SETON HILL Griffins (1-6, 1-3 PSAC West) at EDINBORO Fighting Scots (4-3, 1-3 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2018
Site: Edinboro, Pa.
Stadium: Sox Harrison Stadium (6,000)
Kickoff: 12 noon
Live Stats: Click Here
Live Video: Click Here
Radio: WFSE 88.9
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Edinboro Game Notes
Scouting the Teams
On Radio and TV
The Edinboro-Seton Hill 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. In addition, ETV, Edinboro's student television station, will be streaming the video as part of the PSAC Network.
The All-Time Series
Edinboro leads 4-1
Edinboro won the first two meetings with Seton Hill, both at Sox Harrison Stadium, before the Griffins picked up their first win in the series in 2015 in Edinboro's first trip to Offutt Field. The Fighting Scots rallied for a 42-34 win at Sox Harrison Stadium two years ago, and made it two wins in a row with a 69-20 triumph at Seton Hill last year. The series has featured the winning team scoring at least 40 points in four of the five meetings.
Edinboro
Last Year's Game
Edinboro 69, Seton Hill 20
The Edinboro offense enjoyed a record-breaking day after the Fighting Scots found themselves in a shootout early in the second quarter. With the score tied at 20-20 early in the second quarter, Edinboro ran off the final 49 points. The Fighting Scots would finish with a school-record 826 yards, just two yards shy of the PSAC record. Jake Sisson completed 29-of-40 passes for 465 yards, the third-highest single-game total, with 5 TDs. Three of those touchdowns went to James Clark, who set school records for receptions (17) and yards receiving (289). Ta'Nauz Gregory added two touchdowns receiving while catching 7 passes for 137 yards, including an 82-yard TD catch. Walter Fletcher got it all started with a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. By the time it was all said and done, he had his second straight 200-yard game, finishing with 238 yards, the seventh-highest single-game total, with 4 TDs on 29 carries. The final score was the first for a pair of redshirt freshmen, as Andrew Tomko threw a 12-yard TD pass to Koran Williams. After a fast start, Seton Hill finished with 310 total yards. Christian Strong completed 15-of-25 passes for 190 yards with 2 TDs and 3 INTs for the Griffins. Jarvis McClam ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and added 4 receptions for 57 yards and another TD.
Last Week
Slippery Rock 59, Edinboro 28
The Fighting Scots were unable to slow down a Slippery Rock offense that came in leading the PSAC in scoring. The Rock would score on nine of their first ten possessions. Edinboro grabbed a short-lived 7-0 lead on a 14-yard TD pass from Jarrod Kellar to A.J. Turner on the opening possession. The score was still just 17-14 after Walter Fletcher's 33-yard scoring run late in the first quarter. SRU ran off the next three scores and would lead 45-21 at the half. Edinboro's score came on a 75-yard pass from Kellar to Ta'Nauz Gregory. The pair would hook up again for an 8-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. Fletcher enjoyed another impressive day, rushing for 144 yards on 15 carries and catching a career-high 7 passes for 33 yards. Kellar, in his first start as a Fighting Scot, completed 22-of-44 passes for 261 yards with 3 TDs and an INT. Gregory caught 4 passes for 109 yards and 2 TDs. Slippery Rock finished with 596 total yards, the tenth-highest figure all-time against Edinboro, compared to 414 for the Boro. Roland Rivers accounted for six TDs for Slippery Rock, throwing for five and running for a sixth. He threw for 403 yards and ran for another 82.
Slippery Rock 30, No. 14 Indiana(Pa.) 27
The Griffins rallied from a 31-7 deficit early in the third quarter to shock Mercyhurst and snap a 20-game losing streak dating back to 2016. Standout wide receiver Ardell Brown played a huge role in the victory. The redshirt junior caught 4 passes for 89 yards and a pair of TDs, returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown, and intercepted a pass on the final play of the game to seal the win. Mercyhurst would score on the opening possession of the third quarter to go up 31-7. From there, it was all Seton Hill, with backup Chris Jones taking over at quarterback. He pulled the Griffins to within 31-20 with a pair of touchdowns passes, and Cinque Sweeting made it 31-26 with a 10-yard TD run. Brown then put the Griffins up with his punt return with 2:13 remaining. Mercyhurst would throw a pair of interceptions in the final two minutes, as Seton Hill took an intentional safety. Jones completed 10-of-16 passes for 173 yards and 2 TDs in a half of action.
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.
Isaac Collins (Rochester '94) is in his sixth season as the head coach at Seton Hill. He took over the Griffins' program after serving as the head coach at Widener the previous three years. He has a 13-49 record at Seton Hill and is 38-57 in his ninth year as a head coach. Collins led Widener to the 2012 Mid-American Conference championship with an 11-1 record. The Pride won the ECAC Atlantic South Bowl Championship. He was recognized as the 2012 MAC Coach of the Year. He compiled a 25-8 record during his three seasons, including a No. 8 ranking in the AFCA Division III Top 25. From 2006-09, he served as the defensive coordinator for The Citadel. His 2007 defense led the Southern Conference in total defense. He has also served as an assistant coach at Delaware, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Columbia and Hobart.
The Game Stories
- It's good to be home. After back-to-back road games, and five of the first seven away from home, Edinboro concludes the season with three of its final four games at Sox Harrison Stadium. The stretch starts on Saturday, October 20 with Seton Hill visiting Sox Harrison. The Fighting Scots suffered a second straight loss last Saturday at PSAC West-leading Slippery Rock, 59-28. That leaves Edinboro at 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Western Division. Seton Hill snapped a 20-game losing streak with a 34-33 come-from-behind win over Mercyhurst. The Griffins are now 1-6 and 1-3, respectively..
- 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 celebrated Homecoming with a come-from-behind 31-24 win over Gannon on September 29. They were unable to complete the sweep of local rivals as October began, however, suffering a 24-6 loss at Mercyhurst.
- For the first five weeks of the season, Edinboro lived off turnovers. The Fighting Scots forced a total of 24 turnovers the first five weeks, with six in three different games, while leading Division II in turnovers gained and turnover margin. However, Edinboro forced just one turnover at Mercyhurst, and Slippery Rock did not commit a turnover last Saturday. The Fighting Scots still rank 18th in Division II in turnover margin (+1.00), and still lead the country in turnovers gained (25) and passes intercepted (16), and are ninth in fumbles recovered (9).
- Seton Hill trailed Mercyhurst 31-7 early in the third quarter before turning to Chris Jones at quarterback and rallying for a 34-33 win. The Griffins had not won since 2016 when they also defeated Mercyhurst. While snapping a 20-game losing streak, they are still looking to end a 12-game losing skid on the road.
- As always, Seton Hill features one of the top passing attacks in Division II, highlighted by wide receiver Ardell Brown. The Griffins are ranked 13th in Division II in passing offense at 300.6 ypg. Brown ranks second in Division II in receiving yards (912) and receiving yards per game (130.3 ypg.), along with six in receptions per game (7.7).
- 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. Seton Hill was picked eighth in the preseason poll after finishing 0-11 a year ago.
- 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 27 at Clarion -- 12:00 noon
