“I was nervous. I remember smiling back at him, trying to pretend I wasn’t nervous.” — Travis Rearick

Oct. 16, 2010: Mercyhurst 22, Edinboro 21 (OT)

“The rest is history.” — Trevor Kennedy

Quarterback Cody Harris put Edinboro on top in OT, but could only watch Mercyhurst win the game with a two-point conversion pass./ETN

EDINBORO — Two years after winning in dramatic fashion at Edinboro, Mercyhurst was back at Sox Harrison Stadium fresh off a 28-27 thriller at Indiana (Pa.).

On this day, the Lakers forced overtime on an Gerald Anderson 9-yard run with 59 seconds left in regulation.

“We were down like the whole second half,” said Travis Rearick, who was a starting junior quarterback at Mercyhurst in 2010. “So we were finally excited to get back into it.”

In overtime, Edinboro took first possession and scored on an Cody Harris 1-yard run to go up 21-14. The Lakers answered with Rearick finding Terrence Coon for an 11-yard scoring pass.

Mercyhurst lined up for a PAT to force a second overtime.

Then flags flew.

“They were going to kick an extra point,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. “We jumped offsides so it moved (the ball) up a yard and a half.”

A yard and a half closer, the Lakers decided to go for two — and the win.

“It was a momentum thing,” Lakers coach Marty Schaetzle. “It wasn’t a matter of that the play was going to be any better from 1-1/2 or three yards out. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

What?

Read the rest of this entry »

Gannon University heads into Saturday’s PSAC West rivalry game at Edinboro University with an 0-6 record against the Fighting Scots (2-2, 1-1).

The Knights (1-4, 0-2) have dropped four straight games to Edinboro since joining the PSAC. Check out players and coaches from both sides talk about the upcoming showdown at Sox Harrison Stadium.

Coming off a dramatic 31-24 overtime win at LIU Post, Edinboro University carries major momentum into Saturday’s PSAC West rivalry game against Gannon University at Sox Harrison Stadium.

Check out Edinboro head coach Scott Browning and the Scots talk about the come-from-behind win.

Edinboro University head coach Scott Browning and seniors Branden Williams and Kenny Pettis talk about the Scots being picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West at today’s PSAC West media day in Slippery Rock.

David Bostic is Edinboro's leading receiver./Photo by Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News

In spring ball before the 2011 season, David Bostic fully embraced the idea of being a receiver – and it’s paid dividends for himself and Edinboro.

Leading the Scots (7-2, 4-2 PSAC West) in catches (39), receiving yards (613) and touchdown catches (seven), Bostic is coming off a career game last week against Lock Haven.

The senior receiver set a single-season school record for receptions (13), receiving yards (255) and tied the school record for receiving touchdowns (three) in Edinboro’s 42-7 win against the winless Bald Eagles (0-8, 0-5).

“Whenever you can break a record at Edinboro, that’s a great thing,” Edinboro junior cornerback Branden Williams said. “A lot of the times he got the ball early and then broke a lot of tackles and broke out. He did an awesome job.”

With two games left in the regular season, the 5-foot, 10-inch, 187-pound Bostic is five catches shy of breaking the school’s all-time record for career receptions. Gary Nolen (2007-10) is first with 149 catches.

The Tavares, Fla., native came to Edinboro as a tailback, but was switched to receiver in his junior season in 2010. That year, he was the team’s second-leaidng receiver with 34 catches for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

The following spring, Bostic began liking the idea of playing receiver.

“I started understanding the defense and understanding the coverages,” Bostic said. “I told (Edinboro coach Scott Browning) before we went home for summer that I’m a receiver.”

So when Browning came to Bostic and his high school teammate, sophomore tailback D’Andrea Vaughn, about switching positions, they were steadfast on staying put.

“They both came in my office, sat down, looked me square in the eyes and said, ‘Coach, this is where we really belong,’” Browning said. “‘That’s where we feel the most comfortable at. That’s where we can be the most productive.’ Sometimes you got to just sit back and listen.”

Junior cornerback Branden Williams had an interception and six tackles today for Edinboro./ETN file photo.

Branden Williams has been a little bored this season.

Despite Williams having a season-ending ankle injury in the 2010 opener, opposing teams haven’t thrown his way much this season.

Darn it.

“I guess it’s kind of a compliment, but at the same time I’d like for them to throw it to me,” Williams said earlier this week.

Lock Haven obliged and paid the price today.

Williams got his third interception of the season in helping the Scots beat the Bald Eagles, 42-7, at Sox Harrison Stadium.

A junior, Williams also had six solo tackles with one being for a loss and drew a holding call on the Lock Haven offense to take away a big play from the Eagles.

“Get the rust off a little bit,” Williams said after the game.

Williams had a chance for a second interception today, but uncharacteristically dropped the ball.

“I think that was my first time ever dropping anything at Edinboro,” he said. “That was kind of a surprise to me.”

Junior reserve nickel back Maleek Toran, far left, is part of a talented Edinboro secondary featuring cornerbacks Branden Williams (22) and James Jackson (11)./ETN file photo

In a continuing series of Q&As with local players who are playing area college football, Duane Rankin caught up with Edinboro junior nickel back Maleek Toran to talk about several topics.

A Central Tech graduate, the 5-foot, 8-inch, 170-pound Toran is part of a very talented secondary that features cornerbacks Branden Williams and James Jackson. A reserve who excels on special teams, Toran will look to help Edinboro (6-2, 3-2 PSAC West) get past winless Lock Haven (0-7, 0-5) Saturday at Sox Harrison Stadium.

The Bald Eagles have the nation’s longest active losing skid at 39 consecutive defeats, which ties a PSAC record for consecutive losses. Talking to Toran this week at Edinboro, Rankin and him about facing Lock Haven, playing on special teams and the state of the athletic program at his high school alma mater, Central Tech.

Read the rest of this entry »