Clarion, Pa. – The Edinboro football team turned in a complete performance in all three phases of the game to down host Clarion 47-17 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
 
"Credit to our staff for having a strong game plan right out of the gate and credit to our players and going out and executing from the opening whistle," said head coach Jake Nulph. "We made plays today that we were just missing before and it showed in the final result."
 
The Scots won the opening toss and took the ball. After a kick out of bounds, Edinboro started from their own 35-yard line and methodically marched the ball down to the Clarion 13-yard line before the drive stalled. Richie Pekmezian connected on a 30-yard field goal to give the Scots a 3-0 advantage capping a 14-play, 52-yard drive that ran 6:56 off the clock.
 
On the ensuing Clarion possession, it was the Scots special teams that set the stage. On fourth and 12 from the Clarion 41, Wilfredo Diaz broke through and blocked the punt setting up the offense at the Clarion 38. It was the first blocked kick of the season for the Scots who led the nation across all divisions in blocked kicks a year ago.
 
"That was a great individual play by Wilfredo there," said Nulph. "We are an attacking unit on special teams and we feel like we have been really close and it was great to see us get to that one today."
 
Edinboro wasted no time cashing in on the blocked kick. On the first offensive snap, Isaac Bernard found Thaddeus Standfield behind the defense for the 38-yard touchdown. Pekmezian connected on the extra point to push the lead to 10-0.
 
Clarion would only run seven offensive plays the rest of the first quarter with Allen Stritzinger notching an interception and another three-and-out.
 
The Scots extended the lead after the three-and-out pushing down to the Clarion 32 in the final 52 seconds of the first quarter. Bernard found Armani Bailey for nine yards and two Karamogo Sylla rushes pushed the ball down to the Golden Eagle 15. Bernard and Bailey linked up again for a 15-yard touchdown extending the lead to 17-0.
 
On the next Clarion possession, the Golden Eagles crossed midfield setting up a third-and -one from the Edinboro 46. Clay Cunnimgham and Diaz combined to stop the third down play for no gain and the Scot defense came up with the fourth down stop with Cunningham and Malcolm Johnson keeping the Golden Eagles short.
 
The offense once again turned the quick change into points. Anfreenee Williams rushed for eight yards on first down before rumbling for 38 more on second setting up a first and goal at the Clarion 8-yard line. After no gain on first down, Bernard completed a pass to Nico Mrvos to the one-yard line before Keon Anderson punched it in extending the lead to 24-0.,
 
Clarion would score once before the end of the second on a 15-yard rush by Zach Benedek to trim the halftime lead to 24-7.
 
The Golden Eagles got the ball first in the second half and were forced three-and-out by the Scots. Edinboro took over at their own 40 and quickly faced a third and 11. Bernard and Standfield converted a 12-yard pass to extend the drive. Bernard hit Standfield for a 30-yard touchdown, his third touchdown toss of the game to make it 31-7 with 9:49 remaining in the third.
 
The teams traded field goal drives on the next two possessions holding the Edinboro advantage at 24.
 
Reed Martin intercepted Regan Scheicher and returned it to the Clarion 19-yard line. Zidane Thomas ripped off a rush of 18 and then punched it on from the one on the next play to push Edinboro ahead 41-10.
 
Stritzinger put the final points on the board for the Scots when he stepped in front of a Benedek pass and returned it 91 yards for the touchdown. Clarion scored a late touchdown to set the final.
 
Standfield paced the offensive effort catching eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Bernard finished the day 20-of-31 for 235 and three touchdowns. Williams paced the rushing attack with 40 yards while Thomas and Anderson each scored rushing touchdowns.
 
Cunningham made eight solo stops in his 11 total tackles on the day to pace the defense. Anthony Mendicino, Martin each had an interception while Stritzinger had a pair of picks.
 
The Scots are back in action next Saturday when they host Seton Hill at noon at Sox Harrison Stadium.