Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon football team was unable to overcome a stingy Clarion defense and Mother Nature's driving rainstorm Saturday night during a 13-7 loss at a rain-drenched Gannon University Field.

Playing in a driving rainstorm for the majority of the game, the two teams managed 20 first-half points and none during the second half. Gannon scored its only points of the evening 58 seconds into the contest when Tashawn Sneed (Brooklyn, N.Y./Campus Magnet) intercepted a pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.

Clarion responded later in the first quarter, tying the game at seven on Mike Deitrick's 11-yard touchdown reception from Ben Fiscus with 2:10 left in the frame. On third-and-goal, Fiscus rolled out and lobbed a perfect pass over the Gannon defense to Deitrick sitting in the back corner of the endzone. The drive included 10 plays that chewed up 64 yards and 4:34 on the clock. All the damage was done on the ground until the scoring play.

Both teams had one legitimate scoring chance during the second quarter. Gannon reached the Clarion 27-yard line midway through the frame, but a nine-yard sack on third down forced the Golden Knights to punt the ball away.

Clarion converted its scoring opportunity. Following an 11-yard punt into a heavy downpour, the Golden Eagles assumed control at the Gannon 28-yard line. The Golden Knights appeared to have ended the drive when Luke Rankie (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) recorded an eight-yard loss on a third-down rush. However, a personal foul gave Clarion an automatic first down and Fiscus connected with Nick Perry on a 17-yard touchdown pass three plays later. It was a great ad-lib play as Fiscus scrambled right on third-and-eight, bought time and threw all the way across the field to a wide-open Perry in the corner of the endzone.

Gannon did reach the Clarion 43-yard line in the waning seconds of the second quarter, but another sack drew the first half to a close.

The trend of trying to finish off drives seemed to continue during the second half. Gannon threatened during its opening drive of the second half only to be denied again. Quad Law's (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) 38-yard kickoff return put the Golden Knights in business at the 43-yard line.

A key Clarion personal foul on third down gave Gannon a first down midway through the drive that reached the Clarion 13-yard line. Facing second-and-one, the Golden Knights lost two yards on a running play and then faced fourth down after a dropped pass. The squad elected to fake a field goal, but Gabe Hernandez (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) was stuffed two yards shy of the first down.

Gannon moved into Clarion territory two more times, but couldn't produce any points. The last drive of the third quarter stalled at the 45-yard line. The Golden Knights started a fourth-quarter drive at the Golden Eagles' 40-yard line, but they never re-entered that side of the field after 15 yards of penalties during the drive.

Clarion put the nail in the coffin during its final drive. Fiscus converted a third-and-10 with a 22-yard run, before ending the game with a seven-yard run on a third-and-seven.

Clarion held advantages in total yards (282-112), first downs (16-13), rushing yards (220-33) and time of possession (34:31-25:29). Gannon produced a slight edge in passing yards (79-62).

Jansen Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) led the Gannon rushing attack with 59 yards on 19 carries. Liam Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) went 16-of-38 for 79 yards, completing six of those passes to Abraham Ocasio (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) for 45 yards.

Jon Petrigac (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and Khayree Connors-McChristian (Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow Township) led all defensive players with 11 tackles each. Petrigac set a career-high in the process.

Rankie finished with nine tackles, one sack and three tackles for a loss. Ta'Von Bailey (Lanham, Md./DeMatha Catholic) added seven stops and four pass break-ups.

Gannon dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with its third consecutive loss. Clarion improved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play with its fourth consecutive victory during the all-time series. The Golden Knights return to action Saturday, September 29 at 11th-ranked Bloomsburg. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.