Bloomsburg 30, West Chester 27

California 10,  Edinboro 0 

EDINBORO, PA – California(Pa.) came into Saturday’s game at Edinboro with the reputation of an offensive juggernaut, but it was the Vulcan defense that stole the show.  The Vulcans handed Edinboro a 10-0 defeat top spoil Homecoming for the Fighting Scots in front of a crowd of 4,628.

The defeat likely ends Edinboro’s reign as PSAC West champions as the Fighting Scots fall to

0-2 in the conference and 3-3 overall.  Cal, PSAC West co-champions with Edinboro a year ago, improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West.

The shutout was the first suffered by the Boro since a 7-0 loss at Clarion, and was the first shutout at home since 1980 when Slippery Rock handed Edinboro a 15-0 defeat.  In addition, Edinboro has now lost three straight home games for the first time since 2002, and marked Cal’s first win at Sox Harrison Stadium since 1987, snapping a string of nine straight losses.

Edinboro spent much of the afternoon battling poor field position, and a pair of bad snaps didn’t help matters.  The Vulcans took a 7-0 lead thanks to the first one, a high punt snap which resulted in Kody Robertson’s (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) punt being blocked by Cal’s Terrence Johnson.  The Vulcans ended up with the ball at the Edinboro six, and following a pair of runs by Brandon Lombardy to the one, Joe Ruggiero found Mike Dodson for a one-yard touchdown.  Tyler Lorenz’ extra point gave Cal a 7-0 lead with four seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The first fifteen minutes turned out to be a sign of things to come for the Boro offense.  The Fighting Scots ran just six plays and gained 12 yards, while Cal ran off 21 plays for 72 yards.  At the end of the day, Cal had run off 73 plays to 49 for the Fighting Scots, and held a 36:38 to 23:22 advantage in time of possession.  The Vulcans finished with 368 total yards compared to 270 for Edinboro.

Cal made it 10-0 with 2:40 left in the first half on Lorenz’ 35-yard field goal.  The kick capped an 11-play, 69-yard drive.

Edinboro’s best chance to score came on the opening possession of the third quarter.  Starting at their own 36, the Fighting Scots drove down to the Cal 21 before Robertson’s 38-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left.  The senior had little chance with the kick after a bad snap.

The Fighting Scots would not reach Cal territory again until the second to the last play of the game.  Cal made Edinboro play a long field all day long, as the Scot’s average field position was their own 20.  Their last four drives started at their on 12, 17, 17 and nine.

The Edinboro defense turned in a strong bend-but-don’t-break performance against a California(Pa.) offense that came in averaging 34.6 ppg. and 408.8 ypg.  The Vulcans had the ball in Edinboro territory on seven possessions, yet managed just ten points.  Senior LB Ben Stroup (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) led the way with a career-high 18 tackles, with senior LB Dave Jazenski (Erie, PA/Iroquois) adding 12 stops and senior NG A.J. Cousins (Chillicothe, OH/ Chillicothe) 11.

Unfortunately the Edinboro offense struggled, as the Fighting Scots once again failed to establish a running game.  The Scots were held to 37 rushing yards on 22 carries.  In Edinboro’s three wins it has averaged 195.7 ypg. rushing, but in the three losses that figure is 44.3 ypg.

Trevor Harris (Waldo, OH/Marion Pleasant) completed 16 of 27 passes for 233 yards but was sacked four times.  Ryan Valasek (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) hauled in 5 passes for 58 yards, moving into sixth place in career receptions with 96.  Ryan Rybicki (Covina, CA/Charter Oak) added career-highs of 4 catches for 74 yards.

Lombardy finished with 126 yards on 30 carries for the Vulcans, as they finished with 171 yards on the ground.  That is the most given up on the ground by the Edinboro defense since 2003.  Ruggiero completed 22 of 32 passes for 197 yards.

Edinboro concludes a three-game homestand next Saturday, October 14, hosting East Stroudsburg and Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jimmy Terwilliger.

Clarion 21, Cheyney 18 

CLARION, PA - Clarion’s Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek/Brockway) grabbed a 38-yard td pass to end the first half, and Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie – Central) posted three interceptions to lead Clarion to a 21-18 win over Cheyney on Saturday afternoon.

Clarion raised its overall record to 1-5, while Cheyney dropped to 0-6 on the season.

The Homecoming Day crowd of 6,500 watched the Golden Eagles build a 21-6 halftime lead, and nearly saw that lead slip away in the second half. Cheyney mounted a furious comeback and pulled to within 21-18 on a Lamar Anthony 22-yard pass from Derrick Murray with 8:54 left in regulation.

The Wolves got the ball back at their own 35 with 2:52 to play and drove to the Clarion 13 with only 6 seconds left. Murry tried a pass to the goal line, but pass interference was called on Clarion at the goal line with no time remaining, so the Wolves had one final play from the 2. Murrys final pass intended for Dominique Curry was defensed by Eagle corner Dwaon Woodard and fell incomplete giving Clarion a 21-18 win.

Woodard opened the scoring for the Golden Eagles when he intercepted a Murry pass at the Clarion 46 yard line, raced up the middle for 10 yards, broke to the right sideline and outraced everyone to the endzone for a touchdown. The score came at 12:06 of the first quarter and gave Clarion a 7-0 lead.

On Clarion’s first possession the Golden Eagles drove 63 yards in 8 plays to score. Tailback Eddie Emanuel raced 16-yards up the middle for the td with 5:27 left in the first and gave Clarion a 14-0 lead.

Cheyney took the kickoff and went 67-yards in 12 plays for their first touchdown. On third and goal from the 11, Murry hit Billy Mitchell on a crossing route for an 11-yard touchdown. The run for a two-point conversion failed and Clarion led 14-6.

Clarion free safety Erik Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park) intercepted Ronald Thompson’s pass at the Cheyney 47 with only 44-seconds left before intermission. On fourth and 1 at the Cheyney 38 and with only 1-second left before the half, Clarion freshman qb Tyler Huether (Fr. Penn Trafford) lofted a “Hail-Mary” 38-yard td pass to tight end Matt Foradora, who outjumped the defenders for a great catch in the endzone. The PAT was good and Clarion led 21-6 at intermission.

Cheyney recovered a Clarion fumble at the Wolves 37 yard line at the end of the third quarter, and turned the momentum around. Cheyney drove 63 yards in only 6 plays to score, getting the touchdown on a 43-yard qb draw from Derrick Murry. The PAT failed and Clarion led 21-12.

Clarion fumbled on its next possession, this time recovered at the Golden Eagle 28 yard line. Murry hit Anthony for the td and closed to within 21-18, setting up the exciting finish.

Clarion had 267 yards of offense including 164 rushing yards and 103 passing yards. Eddie Emanuel rushed 25 times for 150 yards and 1 td. Huether completed 5 of 11 for 65 yards and 1 td, while Mark Rupert (Fr. Knoch) hit on 2 of 4 passes for 38 yards. Foradora grabbed 4 aerials for 75 yards and 1 td.

Cheyney had 328 yards of offense with 96 coming on the ground and 232 through the air. Murry was 16 of 33 for 185 yards and 2 td’s, plus ran for 45 yards and 1 td. Billy Mitchell caught 10 passes for 47 yards and 1 td, with Curry getting 4 grabs for 67 yards.

Clarion defensive back had a career game with three interceptions, returned one for a touchdown, plus defensed a total of 5 passes. Woodard now has 10 career interceptions at Clarion. He had coverage on the game’s final play, helping Clarion to the win. Matt Morris had 8 tackles and 1 tfl, while Jimmy Simmons had 7 stops, 1 sack and 1 tfl.

Clarion travels to IUP next Saturday, while Cheyney returns home to host Mansfield.

East Stroudsburg 30, Millersville 19

IUP 23, Lock Haven 14

Indiana, Pa. – IUP built a 20-0 lead early in the fourth quarter and then held off a Lock Haven comeback attempt in a 23-14 victory over the Bald Eagles Saturday at George P. Miller Stadium. 

IUP (4-1, 2-0 PSAC West) defeated Lock Haven (1-5, 0-2) for the 25th consecutive time dating back to the 1982 season.  The Bald Eagles have not won in Indiana since the 1961 campaign.

Nick Wallace kicked three field goals for the second straight week, with his 33-yarder at the end of a 12-play, 65-yard drive with 2:01 remaining in the fourth quarter finally sealing the win.  Terrence Jackson intercepted a pass at the IUP 47 on the final Lock Haven drive of the game.

Chris Morgan rushed 19 times for 102 yards and a touchdown for IUP, going over the 100-yard mark for the fifth time in as many games this season.  With 3,284 career yards, Morgan moved to within 339 yards of Aamir Dew for second on the all-time IUP rushing list.

Kevin Weidl completed 13 of 28 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown, with Rickie Simmons grabbing five receptions for 96 yards and a score.  Weidl is now seventh in school history with 4,767 career passing yards.

Ilio DiPaolo hit on 11 of 26 passes for 136 yards for Lock Haven but was intercepted twice and the Bald Eagles turned the ball over four times.  DiPaolo had a one-yard touchdown run with 10:20 left in the game that ended IUP’s shutout bid and brought the Bald Eagles to within 20-7.

On the third play of IUP’s next possession, Dean Tortorice picked off a Weidl pass, setting the Bald Eagles up at the IUP 35.  Lock Haven took advantage of the turnover when DiPaolo hit Rafael Smith on a 19-yard touchdown that made it 20-14 with 6:56 left.  Smith finished with five catches for 83 yards.

IUP was then able to churn out 65 yards on its next drive, including 54 on the ground, to lead to the game-clinching field goal by Wallace.

The first half was a sluggish offensive affair that saw neither team able to generate much in the way of a scoring threat.  That changed with 8:49 left in the second quarter when Chris Hawkins fumbled, and IUP’s Rob Plowman recovered at the Lock Haven 13.  Morgan scored from the four to give IUP the first touchdown of the game with 7:33 left before halftime.

Two possessions later, IUP embarked on a 59-yard scoring drive that ended on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Weidl to Simmons with 40 seconds left on the clock, giving IUP a 14-0 halftime lead.  Weidl completed all four of his passes on the drive, including a 22-yarder to Morgan on 2nd and 15. 

A low snap on a Lock Haven punt attempt gave IUP the ball at the Bald Eagle 25 at the outset of the third quarter, and the hosts capitalized when Wallace nailed a 40-yard field goal to make it 17-0.  Lock Haven worked its way to the IUP 21, but DiPaolo fumbled when hit by Jackson, and Mike Reid recovered to end the threat.  A 46-yard pass from Weidl to Simmons on the first play after the turnover led to a 31-yard field goal by Wallace and a seemingly comfortable 20-0 lead with 13:36 left in the game.

Jackson finished with seven tackles, tied for the team lead with Reid.  Matt Scott had six tackles, including four for losses and one sack, and Anthony Guerra also had four stops behind the line of scrimmage for IUP.  David Show (15 tackles) and Corey Gildea (10) led the Lock Haven defense, and Demitrius Wilson had two sacks of Weidl.

IUP plays its homecoming game next Saturday against Clarion while Lock Haven hosts Shippensburg.

Shippensburg 28, Slippery Rock 21