CLARION, Pa. — The Edinboro football team fell to host Clarion 30-19 on Saturday at Al Jacks Field at Memorial Stadium in PSAC West action.
Clarion struck on its first snap when Jase Ferguson hit JaTawn Williams for a 75-yard touchdown at 14:48, but the Fighting Scots put together an 80-yard answer behind
Nico Marchitelli completions to
Adam Kreais and
Jeremiah Neeley before
Bo Swartz scored from 2 yards out to make it 7-6.
Ty Reali forced a Kaevon Gardner fumble on Clarion's next possession and
Montrice Webster recovered at the Clarion 39, but the Scots' ensuing drive ended with
Tanner Bruzda's missed 36-yard field goal. Clarion followed with an 80-yard drive, converting twice on third down before Ferguson connected with Davon Jones for a 47-yard touchdown at 3:36 and a 14-6 lead.
The Scots began their next possession at their own 12, moved across midfield with a 20-yard
Jordan Theodore run and a pair of Marchitelli completions. Marchitelli hit Neeley for 26 yards moving the ball to the Clarion 8 before Swartz scored from 4 yards out at 12:42 and Bruzda's PAT cut the Golden Eagle lead to 14-13. Clarion extended the lead with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown from Ferguson to Tsirell Curry with 9 seconds left pushing the Golden Eagle lead to 21-13 at the break.
The Scots started the third quarter by moving from their 35 to the Clarion 25, keyed by Marchitelli completions to
Drew Parker for 11 and 9 yards, but the drive ended on downs at 10:33. Clarion moved into Fighting Scots territory on its ensuing series before Jase Ferguson lost a fumble that
Shamarr Joppy recovered at the Scots 42, but the Fighting Scots went three-and-out and Clarion later pinned them at the Scots 3 with a 46-yard punt. After
Drew Parker's fumble gave Clarion the ball at the Scots 9, the defense forced a fourth down with Branch's tackle for loss on Tyreeck Hall, but Ty Woods made a 20-yard field goal at 1:13 to put Clarion ahead 24-13.
Ty Reali intercepted Jase Ferguson at the Fighting Scots 19 and returned it 14 yards early in the fourth quarter, but the Scot drive stalled out at midfield before
Ethan Schlief punted Clarion back to its 8. The Scots put together an eight-play, 65-yard drive midway through the quarter, converting fourth-and-3 on Marchitelli's 12-yard run before Marchitelli hit
Jairo Williams, Neeley and
Jaevon Parker to set up his 1-yard touchdown run at 5:45, cutting the lead 24-19 after the two-point conversion pass failed. The defense followed with a stop as
Sunday Ikegwuonu broke up a pass,
Eli Nichols made a tackle for loss and
Nick Rossi and
Amari Jones combined on a sack, but the Scots' next possession ended on downs at their own 48 with 1:16 left. Clarion put up an insurance score after Ferguson broke a 50-yard run and then finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown setting the final at 30-19.
Marchitelli completed 23 of 34 passes for 263 yards and added 19 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries. Neeley caught 10 passes for 140 yards. Swartz rushed nine times for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Reali recorded six tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.
Ferguson completed 20 of 32 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards and a score. Curry caught six passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Gabriel Laws recorded a team-high nine tackles. Nassim Adams finished with five tackles and an interception.
The Fighting Scots return to action on Saturday when they host IUP at 2 p.m. at Sox Harrison Stadium on Homecoming.
