hawks are 2-1 following an impressive 35-14 win at Mercyhurst last week, handing the Lakers their first loss. IUP opened the season with a 34-33 loss to Kutztown as the Golden Bears rallied with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. Since then the Crimson Hawks have posted back-to-back wins, starting with a 38-13 win over Lock Haven.  

The Fighting Scots are looking to snap a string of three straight losing seasons. That marks the first time with three consecutive losing campaigns since a stretch of six straight losing seasons from 1997-2002. They are also looking to avoid their second straight 0-5 start. 

The loss at East Stroudsburg marked the eighth loss in the last nine road games for Edinboro, and the 10th in the last 12 road contests. Edinboro did claim a victory in its last trip to George P. Miller Stadium, upsetting No. 22 IUP, 36-30. The Fighting Scots have actually won two of their last three times and four of the last six at IUP.

Edinboro is staring at another demanding schedule in 2015. Eight of the 11 teams on the 2015 slate posted winning records, with Slippery Rock and Gannon winning nine games, Saint Joseph's and California(Pa.) eight games, and Mercyhurst seven. The combined record of the eleven 2015 opponents is 65-56, but the combined records of the eight teams with winning records was 59-29. 

The Edinboro defense lost a key member after just one week when Mike Shansky was lost for the season with an injury. The senior was a two-time All-PSAC West second team selection at linebacker, and was Edinboro's leading tackler a year ago. 

The Fighting Scots began the 2015 season with six starters returning on offense and six more on defense. While head coach Scott Browning knew youth would play a major role this year, that has become even more evident, particularly on defense. The defense has started as many as five freshmen in a game already, and as many as ten freshmen are seeing consistent playing time on the defensive side of the ball. The 2015 roster features 39 true freshman and 10 redshirt freshman. A year ago a total of 43 games were started by true freshman.

Edinboro was picked to finish seventh in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll after being picked to finish sixth the previous two years. The Fighting Scots finished in a tie for sixth in 2014. Indiana(Pa.) was an uncharacteristic 6-5 a year ago. The Crimson Hawks were picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West in the coaches preseason poll.

On TV/Radio
The Edinboro-Indiana(Pa.) game can be heard live on WFSE FM 88.9, with Mike Fenner providing the play-by-play and Tyler Trumbauer the commentary. In addition, all Edinboro radio broadcasts will be aired by the Keystone Sports Network. The games will be broadcast on ESPN 92.7 FM in Erie and WWCB 1370 AM in Corry, Pa., in addition to being streamed live. 

The All-Time Series 
Indiana(Pa.) leads 56-23-4
Indiana(Pa.) had won the last three meetings against Edinboro before the Fighting Scots upset 22nd-ranked IUP, 36-30, at George P. Miller Stadium in 2013. The Crimson Hawks came to Edinboro a year ago and claimed an 18-8 victory.

The Last Meeting  
Indiana(Pa.) 18, Edinboro 8 
A much-maligned Edinboro defense limited IUP to  one touchdown and three field goals. The Crimson Hawks were held to 351 total yards and were sacked four times after giving up just three sacks in their first four games. But strong winds and poor field position severely limited the Boro offense all day long. Edinboro would manage just 129 total yards, including minus 6 yards rushing, the fourth-lowest total in school history. Cody Harris completed 16 of 22 passes for 135 yards but was sacked nine times, two shy of the school record. IUP grabbed a 6-0 lead at the half thanks to 37 and 25 yard field goals by Brett Ullman. The IUP lead grew to 16-0 thanks to a 16-yard pass from Chase Haslett to Drew Carswell, and another Ullman three-pointer, this one from 22-yards out. Edinboro got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter on a six-yard TD pass from Harris to Kolbe Hughes. Luigi Linza-Brista ran for 118 yards on 24 carries for IUP.

Last Week 
California(Pa.) 37, Edinboro 30 
Trailing 30-9 in the third quarter, the Fighting Scots mounted a rally that almost saw them put an end to what is now an 11-game losing streak against California(Pa.) in their PSAC West opener. Edinboro would pull to within 37-30 and had the ball at the Cal 13. However, an interception near the end zone with just under five minutes to play spelled an end to the comeback hopes and also spoiled an otherwise outstanding day by Jake Sisson. The sophomore quarterback threw for a career-high 281 yards, completing 22 of 32 passes with 4 TDs, and added 53 yards rushing. Three of Sisson's touchdown strikes went to Darren Massey (2, 27, and 11 yards), marking the third time in his career Massey caught three touchdowns in a game. The junior ended with 10 receptions for 93 yards, the sixth time he has caught 10-or-more passes. Alex Caratelli hauled in the fourth TD pass, a beautiful 57-yard bomb that pulled the Scots to within 37-30 with just over 11 minutes to play. Caratelli posted career-highs of 6 catches for 147 yards. Domeic Principale accounted for Edinboro's other two points with a safety on a sack. Edinboro was unable to slow down the powerful Cal offense, giving up 500 yards for the second straight week (546), including a season-high 308 yards on the gorund. The defense did force three turnovers. The offense posted season-highs across the board with 412 total yards, 281 yards passing, and 131 yards rushing. 
     
Indiana(Pa.) 35, Mercyhurst 14
The Crimson Hawks took advantage of Mercyhurst mistakes to roll to a big road win in its PSAC West opener. IUP returned three interceptions for touchdowns, including an 80-yard return by Dorian Lane early in the third quarter, and a 50-yarder by Steve Franco to wrap up the scoring.  The IUP defense recorded four interceptions and came up with a sack. A team with a strong rushging game, Mercyhurst was held to just six yards rushing. Luigi Lista-Brinza paced an IUP ground assault that finished with 226 yards, as he carried 26 times for 164 yards, including a 13-yard scoring run. CJ Jackson wrapped up the scoring for the Crimson Hawks with a six-yard touchdown reception from Lenny Williams.    
          
The Coaches
Scott Browning (Ohio State '81) took over as Edinboro's 13th head coach on January 5, 2006, and in his first six seasons he tied the record for most wins by a coach during that period.  Browning is in his tenth season with a 57-47 record, and is in his 30th season as a member of the Edinboro staff.  With the season-opening 35-34 win over Walsh in 2013, he became the third coach at Edinboro to reach 50 wins, joining Tom Hollman and Bill McDonald.   The 2014 win over Clarion was his 55th, moving him into sole possession of second place in career victories.  Browning was certainly no stranger to Fighting Scot football when he was hired as head coach, serving as an assistant coach for the previous twenty years. While at Edinboro he has coached the offensive linemen, defensive backs and running backs, along with serving as the offensive coordinator.  Browning became the first head coach at Edinboro to debut with a win since McDonald in 1969 when the Fighting Scots opened the 2006 season with a 28-14 win at West Chester.  He went on to lead Edinboro to a 6-5 finish, the most wins ever by a first-year coach.  That was followed by a 7-4 finish in 2007.  His next two Fighting Scot editions recorded a school-record tying nine wins.  In 2008 Edinboro ended the year at 9-2 and was ranked 20th in the final AFCA Top 25.  The Fighting Scots had a 9-4 record in 2009, making the NCAA playoffs for the first time in his tenure.  Edinboro would end the year 24th in the AFCA poll.  The Boro posted back-to-back 7-4 finishes in 2010 and 2011.  The 4-6 finish in 2012 represented Browning's first losing season as head coach.  

Curt Cignetti (West Virginia '82) is in his fifth year at the helm of the football program at IUP, showing a 36-13 record.  The son of former legendary IUP coach Frank Cignetti, he led the Crimson Hawks to a 7-3 record his first year, then followed that up with a 12-2 in 2012.  IUP won the 2012 PSAC Championship with a 41-10 win over Shippensburg, then defeated Shepherd (27-17) and New Haven (17-14) in the NCAA Division II championships.  Winston-Salem State finally ended IUP's season with a 21-17 win in the Super Region One Championship. Two years ago IUP went 9-2 before a 6-5 finish in 2014. Now in his 33rd year of coaching, Cignetti has an impressive resume' that includes  four seasons as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama.  The Crimson Tide won the 2009 BCS national championship with a 14-0 record.  In addition to the national title, Cignetti was part of Alabama teams that posted a record of 33-3 over his last three regular seasons, including 29 consecutive regular season victories, won the 2008 and 2009 SEC West championships and earned a berth in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. Cignetti joined the staff at Alabama after spending seven seasons (2000-06) as the recruiting coordinator at North Carolina State while also coaching tight ends from 2000-02 and 2005-06 and quarterbacks during the 2003 and 2004 campaigns. The Wolfpack qualified for five bowl games during that time, including the 2002 Gator Bowl when N.C. State set a school record with 11 wins.  Cignetti has also had previous coaching stops at Pittsburgh, Davidson, Rice and Temple.    

Browning Comments ... on the Fighting Scots
"We had an opportunity against Cal.  We said going in if we could just put ourselves in a position to win, which we did. We just didn't finish. At times we played well on both sides of the ball, but they made more plays than us. I think we get a little better each day."

Browning Comments ... on the Crimson Hawks
"IUP is a good football team. I think they are really good on defense. They're physical up front, and the secondary is physical, also. Offensively, they've changed. They spread you out. They have the quarterback and athletes to do it."











.