Box Score

Millersville, Pa. - Brad Lantz and the Millersville football team nearly gave its seniors a Senior Day to remember. But Edinboro's defense ended those hopes with a final defense stand in the final minutes, preserving a 28-25 win and keeping its NCAA Playoffs hopes alive.

Lantz totaled 104 yards on 22 carries, leaving him just six lugs shy of the school record. Despite his record-setting attempt coming up short, his physical running, along with a pair of big plays by Jamal Smith sparked an offense that had an opportunity to win the game with its final possession.

Millersville trailed by 10 with 5:42 left in the fourth, but a 42-yard punt return by Smith put the offense in business at the Edinboro 22-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Smith took the snap from the shotgun and sprinted 22 yards to the end zone. John Banzhof added the extra point to cut Edinboro's lead to 28-25.

Then, Millersville's defense did just what it needed to do. Trying to burn the clock, Edinboro picked up one first down but a stop on third-and-six by Dan McClellan and Matt Marcinek forced an Edinboro punt that was downed at the Millersville 16.

The Marauders had 1:49 left and two timeouts, but Edinboro's defensive line put relentless pressure on Bill Shirk, forcing three incomplete passes, a rush for no gain and a pair of sacks including one on fourth-and-11 that ended Millersville's upset bid. Millersville's only positive play on the final drive was a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Edinboro that momentarily kept the drive alive.

The win was crucial for Edinboro, which closed the regular season at 8-3. Entering the week ranked seventh in the region and needing to move into the top six, a win was a must. And it wasn't easy without the services of regular starting quarterback Trevor Harris.

Joe Wanson, making his first career start, filled in admirably, throwing three touchdowns and completing 17-of-33 passes for 231 yards. His offensive line kept him clean the entire game, as well. Shirk, meanwhile, was dropped five times and completed 11-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two picks.

It was Wanson's arm that made the difference as Millersville's defense turned in its best performance of the season against the run. It limited Edinboro to 3.4 yards per carry and 128 yards, marking the first time this season that the Marauders out-rushed an opponent.

With Wanson through the air and Lantz on the ground, the game had all the makings of a shootout early. Banzhof hit a 37-yard field goal on the opening possession following six Lantz rushes and two Shirk-to-Smith completions. Wanson needed only 2:28 and four plays to give Edinboro a lead as he tossed a 22-yard TD pass to Josh Brown with 6:12 left in the first.

The Marauders continued to use balance on the following drive, rushing four times, and Shirk hit on 3-of-4 passes. Matt Egenrieder made his first career TD grab from seven yards out to give Millersville a 10-7 lead.

Wanson used only four more plays to retake the lead. He hooked up with D'Mar Jeter from 25 yards out with 49 seconds left in the quarter.

The scoring slowed, however, as an Alex Romanias 28-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the half was the only scoring in the second quarter.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Wanson was picked off by freshman Christian Rodriguez at the Edinboro 35. But Ben Swank took it away from the Millersville offense on the next play, picking off Shirk at the two. The Marauders turned a turnover into points, though, as Jamie Hoffman and Ryan Christian knifed through the line and tackled Michael Battles in the end zone for a safety and two points, cutting Edinboro's lead to 17-12.

The Fighting Scots would add another Romanias field goal in the third to go up eight, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, Shirk capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. Millersville's 2-point conversion failed, though, keeping the Marauders down, 20-18.

Edinboro jumped in front by 10 on the following drive when Wanson hooked up with Josh Brown from 19-yards out, capping an eight-play, 69-yard drive.

After Millersville's next drive stalled and the defense forced an Edinboro three-and-out, Smith ripped off his 42-yard punt return and 22-yard TD run.

Smith continued to be a do-it-all player for the Marauders. He led the team with five catches for 63 yards, rushed for 22 and returned 63 yards worth of kicks, resulting in 148 all-purpose yards.

Millersville's defense was led by Ryan Christian and Matt Sutjak's nine tackles. Senior Julius Carter capped a fine career with eight tackles including 2.5 for loss, and he also broke up a pass.

Lantz's 104 yards gave him 2,670 for his career—good for fourth all-time--and his 22 careers increased his career total 642. He also finished his career seventh in career all-purposes yards.

In addition to Lantz, Banzhof and Carter, Nick Kyper, Darnell Johnson, Christian Calderon and Jordan Shank all finished their Marauder football careers Saturday.