Hilltoppers Lose Vs. No. 21 Scots
Edinboro’s Harris outslings AmedroEDINBORO, Pa. - West Liberty tailback Kevon Calhoun rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns while quarterback Zach Amedro posted the ninth 300-yard passing game of his career Saturday afternoon, but their efforts weren't enough to carry the Hilltoppers to victory against NCAA Division II Atlantic Region power Edinboro.
Trevor Harris, Edinboro's All-American quarterback, passed for 423 yards to help the No. 21 Fighting Scots hang on for a 42-30 victory in a mutual opener at Sox Harrison Stadium.
In a game that saw the teams combine for more than 1,000 yards of total offense, it was defense and special teams that made the difference for the hosts.
Edinboro defensive back Branden Williams picked off two Amedro passes in the opening quarter, running the second one back 27 yards for the game's first score. Williams then set up the Fighting Scots' second touchdown with a 45-yard kickoff return following a field goal by West Liberty's Mike Blewett early in the second quarter and Edinboro took a 14-9 lead into halftime.
After Harris opened the third quarter with a long touchdown march, West Liberty tried to answer with a lengthy drive of its own.
But the Fighting Scots defense stuffed the Hilltoppers on four snaps inside the 5 and Harris spent the rest of the third quarter on a clock-eating 95-yard, 11-play touchdown drive that put the hosts on top, 28-9, in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
The final quarter featured a duel between two of the Atlantic Region's top gunslingers as Amedro and Harris whipped their offenses up and down the field at a breakneck pace. West Liberty needed just 15 plays to mount three fourth-quarter scoring drives covering 185 yards, but Harris led a couple of quick TD drives of his own to keep the visitors at bay and preserve the victory.
Calhoun, a junior tailback who missed last season with a medical redshirt, had the biggest day of his Hilltoppers career. He had 18 carries for 153 yards - included TD runs of 2, 4, and 11 yards - and added 35 more yards on 4 catches out of the backfield.
Amedro completed 21 of 33 passes for 317 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Ryan Travis led all receivers with eight grabs for 126 yards while All-WVIAC standout Eddie Hills caught seven balls for 76 yards.
Harris went past the 9,000-yard mark for his career by completing 27 of 36 passes for 423 yards and two TDs with one interception. Harris frustrated the Hilltoppers defense time and time again with his ability to extend drives. The Fighting Scots were a combined 10 of 16 on third- and fourth-down conversion opportunities. West Liberty was 1-for-7.
The Hilltoppers open the home portion of their schedule against Walsh (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Russek Field.
