ERIE, Pa. - It's tough to defeat a nationally-ranked team on a level playing field, but it's even more difficult when losing the turnover margin. The Gannon football team turned the ball over nine times and gave up a self-inflicted safety on a bad snap while falling 35-10 to Indiana (Pa.) during Homecoming Weekend at Gannon University Field.

Indiana (Pa.) scored 20 points off Gannon turnovers during Saturday's victory. The Crimson Hawks led 10-3 after Jeremy Ditzler's (Erie, Pa./Iroquois) 45-yard field goal with 5:42 remaining in the first half. It marked Ditzler's career-long and was the seventh-longest field goal in school history.

Gannon then seemed to have the momentum after Chris Cook (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) forced a fumble on IUP's next possession. Danny Giegerich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) recovered at the Gannon 29-yard line. However, on third down, the snapped sailed past the Gannon quarterback and went into the endzone for a safety.

IUP converted a field goal on its ensuing possession and tacked on three more points at the first-half buzzer following a Gannon interception. The Crimson Hawks went to halftime with an 18-3 lead after a wild final three minutes of the second quarter.

Levar Goff (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) hauled in his third touchdown reception of the year, converting a 43-yard scoring pass from Zach Boedicker (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) with 6:49 to play in the third quarter. IUP responded with two fourth-quarter touchdowns and posted a 35-10 victory.

IUP led Gannon in first downs (22-14), total yards (367-164), rushing yards (54-0), passing yards (313-164), turnovers (9-3), and time of possession (30:54-29:06). Gannon's rushing totals were diminished by a loss of 21 yards on a bad snap and another 15 yards on a fumble.

Anthony Weaver (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Jon Richardson (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) led the Gannon rushing attack with 37 and 31 yards, respectively. Goff, Sylvester Burel (Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley), and Carmen Ciampi (East Boston, Mass./East Boston) made two receptions each.

Kevin Minor (South Euclid, Ohio/Shaw) led the defensive troops with 12 tackles. Tomar Pettis (Massillon, Ohio/Washington) added 11 stops. Cook picked off two IUP passes while Aaron Roberson (Maple Heights, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) recorded four pass break-ups.

Gannon dropped to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. Indiana (Pa.) improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The Golden Knights conclude the regular season Saturday, November 8 against an opponent to be determined.

If Bloomsburg defeats West Chester Saturday afternoon, Gannon hosts Shippensburg. If West Chester defeats Bloomsburg, the Golden Knights host Bloomsburg.

For a complete box score from Saturday's Gannon-IUP football game, please click here.