Box Score (New/Sortable Format) EDINBORO, Pa. (Sept. 28, 2013) – A bruised and battered Edinboro squad used a dominating defensive effort and a strong relief appearance by Jon Girvin to post a 43-7 win over Seton Hill on Sox Harrison Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The meeting was the first between the two schools, with Edinboro evening its record at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC West. Seton hill suffered its 17th straight loss and is now 0-4 and 0-2, respectively.

Edinboro came in missing no fewer than three starters on offense and two more on defense, along with several key backups. The Fighting Scots defense held the Griffins to just 116 total yards and came up with four turnovers. The unit actually tossed a shutout, as Seton Hill's lone score came courtesy of a fumble return.

Girvin, meanwhile, came off the bench on Edinboro's third offensive possession and ended up throwing for two touchdowns and running for two more. The redshirt freshman had made his first career start a week ago at California(Pa.) in place of injured starter Cody Harris. He was relegated to backup status this week, with true freshman Matt Bodamer getting the start.

The previous two weeks Edinboro had committed five turnovers in each game, but this week the Fighting Scots were guilty of just one turnover.

After Edinboro first two drives ended on downs in Seton Hill territory, Girvin entered and immediately directed the Scots on an eight-play, 60-yard drive. Jeremy Donaldson broke off a 23-yard run on the first play of the drive. On 3rd-and-8 from the Seton Hill 35, Girvin hooked up with Ben Eisel for 17 yards. He converted a 3rd-and-5 situation later in the drive thanks to a six-yard pass to Marcus Johnson, carrying down to the Seton Hill seven. On second down, he rolled to his left, then scrambled back to his right and found Johnson open in the back corner of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown. A bad snap on the extra point attempt left the Scots with a 6-0 lead.

The Scots were back in scoring territory two plays later thanks to a Rob Harden interception, the first of his career. Facing a 4th-and-10, Girvin looped a 33-yard pass down the middle to freshman tight end Nick Helmick, giving the Boro a first-and-goal at the one. Girvin would score on the very next play, giving the Scots a 13-0 lead with 1:04 left in the first quarter.

Edinboro would tack on 13 more points in the second quarter for a 26-0 lead at halftime. The Scots took advantage of another Griffins miscue to go up 16-0. A muffed punt was recovered by Jake Leber at the SHU 20. T.J. Hardy would come in and convert the first of three field goals on the day, this one covering 39 yards with 10:33 remaining.

A short punt and 13-yard return by Eisel put the Scots back in SHU territory at the 35. Four plays later Donaldson found a huge hole off left guard and went 22 yards for six points and a 23-0 lead at the 7:32 mark.

Another big defensive play gave the Scots one last scoring opportunity late in the half. Delano Fabor's second pickoff of the year, and 12-yard return, put the Scots at the SHU 34. Girvin's 17-yard run on a 3rd-and-20 play left the Scots at the 10, and Hardy came and kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired.

Johnson came up with his third long kickoff return of the year to put Edinboro in scoring position at the start of the third quarter. His 66-yard return, followed by a pair of Girvin runs totaling 20 yards, led to Hardy's third field goal, another 27-yarder, for a 29-0 advantage.

Following a Seton Hill punt, Girvin led the Scots on a nine-play, 65-yard march that boosted the margin to 36-0 with 7:45 left in the third period. The drive was aided by a roughing the punter penalty that gave the Scots new life at the SHU 46. On 3rd-and-11, Girvin hooked up with Johnson for a 14-yard completion to the 33. On the next play D'Andrea Vaughn sprinted around the right side for a 25-yard run to the eight. On 2nd-and-goal, Girvin threw his second touchdown of the game, as Vaughn took a short pass and bulled his way in from eight yards out.

Seton Hill got on the board with four minutes left in the period. Chase Parker's sack of Girvin led to a fumble, with Tim Johnson recovering and carrying 23 yards for a touchdown.

Edinboro would close the scoring on the ensuing drive. The Boro's longest of the day, covering 75 yards on 12 plays, it featured three more third down conversions 62 yards in total offense by Girvin. The 6'5", 231 lb. signalcaller tossed a 17-yard completion to Johnson on a 3rd-and-6, giving the Scots the ball at the SHU 33. He later ran seven yards for a first down on 3rd-and-1. On the first play of the fourth quarter he came up just short of a touchdown, carrying 16 yards to the one. He would walk into the end zone on the next play for a one-yard TD run.

Edinboro ended the day with 367 total yards while holding Seton Hill to 116 yards. The balanced offense showed a season-high 176 yards on the ground, along with 191 yards passing. Donaldson paced the ground game, matching his career high set a week ago, with 89 yards on 12 carries.

Girvin completed 18 of 28 passes for 150 yards, adding 36 yards rushing on 15 carries. Bodamer was 6 of 9 for 41 yards. Johnson caught 7 passes for 51 yards, with Jordan Williams catching 4 passes for 38 yards and Kellen O'Neill adding 4 receptions for 19 yards.

Edinboro would convert 10 of 22 third down opportunities, while the defense limited Seton Hill to just one conversion in 12 tries.

The Griffins would rush for 41 yards and pass for 75. Lenny Dowell ran for 39 yards on 11 carries. Nick Halfhill, who shared quarterbacking duties with Dowell, completed 10 of 19 passes for 66 yards.

Edinboro returns to action next Saturday, October 5, hosting Lock Haven in the annual Homecoming game.

BORO NOTES: Both teams finished with five sacks … Mike Shansky led the defensive effort with six tackles, with Devin Ghafoor adding five stops … Bobby Kmetz had four tackles, including 1.5 sacks … Johnson caught seven-or-more passes for the third straight game and moved into eighth place in career receptions with 127. The senior also moved into seventh place in career receiving yards with 1,883 … Vaughn is now 23rd in career rushing with 1,132 yards … Edinboro won the time of possession battle for the first time in four games, with 36:39 compared to 23:21 for Seton Hill.