Edinboro, Pa. -- The Edinboro football team returns to Sox Harrison Stadium on Saturday when they host Clarion at 12 p.m.

The Series
Edinboro leads the all-time series 51-39-2.
Last Edinboro Win: Oct. 22, 2022, 47-17
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 Time Out
The Fighting Scots fell to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the PSAC West after dropping a 20-10 decision to IUP Saturday at George P. Miller Stadium. Edinboro took the lead, 10-7,  in the second quarter when Matt Carlisle connected with Mike Watkins for a 58-yard touchdown at the 7:13 mark. IUP scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half to set the final. Carlisle was 15-of-28 for 208 yards and a touchdown while also being the leading rusher with 61 yards. Watkins caught seven passes for 95 yards. Logan Dexter led the defense with 11 tackles and an interception.

Honor Roll
Through seven weeks of play the Scots have earned three PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors. Toby Cline was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week in Week 5. Cline intercepted a pair of Mercyhurst passes while also breaking up a pass in the end zone and recording five tackles in the win.

Reed Martin is the other Scot to earn PSAC West honors this season earning Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors for his performances against Bloomsburg and Cal. On the season Martin is averaging 40.8 yards per punt which ranks 28th in Division II. 

Hidden Yards
The Scot coverage team has held opponents to just 1.6 yards per return ranking second in the PSAC with the longest return of the season being a muffed kick that went for a three-yard return. The Scots net punting is a PSAC-best 38.4 yards per punt ranking 14th in the country.

Takeaways
The Scots won the turnover battle against IUP on Saturday forcing three total turnovers. The Scots are currently a +1 in turnover margin after starting the season with five turnovers in the opener.

The Edinboro defense has pounced on eight fumbles which is the most in the PSAC and eighth most in D-II. CJ Waldier has recovered two of those fumbles ranking second in the PSAC and seventh in the nation.

Making Stops
CJ Waldier has also been the Scots leading tackler with 58 total tackles. He ranks third in the PSAC and 12th in the country with 9.4 stops per game. He also ranks second in the conference and 28th in the nation in solo tackles with 5.0 per contest.

Ground Game
The Edinboro rushing attack averages 126.4 yards per game. Brian Trobel has is the Scots leading rusher averaging 69.3 yards per game. Matt Carlisle is also a top 20 rusher in the PSAC with 297 total yards.

Trobel has found the endzone seven times on the ground this season the third best mark in the PSAC. 

Moving the Chains
The Scots have been solid on third and fourth down ranking fifth in third down offense at .410 and ranks third in fourth down conversions at .600.

Mike, Mike Mike
Mike Watkins has caught touchdowns in each of the last three games. He now has four scores on the season which ranks sixth in the PSAC.

Scouting the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the PSAC West after dropping a 36-35 decision to Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Clarion jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but Mercyhurst rallied and after scoring with five seconds left in the game cutting the lead to 35-34, the Lakers converted a two-point conversion to win the game. Zach Benedek rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown to lead the Clarion offense. The Golden Eagles rushed for 335 yards total. 

Defensive end Jake Tarburton is fifth in the PSAC with 5.0 total sacks on the year, with the 34 yards lost also ranking fifth. Cornerback Che Trevena is tied for ninth in the PSAC with an average of 0.86 passes defended per game this year, including five break-ups and one pick. Receiver Corahn Alleyne ranks third in the PSAC in all-purpose yards at 139.9 yards per game, and is the only player in the PSAC with more than 100 total rushing, receiving, punt return and kick return yards. The Golden Eagle defense ranks fifth in the PSAC in points allowed per opponent red zone trip, allowing just 4.09 points per trip.

Jake Nulph Show