RENSSELAER, In. (September 3, 2016) – Redshirt freshman Walter Fletcher scored on touchdowns runs of 50 and 57 yards and the Edinboro defense came up big when it counted as the Fighting Scots handed first-year coach Justin Lustig a 31-30 win at Saint Joseph's in his first game.
 
The win followed an 0-11 finish by the Fighting Scots in 2015, and also snapped an eight-game road losing streak.

"I'm very proud of this team," related Lustig. "We knew we would face adversity in our first game, our players stepped up to the challenge in the fourth quarter and embraced the moment- never backing down.  We have a lot of work to do with this program, but we are optimistic about our direction. Our coaches will be back to work early tomorrow morning to clean up the mistakes from this game and start preparation for Lock Haven."
 
Fletcher, in his first career contest, accounted for the first and last Edinboro touchdowns. He finished with 180 yards rushing on 24 carries, the most yards rushing by a Fighting Scot since Drew Herrell ran for 197 yards against Lock Haven in 2010.
 
The Fighting Scots finished the day with 143 yards rushing on 34 attempts, but that figure was scewed by two plays. The first was a 23-yard loss on a bad punt snap that resulted in a safety. The second was the last play of the game, as Jake Sisson scrambled around for a large loss to run out the clock.
 

Edinboro totaled 377 yards in offense, with Sisson completing 30-of-48 passes for 234 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. James Clark caught 8 passes for 62 yards, with Alex Caratelli hauling in 7 passes for 61 yards and freshman Ta'Nauz Gregory 7 passes for 45 yards.
 
Saint Joseph's finished with 446 yards. The Fighting Scots shut down the ground game, limiting the Pumas to 80 yards rushing on 45 carries. Phillip Kimble completed 19-of-38 passes for 349 yards with 2 TDs and an interception. He found the end zone with Tremel Glasper both times, as Glasper hauled in eight passes for 218 yards. However, as the game went on Kimble was under constant pressure from the Edinboro defense, and ended up being sacked six times.     
 
Edinboro opened the scoring on its second series after a Pumas' punt. Taking over at midfield, Fletcher burst off right guard on a 2^nd-and-10 play, sprinting past the Saint Joseph's secondary for a 50-yard scoring run. It was just the second career carry for the redshirt freshman, and his first career touchdown.

Saint Joseph's would answer with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead. The first came courtesy of a one-yard run by Martez Walker, capping a seven-play, 76-yard drive at 12:34 of the second quarter. The score was set up by a 57-yard hookup from Phillip Kimble to Tremel Glasper down to the two yard-line.

The Pumas claimed a 14-7 lead with 7:46 left in the second quarter thanks to another pair of big passing plays. The first was a trick play, as Walker took the handoff and threw back to Kimble for a 17-yard gain down to the EU 28. One play later, Kimble completed another deep slant pattern this one for 26 yards to Tremel for six points. The drive covered 58 yards, again on seven plays.

Edinboro would knot the score at 14-14 with 3:55 to play thanks to a big defensive play by Jake Leber. The redshirt senior intercepted a pass and returned it 21 yards to the SJ 34. A 12-yard pass from Jake Sisson to Fletcher carried down to the 10. On a 3^rd-and-goal from the four, Sisson sent Ta'Nauz Gregory in motion to the left, then hit the freshman in the left flat. Gregory bobbled the ball, then hauled it in and sprinted to the left corner of the end zone. Austin's Reese's extra point tied the score at 14-14.   
   
The Fighting Scots reclaimed the lead early in the third quarter on a spectacular catch by Jordan Williams. Sisson completed six-of-seven passes in the nine-play, 77-yard drive. The last was a fade pattern to Williams in the back left corner of the end zone. Williams rose high in the air and pulled the ball in with one hand while dragging a foot in the back of the end zone.

Just over two minutes later, Saint joseph's was back on the board, compliments of another big pass play as Glasper caught a 58-yard TD pass from Kimble. However, Marcin Gawlak's extra point was wide left, leaving Edinboro with a 21-20 lead with 10:28 left in the third quarter.

The Edinboro defense dug in after that, but Saint Joseph's was able to grab a 22-21 lead when a punt snap sailed over Reese's head. The senior picked up the ball in the back of the end zone and ran out of the end zone as the Pumas took a 22-21 lead with 54 seconds left in the third quarter.

Edinboro regained the lead after a Josh Kibbie fumble recovery halted a Saint Joseph's drive at the Edinboro 27. Sisson directed a 13-play, 68-yard march that ended with Reese drilling a 22-yard field goal for a 24-22 lead with 11:21 remaining.

The Pumas answered with a 75-yard drive on nine plays to take a 30-24 lead. Facing a 3^rd-and-10 play, Kimble hooked up with Glasper on a 50-yard pass to the EU one. Walker, a transfer from Central Michigan in his first game with Saint Joseph's, scored on the next play. He then passed to Addison Dellinger for the two-point conversion as the Pumas took the lead with 9:09 left.

Edinboro had a three-and-out on their ensuing series, but the defense forced a three-and-out, as well. The Scots took over at their own 37. Fletcher caught a six-yard pass on first down, then broke off his 57-yard scoring run on the next play. He sprinted down the left sideline with 5:43 to play to tie the game at 30-30. Reese calmly converted the extra point for the 31-30- lead.

After that, the defense forced two three-and-outs to clinch the victory. The Scots now look to start a winning streak next week, playing at Lock Haven on Saturday, September 10.