EDINBORO, Pa. — The Edinboro football team dropped a hard-fought 46-44 decision in double overtime to visiting No. 9 IUP on Saturday at Sox Harrison.
In overtime, the Scots got early defensive plays from
Jarett Wallick, who dropped Landyn Moore for a loss, and
Amari Jones, who broke up a pass, but a Fighting Scots pass-interference penalty moved IUP to the 9 before Mason James' 1-yard touchdown run and Preston Rathway's kick put the visitors ahead 38-31. The Scots answered with Dinkins' 11-yard run, an IUP pass-interference penalty that moved the ball to the 2.
Bo Swartz scored from the 1-yard line on fourth-and-1, with Bruzda's kick tying the score at 38.
On the Fighting Scots' next overtime possession, Swartz converted another fourth-and-1 and a face-mask penalty carried the ball to the 7, and Marchitelli later scored from 2 yards out on a ruling that was upheld after review; the failed conversion left the Scots ahead 44-38. IUP came back with Mason Maggs' 25-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Harrold to tie it at 44, then converted the two-point pass after a delay-of-game penalty for a 46-44 final.
After a punt on Edinboro's first possession, IUP followed with a 79-yard drive that was capped 6-yard touchdown to Connor Shamany at 7:02.
Nico Marchitelli led the Fighting Scots back on the next series, connecting with Jerry Dinkins for 12 yards and
Jaevon Parker for 37 before running for 14 yards on third down.
Clayton Bezon hauled in a 9-yard touchdown at 3:26 from Marchitelli, with
Tanner Bruzda's kick tying the game at 7-7. Late in the quarter,
Montrice Webster sacked Maggs for a 15-yard loss,
Sunday Ikegwuonu recovered the fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 40 seconds left , and Bruzda's second extra point gave the Scots a 14-7 lead after the first quarter.
IUP carried the opening possession of the second quarter into Fighting Scots territory, with Maggs completing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mason James at 10:06 to tie the game at 14 all. The Scots' next drive reached the IUP 15 behind Marchitelli's 13-yard run, his 39-yard completion to
Jeremiah Neeley and a pass-interference penalty, but Keyshawn McCaskill intercepted Marchitelli in the end zone for a touchback at 6:42. The Crimson Hawks hit a 58-yard pass from Maggs to JC Wilson but missed a 40-yard field goal keeping the score tied. The Fighting Scots went 65 yards in 11 plays, including two third-down completions to
Antwan Ceasar, before Bruzda made a 29-yard field goal at :32 for a 17-14 lead.
Jaden Branch intercepted Maggs at the Scots' 47 with 22 seconds left to keep Edinboro up 17-14 at the break.
The Scots forced a punt on IUP's opening possession of the third, but their first drive was set back by a 16-yard sack and Karson Kiesewetter's blocked punt, giving IUP possession at the Fighting Scots' 20. Maggs hit Landyn Moore for 15 yards to the 5, then found Shamany for a 5-yard touchdown at 9:37 to take a 21-17 lead. On the next drive, Marchitelli moved the ball down the field through the air with completions to Parker and a pair to
Jeremiah Neeley.
Bo Swartz moved the chains on fourth-and-1 at the IUP 11, but a pair of penalties pushed the Scots back, before Bruzda made a 39-yard field goal at :49 cutting the lead to 21-20 going to the fourth.
After an early exchange of punts, IUP moved in front 28-20 on a drive highlighted by Mason Maggs' 47-yard completion to Jeremiah Coleman and Landyn Moore's 9-yard touchdown run at 10:05. The Fighting Scots answered from their 25, overcoming penalties before Marchitelli hit
Evan Zankl for 48 yards and found Neeley for a 21-yard touchdown at 6:33. The 2-point conversion was successfull knotting the game at 28-28. IUP drove from its 9 to the Scots' 20, but stops by
Parker Hoff and Ikegwuonu helped force a 37-yard Rathway field goal that put the Crimson Hawks ahead 31-28 at 1:39. Marchitelli then led the Fighting Scots back downfield with completions to Neeley and
Adam Kreais, and
Nathan Baker made a 51-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game and send it into overtime. Baker's field goal is the fourth longest in school history and the first field goal of over 50 yards since 2000.
Marchitelli completed 25 of 45 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns and added 41 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Neeley caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Ikegwuonu returned a fumble recovery 40 yards for a touchdown and added two tackles. Hoff finished with 10 tackles.
Maggs completed 19 of 28 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Coleman caught three passes for 112 yards and added 13 rushing yards. James scored twice, rushing for one touchdown and adding two catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. Tasso Whipple led the defense with 11 tackles.
The Fighting Scots return to action next Saturday with a trip to California, Pa. to take on the Vulcans. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
