INDIANA, Pa. – A pair of blocked punts and a fourth quarter touchdown drive helped the Edinboro football team to a 21-17 victory over host IUP Saturday afternoon at Gary Miller Stadium.
The Fighting Scots trailed 17-14 with 10:31 to play after a Tyler Luther 27-yard field goal. The ensuing kickoff was juggled and left Edinboro with the ball at their own 12-yard line.
Isaac Bernard went 8-for-10 on Edinboro's 15-play 88-yard drive capped by a seven-yard toss to
Jack Hollibaugh to give the Fighting Scots a 21-17 lead with just 3:33 to play in the game.
The Crimson Hawks had one last shot, and advanced the ball to Edinboro 25-yard line, but on fourth down and six, Auldon Knight rallied to make the tackle on Justice Evans well short of the first down to seal the win for the Fighting Scots.
"We played 60 minutes of Edinboro football in all three phases," said head coach
Jake Nulph. "I am so proud of our guys. They made plays when they counted and went toe-to-toe with a very good football team at their place and never blinked."
The special teams put Edinboro on the board first. On the first possession of the game for IUP the Scots forced a punt.
Deandre Dowdell broke through and blocked the punt
Karamago Sylla scooped up the ball at the 17 and ran it back for an Edinboro touchdown.
The Crimson Hawks threatened twice in the second quarter, but the Fighting Scot defense held IUP to just a pair of field goals to take a 7-6 advantage into the half.
IUP received the second half's opening kick off and after a solid return went 54-yards in just six plays to grab their first lead of the day with a touchdown and two-point conversion to make the score 14-7.
The Fighting Scots answered right back marching 65-yards in seven plays capped by 22-yard touchdown pass from Bernard to
Jon Long at the 8:43 mark of the third quarter.
Bernard finished the contest 16-for-26 for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Armani Bailey led all Edinboro receivers with six catches for 53 yards.
The Fighting Scots came into Saturday's contest with the most blocked kicks in Division II and backed that up with two more blocked punts on Saturday. Dowdell blocked both of the kicks against IUP while also having four tackles.
"We had a really good week of practice and we felt like we had a great game plan," Nulph said. "Coach [Rich] DeMaio and Coach [Tony] Papley called a great game and our kids executed in every phase of the game."
The Edinboro defense gave up yards to the Crimson Hawks, but held IUP to just three field goals on four trips inside the red zone. Dowdell made a team leading 10 tackles including .5 for a loss and one pass break up.
Saige Ley made nine tackles five solo.
The victory over IUP was the Fighting Scots first since 2013 and improved the overall record to 2-6 and a 2-4 mark in PSAC West play.
Edinboro returns to action next Saturday when they play host to Clarion University at Sox Harrison Stadium at noon. It will be Senior Day for the Fighting Scots.
