LAKE ERIE Storm (0-11, 0-11 GLIAC in 2016) at EDINBORO Fighting Scots (9-2, 5-2 PSAC West in 2016)
Date: Saturday, September 2, 2017
Site: Edinboro, Pa.
Stadium: Sox Harrison Stadium (6,000)
Kickoff: 12 noon
Live Stats: Click Here
Radio: WFSE 88.9
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Video Stream: ETV
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Scouting the Teams
The All-Time Series
First Meeting
The Coaches
Wayne Bradford (Salisbury St. '90) was named Edinboro's 15th head coach on March 29, 2017. Bradford worked under four different head coaches and was an assistant at Edinboro for 18 years before taking over as the interim head coach. He has spent a majority of his time as the Fighting Scots' defensive coordinator. Bradford has master-minded some brilliant defensive performances over the years in a day and age when offense has taken over. For instance, in 2011 the Fighting Scots ranked eighth in Division II in scoring defense (17.0 ppg.), 11th in pass efficiency defense, and 18th in total defense (292.6 ypg.). Edinboro gave up fewer than 20 points in seven of its 11 games. A year ago, his Edinboro defense finished first in the PSAC and fourth in Division II in tackles for losses, and second in the PSAC and sixth in the country in sacks. Edinboro finished the 2016 campaign with a 9-2 record, marking the fifth time an Edinboro team with Bradford on the staff tied the school record for victories (9). Three of Edinboro's teams during his tenure have reached the NCAA playoffs, including the 2009 team, which finished at 9-4 and reached the Super Region One semifinals. All told, he has been a part of 109 wins.
Gerald Hazzard (Baldwin Wallace '03) joined the Storm coaching staff as the offensive coordinator in January 2007 and was named interim head coach on October 17, 2016. Hazzard was the first assistant hired into the program. His first year with the Storm was during its club status, with this season marking his tenth with the team and his 13th overall. Hazzard has helped produce five All-Americans and 23 All-GLIAC performers at Lake Erie. The Storm offense set GLIAC records in yards in a game (833) and plays ran in a game (114). Under Hazzard's guidance, the Storm offense has ranked among the best Division II in several seasons, including first nationally in 2013, and 19th in 2014. The latter squad featured running back Anthony Bilal, who was second in Division II with 2,092 rushing yards and first with 29 touchdowns. Bilal finished third in the Harlon Hill Trophy voting, was voted GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year, and was a concensus All-American. Hazzard came to Lake Erie with a combined four years coaching experience as a student assistant at his alma mater, Baldwin-Wallace, as well as an offensive assistant at Gettysburg College.
The Game Story
The outlook for 2017 is quite bright despite a change at the helm. Justin Lustig, who orchestrated Edinboro's incredible turnaround from 0-11 in 2015 to 9-2 in 2016, departed after just a year to assume an assistant coaching position with Syracuse University. Edinboro didn't have to look far to find his replacement, elevating long-time defensive coach
Wayne Bradford to interim head coach. Bradford debuts as head coach against a Lake Erie squad that would like nothing better than to duplicate what Edinboro did a year ago. The Storm finished 0-11 a year ago and are also under a somewhat first-year head coach in Gerald Hazzard, who took over on an interim basis with four games left in 2016. Lake Erie is in its first year as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference after previously playing in the GLIAC.
FIGHTING SCOTS HIGHLY REGARDED IN DIVISION II
Coming off a 9-2 finish in 2016, Edinboro is ranked in several preseason polls. The summer began with the Fighting Scots picked 16th in the Street and Smith's Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll. Next came a ranking of 30th in the College Football America 2017 Yearbook Division II Preseason Top 30. The AFCA released its 2017 AFCA Division II Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll on August 14, with defending national champion Northwest Missouri State ranked number one. While failing to land a spot in the top 25, Edinboro is one of the top teams among others receiving votes. The Fighting Scots received 57 votes after ending the 2016 season among "others receiving votes", as well.
EDINBORO VS. THE GMAC
Officially, Edinboro has never played a game against a team from one of the newest Division II conferences, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. That isn't necessarily true, however, since Edinboro did face Walsh when the Cavaliers were members of the GLIAC. That meeting came in 2013, and is the last time an Edinboro edition faced a current member of the GMAC. Lake Erie is in its first year in the conference after also previously playing in the GLIAC. This is the first time the two teams have met.
EDINBORO PICKED FOURTH IN PSAC WEST PRESEASON POLL
What a difference a year makes. After being picked to finish eighth in the PSAC?West 2016 coaches' preseason poll, the recent 2017 conference preseason rankings has the league's coaches picking the Fighting Scots fourth in the Western Division.
WESTERN DIVISION
1. Indiana(Pa.)
2. California(Pa.)
3. Slippery Rock
4. EDINBORO
5. Gannon
6. Seton Hill
7. Clarion
8. Mercyhurst
GREGORY RECEIVES PAIR OF PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Following an outstanding freshman season with numerous honors,
Ta'Nauz Gregory was named to the Lindy's Sports 2017 Preseason All-Division II Starting Lineup. He was named to the second team as an all-purpose player. In addition, he was named to the College Football America 2017 Yearbook Division II Starting Lineup as a kick returner. Gregory was named the 2016 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Freshman of the Year and was also named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year. He made his mark both as a kick returner and receiver. He set the school record for kickoff return average at 32.5 yards on 23 returns, with a 96-yard return for a touchdown against Clarion, and another for 85-yards against Slippery Rock. He ranked first in the PSAC and fourth in Division II in kickoff return average. His two returns for touchdowns led Division II. Gregory added a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown to his resume' against Cheyney. He averaged 11.7 yards on 12 punt returns, ranking third all-time at Edinboro. As a receiver, Gregory finished second on the team in receptions (63), which ranks fifth in a season, for 808 yards with 8 TDs.
RECEIVING CORPS LOSES CARATELLI BUT GAINS MASSEY
A year ago, the Edinboro offense featured four receivers with 50-or-more receptions. The top two receivers return in
James Clark (66 rec.-1,010 yards-10 TDs) and
Ta'Nauz Gregory (63 rec.-808 yards-8 TDs). However,
Alex Caratelli, who contributed 62 receptions for 824 yards and 10 TDs, graduated in december and decided not to use his final season of eligibility. The loss is huge, but tempered somewhat with the return of Darren Massey. Edinboro's leading receiver in 2014 and '15, Massey transferred to Slippery Rock a year ago, but is back at the Boro this year. The graduate student actually ranks as Edinboro's career leader in receptions with 193, and also holds the top two season records with 87 in 2015 and 80 in 2014.
SISSON ENJOYS RECORD-BREAKING SEASON
Jake Sisson will once again be at the controls of Edinboro's high-flying offense. The senior is in his third year as a starter and comes off a record-breaking campaign. He enters his senior season ranked fourth in career touchdown passes (58) and career completions (487), and fifth in career passing yards (5,900), career total offense (6,246) and career attempts (876). A year ago, he shattered many of the game and season records previously set by Trevor Harris. Sisson was named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region One third team after setting school records with 3,710 yards passing and 41 TDs. He completed 294-of-531 passes, setting Edinboro season records for attempts, completions, yards passing, touchdowns, and total offense. He led the PSAC and ranked second in Division II in passing TDs (41) and passing yards per game (337.3 ypg.), and was first and third, respectively, in yards passing (3,710). He also paced the PSAC in points responsible for (25.3 ppg.) and total offense (347.6 ypg.), good for third and fifth in Division II, respectively. The passing touchdowns are tied for fourth all-time in the PSAC, while his 46 TDs responsible for is third.
BRADFORD LOOKS FOR INITIAL WIN AS HEAD COACH
Wayne Bradford was named Edinboro's 15th head coach in late March after spending 18 years as an assistant for the Fighting Scots. he looks to become the seventh head coach to win in his debut. Justin Lustig did so a year ago, as did his predecessor, Scott Browning. In addition, Sox Harrison, Loyal Park, andBill McDonald picked up wins in their first game as head coach.
GIRVIN A MAN OF MANY TALENTS
Redshirt senior
Jon Girvin is looking to complete a highly interesting career as a Fighting Scot. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, Girvin threw for 1,448 yards as Edinboro's quarterback, directing the Fighting Scots to an upset win at nationally-ranked Indiana(Pa.). He did not play in 2014, then returned in 2015. He played spome quarterback and some tight end before flipping to defensive end later in the year. Now 6'5", 260 lbs., Girvin started all 11 games a year ago, finishing with 29 tackles, including 5 sacks. After a brief rest, he joined the men's basketball team and carved out a significant role in the frontcourt as the year went on. Girvin would play in 18 games, with 16 starts, averaging 3.7 ppg,. and a team-high 5.8 rpg. while playing just under 20 minutes per contest.
UP NEXT
Edinboro continues its two-game homestand on Saturday, September 9 hosting Lock Haven in a PSAC crossover contest. Kickoff is set for 12 noon at Sox Harrison Stadium.
Bradford Comments ... on the Fighting Scots
"I think we've got a very athletic team. I like our level at the skill positions at running back and wide receiver. I think we've added some skill at tight end. Obviously, our quarterback is one of the best in the country. Up front I think we'll be much-improved, and we only allowed 14 sacks last year. Defensively, I think our back end is very experienced and very athletic. There are some excellent teams in this league that I think we can match up well there. We're really inexperienced at linebacker, but we have guys who can do what we ask them to do. The same thing at defensive line. We have limited experience. Our depth has to come from freshman."
Bradford Comments ... on the Storm
"We anticipate them being a spread team in the no-huddle offense, but looking to run the ball. We need to tack,le the tailback and quarterback. For us, it's about lining up and stopping the run, and play assignment football. Defensively, we really aren't sure what they are going to be."
