EDINBORO Fighting Scots (4-2, 1-2 PSAC West) at SLIPPERY ROCK The Rock (5-1, 3-0 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2018
Site: Slippery Rock, Pa.
Stadium: Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (10,000)
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats: Click Here
Live Video: Click Here
Radio: WFSE 88.9
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Edinboro Game Notes
Slippery Rock Game Notes
Scouting the Teams
On Radio and TV
The Edinboro-Slippery Rock game can be heard live on WFSE FM 88.9, with Chris Rosato handling the play-by-play and Luke Boniger providing the color commentary. The WFSE stream can be heard at www.edinboronow.com.
The All-Time Series
Slippery Rock leads 52-28-7
Edinboro had lost the last six meetings with Slippery Rock before winning at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium in 2016. That marked the first win at SRU since 2008. Last year, Edinboro upset an SRU squad that came in ranked 17th by a 49-39 count. It was the first win by the Fighting Scots on their home turf since 2009.
Last Year's Game
Edinboro 49, No. 17 Slippery Rock 39
The Fighting Scots surprised 17th-ranked Slippery Rock behind a balanced offensive effort spearheaded by Walter Fletcher. The redshirt sophomore ran for 241 yards, the sixth-highest single- game total, on 25 carries with 4 TDs. Along the way he became the first Edinboro rusher to top the 1,000-yard mark in a season since 2004. The Fighting Scots jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game on a 39-yard TD pass from Jake Sisson and Fletcher 32-yard TD run. Fletcher added a nine-yard scoring run in the second quarter, and Edinboro snapped a 21-21 tie with five seconds left in the half on the second hookup between Gregory and Sisson, this one covering 12 yards following an interception return of 39 yards by Aaron Rogers. SRU closed to 28-24 early in the third quarter, but Edinboro answered with a pair of Fletcher touchdown runs, the first covering seven yards, and the second one a scintillating 98-yarder. That gave the Scots a 42-24 lead with 5:44 left in the third period. Slippery Rock answered with a pair of scores, one late in the third quarter and the other early in the fourth, to pull to within 42-39. The Scots responded following the second score with an eight-play, 78-yard march that ended with James Clark catching a 42-yard touchdown pass from Sisson while lying flat on his back in the end zone with 7:25 to play. Edinboro ended the day with 254 yards rushing and 284 yards passing, as Sisson returned after a one-game absence to complete 24-of-35 passes with 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Clark and Gregory both finished with 100-yards receiving, with Clark showing 9 catches for 128 yards and Gregory 8 for 104. SRU was held to 98 yards rushing, but Tanner Garry completed 41-of-61 passes for 488 yards with 3 TDs and an INT. Marcus Johnson caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two scores.
Last Week
Mercyhurst 24, Edinboro 6
The Lakers scored on their first three possessions to jump out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. Edinboro would close the gap to 17-6 on Jake Monroe field goals of 23 and 25 yards, but with just 12 seconds remaining in the half, the Lakers shocked the Fighting Scots with a 22-yard touchdown pass on a 3rd-and-15 play. Neither team would score in the second half. Edinboro had the ball in Mercyhurst territory, but two of the drives ended in interceptions, and a third on downs. Mercyhurst used a ball control offense to dominate time of possession -- 36:39 to 23:21. The Lakers also committed just one turnovers against an Edinboro that came in leading Division II. Edinboro, meanwhile, threw three interceptions, the first interceptions all year by the Lakers. Edinboro finished with 329 total yards, 237 of that through the air. Andrew Tomko completed 15 of 27 passes for 194 yards with 2 INTs, while Jarrod Kellar was 4-of-13 for 43 yards and a pickoff. Ta'Nauz Gregory caught 8 passes for 67 yards, and A.J. Turner had a pair for 74 yards. Walter Fletcher was limited to 67 yards on 17 carries. Mercyhurst's Garrett Turner bulled his way for 148 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown, and added a 60-yard TD reception. Doug Altavilla completed 15-of-17 passes for 224 yards and 2 TDs.
Slippery Rock 30, No. 14 Indiana(Pa.) 27
Wes Hills scored on a one-yard run with 2:12 remaining to cap an 84-yard drive that lasted over seven minutes as Slippery Rock upset 14th-ranked Indiana(Pa.). The win spoiled Homecoming for IUP and helped Slippery Rock remain atop the PSAC West standings with California(Pa.). The loss was the first regular season home defeat for IUP since the season-opener in 2015, snapping a streak of 18 straight regular season home wins.It also came after a 90-minute lightning delay late in the second quarter. SRU had grabbed a 20-6 lead at the half before IUP roared back to take a 27-23 lead with 9:30 left to play. After Hills scored the winning touchdown, The Rock intercepted their third pass of the day for the fourth IUP turnover to clinch the win.
The Coaches
Wayne Bradford (Salisbury St. '90) was named Edinboro's 15th head coach on March 29, 2017 and led Edinboro to a 7-4 record in his first season. After serving as interim head coach in 2017, that tag was removed after less than a week after the conclusion of the season. With his tenth win as head coach coming last week against East Stroudsburg, Bradford is the fastest coach to reach 10 wins at Edinboro. Bradford has 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 118 wins.
Shawn Lutz (West Virginia '96) is in his third season at the helm of The Rock, but is in his 23rd season as a member of the staff. He led SRU to a 7-4 finish in his first season as a head coach after taking over for legendary coach George Mihalik. A year ago, The Rock finished at 8-3, giving him an overall record of 20-8. Lutz spent the previous four years as the associate head coach and the previous eight as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He has been a part of eight PSAC?West titles at Slippery Rock.
The Game Stories
- Edinboro will play for the fifth time on the road in seven weeks as the Fighting Scots travel to Slippery Rock on Saturday. SRU is celebrating Homecoming, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The Fighting Scots fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC West with a 24-6 loss at Mercyhurst last Saturday. Slippery Rock, meanwhile, knocked off 14th-ranked Indiana(Pa.), handing the Crimson Hawks their first regular season loss at home since 2015, a string of 18 straight wins. The Rock is tied for first place with California(Pa.) in the PSAC West standings with a perfect 3-0 record, and is 5-1 overall. SRU is among "others receiving votes" in the latest AFCA Division II Top 25.
- The Fighting Scots opened the season with a dominating 69-0 win at Lake Erie, followed by a hard-fought 21-16 triumph at Bloomsburg. Edinboro claimed its home opener with an impressive 49-24 win over East Stroudsburg, before heading back on the road to begin PSAC West action. Edinboro would rally to take the lead before California(Pa.) scored late for a 40-35 win. The Scots would celebrate Homecoming with a come-from-behind 31-24 win over Gannon on September 29.
- Edinboro plays just two of its first seven games at Sox Harrison Stadium, and is playing the second of back-to-back road games. After playing at Slippery Rock, Edinboro returns home on October 20 against Seton Hill, before heading out on the road for a contest at Clarion the next week. Edinboro ends the year with back-to-back home games.
- Prior to last Saturday's game at Mercyhurst, Edinboro had lived off turnovers this year. The Fighting Scots have forced a total of 25 turnovers, with six in three different games. Despite forcing just one against Mercyhurst, the Fighting Scots rank seventh in Division II in turnover margin (+1.33). They are first in turnovers gained (25) and interceptions (16), and sixth in fumbles recovered (9).
- Slippery Rock has run off four straight wins since suffering a 25-21 loss at Shippensburg in week number two. That is the only contest that SRU has scored less than 38 points, as The Rock comes in averaging 39.3 ppg. to lead the PSAC and rank 18th in Division II.
- The Fighting Scots were picked to finish fourth in the Western Division in the PSAC?Coaches' Preseason Poll for the second straight year. Edinboro finished fourth in the Western Division last year. Slippery Rock posted an 8-3 record in 2017 and was picked third in the preseason poll.
- Edinboro has four of the top active career performers in Division II. Running back Walter Fletcher ranks among the active leaders in scoring and rushing, wide receiver James Clark is in the career receptions leaders, while fellow wideout Ta'Nauz Gregory is in the all-purpose and kickoff return leaders. Finally, cornerback Zuril Hendrick is the career leader in interceptions.
- Edinboro was ranked in a pair of preseason publications. The Fighting Scots were 18th in Lindy's Sports College Football National 2018 Preview, and 24th in the Street & Smith's College Football Magazine Preseason Top 25. Edinboro was among "others receiving votes" in the AFCA Division II Top 25 until this week.
- A trio of Edinboro players earned All-American honors a year ago. Walter Fletcher was a consensus All-American, including second team Associated Press Division II All-America honors, after ranking second in Division II in rushing. Zuril Hendrick and James Clark were named to the Don Hansen All-America Team, with Hendrick named to the first team after leading Division II in interceptions, and Clark a third team choice after ranking third in Division II in receptions per game.
- Edinboro had six players earn All-PSAC West honors last year, and all six return. Walter Fletcher (RB), James Clark (WR), and Brandon Anderson (SS) were accorded first team honors, while Derek Dorr (DT), Ta'Nauz Gregory (RS) and Zuril Hendrick (CB) were named to the second team.
Next for the Fighting Scots
Saturday, October 20 vs. Seton Hill -- 12:00 noon
