Rob Stoner returned from a season-ending injury to help Edinboro have one of its best offensive lines in years./ETN file photo.
If experience is the greatest teacher, then the Edinboro offensive line is very well schooled.
Led by senior left guard Rob Stoner, the unit has paved the way for Edinboro to rank sixth in the PSAC in rushing offense this season.
“It’s all experience,” said Stoner, a General McLane graduate who came back from a season-ending back injury in 2010. “Game play.”
Senior Nick Christman is at right guard, senior Shane Hess plays right tackle, sophomore Ryan Wilson is at center and junior Shawn Ellenberger plays beside Stoner at left tackle.
“Shane Hess is in his sixth year due to injury,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. “Rob Stoner is in his fifth year. Nick Christman has played ever since he’s been here and our center is a redshirt sophomore and then you got Shawn Ellenberger, who is a redshirt junior. That’s the one area that experience helps you more than people realize.”
The Scots (5-2, 2-2 PSAC West) are averaging 164.9 yards on the ground and have scored 13 rushing touchdowns heading into Saturday’s 6 p.m. game against Clarion (1-6, 1-3 PSAC West).
“They’re all five intelligent guys,” Browning said. “They’re all five special guys. It’s very rare to have the experience we’ve had there.”
Last season, Edinboro averaged 126 yards rushing to rank 12th in the conference.
Scots coach Scott Browning said Edinboro’s offensive line hasn’t been this experienced since 2004 when the Scots averaged 201.4 yards rushing to rank fourth in the PSAC. They had 28 rushing touchdowns.
“Before that, it was probably 1995,” Browning said.