ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team hopes the momentum from last year's season-ending four-game win streak continues this spring as the program goes through spring drills at Gannon University Field. The Golden Knights opened their 15-practice spring camp March 24 and the curtain will draw to a close Friday, April 23 with the Spring Game.

Coming off its best season in six years, Gannon lost only eight graduating seniors from last year's 6-5 team. In all, 50 letterwinners and 17 players who started at least six games return in 2010. The program will feature 22 seniors during the upcoming season.

Gannon finished the 2009 campaign with four consecutive victories, recording its first winning season since 2003 by defeating 19th-ranked Bloomsburg in the season finale. The victory knocked the Huskies out of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Head coach Jim Kiernan's club ended the season with victories over Slippery Rock (51-48), Lock Haven (27-0), Indiana (Pa.) (29-3) and Bloomsburg. The Golden Knights also lost a 22-20 decision to NCAA Division II playoff participant Edinboro when the Fighting Scots scored as time expired.

“We are excited about the experience and large number of returning players in camp,” noted Kiernan. “There are fewer holes to fill as we enter our fourth season. In addition, this group of young men understands the direction of this program and wants to meet the expectations as we did in the final four weeks of last season.”

Gannon returns its top quarterbacks from last year in Zach Boedicker (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) and Bob Bartley (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton). Boedicker started every game, leading the team in total offense per game (165.4). The senior threw for 1,251 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 568 yards and four scores.

Bartley completed 53.8 percent (28-52) of his passes in four games. Also a senior, he threw for 358 yards and three touchdowns.

In the backfield, Gannon lost the third-best running back in school history with the graduation of Jon Richardson. However, Tyler Batts (Homestead, Pa./Penn-Trafford) returns for his senior campaign. The tailback had a break-out season in 2009, rushing for 487 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

Gannon returns six of seven receivers who reached double digits in catches last season. In all, the returning group of wide receivers accounted for 91 percent (1,496-1,644) of the team's receiving yardage last season. Levar Goff (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) was the Golden Knights' leading receiver in 2009 with 25 catches for 290 yards and two scores.

Defensively, 13 of Gannon's top 14 tacklers from a year ago return in 2010. The group includes the top five tacklers from the 2009 squad. Matthew Neal-Mink (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) was Gannon's top defensive player with 82 tackles (39 solo, 43 assisted). The senior linebacker recorded 6.5 tackles for a loss and one sack.

Redshirt junior defensive back Khayree Connors-McChristian (63 tackles), junior defensive lineman Randy Colling (52), senior defensive back Kevin Minor (42) and redshirt senior linebacker Johnny Jones (42) followed on the tackle chart last season.

Jeremy Ditzler (Erie, Pa./Iroquois) is expected to be Gannon's starting kicker for the fourth consecutive season. The senior enters the season tied with Brendan McNicholas for the school's all-time lead in field goals (27). He was 10-of-16 last season.

Gannon will have a new punter for the first time since 2006. Evan Euler graduated after averaging 33.5 yards on 54 punts. He placed 13 inside the 20-yard line last season.

For more information on Gannon football practice times or interview opportunities, please contact Gannon Director of Athletics Media Relations Dan Teliski at (814) 871-7418 or teliski002@gannon.edu.