Edinboro, Pa. – The Edinboro offense racked up 266 rushing yards while the defense pitched a second half shutout in a 40-24 victory over Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon at Sox Harrison Stadium.
 
The Scots came out of the half trailing 24-21 when Reed Martin executed a perfect onside kick that Mike Flowers fielded at the Edinboro 49 yard line to set up possession for the Edinboro offense. Matt Carlisle rushed for 25 and passed for six more as the Scots moved the ball to the Mercyhurst 17 setting up Martin 34-yard field goal tying the game.
 
With the scored tied 24-24, the Edinboro defense forced Mercyhurst into a three-and-out at the Laker 15. Pressure on the punt forced an errant kick that went out of bounds at the Laker 33. After a short gain on first down, Brian Trobel broke off a 30-yard run to the Mercyhurst two setting up first and goal as the third quarter expired. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Trobel went over top the pile from the two to give the Scot a 31-24 advantage.
 
On the ensuing, Laker drive the Scots again forced a three-and-out and the snap on the punt sailed over the head of Austin Lippert and out the back of the end zone for a safety extending the lead to 33-24.
 
Edinboro took the ball back after the safety and marched 77 yards in nine plays taking 5:14 off the clock before Carlisle connected with Mike Watkins for a 13 yard catch and run to set the final at 40-24.
 
The Lakers scored first when Adam Urena hit Ryan Davison for a 5-yard touchdown at the 9:40 mark of the first quarter finishing a four-play 74-yard drive.
 
After Edinboro went three-and-out, Toby Cline intercepted Urena and returned it 18 yards to the Mercyhurst 37 to set up the Scot offense. Carlisle hit Aaron Hopkins for 15 yards before Trobel ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run knotting the score 7-7.
 
Mercyhurst answered right back with an 8-play 81-yard drive capped by a Jaylen Butera one-yard touchdown run at the 2:52 mark of the first quarter to retake the lead 14-7.
 
The Scots took the next possession and went 74 yards, with 55 coming on the ground including a 21-yard touchdown run by Carlisle to make it 14-14 at the 14:10 mark of the second.
 
The Scots forced a three and out and with the help of a Laker holding call on the punt started with the ball at their own 45. Carlisle hit Teaghan Brown for 18 yards to move the ball to the Mercyhurst 37. An eight-yard Carlisle rush and facemask penalty made it first-and-10 from the 14. Trobel broke a tackle in the middle of the field and burst through the line for a 14-yard touchdown giving the Scots their first lead of the day.
 
Mercyhurst trimmed the lead to 21-17 with Nathan Nagucki 20-yard field goal at the 3:06 mark of the second and retook the lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Adam Urena to Austin Urena with 28 second left in the half.
 
Trobel led the Scots offense with 140 yards rushing and three scores while also catching two passes for 13 yards. Carlisle rushed for 125 yards averaging 6.6 per carry despite a pair of sacks. He also threw for 116 and a score. It marked the first time that an Edinboro duo has gone over 100 yards rushing since Oct. 20, 2018.
 
Adam Urena led the Mercyhurst offense with 322 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
 
Cline had a monster day picking up both interceptions for the Edinboro defense while also recording five tackles, four solo, and a pass breakup in the endzone. CJ Waldier led the Scots with eight tackles.
 
The Scots are back in action on Saturday when they continue PSAC West play with a 12 p.m. kickoff at Gannon.