ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team continues a brutal stretch of four road games in a five-week span Saturday, September 29 at Bloomsburg. The Huskies are ranked 10th in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Saturday's contest is the first meeting between the two clubs since Gannon upset Bloomsburg 10-7 in overtime during the 2009 regular-season finale. The Huskies were ranked 19th nationally at the time. The verdict also clinched the Golden Knights' first winning season in six years at the time. The all-time series is tied at one. Bloomsburg posted a 38-10 victory at Gannon University Field in 2008.
Gannon has dropped three consecutive games after rallying for a 36-33 victory against Lake Erie during the first week. The Golden Knights have since tasted defeat against West Chester (21-17), Slippery Rock (38-18) and Clarion (13-7). The squad scored 58 seconds into last week's loss against Clarion with a
Tashawn Sneed 62-yard interception return, before failing to score for the remainder of the evening. The contest was played in a driving rainstorm throughout, limiting the offense to 112 yards of total offense.
Head coach
Brad Rzyczycki's defensive unit has been improving during the first month of the season. The Golden Knights rank 16th among all NCAA Division II programs in passing defense (152.75), 23rd in net punting (37.19), 34th in passing efficiency defense (106.37) and 42nd in total defense (314.75).
Khayree Connors-McChristian recorded his 200th career tackle last Saturday against Clarion. The redshirt senior defensive back ranks 21st all-time at Gannon, needing five more to jump two players and into 19th place.
Bloomsburg has been red hot offensively, averaging 40 points through the first four games. The Huskies rank third among all NCAA Division II programs in rushing offense (324.00) and total offense (517.50). Junior Franklyn Quiteh is the nation's fifth-leading rusher with 156.25 yards per game.
Head coach Danny Hale is one of the coaching legends within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The 20-year veteran enters Saturday's contest with a 167-54-1 record at Bloomsburg, equaling a .755 winning percentage.
Bloomsburg has opened the season with high-scoring victories against Stonehill (44-28), Edinboro (30-14), Kutztown (44-37) and LIU Post (42-27). The Huskies are one of three undefeated teams in the PSAC, joining California (Pa.) and Shippensburg. West Chester and Mercyhurst join those programs among the unbeaten in league play.
