CLARION, Pa. - The Gannon football team exploded to a 35-7 lead during the first half and rolled to a 45-25 victory Saturday afternoon on Homecoming weekend at Clarion. It was the Golden Knights' first win against the Golden Eagles since their inaugural Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) season in 2008.
Gannon remained one of only two teams left undefeated in PSAC Western Division play, joining Indiana (Pa.) at 2-0. The Golden Knights are 3-1 for the first time since their final campaign as an NCAA Division II Independent in 2003.
It was a balanced attack yet again for Gannon which has found an even pace between running and passing during the first month of the season.
Jansen Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield), who entered the season with two 100-yard rushing games, rushed for at least 160 yards for the third time in four contests. The redshirt senior finished with 167 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries. He also caught five passes for 52 yards and a score out of the backfield. In all, he produced 219 yards of all-purpose yards. His all-purpose total represented the 11th-highest single-game total in school history while his rushing total equaled the 15th-highest.
Meanwhile,
Liam Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) was locked in, shattering the school's single-game completion percentage record with a 22-of-26 chart. The redshirt sophomore passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His main target was
Justin Caliste (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont), who hauled in nine aerials for 112 yards. As a result, he tied teammate
Abraham Ocasio (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) for second place all-time at Gannon with five 100-yard receiving games.
Much like Jones, Caliste was all over the place. The junior led all players with 249 all-purpose yards, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history. Among those yards was a school-record 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Along with being the longest punt return in school history, it gave him sole possession of the school record for career punt returns for a touchdown with four. Caliste previously shared the honor with Steve Trejchel (1989-90).
The 45 points represented a season-high for a team averaging 40 points per game. Gannon has scored at least 36 points during all four games this season, marking the first time the Golden Knights have accomplished the feat in school history.
All the shouting on Clarion's Homecoming Weekend was done early. Gannon scored touchdowns during its first five possessions to assume a 35-7 advantage. With the exception of Caliste's punt return, Gannon ate up 268 yards on 28 plays while scoring on the other four possessions.
Jones ended the first-quarter scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run and began the second quarter with a seven-yard rushing score. Ocasio opened Gannon's scoring with a four-yard touchdown reception that tied the game at seven midway through the first quarter. His 20-yard touchdown catch capped the blitz, giving the Golden Knights a 28-point lead with 1:53 left in the first half.
Clarion rallied with 10 points during the final 68 seconds of the half to cut the deficit to 35-17 at the intermission. But it was too late as the offensive explosion calmed down in the second half. Jones scored his third touchdown on a 12-yard reception in the third quarter and
Donnie Mann (Hastings, Minn./Hastings) drilled a 24-yard field goal in the final stanza as the Golden Knights iced the victory with a 10-8 scoring edge during the second half.
Gannon recorded six sacks, nine tackles for a loss, three pass break-ups and two interceptions on the defensive end.
Kailan Chavis (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell) led the way with eight tackles.
Nick Bengal (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota West),
Mike Zanders (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell),
Luke Rankie (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) and
Joshua Wiechelt (Depew, N.Y./Depew) added seven stops each.
Matt Astorino (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) recorded his first career interception on Clarion's second possession of the game.
Chris Avery (New Castle, Pa./New Castle),
Ryan Davis (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/St. Edward), Wiechelt and Zanders all produced their first career sacks.
Gannon held advantages in first downs (25-20), rushing yards (181-125), passing yards (291-220), total yards (472-345) and time of possession (31:31-28:29). The Golden Knights were 7-of-12 on third-down conversions.
Head coach
Brad Rzyczycki's club improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC Western Division with its second consecutive victory. In the process, the Golden Knights snapped a four-game losing streak against Clarion. The Golden Eagles tasted defeat for the first time this season, falling to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
Gannon returns to action Saturday, October 5 against 11th-ranked Bloomsburg at Gannon University Field. The Homecoming Game is scheduled for 12 noon.
