GANNON Golden Knights (0-4, 0-1 PSAC West) at EDINBORO Fighting Scots (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2018
Site: Edinboro, Pa.
Stadium: Adamson Stadium (6,500)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: Click Here
Live Video: Click Here
Radio: WFSE 88.9
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Edinboro Game Notes
Gannon Game Notes
Scouting the Teams
On Radio and TV
The Edinboro-Gannon 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, the contest is the first of two games for Edinboro on the SPORTSfever Television Network. The game will be shown on a variety of outlets, including on ESPN 3 and locally on the CW.
Complete List of Outlets
The All-Time Series
Edinboro leads 8-4
The series began in 2001 with Edinboro winning the first seven meetings. However, Gannon has won four of the last five contests, including a 47-25 decision a year ago. This will be the fifth time Edinboro has hosted Gannon on Homecoming, with the Fighting Scots winning the first four.
Last Year's Game
Gannon 47, Edinboro 25
The Fighting Scots were unable to contain the nation's leading rusher. Marc Jones, a powerful 5'11", 225 lb. junior, scored a school-record six touchdowns rushing while finishing with 261 yards on 23 carries. Jones scored on runs of 38, 11, 1, 3, 57, and 15 yards. Edinboro's Walter Fletcher also enjoyed a big day after coming into the game ranked third in the PSAC in rushing. The redshirt sophomore scored on runs of 8 and 67 yards and caught a three-yard TD pass. Fletcher had his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 165 yards on 22 carries. Edinboro scored first for a 7-0 lead on Fletcher's eight-yard run, but Gannon would go up 28-13 at the half as two Boro turnovers led to scores. Edinboro also lost starting quarterback Jake Sisson for the rest of the game midway through the second quarter with an injury. Sisson completed 11-of-18 passes for 114 yards with a TD and an INT. Redshirt freshman Andrew Tomko relieved and completed 9-of-19 passes for 90 yards and a pickoff. James Clark had his fourth straight game with 100 yards receiving, catching eight passes for 109 yards. Gannon finished with 530 total yards, while Edinboro had 412.
Last Week
California(Pa.) 40, Edinboro 35
The Fighting Scots found themselves behind 34-21 in the third quarter in their PSAC West opener, then rallied to take a 35-34 lead with eight minutes remaining.
Walter Fletcher accounted for the first score on a seven-yard run, and
Kyle Galyk gave the Scots the lead when he scooted in from 17 yards out one play after a 41-yard run by Fletcher. Unfortunately, the Vulcans drove 65 yards on the ensuing possession, posting the winning score with 5:20 to play. Fletcher scored twice for Edinboro, adding a one-yard scoring run, but was held to 66 yards on 17 carries.
Andrew Tomko accounted for Edinboro's other two scores, throwing a five-yard TD pass to
Ta'Nauz Gregory and scoring on a 21-yard. The latter touchdown came on a fake field goal. Tomko completed 10-of-30 passes for 143 yards with a TD and 2 INTs. California(Pa.) finished with 458 yards, a season-high against the Scots, while holding Edinboro to a season-low 258 yards. The Scots forced six turnovers for the third time this season, including four interceptions, with
Zuril Hendrick picking off a pair of passes.
Clarion 14, Gannon 9
The Golden Knights remained winless as host Clarion limited 2017 Division II rushing leader Marcus Jones to 22 yards on 14 carries and recorded five sacks as Gannon finished with minus 26 yards rushing. The Golden Knight defense was outstanding in defeat, holding Clarion to 10 yards on the ground and 183 total yards. Gannon would finish with 293 yards in total offense, as backup quarterback Jason Dambach completed 17-of-41 passes for 270 yards. Dambach replaced an injured Jimmy Keefe in the first quarter. His 17-yard pass to Alex Hutchings accounted for Gannon's lone score. The Golden Knights also had a third quarter safety. The two teams combined for 30 penalties for 311 yards, with the Knights guilty of 21 for 210.
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 117 wins.
Brad Ryzczycki (Mercyhurst '95) was hired as Gannon's head coach on May 3, 2012. He is now in his seventh season and has a 34-36 record, including a 5-6 finish a year ago. He enjoyed his top season in 2014, when he led the Golden Knights to a 9-2 record, finishing as the PSAC West co-champions. Ryzczycki was no stranger to area football when he took over as head coach, as he was a four-year starter at cornerback for Mercyhurst and later served as Gannon's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for five seasons. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Mercyhurst, working there for seven seasons as a defensive assistant. Prior to arriving at Gannon he served in the same role at Kentucky Wesleyan for four years. He also served as the wide receivers and special teams coordinator at Saginaw Valley State for a season.
The Game Stories
- It's Homecoming at Edinboro, with the Fighting Scots looking to celebrate while facing local rival Gannon. Edinboro comes in with a 3-1 record after suffering a 40-35 loss at California(Pa.) in the PSAC West opener for both teams. Gannon fell to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC West with a 14-9 loss at Clarion.
- The Edinboro-Gannon game is the first of two Fighting Scot football games on the
SPORTSfever Television Network this season. The game will be shown on a variety of outlets, including on ESPN 3 and locally on the CW. In addition, the Edinboro-West Chester women's soccer match set for Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. will also be shown on ESPN 3.
- The Fighting Scots opened the season with a pair of victories on the road for the second time in the last three years. The 2016 team also started with back-to-back road wins. The Fighting Scots opened the season with a dominating 69-0 win at Lake Erie, followed by a hard-fought 21-6 triumph at Bloomsburg. Edinboro claimed its home opener with an impressive 49-24 win over East Stroudsburg two weeks ago.
- Edinboro hosts Gannon on Homecoming for the fifth time since the two teams first met in 2001. The Fighting Scots have won the previous four meetings, including a 41-17 victory in 2016.
- After this week's Homecoming contest, Edinboro does not play at home again until October 20 when the Fighting Scots host Seton Hill. Edinboro plays five of its first seven games on the road before remaining at Sox Harrison Stadium three of the last four weeks.
- The Edinboro defense leads Division II in turnover margin (+3.00), turnovers gained (22), ingterceptions (14), and fumbles recovered (8). In addition, the Fighting Scots are 23rd in the country in rushing defense (99.3 ypg.).
- Gannon is searching for its first win of 2018 after suffering a tough 14-9 loss at Clarion last Saturday. the contest featured plenty of defense and a plethora of penalties. Clarion limited Gannon to 267 total yards, including minus 26 yards on the ground. The Golden Knight defense was even better, as Clarion finished with just 173 total yards, including 10 on the ground. the two teams combined for 30 penalties for 311 yards, with Gannon committing 21 for 210 yards.
- 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. Gannon posted a 5-6 record in 2017 and was picked right behind Edinboro in the preseason poll in fifth place.
- Saturday's game will showcase the top two rushers in Division II in 2017. Gannon's Marcus Jones and Edinboro's Walter Fletcher ranked one-two in rushing, with both being named to numerous All-American teams. Jones, a bruising 5'11", 225 lbs., was a consensus first team All-American and the Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up after finishing with 2,176 yards and 29 TDs. Fletcher, who was also named to virtually every All-American team, set school records with 1,740 yards and 18 TDs. In last year's meeting, Jones finished with 261 yards and 6 TDs, while Fletcher had 165 yards and two scores.
- 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.
- The Fighting Scots will play back-to-back games against their Erie County rivals. After hosting Gannon on Saturday, Edinboro makes the short trip up I-79 to play at Mercyhurst on Saturday, October 6.
Next for the Fighting Scots
Saturday, October 6 at Mercyhurst -- 12 noon
