ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon football team kicks off the 2013 regular season Thursday, September 5 at Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member Lake Erie. The season opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. The contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and online at www.wergfm.com.

Gannon is 13-12-1 all-time in season openers, including a 6-3 mark during the last nine seasons. On the flip side, the Golden Knights are 3-6 in their first road contest of the season during that same time span.

Thursday marks the sixth consecutive year Gannon and Lake Erie have opened against each other. Gannon extended its lead in the all-time series to 4-1 with a thrilling 36-33 victory during the 2012 season opener at Gannon University Field. The Golden Knights are 1-1 all-time at Jack H. Britt Memorial Stadium, but suffered a 13-10 setback during their last visit in 2011. The five games in the all-time series have been decided by a combined 15 points with every game being decided by six points or less. The difference in all but one of those contests has been a field goal or less.

Redshirt sophomore Liam Nadler and junior Abraham Ocasio hooked up for the longest pass play in school history during the 2012 opener against Lake Erie, connecting for an 89-yard touchdown score in the first quarter. The duo later combined for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 1:05 remaining in regulation to capture the three-point victory.

Redshirt senior Jansen Jones is closing in on Gannon's all-time top 10 in rushing yards. He enters Thursday's season opener with 1,235 career rushing yards. Jones needs 25 yards to pass Al Donadi (2001-04) and move into 10th place. He could pass Jason Cunningham (2000-01) and move into ninth place with 130 yards.

Nadler has rapidly moved up Gannon's all-time passing charts despite playing only last season under center. He ranks fifth all-time at Gannon with 2,910 career passing yards. Nadler can move past Todd Heigley (1994-97) and into fourth place Thursday night at Lake Erie with 144 yards.