Tyler Johnson
Joe Mattis
Redshirt senior Tyler Johnson found the endzone three times while recording his third career 100-yard rushing game.
38
Winner Mercyhurst MER 2-3 , 1-1
35
Gannon University GAN 3-2 , 0-2
Winner
Mercyhurst MER
2-3 , 1-1
38
Final
35
Gannon University GAN
3-2 , 0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
MER Mercyhurst 7 14 0 14 3 38
GAN Gannon University 7 0 14 14 0 35

Next Game:

at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

10/8/2016 | 2:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Oct. 08 (Sat) / 2:00 PM
at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

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

Gannon Football Team Drops Homecoming Game in Overtime (Video/Photos)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Mercyhurst 38, at Gannon 35 (ot)
  • Records: Gannon (3-2, 0-2 PSAC West), Mercyhurst (2-3, 1-1 PSAC West)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: The Gannon football team rallied from deficits three times in the second half, before eventually dropping the battle for the Niagara Cup against rival Mercyhurst 38-35 in overtime Saturday afternoon before a standing-room-only Homecoming crowd at McConnell Family Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon produced the first points during its second possession, driving 90 yards on nine plays. Sixty-eight of those yards came on the ground, but the only two passing attempts picked up first downs. Redshirt senior Tyler Johnson (North East, Pa./North East) generated the final nine yards for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
  • Mercyhurst responded with the tying touchdown during the next possession, leaving the teams tied after one quarter.
  • The Lakers tacked on a pair of touchdowns at the 10:45 and 2:54 marks of the second quarter to assume a 21-7 advantage at the intermission.
  • Gannon started the second half on fire, using only 1:41 on its first possession to find the end zone. After a 13-yard pass from redshirt sophomore Zach Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) to redshirt senior Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) to convert a third-and-10, Phillips hit redshirt freshman Nico Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) for a 47-yard touchdown pass less than five minutes into the second half to cut the deficit to 21-14.
  • The Golden Knights tied the game on their next possession, moving 97 yards on five plays in one minute and 55 seconds. Four of the five plays accumulated 12 yards or more. Johnson opened the drive with a 25-yard run. Phillips later added a 36-yard run, before Johnson scored the tying touchdown on a 12-yard rush with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
  • The fourth quarter turned into a doozy. Mercyhurst regained the lead at 28-21 when Richie Sanders got around the left edge and raced 46 yards down the left sideline with 9:33 remaining.
  • Gannon answered on its next chance with a 10-play, 78-yard scoring drive. The final play was a 30-yard touchdown pass from Phillips down the right sideline to junior Will Davis (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name), tying the contest at 28 with 4:22 to play.
  • The swings continued when Mercyhurst got the ball back. On third-and-three from their 31-yard line, the Lakers ran a halfback toss off a sweep. Sanders hit a wide-open Brad Novak for a 69-yard touchdown pass with 2:37 showing on the clock.
  • But it was far from over. Mercyhurst was given a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration and elected to squib kick, giving Gannon the ball at the Lakers' 48-yard line.
  • The Golden Knights converted a pair of third downs to tie the game. The second conversion came on third-and-goal from the one-yard line when Johnson plunged into the end zone to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining in regulation.
  • Mercyhurst won the toss and elected to play defense first in overtime. After a three-and-out, the Golden Knights sailed a 47-yard field goal wide right.
  • Gannon also forced a three-and-out, but Dylan Kondis' 39-yard field goal attempt split the uprights to give the Lakers a 38-35 victory.

GAME NOTES
  • Gannon won the statistical game with advantages in almost every category.
  • The Golden Knights topped the Lakers in first downs (24-14), rushing yards (224-139), passing yards (228-213), total yards (452-352) and time of possession (31:24-28:36).
  • Gannon was 7-of-15 on third-down conversions compared to Mercyhurst's 5-of-14 showing.
  • Johnson led all rushers on both sides with 140 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.
  • Phillips finished 18-of-26 through the air for 228 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 49 yards, but finished with 21 net yards due to sacks.
  • Six different Golden Knights had a reception. Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) was the top target, hauling in seven passes for 67 yards. 
  • Senior Christian Carpenter (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) topped both teams in tackles with 13.
  • Sophomore Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell) followed with 11 stops.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Mercyhurst regained possession of the Niagara Cup, the rivalry's traveling trophy, after Gannon had posted a 16-13 victory last season at Tullio Field in front of a nationally-televised audience.
  • Gannon dropped its fifth consecutive Homecoming game.
  • After playing in their first overtime game in seven years two weeks ago, the Golden Knights have now played multiple overtime games in the same season for the first time since 2004.
  • Gannon has played multiple overtime home games for the first time in the program's 30-year history. 
  • The Golden Knights set season-highs in first downs, passing yards, total offense and time of possession.
  • Gannon's two penalties were its fewest since being called for two at Michigan Tech on October 27, 2007.
  • Johnson recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and third of his career.
  • Phillips set career-highs in passing yards and completion percentage. He tied his career-high in passing touchdowns.
  • Johnson tied his career-high for rushing touchdowns.
  • Carpenter recorded a career-high in tackles, reaching double digits for the second time this season.
  • Howard hit double-digit tackles for the second consecutive week, finishing one shy of his career-high set last week at Slippery Rock.
  • Senior Nathan Adams (Crozier, Va./Goochland) recorded his first sack in a Gannon uniform during the first quarter.
  • Sophomore A.J. Satcher (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) intercepted his first career pass on the final play of regulation.
  • Junior Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) moved past Ron Bailey (2002-05) and into Gannon's all-time top 10 in scoring with 165 career points.
  • Senior Mike Zanders II (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell) jumped Matthew Neal-Mink (2007-10) and John Yurisinec (1998-02) on Gannon's all-time tackles chart, moving into second place with 304.
  • Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) leapfrogged Al Donadi (2001-04) and Jesstin Hamm (Harwood, Md./DeMatha Catholic) (2011-15) on the program's all-time all-purpose yards chart. Saturday's performance moved him into the all-time top 10 with 2,713 career all-purpose yards.
  • Senior Matthew Gawlik (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius) moved past Matt Ward (2004-08) and into 13th place all-time at Gannon with 13.5 career sacks.
  • Gannon dropped to 4-4 all-time in overtime games.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues its stretch of rivalry games Saturday, October 8 at Edinboro.
  • Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
  • The contest can be seen live on the SPORTSfever Television Network and ESPN3.
  • The Golden Knights have won the last three games in the all-time series, including a 52-7 victory during their last trip to Sox Harrison Stadium on October 16, 2014.
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Players Mentioned

Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Communication Arts
Christian Carpenter

#1 Christian Carpenter

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
Will Davis

#81 Will Davis

TE
6' 5"
Junior
Business
Matthew Gawlik

#95 Matthew Gawlik

DE
6' 3"
Senior
Finance
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

K
5' 9"
Junior
Biology
Anthony Howard

#25 Anthony Howard

LB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Tyler Johnson

#28 Tyler Johnson

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Sport and Exercise Science/Physical Therapy
Nico Law

#4 Nico Law

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
Business
Quad Law

#8 Quad Law

WR
5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Healthcare Management

Players Mentioned

Jesstin Hamm

#7 Jesstin Hamm

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Communication Arts
WR
Christian Carpenter

#1 Christian Carpenter

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
DB
Will Davis

#81 Will Davis

6' 5"
Junior
Business
TE
Matthew Gawlik

#95 Matthew Gawlik

6' 3"
Senior
Finance
DE
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

5' 9"
Junior
Biology
K
Anthony Howard

#25 Anthony Howard

6' 0"
Sophomore
LB
Tyler Johnson

#28 Tyler Johnson

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Sport and Exercise Science/Physical Therapy
RB
Nico Law

#4 Nico Law

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
Business
RB
Quad Law

#8 Quad Law

5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
WR
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Healthcare Management
QB