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Ethan Upperco at Lake Erie
Matt Durisko

Football Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Look to Make it Two in a Row at Clarion

EDINBORO Fighting Scots (5-3, 2-3 PSAC West) at CLARION Golden Eagles (4-4, 2-3 PSAC West)  

Date: Saturday, October 27, 2018
Site: Clarion, Pa.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (5,000)
Kickoff: 12 noon
Live Stats: Click Here
Live Video:   Click Here
Radio: WFSE 88.9 Click Here 

Edinboro Game Notes
Clarion Game Notes

Scouting the Teams On Radio and TV
The Edinboro-Clarion 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
Edinboro leads 47-39-2
The Fighting Scots made it seven wins in the last eight meetings with Clarion with a 45-10 last year at Sox Harrison Stadium.  Clarion claimed a 36-23 win in 2015 at Sox Harrison Stadium, ending Edinboro's five-game winning streak in the series. The Fighting Scots have won the last eight meetings at Memorial Stadium, with Clarion last winning 7-0 in 2000. (NOTE: Edinboro and Clarion records indicate a difference in the all-time series. The difference lies in the 1961 game, won by Edinboro, 13-12. Clarion's results show that game was later forfeited.)    

Last Year's Game 
Edinboro 45, Clarion 10
The Fighting Scots persevered after a tough start. Edinboro would suffer fumbles on the kickoff on its first two possessions, but the defense stepped up and held Clarion to a lone field goal. By the end of the first quarter, Edinboro led 21-3. Walter Fletcher accounted for the first two scores on touchdown runs of 20 and 72 yards, the first capping a 13-play, 95-yard drive. Zuril Hendrick would record the first of his two interceptions late in the quarter, and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. The lead grew to 28-3 at the half as Edinboro scored on a touchdown pass to Jake Sisson against Clarion for the second straight year. Ta'Nauz Gregory completed the nine-yard scoring toss to Sisson with 31 seconds remaining in the half. The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter, with Edinboro's coming on a 60-yard hookup between Sisson and James Clark. The duo also combined on Edinboro's last touchdown, this one covering three yards. Mike Cushma would add a 36-yard field goal midway through the final stanza. Edinboro finished with a season-high 459 yards while featuring a balanced attack that had 234 yards rushing and 225 passing. Fletcher totaled 30 carries for 230 yards, both career highs. Sisson was called on to pass just 18 times, but completed 13 for 216 yards. Clark hauled in eight passes for 147 yards. The Edinboro defense limited Clarion to 250 total yards. Jeff Clemens completed 13-of-27 passes for 121 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. Mylique McGriff led the Clarion ground game with 56 yards on 12 carries, while Kyle Evans carried 18 times for 55 yards. 
      
Last Week
Edinboro 56, Seton Hill 12
Edinboro spotted Seton Hill a 12-7 lead then ran off the final 49 points behind record-setting performances by Walter Fletcher and James Clark. Seton Hill would score on its first two possessions, sandwiching a nine-yard TD run by Fletcher. The Edinboro defense settled in after that, and would end up limiting the Griffins to just 39 yards rushing and 290 total yards, with the Fighting Scots recording four sacks. Meanwhile, for the second year in a row the offense put up huge numbers against Seton Hill. Edinboro would end up scoring 14 points in each quarter while finishing with 436 yards rushing, the third-highest single-game total, and 619 yards, which ranks fifth. Fletcher spearheaded that effort, as he ran for a school-record 328 yards on just 21 carries, breaking Gerald Thompson's record of 316 yards. The junior running back scored four touchdowns. He went over 1,000-yards rushing for the second straight year. Clark gave Edinboro a 14-12 lead on an eight-yard scoring pass from Jarrod Kellar. Later in the game, Clark would break Darren Massey's career receptions record with his fifth catch, giving him 195 career receptions. Blake Reddick pushed the lead to 21-12 lead , catching a 21-yard TD pass from Kellar. The lead grew to 28-12 at the half when Kahlil Jackson scooped up a fumbled punt snap at the one to score. Fletcher took over from there, scoring the next three touchdowns on runs of 76, 19, and 3 yards. His backup, Kyle Galyk, wrapped up the scoring with another long run, going 68 yards early in the fourth quarter.  He would finish with his fourth career 100-yard game, finishing with 112 yards on 11 carries.  Kellar, in his second start, completed 14-of-26 passes for 183 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Gregory caught 5 passes for 72 yards. The defense, meanwhile, showcased Ethan Upperco. The senior defensive end posted a career-high 10 tackles while matching career-bests with 3 TFL and 2 sacks.     
   
Slippery Rock 28, Clarion 13
Clarion suffered its third straight loss despite a strong showing against PSAC West-leading Slippery Rock. The Golden Eagles would take a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter on James Metzgar's 23-yard field goal to cap an 11-play drive. SRU answered with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns for a 14-3 lead. The Golden Eagles closed to 14-10 on Mylique McGriff's one-yard TD run early in the third quarter. The score was set up by Chris Gildea's 37-yard interception return to the one yardline. Slippery Rock countered with two touchdown passes from Roland Rivers to Jermaine Wynn, including a 41-yard play at the start of the fourth quarter that made it 28-10. Clarion would add a 27-yard field midway through the fourth quarter. Clarion was able to slow down a Slippery Rock offense that came in as the top scoring team in the PSAC, forcing three turnovers. The Rock would finish with 505 total yards while holding Clarion to 214 yards. The Golden Eagles finished with 53 yards rushing and 161 yards passing. Jeff Clemens completed 12-of-25 passes for 109 yards before exiting with an injury. He was also the leading rusher with 39 yards on eight carries. McGriff was held to 27 yards on 19 carries. Mark Lewis caught 5 passes for 66 yards.   

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 119 wins.   
 
Chris Weibel (Clarion '98) is in his fourth year as the head coach at Clarion. He enjoyed a highly-successful first season, leading the Golden Eagles to a 7-4 finish after starting the year with seven straight wins. He brings in an overall record of 16-25 into the contest. Weibel had previously made a name for himself with the Golden Eagles. He served as an assistant coach at Clarion for 11 years, and before that was a standout quarterback.  Weibel holds Clarion records for career pass attempts (1,065), completions (586), passing yards (7,845) and passing TD's (65). He also owns the record for single season passing yards (2,880 – 1996) and TD passes (32 – 1996).  His top season came in 1996 when he led the Golden Eagles to an 11-3 overall record, the PSAC West title, the NCAA Division II East Region crown, and a berth in the NCAA "Final Four" before losing in the final seconds to Northern Colorado, 19-18. Weibel earned All-American honors and Clarion was awarded the Lambert Cup, signifying the top team in the East. He has served as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles for 11 seasons and offensive coordinator the last 2 years, was named Clarion's 12th head football coach on February 6, 2015. A 2010 inductee into Clarion's Sports Hall of Fame, Weibel spent the last 11 seasons coaching at Clarion, the last two as the offensive coordinator.  
      
The Game Stories
  • It's back on the road for Edinboro, one last time. Edinboro will play on the road for the sixth time in nine weeks as the Fighting Scots renew their rivalry with Clarion. The Scots will then wrap up the season with back-to-back home games against two of the top teams in the PSAC in Indiana(Pa.) and Kutztown. That latter contest could change if Kutztown plays in the PSAC Championship. .
  • Edinboro snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 3-0 at Sox Harrison Stadium with an impressive 56-12 win over Seton Hill in a day that had a little bit of everything weather-wise. The Fighting Scots come in at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Western Division. Clarion gave Slippery Rock a good battle a week ago before falling 28-13, and two weeks ago the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter against IUP before eventually falling 24-23.  
  • 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.  That was followed by another road loss, 49-28 at Slippery Rock, before last week's victory over Seton Hill.  
  • Edinboro leads Division II in turnovers gained with 27, and is also first in the country in interceptions with 16 despite failing to intercept a pass the last three weeks. In fact, the Edinboro-Clarion game will feature the top two teams in the country in interceptions, with the Golden Eagles second with 15. The Fighting Scots rank 20th in Division II in turnover margin (+0.88) and are third in fumbles recovered (11). 
  • Clarion won four of its first five games but has faced the Murderer's Row of the PSAC West over the last three weeks. The stretch began with a 41-27 loss to California(Pa.), followed by a 24-23 setback at IUP. They led 20-0 in the first quarter before IUP rallied. Clarion suffered its third straight loss to Slippery Rock. The Golden Eagles other loss was a season-opening 35-13 setback to Shippensburg.   
  • 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.  Clarion was picked seventh in the preseason poll after finishing 1-10 a year ago.
  • Edinboro has won seven of the last eight meetings with long-time rival  Clarion, including the last two. In addition, the Fighting Scots have won the last eight meetings at Memorial Stadium. Clarion last won on its home field in 2000 by a 7-0 count.
  • 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 earlier in the year.
  • 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, November 3 vs. Indiana(Pa.) -- 12:00 noon -- Military Appreciation Day
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Players Mentioned

Mike Cushma

#94 Mike Cushma

PK/P
5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
Jake Sisson

#10 Jake Sisson

QB
6' 0"
Senior
Brandon Anderson

#9 Brandon Anderson

SS
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
James Clark

#1 James Clark

WR
6' 1"
Senior
Derek Dorr

#66 Derek Dorr

DT
6' 3"
Senior
Walter Fletcher

#5 Walter Fletcher

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Kyle Galyk

#35 Kyle Galyk

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Ta

#2 Ta'Nauz Gregory

WR
5' 8"
Junior
Zuril Hendrick

#21 Zuril Hendrick

CB
6' 1"
Senior
Blake Reddick

#6 Blake Reddick

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Ethan Upperco

#50 Ethan Upperco

DE
6' 3"
Senior
Jarrod Kellar

#3 Jarrod Kellar

QB
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Mike Cushma

#94 Mike Cushma

5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
PK/P
Jake Sisson

#10 Jake Sisson

6' 0"
Senior
QB
Brandon Anderson

#9 Brandon Anderson

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
SS
James Clark

#1 James Clark

6' 1"
Senior
WR
Derek Dorr

#66 Derek Dorr

6' 3"
Senior
DT
Walter Fletcher

#5 Walter Fletcher

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
RB
Kyle Galyk

#35 Kyle Galyk

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Ta

#2 Ta'Nauz Gregory

5' 8"
Junior
WR
Zuril Hendrick

#21 Zuril Hendrick

6' 1"
Senior
CB
Blake Reddick

#6 Blake Reddick

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Ethan Upperco

#50 Ethan Upperco

6' 3"
Senior
DE
Jarrod Kellar

#3 Jarrod Kellar

6' 2"
Junior
QB