When it comes to moral victories, or so-called good losses, Millersville coach Greg Colby is not a big fan.
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That said, Colby and the Marauder faithful were feeling pretty good about themselves following a 28-25, season-ending loss to perennial PSAC West power Edinboro Saturday afternoon at Biemesderfer Stadium.
"A good thing to take away from it is that we did take a good team to the wire and steps forward are always better than steps backward," said MU running back Brad Lantz. "It just proves this program is heading in the right direction."
Lantz closed out his Marauder career by rushing for a game-high 104 yards on 22 carries, which left him six carries short of setting the all-time career record for rushes.
"It's very disappointing," said Lantz, who leaves as the fourth-leading rusher in MU history with 2,670 yards. "It was such a tight game. We were that close, but just couldn't do it."
Close is a good thing for the Marauders (3-8), who were no closer than 14 points in their seven previous losses this season. In fact, their last five losses coming in to the finale were by an average of 40 points.
"We stayed in the ball game, came back, scored at the end, made it close and had a chance," Colby said. "That's all you can ask."
Following a 1-10 mark in his first campaign, Colby is now 4-18 in two seasons guiding the Marauders, who capped off their ninth consecutive losing season overall with Saturday's loss.
"Winning three is better than winning one," Colby said when comparing his first two years. "I told our guys it's kind of like a freight train that's been sliding down for the last six or seven years and now I think we have it stopped and we're going back up the hill again and heading in the right direction."
The Fighting Scots wrapped up their season with an 8-3 record by rebounding from last week's loss at Clarion that snapped a six-game winning streak and most likely knocked them out of playoff contention.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Joe Wanson made his first career start for Edinboro after record-setting starter Trevor Harris left the Clarion game with a season-ending knee injury. Wanson completed 17-of-33 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns, including a pivotal one in the fourth quarter that gave the Scots a 10-point lead and some breathing room.
Marauder quarterback Bill Shirk was just slightly less effective, connecting on 11-of-23 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked five times, though, including three times on the final drive of the game as Millersville was attempting to, at least, give kicker John Banzhof a chance to tie the game.
"They just brought everyone," said Shirk, who was sacked 36 times this season.
"We battled tough the whole time," he added. "This one hurts, obviously, but it helps show we're moving this program in the right direction."
Shirk got the Marauders to within 20-18 on the first play of the fourth quarter when he dove in from a yard out. A two-point try to knot the game was no good.
On the ensuing drive, Wanson engineered an eight-play scoring drive and put the Scots ahead 28-18 when he hooked up with Josh Brown for a 19-yard TD. It was Brown's second TD catch of the day, following a 22-yarder in the opening quarter.
Jamal Smith single-handedly got the Marauders to within three when he returned a punt 42 yards to the Edinboro 22 and following an incomplete pass, darted around the right side for a 22-yard touchdown run. Banzhof's PAT made it 28-25 with 5:31 to play.
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