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ERIE, Pa. - Three long touchdown plays from true freshman Justin Caliste (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont) in three different fashions spurred the Gannon football team to a 47-0 victory against Millersville Saturday afternoon at Gannon University Field. The 47-point margin of victory represented the largest in school history, surpassing the old mark set during a 56-12 win against Ashland on October 20, 1950.

Gannon seemed to take control early, easily moving the ball down field for a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Taking advantage of a short field after the kickoff sailed out of bounds, the Golden Knights marched 60 yards on 12 plays for the first score. Alex Papson (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) accounted for 36 of those yards, including a four-yard touchdown run 4:49 into the first quarter. Daniel Tapscott (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) completed four of six passing attempts for 24 yards on the drive.

However, the action slowed down after the opening drive as neither team was able to score on the next six combined possessions. The entire game was then decided in the final five minutes of the second quarter when the Caliste Show began.

Gannon initially increased its lead to 9-0 when Errick Clark Jr. (Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) forced a fumble as he sacked Millersville quarterback Dan Miller on the one-yard line. The Marauders recovered the ball, but not before it bounced into the end zone for a safety.

On the ensuing free kick, Caliste fielded the ball at the 34-yard line and raced 66 yards for the touchdown. He made the final defender fall to the ground with a quick move and gave the Golden Knights a 16-0 lead with 4:35 left in the half.

Ta'Von Bailey (Lanham, Md./DeMatha Catholic) followed with his first career interception on the first play of Millersville's next possession. One play later, Caliste took a reverse handoff and bolted 70 yards down the left sideline for another score and a 23-0 lead.

And the show wasn't over yet. The Gannon defense immediately forced a three-and-out, causing Millersville to kick to Caliste again. This time, he cut to the left and found the end zone 85 yards later. The return capped three Caliste touchdowns in the span of two minutes and 52 seconds and sent the Golden Knights into the halftime locker room with a commanding 30-0 lead.

Caliste became only the second player in school history to return both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same season. Art Arkelian performed the feat in 1950. Caliste, who also returned a punt for a touchdown in the season opener at Lake Erie, also became the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season. He is the first since Steve Trejchel did it in 1990.

The 85-yard punt return equals the fourth-longest return in school history. Three players have previously recorded 87-yard returns, including Caliste in the season opener. The 66-yard kickoff return is the sixth-longest in school history and the 70-yard run is the ninth-longest all-time at Gannon. His 222 all-purpose yards ranked eighth in school history despite having only four touches. That mark included a punt return that was credited as a one-yard return due to a holding penalty after he had posted a 30-yard return.

Gannon out-scored Millersville 17-0 in the second half to account for the final 47-0 score. Matt Szczupakowski (Spencerport, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) kicked his second field goal of the season with a 26-yard boot at the 7:38 mark of the third quarter. Lawrence Coleman (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) caught his first career touchdown on a 12-yard reception with 3:32 left in the third frame. Jansen Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Szczupakowski converted the first five extra points, before Junior Weyeah (Philadelphia, Pa./West Philadelphia) drilled one through the uprights during his first collegiate action following the final touchdown.

Millersville had two chances to erase the shutout, but sailed field goals of 31 and 37 yards wide right in the final five minutes to preserve Gannon's first shutout since a 27-0 whitewashing of Lock Haven at Gannon University Field on October 24, 2009.

Caliste was Gannon's leading rusher thanks to the 70-yard run on his only carry. Jones and Papson added 49 and 48 yards respectively. Both scored a touchdown.

Tapscott finished 13-of-24 through the air for 110 yards and one touchdown. Coleman hauled in five passes for 59 yards, setting season-highs in both categories. Michael Tomko (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) also recorded season-highs in both statistical formats with four catches for 55 yards.

Defensively, 29 players had tackles as head coach Jim Kiernan was able to get 63 Golden Knights playing time. Randy Colling (Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer) and Jon Petrigac (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) led the way with seven tackles each. Colling tied a career-high with three sacks, moving into third place all-time at Gannon with 20 career sacks. The senior defensive lineman is 8.5 sacks behind Mitchell Hanlon's (2001-04) school record.

Mike Schweisthal (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Edward) joined Bailey with his first career interception in the third quarter. Recording first career sacks were Ovunda Onunwor (South Euclid, Ohio/Charles F. Brush), Dan Venniro (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central), Wesley Smith (Albany, N.Y./The Albany Academy) and Errick Clark Jr. (Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne).

Gannon's nine quarterback sacks were two shy of the school's single-game record of 11 set against Alma (Mich.) in 2001. Its 23 second-quarter points were three shy of the school record of 26 set against Waynesburg in 1999.

The Golden Knights held advantages in total offense (330-103), rushing yards (175-55), passing yards (155-48) and first downs (13-11). Millersville's 103 yards of total offense and 48 passing yards are the fewest by an opponent in both categories since Lock Haven had 88 yards of total offense and 35 passing yards against the Golden Knights on October 25, 2008.

Gannon improved to 1-2 with Saturday's victory. Millersville dropped to 1-2. The Golden Knights complete a three-game homestand Saturday, September 24 against rival Edinboro at Gannon University Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon. The contest is part of Alumni Homecoming/Reunion & Family Weekend.

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