Jesstin Hamm
Mike Gallagher
Sophomore Will Davis (#81) celebrates one of three touchdowns by redshirt senior Jesstin Hamm (#7) during Saturday's victory.
6
Cheyney CHEY 0-2
44
Winner Gannon University GAN 2-0
Cheyney CHEY
0-2
6
Final
44
Gannon University GAN
2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CHEY Cheyney 6 0 0 0 6
GAN Gannon University 7 7 14 16 44

Next Game:

at Kutztown University

9/19/2015 | 1:05 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 19 (Sat) / 1:05 PM
at Kutztown University

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

Gannon Football Team Battles Brutal Weather in 44-6 Victory Against Cheyney; Records Ninth-Largest Margin of Victory (Video/Photos)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 44, Cheyney 6
  • Records: Gannon (2-0), Cheyney (0-2)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: The Gannon football team scored 37 unanswered points in a heavy rain and wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour en route to a 44-6 victory against Cheyney Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon wasted little time getting on the board, marching 54 yards on three plays for a touchdown during its opening drive after great field position due to a short kick. The two big plays were a 15-yard face mask penalty and redshirt senior Liam Nadler's (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) 23-yard pass to senior Brock Jones (Peninsula, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit). Redshirt senior Jesstin Hamm (Harwood, Md./DeMatha Catholic) ended the drive with a 14-yard touchdown catch.
  • After Gannon fumbled during its second possession, Cheyney cut the deficit to 7-6 with a mini 36-yard drive. Jalen Jana's 29-yard run on fourth-and-three brought the Wolves within one point, but the two-point conversion failed.
  • Gannon followed with 37 unanswered points after Cheyney's only score. The Golden Knights assumed possession at the Cheyney 43-yard line following a punt with 32 seconds left in the first quarter. Facing third-and-23, Nadler connected with redshirt sophomore Brendan Klemensic (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) on a perfect route down the hash marks for a 14-6 lead five seconds into the second quarter.
  • The Golden Knights extended their lead to 28-6 with two more touchdowns during the third quarter. On the first play of the third quarter, senior Trenton Donald (Uniontown, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) forced a fumble on a sack. Junior Matthew Gawlik (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius) scooped up the ball and raced 17 yards for the second half's opening score.
  • A 16-yard punt set Gannon up at the Cheyney 43-yard line late in the third quarter. Jones chewed up all 43 yards with three consecutive runs, finding the end zone on a 23-yard jaunt that pushed the Golden Knights' lead to 28-6 with 1:32 left in the third frame.
  • Gannon extended its lead to 42-6 with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown connections from Nadler to Hamm.
  • A safety wrapped up the scoring with 2:32 left in the game. With the line of scrimmage at the two-yard line, a host of Golden Knights stuffed the Cheyney running back in the end zone to account for the 44-6 final score.

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's contest was played in brutal weather conditions as heavy rain fell throughout, leading to water sitting on parts of the field. The afternoon also saw wind gusts reach 35 miles per hour. Ironically, the same two teams played in the same type of weather last year in Cheyney, Pa.
  • Gannon won every statistical category. The Golden Knights held advantages in first downs (20-17), rushing yards (192-178), passing yards (204-89) and total yards (396-267).
  • Cheyney managed to hold the ball for 37 minutes and 44 seconds despite the 38-point loss.
  • The 38-point difference was the ninth-largest in Gannon history.
  • Jones recorded his 10th career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 143 yards on 13 carries.
  • Nadler finished 14-of-27 for 204 yards and four touchdowns, falling one passing touchdown shy of his own school record.
  • Hamm led six different receivers with catches, hauling in six passes for 90 yards. His three receiving touchdowns tied a school record accomplished five previous times.
  • Redshirt senior Joshua Wiechelt (Depew, N.Y./Depew) led all tacklers on both sides with 15 stops, finishing one tackle shy of his career-high set last week at Southern Connecticut State.
  • Redshirt senior Mike Phillips (Bowie, Md./Bowie) reached double digits in tackles for the second consecutive game and fourth time during the last two seasons with 11 stops.
  • Senior Chris Dollard (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. DuPont) recorded a career-high seven tackles.
  • Gannon was listed among others receiving votes in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon won consecutive home openers for the first time since beating Lake Erie in 2009 (35-34) and 2010 (26-20). In the process, the Golden Knights evened their record in home openers at 14-14-1.
  • Head coach Brad Rzyczycki's club improved to 4-0 all-time against Cheyney with a 162-33 scoring difference.
  • Gannon has started back-to-back seasons 2-0 for the first time since accomplishing the feat three consecutive years from 1993 through 1995.
  • Nadler has now thrown 229 consecutive passes without an interception, spanning seven games. His last interception came on the third play of the fourth quarter October 4, 2014 at Slippery Rock.
  • Phillips jumped into Gannon's all-time top 10 in tackles, moving past three players and into ninth place with 238 career stops. He has moved 10 places on Gannon's all-time chart during the first two weeks of the season.
  • Jones moved past Zach Boedicker (2007-10) and into ninth place all-time at Gannon with 1,849 rushing yards.
  • Hamm increased his school record for career receiving touchdowns to 20. The redshirt senior also became the eighth receiver in school history to reach the 100-catch plateau. He moved past Abraham Ocasio (2011-14) and into fourth place all-time at Gannon with 1,688 career receiving yards. In addition, Hamm leaped three players and is now 13th all-time at Gannon with 120 career points.
  • Cheyney lost its 34th consecutive game dating back to the 2012 season. Its last victory was a 34-21 verdict at Lincoln (Pa.) on September 1, 2012.
  • The Wolves dropped their 36 straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) encounter dating back to the 2010 season. Their last conference win was a 20-17 decision against Millersville on October 2, 2010.
  • Cheyney suffered its 22nd consecutive loss against a PSAC Western Division opponent. The Wolves' last victory against a PSAC Western Division program was a 30-19 victory against Lock Haven on September 29, 2007. The Bald Eagles have since moved to the PSAC Eastern Division.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon immediately returns to the road Saturday, September 19 for a PSAC crossover contest at Eastern Division foe Kutztown.
  • Game time is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
  • After a three-year hiatus, the series resumed last year with Gannon earning a 37-28 home victory.
  • Kutztown escaped Gannon University Field 27-24 during the only other all-time meeting between the programs in 2010.
  • Following the road contest Kutztown, Gannon hosts back-to-back games against Clarion (September 26) and Slippery Rock (October 3).
  • Both games are scheduled for 12 noon kickoffs at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Slippery Rock is ranked 21st in the latest AFCA Top 25 Poll.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Abraham Ocasio

#86 Abraham Ocasio

WR
6' 3"
Senior
Psychology
Chris Dollard

#88 Chris Dollard

DL
6' 4"
Senior
Business Administration
Trenton Donald

#50 Trenton Donald

DL
6' 4"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
Matthew Gawlik

#95 Matthew Gawlik

DL
6' 3"
Junior
Business Finance
Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Communication Arts
Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

RB
5' 10"
Senior
Business Entrepreneurship
Brendan Klemensic

#12 Brendan Klemensic

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Undeclared
Liam Nadler

#10 Liam Nadler

QB
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Political Science
Joshua Wiechelt

#3 Joshua Wiechelt

LB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Accounting

Players Mentioned

Abraham Ocasio

#86 Abraham Ocasio

6' 3"
Senior
Psychology
WR
Chris Dollard

#88 Chris Dollard

6' 4"
Senior
Business Administration
DL
Trenton Donald

#50 Trenton Donald

6' 4"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
DL
Matthew Gawlik

#95 Matthew Gawlik

6' 3"
Junior
Business Finance
DL
Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Communication Arts
WR
Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

5' 10"
Senior
Business Entrepreneurship
RB
Brendan Klemensic

#12 Brendan Klemensic

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Undeclared
WR
Liam Nadler

#10 Liam Nadler

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Political Science
QB
Joshua Wiechelt

#3 Joshua Wiechelt

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Accounting
LB