Edinboro, Pa. -- The Edinboro football team opens PSAC West play on Saturday when they host California (Pa.) at 12 p.m. inside Sox Harrison Stadium.

Last Time Out
The Fighting Scots scored a 23-13 victory over Bloomsburg on Saturday running their record to 1-2 overall. 

Edinboro used a balanced offensive attack to defeat the Huskies with Brian Trobel headlining the rushing attack with 29 carries for 104 yards. Mike Watkins was Edinboro's leading receiver hauling in nine passes for 108 yards including a 31-yard touchdown. The Fighting Scot defense held Bloomsburg  to 134 yards through the air while also forcing three turnovers on three Husky fumbles. Ty Thorton led the Scots with nine tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. CJ Waldier made seven stops with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Series
The Vulcans lead the overall series 51-35-2 after a 49-7 victory in last season's contest
Last Edinboro Win: Oct. 9, 2004, 42-28
Last Cal (PA) Win: Sept. 22, 2022, 49-7
Largest Margin of Victory Edinboro: Oct. 15, 2994, 67-6
Largest Margin of Victory Cal (PA): Sept. 22, 2022, 49-7

On the Ground
The Scots ground game followed up their best team performance in the Jake Nulph era with the best individual performance. Brian Trobel carried the ball 29 times for 104 yards becoming the first Edinboro player to cross the century mark since CJ Reyes-Diggs against Clarion on Nov. 2, 2019.

Dynamic Duo
The Edinboro balance was on display Saturday with Mike Watkins making nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. With Trobel and Watkins each crossing the 100-yard plateau, they become the first teammates to have 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game since Oct. 13, 2018.

Honor Roll
Reed Martin became the first Fighting Scot to earn PSAC Weekly honors when he was named PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week.

Martin punted three times averaging 42 yards per punt with two of the three downed inside the 20 yard line. He also connected on a 48-yard field goal. It was the longest field goal in the PSAC this season and the fifth longest field goal in Edinboro history.

Special Teams
Reed Martin currently ranks 12th in the nation and second in the PSAC with an average of 44.2 yards per punt. 

The Edinboro punt coverage team has been outstanding holding opponents to just 1.33 yards per return ranking 28th in DII. The Scots net punting numbers are at 41.4 yards per punt ranking seventh in the nation.

Ball Hawks
The Scots forced three turnovers for the second straight contest. CJ Waldier, Malcolm Johnson and Zach Malpica each forced fumbles. Edinboro finished +1 in the turnover battle and are now +4 in games against Division II opponents. 

The defense has proven to be opportunistic leading the PSAC and ranking fifth in Division II in fumble recoveries with five.

Third Down Conversions
Edinboro was highly efficient on third down last week going 12-of-19. Watkins was a key player in that efficiency with four of his nine catches coming on third downs to move the chains.

The Fighting Scot defense also had a strong performance on third down holding Bloomsburg to a 1-of-9 performance. 

Possession Numbers
Edinboro currently leads the PSAC in time of possession averaging 32:46 of possession time per game. Last week the Scots held the ball for 39:10.

Keeping Him Clean
The Fighting Scots did not allow a sack for the second straight week. The last time the Scots went back-to-back games without allowing a sack is Oct. 21 & Oct. 28, 2017 against Seton Hill and Slippery Rock. The last time the Scots went three-straight games without surrendering a sack was a stretch of three straight games from Oct.15-Oct. 29, 2005 in which they played IUP, Slippery Rock and Kutztown.

PSAC Opener
This will be the fifth straight season that Edinboro will open conference play with a contest against Cal. The Scots are looking to win their PSAC West opener for the first time since defeating Gannon 27-0 on Sept. 24, 2011.

Scouting the Vulcans
Cal is coming off a 44-34 loss to No. 14 Shepherd last week. The Vulcans are now 1-1 after having their week one game canceled. Despite the loss, receiver Eric Willis III earned PSAC West Offensive Co-Player of the Week honors with 274 receiving yards, two touchdowns. Davis Black threw ofr 411 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Bobby Boyd Jr. was the leading rusher with 97 yards and a score. Rashan Murray and John Hutchinson each tallied eight tackles to lead the Vulcan defense.

Black is 38-of-57 for 603 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Willis III has made 12 catches for 315 yards while Amari Hopkins has hauled in 10 passes for 118. Bobby Boyd Jr. is the leading rusher with 101 yards while Eric McKan sat out against Shepherd after rushing for 98 against Kutztown.

Defensively, Jacob Seigle leads the team with 16 tackles. John Hutchinson has notched 15 tackles  and Dominic Solomon, Jr. adds 14 total tackles. Ibrahim Sanogo has made six tackles with 2.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss and was teh D2Football National Defensive Player of the Week two weeks ago.

Jake Nulph Show 


The Jake Nulph show is filmed live every Monday at 7 p.m. at Charlie's Pub & Eatery.