Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – No. 10 Bloomsburg rallied from a 24-21 second-half deficit with 22 unanswered points en route to a 43-24 victory against Gannon Saturday afternoon at Robert B. Redman Stadium.

Despite Bloomsburg rushing for 268 yards during the first half, both teams went head-to-head during the first 30 minutes. The Huskies out-scored the Golden Knights 7-3 during the first quarter, before both teams scored two touchdowns during the second frame.

Gannon put the first points on the board, going 68 yards on 12 plays during its first possession. The Golden Knights were stuffed on consecutive running plays inside the two-yard line, forcing a Matt Szczupakowski (Spencerport, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) 20-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead 6:27 into the affair.

Bloomsburg answered on its next drive, eating up 90 yards on nine plays in three minutes and 28 seconds. Running plays and a key 15-yard personal foul penalty accounted for the first 75 yards. The final 15 yards came on a Tim Kelly touchdown pass to Ryan Maggs with 5:05 left in the quarter.

Four touchdowns were scored during the opening seven minutes and two seconds of the second quarter. Bloomsburg reached the endzone on a pair of Kelly passes to Ryan Dickerson and Kyle Fisher. Liam Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) had touchdowns passes to Abraham Ocasio (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) and Joe Sobucki (Girard, Pa./Girard). The second score to Sobucki with 7:58 showing on the clock capped the first-half scoring and sent the teams to halftime with Bloomsburg leading 21-17.

Gannon fans starting reminiscing about its last trip to Bloomsburg that resulted in a 10-7 overtime upset during the 2009 regular-season finale after a second-half opening drive that produced another touchdown.

Justin Caliste (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont) gave Gannon great field position by returning the opening second-half kickoff 39 yards to the Golden Knights' 39-yard line. Nadler then began the drive with a 35-yard connection to Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold). Three plays later, Nadler found Ocasio for a seven-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave the Golden Knights a 24-21 lead 1:34 into the third quarter.

The next kickoff was arguably the play that changed the game. D.J. Robinson took the kick 73 yards down to the Gannon six-yard line. Franklyn Quiteh proceeded to find paydirt on the next play as Bloomsburg needed only 17 seconds to regain the lead 29-24.

Following back-to-back three-and-out drives for Gannon, Bloomsburg increased its lead to 36-24 on Eddie Mateo's 11-yard touchdown run with 5:53 left in the third quarter. The play capped a 58-yard drive that stayed entirely on the ground with the exception of another 15-yard personal foul penalty.

Bloomsburg completed the scoring early in the fourth quarter, ending a drive that went 86 yards on 11 plays. Every call was a rushing play and chewed up almost six minutes on the clock. Quiteh's 28-yard jaunt pushed the home team's lead to 43-24 with 10:51 remaining.

Five of Gannon's seven possessions during the second half resulted in three-and-out series. Meanwhile, Bloomsburg was busy chewing up another 215 yards on the ground during the final two quarters.

Bloomsburg entered the game ranked third among NCAA Division II programs in rushing offense (324.00) and total offense (517.50). The Huskies did nothing to hurt their standings, producing large advantages in rushing yards (483-58) and total yards (579-347). Bloom also had the better statistics in first downs (29-23) and time of possession (34:56-25:04). Gannon had 289 passing yards compared to the Huskies' 96 yards through the air.

Quiteh, the nation's fifth-leading rusher at 156.25 rushing yards per game prior to Saturday, ripped off 202 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Mateo added 180 yards and a score on 17 attempts.

Jansen Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) led the Gannon rushing attack with 72 yards on 12 carries. Nadler finished 30-of-46 for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

Caliste reached double digits in receptions for the second time this season, hauling in 10 aerials for 74 yards. Sobucki chipped in six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Ocasio finished with five catches for 48 yards and a pair of scores. Both Caliste and Ocasio have 35 receptions through five games, sitting only 12 shy of the school's single-season record.

Mike Phillips (Bowie, Md./Bowie) led all tacklers with a career-high 17 tackles. The number shattered his previous career-high by seven and equaled the third-highest single-game total in school history.

Khayree Connors-McChristian (Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow Township) and Will Giles (Nyack, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) were close behind with 15 stops each. In the process, both set career-highs of their own. Connors-McChristian jumped seven players on Gannon's all-time tackle list, moving into 13th place with 217 career tackles.

Gannon dropped to 1-4 with its fourth consecutive loss after a season-opening 36-33 victory against Lake Erie. Bloomsburg remained undefeated at 5-0. The Golden Knights return to action Saturday, October 6 at rival Edinboro. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.