Clarion, Pa. -- After back-to-back home games, the Edinboro football team heads on the road to take on Clarion Saturday at noon inside Memorial Stadium.

The Series
Edinboro leads 50-39-2
Last Edinboro Win: Nov. 6, 2021, 17-10
Last Clarion  Win: Oct. 10, 2015, 36-23
Largest Margin of Victory Edinboro: Oct. 1, 2016, 62-14
Largest Margin of Victory Clarion: Oct. 5, 1946, 50-0

Last Week
Edinboro is coming off a 41-0 loss to IUP last week. Anfreenee Williams led the offense with 68 rushing yards keyed by a 42 yard run in the fourth quarter. The Scots aveaged over five yards per carry agains t the Crimson Hawks. Clay Cunningham continued his excellence making 15 total tackles.

Clarion forced five Mercyhurst turnovers and Jarrett Esposito converted a late field goal to give the Golden Eagles a 23-21 victory. Khalil Owens rushed for 96 yards. Zach Benedek completed 13-of-20 for 112 yards and rushed for 65 yards and a score. Kareem Hamdan intercepted a pair of passes including a 35-yard pick six to lead the Clarion defense.

Climbing the Ranks
Clay Cunningham continues to climb the rankings among D-II tacklers. The Fighting Scot linebacker averages 12.3 stops per game leading the PSAC and ranking second overall in the country. He has also made plays behind the line of scrimmage ranking thrid in the PSAC and 20th in D-II with 1.6 tackles per loss per contest.

Turnover Battle
Edinboro's defense has also  been effective taking the ball away from other teams. The Scots have forced 13 turnovers ranking sixth in the PSAC and 42nd in the nation. The Scots have struggled with turnovers offensively with 21 total turnovers. Edinboro is 1-0 in games without a turnover.

TFL
The Edinboro defense has been disruptive in the opponent's backfield. Their average of 7.3 tackles for loss per game is the sixth best mark in the PSAC. Clay Cunningham leads the team with 11.5 stops for a loss while Malcolm Johnson checks in with 9.0 tackles for loss. 

Honor Roll
Freshman defensive lineman JR Tellington made good on his first career start making 11 tackles and returning an interception for a touchdown and earning PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors after Edinboro defeated Mercyhurst 16-13 last week.

Reed Martin has been named the PSAC West Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season after Scot victories over Franklin Pierce and Bloomsburg. Martin is currently atop the PSAC in punting averaging 42.2 yards per punt ranking 12th in D-II.

Hidden Yards
The Edinboro coverage team is holding opponents to less than four yards per return. The result is the 10th best net punting margin in the nation at 39.7 yards per punt.

The special teams unit has also been strong on kickoff coverage. The 13.4 yards per kickoff return is the seventh best mark in the country and the best mark in the PSAC. 

All-Purpose
After no receiver went over 100 yards in the 2019 season, Thaddeus Standfield crossed the 100-yard threshold for the second time this season going for 129 on 12 catches against Mercyhurst. Standfield averages 5.9 catches per game, fourth in the PSAC and 25th in D-II. He has also had success as a kick returner ranking 29th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 134.3 yards per game.

Close Calls
After going 2-4 in games decided by one score a season ago, Edinboro has been on the other end of the results this season. The Scots are currently 3-0 in games decided by one score in 2022.

Ground Game
The Fighting Scots had their best rushing performance of the season against IUP. Edinboro finished with 138 yards averaging over five yards per carry.

Scouting the Golden Eagles
Clarion's offense is paced by dual threat quarterback Zach Benedek Benedek has passed for 710 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 255 and four scores. Khalil Owens is the Golden Eagles leading rusher with 485 yards and four touchdowns. Ownes also has 23 catches for 219 yards. Corahn Alleyne is Clarion's leading receiver with 16 catches for 230 yards.

Defensively, Drew Blon has made 44 tackles, 33 solo, with five tackles for loss to lead the Golden Eagles. Robert Lachmann has 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks both team highs. 

Jake Nulph Show