ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team concludes a two-game homestand Saturday, October 5 against ninth-ranked Bloomsburg on Homecoming Weekend at Gannon University Field. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover is scheduled for 12 noon.
Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for non-Gannon students and senior citizens.
All Gannon students, staff and faculty are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID at the gate. The contest can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400 and online at
www.wergfm.com. A live video broadcast will also be available through America One by
clicking here.
Gannon remained one of only two teams left undefeated in PSAC Western Division play with a convincing 45-25 victory at previously-undefeated Clarion last Saturday, joining Indiana (Pa.) at 2-0. The Golden Knights are 3-1 overall for the first time since their final campaign as an NCAA Division II Independent in 2003.
The record is even more impressive when one considers the schedule. According to the latest NCAA Division II figures released this week, Gannon has played the toughest schedule in the PSAC and ninth-toughest schedule in NCAA Division II through four games. The Golden Knights' last three opponents are a combined 10-2.
Saturday's contest features two of the nation's top tailbacks with Bloomsburg's Franklyn Quiteh and Gannon's
Jansen Jones. Quiteh leads the country with 197 rushing yards per game while Jones ranks third nationally and second in the PSAC with 164.3 yards per game. Quiteh has been on the national radar since his freshman campaign, finishing sixth in the Harlon Hill voting as a freshman and third as a junior. Offensively, Bloomsburg is averaging 43.8 points per game while Gannon is producing 40 points per game.
Gannon broke a school record for most points through four games last week, pushing its season total to 160. The Golden Knights rank 20th among NCAA Division II teams in time of possession (33:06), 21st in first downs (101), 28th in scoring offense (40.0), 29th in passing efficiency (150.79), 32nd in passing offense (295.8) and 33rd in total offense (472.0).
Jones entered the season with two 100-yard rushing games, but has now rushed for at least 160 yards three times during four contests this season. Jones' 219 yards of all-purpose yards against Clarion represented the 11th-highest single-game total in school history while his 167 rushing yards equaled the 15th-highest. Redshirt sophomore
Liam Nadler completed his first 13 passes last week and broke the school's single-game completion percentage record with a 22-of-26 chart.
JuniorÂ
Justin Caliste accumulated 249 all-purpose yards, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history. He broke the school record for longest punt return with a 90-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter. As a result, Caliste assumed sole possession of the school record for career punt returns for a touchdown with his fourth.
Bloomsburg is ranked ninth in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll. The Huskies remained undefeated at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC East with a 56-10 victory against visiting Lock Haven last Saturday. Interim head coach Paul Darragh became the first Bloomsburg coach to win his first four games at the helm of the program.
Quiteh rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries to surpass 6,000 rushing yards for his career, moving to 13th on the all-time NCAA Division II record list with 6,116 yards. He also added a fourth touchdown on a 33-yard reception from quarterback Tim Kelly, who threw for 184 yards and four touchdowns.
Glenn Hutton Jr. caught three passes - all for touchdowns. Kelly, Hutton and Quiteh all tied their career-highs for single-game touchdowns. Joe Parsnik added 101 yards on the ground, representing his first career 100-yard rushing day. Safety Tomas Cabrera highlighted the defensive unit with an 82-yard interception for a touchdown.
Gannon trails the all-time series against Bloomsburg 2-1, including a 43-24 setback on the road last season. Bloomsburg's only trip to Gannon University Field resulted in a 38-10 victory during the 2008 campaign. Gannon responded with one of the biggest wins in school history the following season, knocking the Huskies out of the postseason with a 10-7 overtime road win during the last game of the regular season.
