Jesstin Hamm
Joe Mattis
Redshirt senior Jesstin Hamm broke Gannon's career record for receiving yards (2,394) during his final collegiate game.
37
Gannon University GAN 6-5
49
Winner East Stroudsburg ESU 6-5
Gannon University GAN
6-5
37
Final
49
East Stroudsburg ESU
6-5
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon University 10 14 7 6 37
ESU East Stroudsburg 14 21 7 7 49

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

Gannon Football Team Drops Shoot-Out In Regular-Season Finale

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at East Stroudsburg 49, Gannon 37
  • Records: Gannon (6-5), East Stroudsburg (6-5)
  • Location: East Stroudsburg, Pa. - Eiler-Martin Stadium
  • The Short Story: Harlon Hill candidate Matt Soltes threw for 435 yards and five touchdowns as the East Stroudsburg football team won a 49-37 shoot-out against Gannon Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both programs at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After East Stroudsburg scored a touchdown on its first possession, Gannon responded with 10 consecutive points to grab its only lead of the game.
  • On the first play after ESU's touchdown, senior Brock Jones (Peninsula, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) ripped off a 61-yard run to the Warriors' 15-yard line. Two plays later, redshirt freshman Zach Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) scored the tying touchdown with an eight-yard run.
  • Junior Mike Zanders (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell) set up Gannon's next score, intercepting a pass at the Gannon 40-yard line.
  • On third-and-eight, redshirt senior Liam Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) connected with redshirt freshman Eli Quinter (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) for a 31-yard pass play. After another first down, the Golden Knights settled for a 29-yard field goal from sophomore Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) to grab a 10-7 lead with 4:25 left in the first half.
  • East Stroudsburg answered with an 11-play, 80-yard drive to regain the lead for good. Soltes' 23-yard touchdown strike to Jon Schnaars capped the drive with three seconds remaining in the first quarter, giving the Warriors a 14-10 edge.
  • The home squad extended its lead into double digits twice only to see Gannon come roaring back both times.
  • After East Stroudsburg grabbed a 21-10 lead, Gannon immediately scored a touchdown after an eight-play, 63-yard drive. Nadler hit redshirt senior Jesstin Hamm (Harwood, Md./DeMatha Catholic) for a 19-yard gain, before the duo connected again on a 17-yard touchdown pass.
  • Two more ESU touchdowns pushed the Warriors' lead to 35-17, but Gannon rallied yet again. After the last score, East Stroudsburg was forced to kick into the wind from the 20-yard line due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. A 20-yard return by sophomore Brandon Mansell (New Brighton, Pa./Blackhawk) put the ball at the ESU 43-yard line.
  • Gannon needed only two plays to reach the end zone after Nadler connected with redshirt junior Tyler Johnson (North East, Pa./North East) for 18 yards and Mansell for the last 25 yards. The score brought the Golden Knights within 35-24 at the intermission.
  • On its first possession of the second half, Gannon went 81 yards on eight plays to pull back within single digits at 35-31. The Golden Knights converted a third-and-eight with a 19-yard pass from Nadler to sophomore Will Davis (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name). Three Nadler-to-Mansell strikes around another ESU personal foul penalty ate up the rest of the yards, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass.
  • As it did all day, East Stroudsburg fended Gannon off again. The Warriors tacked on two more touchdowns to increase their advantage to 49-31 midway through the fourth quarter.
  • Mansell's third touchdown catch of the afternoon with 4:39 remaining concluded the scoring.

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's contest concluded the regular-season schedule for both programs.
  • East Stroudsburg held the upper hand in first downs (39-26), passing yards (435-357), total yards (561-483) and time of possession (34:45-25:15).
  • Both teams logged 126 yards on the ground.
  • Jones led all rushers on both teams with 95 yards on 12 carries.
  • Nadler finished 23-of-37 for 357 yards and four touchdowns during his first considerable action in three weeks.
  • Hamm recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the season with 122 yards and one touchdown on seven catches.
  • Mansell produced his second 100-yard receiving game with 105 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on seven receptions.
  • Gannon had multiple receivers over 100 yards for the second time this season. Hamm and Quinter performed the feat at Kutztown.
  • Junior Mike Zanders (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell) produced double-digit tackles for the second consecutive game and third time this season with 11 stops.
  • Sophomore Foster Reznor (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) tied a career-high with nine stops.
  • Freshman Justin Brown (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) tallied a career-high nine tackles.
  • Gannon was making its first appearance at East Stroudsburg's Eiler-Martin Stadium since its first year as a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in 2008.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon concluded its third consecutive winning season and 13th in program history. It represents the program's longest streak of winning seasons since having a school-record four straight from 1992-95.
  • Hamm became Gannon's all-time leader in receiving yards (2,394), surpassing the old record of 2,375 set by Justin Caliste (2011-14).
  • Zanders tied Dan Tomko (2003-06) for seventh-place all-time at Gannon with 262 career tackles.
  • Redshirt senior Joshua Wiechelt (Depew, N.Y./Depew) jumped Chris Cook (2008-11) and into a tie for 14th place all-time at Gannon with 220 career tackles. He created a tie with Randy Colling (2008-11).
  • Nadler broke his own single-season record for passing touchdowns with 24. He previously threw 21 touchdown passes in 2012 and 2014.
  • Hamm recorded his ninth career 100-yard receiving performance, finishing one shy of the school record.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concluded the regular season with Saturday's contest at East Stroudsburg.
  • The NCAA Division II Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, November 15 at 5 p.m. It can be seen live on www.ncaa.com.
  • Gannon is tentatively scheduled to open the 2016 season Saturday, September 3 against Southern Connecticut State at McConnell Family Stadium.
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Players Mentioned

Justin Caliste

#5 Justin Caliste

WR
5' 5"
Senior
Criminal Justice
Will Davis

#81 Will Davis

TE
6' 5"
Sophomore
Business
Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Communication Arts
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

K
5' 9"
Sophomore
Undecided Science
Tyler Johnson

#28 Tyler Johnson

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Sport and Exercise Science/Physical Therapy
Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

RB
5' 10"
Senior
Business Entrepreneurship
Brandon Mansell

#21 Brandon Mansell

RB
5' 8"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
Liam Nadler

#10 Liam Nadler

QB
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Political Science
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Eli Quinter

#16 Eli Quinter

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Entrepreneurship

Players Mentioned

Justin Caliste

#5 Justin Caliste

5' 5"
Senior
Criminal Justice
WR
Will Davis

#81 Will Davis

6' 5"
Sophomore
Business
TE
Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Communication Arts
WR
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

5' 9"
Sophomore
Undecided Science
K
Tyler Johnson

#28 Tyler Johnson

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Sport and Exercise Science/Physical Therapy
RB
Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

5' 10"
Senior
Business Entrepreneurship
RB
Brandon Mansell

#21 Brandon Mansell

5' 8"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science
RB
Liam Nadler

#10 Liam Nadler

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Political Science
QB
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
QB
Eli Quinter

#16 Eli Quinter

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Entrepreneurship
WR