EDINBORO, Pa. (Oct. 4, 2014) – On a day when a gusting wind played a key role, Indiana(Pa.) used field position and a stingy defense to spoil Edinboro's Homecoming and hand the Fighting Scots an 18-8 defeat in a PSAC West contest on Saturday afternoon. The loss dropped Edinboro to 0-5 overall and 0-4 in PSAC action. IUP improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in conference action.
 

A much-maligned Edinboro defense that had allowed 30-or-more points in each of the first four games turned in a bend-but-don't-break effort, limiting the Crimson Hawks to just one touchdown and three field goals.  IUP would finish with 351 total yards, including 194 yards rushing. In addition, IUP had the ball for 37:24 compared to Edinboro's 22:36.
 
An IUP defense that came in ranked third in the PSAC in total defense and rushing defense was the story of the game, however, holding the Fighting Scots to just 129 total yards and sacking a beleaguered Cody Harris nine times. That is just two shy of the record of 11 sacks by an opponent set by Shepherd in 1987.
 

For the second straight week Edinboro was held to negative yards rushing, as the Fighting Scots finished at minus 6 yards on 24 carries one week after totaling minus -12 yards at California(Pa.) a week ago. The minus six yards is the fourth-lowest single-game total.
 
Edinboro faced an uphill battle all afternoon as the Fighting Scots had horrible field position all day. Edinboro had possessions that started at their own one, two, three, 10 (twice), and 13, along with two from its own 20 and two more from the 25. IUP did its part to holding Edinboro to three-and-outs on five of ten possessions, with another ending with a second down safety, plus a run to end the first half.
 
IUP would open the scoring on its first possession following a short Edinboro punt. Taking over at their own 33, the Crimson Hawks rode freshman standout Luigi Lista-Brinza down to the Edinboro six before the Boro defense stepped up big. Lista-Brinza carried six times up to that point for 38 yards.
 
On 1st-and-goal from the six Lista-Brinza was thrown for a four-yard loss by Victor Hudson and Thomas Dover. Kyle Matula then came up with back-to-back big plays, tackling Lista-Brinza for a five-yard loss, then sacking Chase Haslett for a loss of five yards. Brett Ullman would come in and kick the first of his three field goals, a 37-yarder, with 4:30 left in the first quarter.          
 
Ullman booted his second three-pointer in the second quarter as he drilled a 25-yard field goal at 9:40 of the second quarter. It capped a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ate up 7 minutes, 7 seconds.
 

Edinboro had one scoring opportunity in the first half, as Harris drove the Fighting Scots from their own 13 to the IUP 21. The march was courtesy of four big plays – a 15-yard pass from Harris to Darren Massey, a 21-yard scramble by Harris on the next play, followed by a 17-yard toss to Kolbe Hughes down to the IUP 33.
 
A 27-yard catch and run by Ben Eisel not only converted a 2nd-and-25 yard play but gave the Fighting Scots a first down at the IUP 21. An incomplete pass, a sack for a loss of five yards, and a loss of two on a pass completion pushed the Scots back to the 28. Paul Ortiz came in and attempted a 45-yard field goal. The ball hit the crossbar and fell no good for a 6-0 IUP lead at the half.
 
The Crimson Hawks came out and scored their lone touchdown of the game to start the third quarter. It was another time-consuming drive, this one covering 11 plays and 61 yards for 5 minutes, 26 seconds. Going with the wind, Haslett came out passing and completed 3 of 4 passes for 33 yards. The final 16 yards came on a fade pattern to Drew Carswell in the back left corner of the end zone just over the outstretched arm of an Edinboro defender. Ullman's extra point made it 13-0 with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
 
Edinboro's first possession of the second half resulted in a three-and-out, and IUP proceeded to boost its lead to 16-0 on a 22-yard field goal by Ullman. A short punt into the wind gave IUP the ball at its own 48. Haslett completed passes of 22 yards to Salath Williams and 12 yards to Carswell in the drive.
 
The Fighting Scots finally put a scoring drive together early in the fourth quarter after getting the wind. Eisel set the Scots up in good field position as he returned a punt 14 yards to the IUP 45. Harris was sacked on first down for a loss of seven, but a personal foul against IUP moved the ball to the 30. An offsides penalty negated an incomplete pass on the next play.
 
Anfreenee Williams carried on the next three plays for 13 yards, giving Edinboro the ball at the 12. Eisel caught a six-yard pass from Harris to convert a 3rd-and-6, giving the Scots a first and goal at the six. On the next play Harris hooked up with freshman Kolbe Harris on a slant route for a six-yard touchdown pass.
 
The Scots went for the two-point conversion, with Harris' pass bouncing off an IUP defender's hands and into the hands of freshman Marcus Hill. With 9:45 remaining Edinboro trailed by one score at 16-8.
 
IUP would gain one first down on its next series before being forced to punt. Matt Spegal's 37-yard punt was downed at the Edinboro 10.
 
Harris was sacked for a loss of seven yards on first down. On second down Harris dropped back to pass in the end zone and the Scots were called for a holding penalty. The call resulted in a safety and an 18-8 IUP lead with 5:59 remaining.
 
IUP would take the free kick and drive to the Edinboro 22 before being forced to punt. However, Edinboro would not get the ball back until 1:44 remained in the game.
 
Harris completed 16 of 22 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions as Edinboro went without a turnover for the third straight game. Eisel caught 4 passes for 57 yards, while Hughes caught 3 passes for 32 yards and the touchdown.  After catching 35 passes the first four games Darren Massey was held to 3 receptions for 21 yards.
 
Williams paced the Edinboro ground game with 26 yards on 10 carries, adding 3 receptions for 18 yards.
 
Lista-Brinza had his fourth 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 118 yards on 24 carries. Darian Bradley added 61 yards on 15 rushes. Haslett completed 13 of 21 passes for 157 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Edinboro sacked him four times after he had been sacked just three times the first four games. Carswell caught 5 passes for 68 yards.
 
Hudson and O'Sha Jackson led the defense with 10 tackles apiece, both career highs.
 
Edinboro returns to action next Saturday, October 11, playing at Clarion. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.