Tyler Johnson
Joe Mattis
Redshirt senior Tyler Johnson's fumble recovery in the endzone set off a Gannon celebration at McConnell Family Stadium.
27
Bloomsburg BLOOM 2-1
30
Winner Gannon University GAN 3-0
Bloomsburg BLOOM
2-1
27
Final
30
Gannon University GAN
3-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
BLOOM Bloomsburg 7 10 7 0 3 27
GAN Gannon University 7 10 0 7 6 30

Next Game:

at Slippery Rock University

9/24/2016 | 6:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 24 (Sat) / 6:00 PM
at Slippery Rock University

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

Gannon Football Team Remains Undefeated With Overtime Victory Against Bloomsburg (Video/Photos)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 30, Bloomsburg 27 (ot)
  • Records: Gannon (3-0), Bloomsburg (2-1)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: Redshirt senior Tyler Johnson (North East, Pa./North East) fell on a fumble in the endzone for the game-winning score as the Gannon football team remained undefeated with a heart-stopping 30-27 overtime victory against Bloomsburg Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Bloomsburg marched right down the field on its opening possession, going 98 yards on 11 plays for an early 7-0 lead 4:31 into the contest.
  • Gannon answered with a short scoring drive midway through the first quarter. After a 29-yard punt return by redshirt freshman Nico Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) to the Bloomsburg 38-yard line, Gannon scored the tying touchdown with a drive that included five runs and one pass. The touchdown came on a four-yard run by sophomore Zach Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) with 5:29 left in the first quarter.
  • Gannon's go-ahead scoring drive was set up by senior Mike Zanders II (Charlotte, N.C./Hopewell)'s interception that stopped a Bloomsburg scoring drive at the Golden Knights' 20-yard line late in the first quarter.
  • The home squad turned around and went 80 yards in only five plays. The biggest gain came on a pass from junior Tyler Palka (Temperance, Mich./Saline) to Johnson for a 59-yard pick-up. Two plays later, Johnson found paydirt from five yards out for a 14-7 lead five seconds into the second quarter.
  • Gannon then scored on its third consecutive possession for a 17-7 advantage with 7:59 remaining in the first half. With yet another long drive, the Golden Knights went 88 yards on 13 plays. Fifty-eight of those yards came on the ground, before the drive ended with a 28-yard field goal by junior Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington). Gannon extended the drive when Phillips converted a fourth-and-seven play on the Bloomsburg's 30-yard line with a 20-yard pass to redshirt senior Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold).
  • Bloomsburg netted 10 points during the final 1:45 to pull even at 17 as the teams headed into the intermission.
  • The Huskies forged back ahead midway through the third quarter thanks to a Gannon special teams miscue. Initially, the Golden Knights had a punt blocked through the endzone for a safety, but an offsides penalty negated the score. However, a bad snap followed and forced the Gannon punter's knee to hit the ground at the one-yard line. Bloomsburg scored on a one-yard run on the next play to regain the lead at 24-17 with 6:02 left in the third frame.
  • Gannon battled back again to tie the contest on Johnson's two-yard touchdown run with 9:05 left in regulation. Another interception set up the score after senior Nathan Adams (Crozier, Va./Goochland) picked off a pass at the Bloomsburg 41-yard line. The Golden Knights received great field position after a 16-yard return and personal foul penalty on the Huskies. Four running players later, Johnson tied the contest at 24.
  • The game eventually went to overtime as neither team could score the winning points during the final nine minutes.
  • Gannon won the toss and deferred. The Golden Knights responded by holding the Huskies to one yard and forcing a 42-yard field goal by Kyle Butts.
  • The Golden Knights kept all nine plays of its overtime possession on the ground. After two first downs, the home squad faced third-and-goal from the Bloomsburg one-yard line. Phillips had the ball knocked loose as he was crossing the goal line on a quarterback keeper, but Johnson was there to save the day by pouncing on the fumble for the game-winning touchdown.

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's pregame warm-ups were conducted in extremely heavy rain, before the skies cleared to provide clouds and sun for the entire game. 
  • Shippensburg won every statistical category despite the loss. The Huskies had advantages in first downs (19-15), rushing yards (175-163), passing yards (224-145), total yards (399-308) and time of possession (33:39-26:21).
  • Four Golden Knights rushed for at least 20 yards, led by Johnson's 74 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.
  • Phillips finished with 43 rushing yards and 60 passing yards. Palka added 85 passing yards on a 3-of-5 chart.
  • Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) was the main aerial target, hauling in six passes for 48 yards.
  • Zanders II topped the Gannon defensive unit with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and one interception.
  • Adams, sophomore Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell) and sophomore A.J. Satcher (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) followed with eight tackles each.
  • Eight Golden Knights recorded six tackles or more.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon has won its opening three games for the third consecutive season.
  • Bloomsburg was predicted to finish third in the PSAC Eastern Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll.
  • Saturday's game represented the first time in program history Gannon and its opponent were both 2-0.
  • The overtime contest was the Golden Knights' first since a 10-7 victory at Bloomsburg on November 7, 2009. It was Gannon's first overtime home game since a 26-23 win against Northern Michigan on September 24, 2005.
  • Gannon has won its last three overtime games, improving to 4-3 all-time in contests featuring an extra session.
  • Holland moved past Jarrett Kier (1999-02) and into 11th place all-time at Gannon in career scoring with 153 career points.
  • Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) jumped past Abraham Ocasio (2011-14) and into fourth place all-time at Gannon with his 120th career reception. He also moved past Wes Whiteside (2002-06) and into seventh place in career receiving yards with 1,390.
  • Zanders surged into Gannon's all-time top five in tackles with his 282nd career stop.
  • Johnson set a career-high with three rushing touchdowns.
  • Zanders II's season-high 12 tackles were his most since having 16 at Southern Connecticut State during the 2015 season opener.
  • Howard produced his first career sack while Adams had his first career interception.
  • Gawlik entered Gannon's all-time top 15 in career sacks (11.5) during the fourth quarter.
  • The Gannon defensive unit has allowed only 10 points during the second half of its first three games this season. Seven points came during Saturday's game after a bad snap on a punt gave Bloomsburg a one-yard scoring drive.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon opens the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division schedule Saturday, September 24 at defending conference champion Slippery Rock.
  • Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
  • The Golden Knights will face yet another undefeated team as Slippery Rock enters the fray with an identical 3-0 record.
  • Slippery Rock will honor its Hall of Fame inductees which include Gannon head wrestling coach Don Henry at halftime.
  • Gannon holds a slim 6-5 edge in the all-time series, but the Rock has won the last two meetings.
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Players Mentioned

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
A.J. Satcher

#32 A.J. Satcher

DB
5' 8"
Sophomore
Computer Science
Mike Zanders II

#31 Mike Zanders II

DB
5' 9"
Senior
Risk Management
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Secondary Education
Nathan Adams

#36 Nathan Adams

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science

Players Mentioned

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
A.J. Satcher

#32 A.J. Satcher

5' 8"
Sophomore
Computer Science
DB
Mike Zanders II

#31 Mike Zanders II

5' 9"
Senior
Risk Management
DB
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Secondary Education
QB
Nathan Adams

#36 Nathan Adams

6' 2"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
LB