The upcoming fall semester in sports should be an exciting one for the Edinboro University Fighting Scots.
Let's begin with the football team. Scott Browning, who is entering his fourth year at the helm of the Scots, has already opened spring drills on March 20. The biggest question facing the Fighting Scots, who finished last year with a 9-2 record and just missed the playoffs, is who will catch passes from quarterback Trevor Harris? Edinboro lost their top four receivers from last season.
Harris was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy last year. He completed 213 of 323 passes for 2,780 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. Harris also holds every Edinboro career and season passing and total offense record. Plus, he has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Offensive Player of the Year the last two years.
The only two explosive receivers that return are Gary Nolen, who had 22 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns, and Josh Brown, who hauled in 17 catches for 384 yards and three touchdowns. The Edinboro offense added former Lock Haven quarterback/wide receiver Ilio DiPaolo to fill one of those voids.
On defense, they return seven starters who a year ago finished fifth in Division II in defensive scoring (13.1 points per game) and eleventh in total defense (265.7 yards per game). A huge hole Browning must find replacements for is the linebacker crew, as all three were lost to graduation.
Edinboro will host West Liberty State on Aug. 27.
The women's soccer team looks to improve on their 7-11-1 record from last season by replacing six graduated seniors, including Ashley Jones, who was Edinboro's first four-time All-PSAC West first team selection.
Finally, the volleyball team looks to improve on their 26-8 record a year ago, as everybody is back from this year's team for head coach Missy Soboleski. So with five seniors, three juniors and seven sophomores, the volleyball looks promised for a playoff caliber season.
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