“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?

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“Our season was on the line. I told Adam Brown I was going to get this.” — Theo Hall.

Oct. 23, 2008: Mercyhurst 24, Edinboro 21

“Probably the toughest loss of my career.” — Trevor Harris

Trevor Harris threw for 11,899 yards and 100 TDs in his career at Edinboro./ETN

EDINBORO — Four years ago, Mercyhurst joined the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference where Edinboro was an established power.

“Edinboro has always been a big presence in the PSAC,” said Travis Rearick, who was a freshman quarterback at Mercyhurst in 2008.

That season, the Scots were led by one of the best quarterbacks to every play NCAA Division II — Trevor Harris. It was Edinboro’s best team under head coach Scott Browning.

“Offensively, we could be balanced,” said Harris, who was a junior in 2008. “We could run the football. We could throw the football and we could it from any different angle on the field.

“We really felt comfortable with everything we were doing. I think we were the best team in region my junior year. I really do, between us and Cal, in 2008.”

The Scots came into that game with one loss to California (Pa.), 35-31, and was looking to continue their playoff push against the underdog Lakers.

“That was our coming out party in the PSAC,” Rearick said. “It was a big opportunity for us.”

Having it on Thursday night was a plus for the Lakers.

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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.

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.”

Sophomore Cody Harris threw two touchdowns and ran for another as Edinboro upended Clarion, 21-10, tonight at Sox Harrison Stadium.

No scoring at all in the second half, but here’s the deal.

With a 3-2 record in the PSAC West, Edinboro (6-2)  is two games behind Slippery Rock (7-1, 5-0) and a game back of IUP (5-2, 4-1) and Cal (6-2, 4-1).

The Scots have already lost to IUP and Slippery Rock, but do get a crack at Cal on Nov. 5. In between that, they face Lock Haven next week.

So for the Scots, it’s about trying to make the playoffs.

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Senior defensive end Keir Jeter, here with senior Ryan Skelton making the tackle against Gannon, has been a force for the Edinboro defense this season./ETN file photo.

It’s his final go at Edinboro. And Keir Jeter isn’t letting up.

The Edinboro senior was relentless all day in Edinboro’s 30-20 win against PSAC West rival Mercyhurst College today at Tullio Field.

“All my guys tell me, ‘Hey, we need something,’” Jeter said. “‘We need something’ so I just try to do my best whether it’s contain for someone else to make the play or just get in there and cause havoc.”

One of the best defensive players in the PSAC, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 237-pound defensive end out of Moon Township had team-high nine total tackles against the Lakers (3-4, 1-3).

He had six solo stops, four tackles for loss and two sacks for the Scots (5-2, 2-2).

“Whatever I can do to help us go forward, that’s what I need to do,” Jeter said.

Jeter came into the game fourth in the PSAC in tackles for loss with 10.5. He had 29 tackles, 4.5 sacks, tw0 forced fumbles, a blocked kick, interception and fumble recovery.

Jeter will look to help the Scots stay in the hunt for an PSAC West title as they play winless Lock Haven (0-6, 0-4) next week at Sox Harrison Stadium

Travis Rearick made the game-winning, two-point conversion pass to beat Edinboro last season./ETN file photo.

Last season, Mercyhurst beat Edinboro in overtime 22-21 at Sox Harrison Stadium on a two-point conversion pass from Travis Rearick to Trevor Kennedy. It was a tremendous finish to an incredible game.

Here are links to the first and second half/overtime of that game in Edinboro. Image Sports did the broadcast.

FYI. Hit the pause button and give it time to load before playing the videos to avoid stops and starts.

On Saturday, the Scots and Lakers will renew their PSAC West rivalry in a noon game at Tullio Field. Image Sports is broadcasting it live again.

In the last three years since Mercyhurst has joined the PSAC, the road team has won each game between the Lakers and Scots.

In a game that had a ton of big plays, none were bigger than Mercyhurst senior defensive end Dan Kruper forcing Edinboro senior David Bostic to fumble and senior safety Bryant Kimball recovering the ball at the Edinboro 31 in the fourth quarter with the Scots leading, 14-7. The Lakers scored on the ensuing drive to tie the game with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Gerald Anderson scored on a 9-yard touchdown run.

In overtime, Edinboro scored first on a 1-yard run by sophomore quarterback Cody Harris. The Lakers responded with Rearick finding sophomore Terrence Coon for an 11-yard touchdown pass.

The Lakers decided to go for two instead of kick a PAT to tie the game and go into a second overtime session.

So they sent Kennedy in motion from left to right. Rearick took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right and hit Kennedy for the two-point conversion to win the game for Mercyhurst.

Jake Wickline had a team-high eight tackles today for Slippery Rock.

Wearing dark shades and a big smile, Slippery Rock senior linebacker Jake Wickline couldn’t have been happier this afternoon.

Wickline returned to the place he once played and left with a 24-23 win at Edinboro’s Sox Harrison Stadium.

“A great win,” Wickline said. “To come up here on their homecoming, come down to the wire and win like that, that was a great win.”

Wickline transferred to Slippery Rock  from Edinboro after playing three seasons for the Scots. He transferred in part to be  closer to his home of Beaver Falls after his dad died last year at the age of 52.

Wickline’s aunt passed away at the age of 56 in March of this year.

However, Rock coach George Mihalik had to convince Edinboro to release Wickline so he could transfer to Slippery Rock.

Today couldn’t get here soon enough for Wickline.

“I’ve  been waiting for this day,” he said. “Real excited. Been circled on my calendar for over a year now since I went to Slippery Rock to come back here. So yeah, I was real excited.”

Wickline, who led Edinboro in tackles in 2009, had a team-high eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and interception.

“Our defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation for a reason,” Wickline said. “Straight up and we all believed and it was a total team effort. To come out and have a pick and another pick and another pick and then to have a fumble recovery. And then to have our offense come back and score when we really needed them, that was a total team effort. Just glad to be a part of it.”

Edinboro head coach Scott Browning has the final say on the play calling for the Scots./ETN file photo.

Everyone has a say on the Edinboro offensive coaching staff, but coach Scott Browning has the final word on what play the Scots run.

“They go through me,” Browning said. “I think we have a staff that offensively, everyone is capable of calling a play. Jim Henson throws in his two cents. Doug Sams throws in his two cents. I just tell those guys that I didn’t become the head football coach to quit coaching.

“I try to make that clear. I like to coach. So I’m always going to be involved. I can’t be a CEO head coach and just stand there and do nothing. You know, if someone starts asking questions, they’re going to ask me. If I’m going to get questions, I’m going to at least have the answers.”

The Scots have an new offensive coordinator in Doug Sams, who has previous head coaching experience. Sams replaced Mike Yurcich, who left to become Shippensburg’s offensive coordinator.

His word is taken seriously, but even Sams agrees that Browning has the final say on the play call.

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Scott Browning has an overall record of 38-19 at Edinboro, but is only 14-13 at home./Photo by Rob Engelhardt of the Erie Times-News

Sox Harrison Stadium hasn’t been so kind to Scott Browning.

In his five seasons at Edinboro’s head coach, Browning, 52, has compiled a 38-19 record. Two of his teams have tied a school record for most wins in a season with nine. In 2009, he led the Scots to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

However, the Scots are 14-13 at home under Browning. In his first year, they lost four home games and last season, they were 2-3 at Sox Harrison Stadium.

On the flip side, Edinboro is a sparkling 24-6 on the road under Browning. In 2008, the Scots were a perfect 6-0 away from Sox Harrison Stadium and last season, they went 5-1 in road games.

A constant in this whole thing is California (Pa.) in the sense that Browning has yet to beat the Vulcans. Cal is the only PSAC team he hasn’t beaten.

Looking at this season’s schedule, Edinboro’s home games are against West Liberty (W.Va.), Merrimack, Cheyney, Slippery Rock (homecoming), Clarion and Lock Haven.

Last season, the Scots beat West Liberty, Cheyney, Clarion and Lock Haven, but lost to Slippery Rock. They didn’t play Merrimack.

And if history means anything, the Scots have a better chance of beating Cal at its place than at Sox Harrison Stadium. They play at Cal on Nov. 5.