Pittsburgh, Pa. -- The Edinboro football team will kick off the 2023 season on Saturday with a trip to Duquesne. Kickoff is slated for 12:05 p.m.

After the Break
The Scots and Dukes will face off for the first time in 94 years. The two teams only meeting took place on Sept. 21, 1929 with Duquesne coming out with a 14-0 victory. 

Returning Experience
The Scots bring back a wealth of experience with 17 of 22 starters returning from a season ago as well as continuity in special teams. 

Thaddeus Standfield returns for the Scots after earning second-team All-PSAC honors as both a wide receiver and kick returner. He finished 2022 ranked 35th in all-purpose yards with an average of 123.9 per contest. His 71.8 yards per game receiving was the seventh best mark in the PSAC and 44th in Division II.

Second-team All-PSAC West tackle Gabe Hulslander leads a veteran offensive line with three starters back from a year ago.

Punter Reed Martin was the American Football Coaches Association First-Team All-American punter. His 42.8 yards per punt ranked ninth in D-II  Along with the Scot coverage team they ranked seventh nationally in net punting at 40.31 yards per punt. Martin tallied nine punts of over 50 yards and had 20 of his 53 punts end up inside the 20.

Edinboro also returns their three leading tacklers from a season ago led by second-team All-PSAC linebacker Clay Cunningham. Cunningham finished the season with 125 tackles, and ranked fourth in the nation at 11.4 stops per game. Malcolm Johnson and Wilfredo Diaz were Top 15 tacklers in the PSAC. Johnson averaged 7.8 while Diaz recorded 7.7 per outing.

The Turnover Battle
The Scots will look to do a better job protecting the football in 2023. Edinboro committed 32 turnovers in 2022 with 20 interceptions and 12 lost fumbles. Opponents turned those 32 turnovers into 81 points.

The Edinboro defense took the ball away from opponents 21 times in the 2022 season. Recording 13 interceptions and recovering eight fumbles. Wilfredo Diaz converted four of those turnovers with one interception and three fumble recoveries. 

Behind the Line
The Scot defense ranked 40th in the nation in tackles for loss averaging 7.1 per contest a season ago. Clay Cunningham led the way with 1.2 takcles for loss per game followed by Malcolm Johnson at 1.0. 

FCS Opponents
Edinboro will step outside of Division II for the first time in 20 years. The last time the Scots took on a Division I opponent ws Aug. 30 2003 when they traveled to Youngstown State. Edinboro would fall 35-11, but would finish the season 9-3, tying for the top spot in the West and making the NCAA Playoffs.

Preseason Coaches' Poll
In the PSAC West Preseason Coaches' Poll the Fighting Scots were selected fifth even with their final spot in the 2022 season standings. 

Reunion Weekend
The coaching staffs know each other well with head coach Jake Nulph and defensive coordinator Tony Papley both working under Dukes head coach Jerry Schmitt. Both Nulph and Papley were on staff for the Dukes 2018 NEC Championship team which is having a reunion Saturday.

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