ERIE, Pa. - Jason Ladouceur (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) couldn't have written a better script for his first reception of the season. The redshirt junior caught his first pass of the season on the right sideline and raced 73 yards for the game-winning score with 2:01 left in regulation as Gannon stunned rival Mercyhurst 14-10 Saturday afternoon at Gannon University Field.

On second-and-four, Zach Boedicker (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) bought extra time with a scramble to his right. The senior quarterback appeared to be ready to run with the ball, but threw a pass to Ladouceur at the last second. The play turned Gannon University Field into a bedlam, but the defensive unit still had work to do.

Trailing 14-10, Mercyhurst returned the ensuing kickoff to the 33-yard line. However, Kevin Minor (South Euclid, Ohio/Shaw) intercepted a tipped ball on the first play of the drive.

Gannon was unable to pick up a first down and was stopped on a fourth-and-three play from the Mercyhurst 21-yard line with 45 seconds left. But the Golden Knights' defense came up with yet another big effort. On the first play of the possession, Garrett Kensy's pass sailed over an intended receiver and Connor Kimball (Erie, Pa./McDowell) intercepted his third pass of the season to seal the victory.

Defensive coordinator Brad Rzyczycki had his troops playing at a high level all game long and it was the Gannon defense that set up the winning score. Mercyhurst obtained great field position on its previous drive, starting at the Gannon 41-yard line with 5:05 to play. The Lakers tried to milk the clock, moving the ball to the 21-yard line with under three minutes to play.

Gannon used its last time-out with 2:36 showing on the clock and set up a do-or-die situation on the ensuing fourth-and-two. Mercyhurst elected to pass up a 38-yard field goal opportunity and Gerald Anderson was stopped by a host of Golden Knights for no gain, setting up the winning score two plays later.

Mercyhurst needed only one minute and eight seconds to initially get on the scoreboard. The Lakers forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Kensey hit Trevor Kennedy for a 33-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

Head coach Jim Kiernan's squad knotted the game at seven during its first possession of the second quarter. The Golden Knights drove 83 yards on eight plays for the tying score. Only three of the eight plays produced more than five yards, but the squad methodically drove down the field.

Boedicker produced two big plays with his feet, picking up gains of 16 and 12 yards. He then connected with Corey Bradley (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 9:36 left in the second quarter. It marked Bradley's first career touchdown.

Mercyhurst took a 10-7 lead into halftime after Stephen Wakefield nailed a 27-yard field goal with 1:53 remaining in the first half. The kick capped a 10-play, 32-yard drive that chewed up five minutes and eight seconds.

The second half featured 10 consecutive punts and no points until the Gannon defense made the critical fourth-down stop and set up the unbelievable finish.

The statistics page was dead even. Gannon held advantages in passing yards (182-66) and total yards (246-193). Mercyhurst had the edge in first downs (9-8), rushing yards (127-64) and time of possession (34:08-25:52).

Boedicker finished 9-of-19 for 182 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He added 26 rushing yards on 12 carries. Tyler Batts (Homestead, Pa./Penn-Trafford) accumulated 45 of Gannon's 64 rushing yards.

Levar Goff (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) led the receivers with three catches for 23 yards. Bradley and Batts added two receptions each.

Defensively, the Golden Knights held its second consecutive opponent to one offensive touchdown. Chris Cook (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) and Parris Williams (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) led all tacklers with 10 stops each. Minor and Matthew Neal-Mink (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) added eight and seven tackles, respectively.

Gannon continued its second-half dominance Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights have not allowed a point in the second half during their last two games and have out-scored their opponents 109-35 during the second half of the last eight contests dating back to last season. The squad has not allowed a point in the third quarter this season.

Gannon improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with its first victory against Mercyhurst since 2005. Saturday's victory snapped a four-game losing streak to the Lakers and a brief two-game skid this season. Mercyhurst dropped to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Golden Knights conclude a short two-game homestand Saturday, October 9 against fourth-ranked California (Pa.) at Gannon University Field. Game time is scheduled for 12 noon.

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