Mike Zanders II
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Senior Mike Zanders II is now Gannon's all-time leader in career tackles with 345.
35
Gannon University GAN 4-6 , 1-6
41
Winner Clarion CLAR 4-6 , 3-4
Gannon University GAN
4-6 , 1-6
35
Final
41
Clarion CLAR
4-6 , 3-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon University 7 14 0 14 35
CLAR Clarion 3 14 14 10 41

Next Game:

Millersville University

11/12/2016 | 12:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Nov. 12 (Sat) / 12:00 PM
 Millersville University

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

Zanders II Breaks Gannon Football Record for Career Tackles During PSAC West Finale at Clarion

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Clarion 41, Gannon 35
  • Records: Gannon (4-6, 1-6 PSAC West), Clarion (4-5, 3-4 PSAC West)
  • Location: Clarion, Pa. - Memorial Stadium
  • The Short Story: Senior Mike Zanders II (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell) broke the program record for career tackles and a pair of Golden Knights recorded 100-yard rushing games for the 18th time in program history, but it wasn't enough as the Gannon football team dropped a 41-35 decision Saturday afternoon at Clarion in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division finale for both squads.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon took the early lead, forging ahead 14-3 early in the second quarter.
  • After sophomore Justin Brown (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) intercepted a pass on Clarion's first possession, redshirt senior Tyler Johnson (North East, Pa./North East) capped a short 21-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead 2:22 into the contest.
  • The defense also set up the second score. Leading 7-3, senior Christian Carpenter (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) intercepted another Clarion pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown with 12:31 left in the first half.
  • Clarion answered with a pair of touchdowns at the 10:38 and 3:14 marks of the second quarter to assume its first lead (17-14) of the afternoon late in the first half.
  • However, Gannon countered with a touchdown of its own and took a 21-17 advantage into the intermission. The Golden Knights went 63 yards on nine plays in only 51 seconds.
  • Four plays on the drive went for double-digit yards, but the biggest play was a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on Clarion after the Golden Eagles had stopped Gannon on third-and-15 from the 49-yard line. Three plays later, redshirt sophomore Zach Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) connected with redshirt senior Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) for a 19-yard touchdown reception.
  • The third quarter eventually proved to be the decisive 15 minutes as Clarion produced a 14-0 advantage. The results gave the Golden Eagles a 31-21 edge heading into the final quarter.
  • Gannon twice pulled within six points during the final quarter. The first time came after Johnson scored on a four-yard run with 11:09 remaining, cutting the deficit to 34-28.
  • Clarion produced an insurance touchdown with 2:23 left to play and it proved to be important as Gannon responded with another touchdown.
  • Sophomore Marcus Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) returned the kickoff 45 yards to the Clarion 30-yard line. On fourth-and-16, a 33-yard pass from Phillips to Law picked up the first down. Two plays later, Phillips scored on a one-yard sneak to climb back within 41-35 as 77 seconds remained on the clock.
  • Gannon then recovered an onside kick, but was called for offsides. Clarion proceeded to recover the second onside attempt, before running out the clock.

GAME NOTES
  • Gannon produced advantages in rushing yards (238-45) and total yards (374-367).
  • Clarion countered by winning the battles in first downs (22-20), passing yards (322-136) and time of possession (33:17-26:43).
  • The Golden Eagles were 6-of-12 on third down compared to the Golden Knights' 3-of-13 showing.
  • Gannon had a pair of 100-yard rushers, led by Johnson who topped all rushers on both sides with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
  • Jones added a season-high 112 yards on 11 attempts, finishing with 170 all-purpose yards.
  • Phillips finished with eight completions for 136 yards and one touchdown.
  • Law led the receiving group with three receptions for 90 yards to go along with 110 kickoff return yards for a total of 197 all-purpose yards.
  • Carpenter and sophomore Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell) topped all tacklers on both teams with 10 stops each. 
  • Senior Nathan Adams (Crozier, Va./Goochland) and Zanders II followed with eight and seven tackles, respectively.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Zanders became Gannon's all-time leader in tackles during the second quarter, before finishing the game with 345 career stops. He surpassed the previous record of 341 held by K.J. Heider (1989-92).
  • Saturday's contest represented the final PSAC Western Division game for both teams as next week's schedule includes conference crossover match-ups.
  • Gannon dropped its fourth consecutive road game after winning its first road contest at Shippensburg 24-20 on September 10.
  • Johnson and Jones became the second duo to record 100 rushing yards in the same game this year. Phillips (181) and Johnson (155) performed the feat during a 31-9 home victory against Southern Connecticut State during the season opener.
  • Multiple Gannon runners have now rushed for over 100 yards in the same game 18 times in program history.
  • Jones surpassed his previous season-high in rushing by 22 yards.
  • Law's 110 kickoff return yards represented a career-high, eclipsing his previous mark of 105 set at California (Pa.) on October 26, 2013.
  • Carpenter and Howard reached double digits in tackles for the second consecutive game. Howard did it for the sixth time this season while Carpenter accomplished the feat for the fifth time.
  • Gannon out-gained its opponent for the second time in the last three games despite falling short in both contests.
  • Gannon was accessed double-digit penalties for the fifth time this season. The resulting 133 penalty yards were the Golden Knights' most since being accessed 138 penalty yards during a 42-7 victory at Lock Haven on October 16, 2010.
  • Junior Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) moved past Brendan McNicholas (2003-06) and into fourth place all-time at Gannon with 190 career points. He also extended his streak of consecutive extra-point conversions to 41 dating back to last season.
  • Law jumped over Gannon Hall of Famer Darmel Whitfield (2001-04) into seventh place all-time at Gannon with 3,384 career all-purpose yards.
  • Senior Matthew Gawlik (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius) moved into Gannon's all-time top five in career sacks during the second quarter. His half sack pushed his career total to 16, tying George Allen (1999-02) and Chad Cressley (1991-95). 

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes the regular season Saturday, November 12 against Millersville at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Game time is scheduled for 12 noon.
  • Gannon will honor 10 student-athletes during pre-game Senior Day festivities - Adams, Jason Anderson (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area), Carpenter, Gawlik, Law, Cory Johnson (Bronx, N.Y./Harry S. Truman), Tyler Johnson (North East, Pa./North East), Nico Mendieta (San Ramon, Calif./California), Nick Pipitone (Newmarket, Ontario/Huron Heights Secondary) and Zanders II.
  • It will also be Military Appreciation Day. In addition to numerous activities, all veterans and their families will be admitted free of charge.
  • Gannon and Millersville have split two all-time meetings, but the two programs haven't met since 2011.
  • The Marauders won the first match-up at home in 2010 by a 29-26 count, before the Golden Knights posted a 47-0 shutout at McConnell Family Stadium in 2011.
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Players Mentioned

Jason Anderson

#57 Jason Anderson

LB
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Mechanical Engineering
Justin Brown

#11 Justin Brown

DB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Business
Christian Carpenter

#1 Christian Carpenter

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
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
Cory Johnson

#38 Cory Johnson

DB
5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
Tyler Johnson

#28 Tyler Johnson

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

#8 Quad Law

WR
5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
Nico Mendieta

#51 Nico Mendieta

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Jason Anderson

#57 Jason Anderson

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Mechanical Engineering
LB
Justin Brown

#11 Justin Brown

6' 1"
Sophomore
Business
DB
Christian Carpenter

#1 Christian Carpenter

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
DB
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
Cory Johnson

#38 Cory Johnson

5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
DB
Tyler Johnson

#28 Tyler Johnson

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

#8 Quad Law

5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
WR
Nico Mendieta

#51 Nico Mendieta

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Criminal Justice
LB