EDINBORO – Despite one of the top offensive performances of the season for the Fighting Scots, a clutch missed PAT and a quick overtime drive by Mercyhurst helped the Lakers win at Sox Harrison Stadium on Saturday.
 
Edinboro quarterback Isaac Bernard completed 26-of-36 passes for 265 yards and 2 TDs, while leading receiver Mike Watkins hauled in 8 catches for 95 yards and a score for the Fighting Scots.
 
With less than a minute in regulation, Edinboro (1-5, 1-3) tied the game at 20 with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Bernard to Jon Long. On the following PAT, Vicente Arriagada's kick smacked off the left upright and fell incomplete – leading the game to overtime.
 
Long had one of his best performances of the season, catching 6 passes for 93 yards and the fourth-quarter touchdown.
 
The Lakers (2-5, 1-3) started the overtime session with the ball at the Edinboro 25 yard line. The Fighting Scots started strong with a Ty Thorton sack on the first play of OT. Mercyhurst quarterback Joe Carter completed a 26-yard pass later in the drive to Cameron Barmore, who carried the ball to the Edinboro 1 yard line.
 
On the next play, Carter snuck the ball in the end zone to give Mercyhurst the lead.
 
The Lakers found their way to the Edinboro quarterback early in the Fighting Scots' OT drive, sacking Bernard for a loss of 10. The 4th-and-11 pass from Bernard to Amani Bailey fell incomplete, giving Mercyhurst the 27-20 win.
 
"Look, it's a tough loss," Head Coach Jake Nulph said to GoErie following the game. "Give credit to Mercyhurst. They made the plays when they had to and we came up to where we didn't make those plays. We've just got to try and get better."
 
Anfreenee Williams led the Edinboro rushing attack once again, with 20 carries for 73 yards. Freshman tight end Jack Hollibaugh hauled in a 2-yard touchdown pass early in the game for Edinboro.
 
On defense, Saige Ley led the Fighting Scots with 11 total tackles – 6 solo. Tarique Smith added on sack for a loss of five yards, while Bishop Simmons and Jaohne Duggan partnered for another Carter sack.
 
Nick Cunningham contributed 8 total tackles on the afternoon, while Deandre Dowdell added 7.
 
Punter Reed Martin had another exceptional performance, kicking a long punt of 59 yards and landing 2-of-4 punts inside the opponent's 20 yard line.
 
Edinboro University is on the road for the next two weeks, traveling to Erie to take on Gannon at noon on Oct. 23. Then, the Fighting Scots head to IUP on Oct. 30 for a 2 p.m. contest.