EDINBORO, Pa. — The Edinboro Fighting Scots used a big first quarter to distance themselves from the visiting Clarion Golden Eagles on Saturday winning by a final score of 45-10.
(Photo courtesy of Clarion University Athletics)
The loss drops Clarion to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC West while Edinboro improves to 3-2, 1-1 on the season.
The Golden Eagles got on the board first when Edinboro fumbled the opening kickoff giving Clarion the ball at the Edinboro 16-yard line. A 33-yard field goal by James Metzgar put Clarion up 3-0 early in the first quarter.
The ensuing kickoff was again fumbled by Edinboro giving Clarion excellent field position at the Fighting Scots 41-yard line. This would all be without the home team taking an offensive snap.
Clarion, however, was forced to punt and it was all Edinboro from there on out.
Edinboro’s Walter Fletcher scored on runs of 20 and 72 yards and a pick-six coming from PSAC interceptions leader Zuril Hendrick all of the sudden made it 21-3 Edinboro late in the first quarter.
Ta’Nauz Gregory then made amends from his two fumbled kickoffs by catching a 9-yard touchdown pass just before the half to make it 28-3.
In the second half, Clarion quarterback Jeff Clemens, playing in place of Asiantii Woulard, found Mason Standard on a 20-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 28-10.
However, that was all the scoring for Clarion as a pair of James Clark touchdown passes, coupled with a Mike Cushma 36-yard field goal, put the game out of reach.
Edinboro outgained Clarion on the day 459-250, although the Golden Eagles were able to pick up 19 first downs on the day, compared to Edinboro’s 21.
Clemens finished the day 13 of 27 for 121 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. No word was given as to why Clemens played instead of Woulard, who started Clarion’s first four games and was arguably coming off his best performance of those in the loss last week to Mercyhurst.
Kyle Evans led the Golden Eagles with 62 yards rushing while Mason Standard finished with three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Clarion returns home Saturday for a highly-anticipated homecoming contest against Seton Hill. The contest will be part of the annual Autumn Leaf Festival activities, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium immediately following the annual parade.
