2014 FB Wiechelt
Joe Mattis
Redshirt junior Joshua Wiechelt recorded a career-high 10 tackles during the first half alone against Southern Connecticut State.
7
Southern Conn. State SCS 0-1
23
Winner Gannon University GAN 1-0
Southern Conn. State SCS
0-1
7
Final
23
Gannon University GAN
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SCS Southern Conn. State 0 0 0 7 7
GAN Gannon University 0 17 0 6 23

Next Game:

at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

9/13/2014 | 1:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 13 (Sat) / 1:00 PM
at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Game Recap: Football | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Football Team Handles Northeast-10 Southern Connecticut State During Season Opener (Video/Photos)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 23, Southern Connecticut State 7
  • Records: Gannon (1-0), Southern Connecticut State (0-1)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. – Gannon University Field
  • The Short Story: Gannon raced out to a 23-0 lead en route to a 16-point victory over Southern Connecticut State Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both programs. The Owls' lone touchdown with 1:41 eliminated the possibilities of Gannon's first shutout since September 17, 2011 and first season-opening shutout since 1994. Junior Brock Jones rushed for 150 yards on 24 carries during his first career start. Three Golden Knights reached double digits in tackles, including a pair who set career-highs.


GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After a scoreless first quarter, Gannon dented the scoreboard first with a Liam Nadler (Jr.) eight-yard touchdown pass to Jesstin Hamm (R-Jr.) two plays into the second quarter.
  • True freshman Karch Holland extended the lead to 10-0 with a 35-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. It represented his first career field goal and his first career attempt.
  • Gannon took firm control with an efficient two-minute drill. Assuming the ball at their 38-yard line with 1:52 left in the first half, the Golden Knights marched 62 yards on five plays. Jones took a dump pass from Nadler on the left flat and raced 26 yards down the sideline with 35 seconds left to send Gannon into the break with a 17-0 advantage.
  • After a scoreless third quarter, Holland hit two more fields of 42 and 27 yards during the fourth quarter. The boots gave the Golden Knights a 23-0 lead.
  • The shutout bid was spoiled when Brandon Basil connected with Jack Mallis from seven yards out with 1:41 to play. The drive was ignited with a 32-yard screen play to Michael Johnson that took the ball to Gannon's eight-yard line.

GAME NOTES
  • Holland went 3-for-4 in field goal attempts during his first collegiate game, missing only a 45-yarder wide left in the fourth quarter. A Gannon kicker has made three field goals in a single game only seven times prior to Saturday.
  • Jones rushed for a career-high 150 yards on 24 carries during his first career start. He had 28 career rushing yards prior to Saturday's opener.
  • Mike Zanders (So.), Josh Wiechelt (R-Jr.) and Qwaheem Marshall (So.) tied for the team lead with 10 tackles each.
  • Wiechelt had a career-high 10 tackles with all 10 coming during the first half.
  • Marshall also set a career-high with 10 tackles.
  • Luke Rankie (R-Sr.) and Nico Mendieta (R-Fr.) made their first career interceptions during the fourth quarter.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • The first half remained dry, before the teams played through a constant rain during the third quarter. The final quarter featured occasional rain.
  • Gannon won its third consecutive season opener, moving to 8-3 in its last 11 season openers. The program improved to 15-12-1 all-time in season openers and 13-14-1 all-time in home openers.
  • The Golden Knights won their fourth consecutive game against a Northeast-10 Conference opponent dating back to the 2000 season.
  • Gannon head coach Brad Rzyczycki remained undefeated in three career season openers.
  • Rankie jumped three spots and into 18th place all-time at Gannon with 212 career tackles after making six stops during the opener.
  • SCSU punter Jeffrey Groth kicked an unusual one-yard punt off the side of his foot during a dry second quarter.
  • The wet third quarter did result in punts during all six possessions. The two teams combined for only 49 yards during the rainy quarter. However, the only true miscue in the inclement weather was a poor snap on a SCSU punt that resulted in a 13-yard loss and Gannon assuming possession at the Owls' 41-yard line.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action Saturday, September 13 at Cheyney. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
  • The Golden Knights are 2-0 all-time against the Wolves, winning 40-18 at Cheyney in 2008 and posting a 30-9 home win in 2009.
  • All games against PSAC opponents will count in the league standings this season. That includes crossover contests that begin with next Saturday's Cheyney match-up.
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Players Mentioned

Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

RB
5' 10"
Junior
Business Entrepreneurship
Qwaheem Marshall

#83 Qwaheem Marshall

DL
6' 3"
Sophomore
Undeclared
Nico Mendieta

#51 Nico Mendieta

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Criminal Justice
Liam Nadler

#10 Liam Nadler

QB
6' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Political Science
Luke Rankie

#44 Luke Rankie

LB
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Sports Management and Marketing
Mike Zanders II

#31 Mike Zanders II

DB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Undeclared
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

K
5' 8"
Freshman
Undecided Science

Players Mentioned

Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
WR
Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

5' 10"
Junior
Business Entrepreneurship
RB
Qwaheem Marshall

#83 Qwaheem Marshall

6' 3"
Sophomore
Undeclared
DL
Nico Mendieta

#51 Nico Mendieta

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Criminal Justice
LB
Liam Nadler

#10 Liam Nadler

6' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Political Science
QB
Luke Rankie

#44 Luke Rankie

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Sports Management and Marketing
LB
Mike Zanders II

#31 Mike Zanders II

5' 9"
Sophomore
Undeclared
DB
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

5' 8"
Freshman
Undecided Science
K