Edinboro's much-maligned defense had to wait nine months to show last November's 84-63 loss at West Liberty in the NCAA playoffs was a fluke. On Saturday the defense stood tall, shutting out the Hilltoppers high-powered attack in the second half as Edinboro rallied for a 20-19 win at Russek Field in the season opener for both teams.
West Liberty came into the game ranked seventh in the AFCA Division II Top 25, and the Hilltoppers were ranked as high as third in a pair of preseason publications. Edinboro was ranked ninth by Sporting News and 24th by Lindy's but was not ranked in the AFCA poll.
"This was a great team victory," exclaimed head coach Scott Browning following the win. "I think our kids played hard. They were relentless. We built on our strengths. The way our team responded with the injury situation really says a great deal about them."
Browning praised the defense. "People forgot that last year we played 13 games and just defeated a very physical East Stroudsburg team the week before. We had five starters missing last year. But we didn't make an issue of it."
The Hilltoppers looked the part of a top ten team in the first half, and record-setting quarterback Zach Amedro played like the Harlon Hill Trophy runnerup. West Liberty led 19-6 at the half and outgained the Fighting Scots 288 yards to 109. Amedro completed 23 of 28 passes for 235 yards in the first 30 minutes.
Edinboro's comeback hopes weren't helped by the loss of four starters during the course of the game, including the starting left side of the offensive line. The offense struggled throughout the half with a blitzing West Liberty defense, but was able to put together two scoring drives. West Liberty, meanwhile, failed to put the Fighting Scots away and would gain just 98 yards in the second half.
Edinboro's first two possessions of the second half resulted in three-and-outs. The third began the stirring comeback. Redshirt freshman Cody Harris broke off a 55-yard run on the first play to put Edinboro at the West Liberty 4. It took three plays for Drew Herrell to reach paydirt, but when the redshirt freshman dove over from a yard out on third and goal Edinboro suddenly trailed just 19-14 with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The Edinboro defense continued to hold West Liberty at bay as the game moved into the fourth quarter. The Hilltoppers were forced to punt on their first possession of the fourth quarter. The Fighting Scots took over at their own 20 and put together their most impressive march of the afternoon.
All told, the Fighting Scots drove 80 yards in 12 plays for the winning score. The catalyst was a rapidly-maturing Harris, who directed the offense from the shotgun and completed 6 of 8 passes for 82 yards despite taking several hard shots in the pocket.
Facing a 3rd-and-2 early in the drive, Harris hooked up with David Bostic for 17 yards to the Edinboro 45. Two plays later the Scots were staring at a 3rd-and-8, but Harris calmly fired to Josh Brown for a 33-yard hookup and a first down at the WL 20.
The Boro would convert another third down when Michael Battles went 10 yards on a 3rd-and-1 to the WL 1. Battles was thrown for a five-yard loss on the next play, and a one-yard loss by Harris left the Scots facing a 3rd-and-goal from the seven. Harris tossed his first career touchdown pass finding D'mar Jeter on a crossing pattern for the seven-yard touchdown and a 20-19 lead with 7:16 remaining. Battles would be stopped on the two-point run.
The defense had to withstand two more West Liberty possessions. The first lasted seven plays but came to an end when a blitzing Mike Perillo sacked Amedro for a five-yard loss on one of the few blitzes of the afternoon.
Edinboro would go three-and-out and West Liberty took over at its own 23 with 2:54 to play. Amedro would connect on four straight passes as the Hilltoppers marched to the Boro 32. On 2nd-and-10 Amedro threw an ill-advised pass deep to the right sideline. Freshman cornerback James Jackson, in for injured preseason All-American Branden Williams, outjumped the West Liberty receiver at the five for his first career interception with 1:19 remaining.
"It was a tremendous effort, unbelievable belief," grinned a relieved defensive coordinato Wayne Bradford afterwards. "We hung together. To give up 84, to execute a plan and believe it won't happen again and to be down 19-7 at the half, speaks volumes of our kids. We played great team defense. We weren't very fancy."
West Liberty opened the scoring on its second possession as Amedro completed 4 of 6 passes for 35 yards. The capper was a 14-yard pass to tight end Ryan Travis, who jumped high at the goal line to pull the ball down around Boro defenders on a 4th and 1 play. The Hilltoppers drive covered nine plays and 55 yards. Kevon Calhoun ripped off a 15-yard run in the drive, and Amedro twice hooked up with Jermaine Carter to convert third down plays.
Edinboro answered late in the first quarter as Herrell made his first appearance. The redshirt freshman gained 11 yards on his first career carry and added a 23-yard burst later in the drive. All told he carried five times for 41 yards In the drive. On 3rd-and-goal from the nine Harris hooked up with Bostic for an eight-yard gain. Harris hurried to the line and snuck it in from a yard out for his first career touchdown. Alex Romanias's 34th consecutive extra point knotted the score at 7-7.
West Liberty reclaimed the lead at 13-7 with 8:11 remaining in the second quarter following an Edinboro punt. TheHilltoppers drove 79 yards in 10 plays with Amedro coming up with several big plays. He scrambled for 11 yards to keep the drive alive, then completed a short pass to Calhoun who turned it into a 27-yard gain down to the EU 20. On the next play Amedro hit Jermaine Carter for 19 yards to the one. One play later Calhoun went off left guard for the touchdown. Williams would block Mike Blewett's extra point, his eighth career blocked kick.
The Hilltoppers made it 19-7 late in the first half after halting an Edinboro drive. The Fighting Scots marched from their own 42 to the WL 19, in large part on a 25-yard completion from Harris to Jeter. But Harris' pass on 4th-and-3 fell incomplete.
Amedro proceeded to direct West Liberty's biggest drive of the day. The Hilltoppers went 81 yards in 11 plays, as Amedro completed all seven of his pass attempts for 60 yards, and added a 15-yard run. The touchdown came on a one-yard run by DeVaughn Gordon with 38 seconds left in the half. In what would prove to be a key play, Brandon Marlow blocked the extra point.
West Liberty ended the day with the statistical advantage, outgaining the Fighting Scots 386 to 251 yards. But Amedro would complete just 12 of 24 passes for 95 yards after his big first half to finish the day 35 of 52 for 330 yards with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Travis hauled in 12 passes for 76 yards.
The key for Edinboro was shutting down Calhoun. The Hilltopper tailback burned the Fighting Scots for 326 yards rushing and 7 TDs in two games last year. On Saturday he was limited to 47 yards on 14 carries and was never able to break loose for a long run. West Liberty would finish with just 56 yards rushing.
The redshirt freshman tandem of Harris and Herrell led the Fighting Scots. Harris completed 13 of 19 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown, and added 37 yards on 11 rushes despite six sacks. Herrell led all rushers with 71 yards on 19 carries. Brown led the receivers with 4 catches for 52 yards
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The defense featured numerous heroes. Kenny Pettis led all tacklers with 11 stops, with Ryan Skelton adding nine tackles. Williams had eight tackles, an interception, the blocked PAT and a pass broken up despite missing most of the second half. James Thomas turned in several bug plays, with three of his four tackles going for losses.
The going doesn't get any easier for the Fighting Scots. Edinboro plays its second of three straight road games to start the 2010 campaign at West Chester, the preseason favorite in the PSAC East. They will likely do so with a very banged up team, as well.
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