Zach Phillips
Joe Mattis
Redshirt sophomore Zach Phillips rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns against SCSU during his first career start.
9
Southern Conn. State SCS 0-1
31
Winner Gannon University GAN 1-0
Southern Conn. State SCS
0-1
9
Final
31
Gannon University GAN
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SCS Southern Conn. State 6 3 0 0 9
GAN Gannon University 7 14 3 7 31

Next Game:

at Shippensburg University

9/10/2016 | 1:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 10 (Sat) / 1:00 PM
at Shippensburg University

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

Gannon Football Team Uses Punishing Ground Attack to Post 31-9 Victory Against SCSU in Season Opener (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Gannon 31, Southern Connecticut State 9
  • Records: Gannon (1-0), Southern Connecticut State (0-1)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: Redshirt sophomore Zach Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) and redshirt senior Tyler Johnson (North East, Pa./North East) combined to rush for 336 yards and four touchdowns as the Gannon football team used a punishing ground attack behind a strong offensive line to post a 31-9 victory against Southern Connecticut State Saturday afternoon in the season opener at McConnell Family Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Southern Connecticut State wasted little time opening the scoring, driving 80 yards on six plays during its first possession. Robert Nittolo capped the scoring drive with a 23-yard touchdown strike to Mark Thomas 2:55 into the contest, but the lead remained 6-0 after senior Matthew Gawlik (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius) blocked the extra point.
  • Gannon needed only one offensive play to respond. First, junior Brandon Mansell (New Brighton, Pa./Blackhawk) returned the kickoff 50 yards to the SCSU 44-yard line. Phillips then took the first offensive snap of the season and chewed up those 44 yards to tie the game 15 seconds after the Owls' opening score. The extra point pushed the Golden Knights ahead 7-6.
  • Gannon found the endzone two more times during the second quarter. The Golden Knights moved the ball 91 yards in eight plays during their first drive of the second frame. Phillips' eight-yard rush with 10:24 left in the first half gave the home squad a 14-6 lead.
  • Head coach Brad Rzyczycki's club received great field position at its own 47-yard line after a punt later in the second quarter. Johnson picked up the first 19 yards, before Phillips found pay dirt again. This time it was from 34 yards out with 2:12 left in the first half for a 21-6 advantage.
  • Southern Connecticut State was able to pull within 21-9 on a controversial call right before the half. With five seconds left at the Gannon 10-yard line, Nittolo threw an incomplete pass in front of the end zone. The clock ran out, but the officials put one second back on the clock and Mike McNalley converted a 27-yard field goal at the buzzer.
  • The second half was all Gannon as the Golden Knights out-scored the Owls 10-0.
  • Redshirt freshman Nico Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) took the opening kickoff of the second half 26 yards to the 41-yard line. After the drive stalled in SCSU territory, junior Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) drilled a 47-yard field goal at the 10:06 mark for a 28-9 edge.
  • Gannon tacked on one more touchdown during the fourth quarter. Phillips capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. The score with 4:09 remaining provided the final 31-9 score.

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's contest represented the season opener for both programs.
  • Gannon out-gained Southern Connecticut State in total yards (392-324) and rushing yards (361-44).
  • The Owls countered with advantages in first downs (17-14), passing yards (280-31) and time of possession (31:10-28:50).
  • Phillips and Johnson created an unbelievable two-headed rushing monster. Phillips rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries, averaging 12.1 yards per attempt.
  • Johnson added 155 yards on 22 carries.
  • Phillips only attempted seven passes, completing four for 31 yards.
  • Redshirt senior Quad Law (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) hauled in two of the four completions, picking up 16 yards during his first game action since October 11, 2014.
  • Sophomore Justin Brown (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) and redshirt senior Christian Carpenter (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) led the Gannon defensive unit with eight tackles each. Carpenter also added an interception and tackle for a loss.
  • Senior Nathan Adams (Crozier, Va./Goochland) and sophomore Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell) followed with seven stops apiece.
  • Sophomore Geremy Paige (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) was a force from his linebacker spot. He recorded six tackles, one sack, 2.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
  • Junior Foster Reznor (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) finished with four pass break-ups and five tackles.
  • Saturday's season opener was played in perfect weather conditions as sunny skies accompanied temperatures in the 70's.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon won its fifth consecutive season opener, including its third straight over Southern Connecticut State.
  • The Golden Knights recorded the sixth-highest single-game rushing total in program history with 361 yards. It was the most since having 483 rushing yards against East Stroudsburg during the 2014 regular-season finale.
  • Gannon's seven pass attempts were the program's fewest since at least 1998.
  • The Golden Knights' four completions represented their fewest since posting a 4-of-8 chart against Mercyhurst on September 22, 2007.
  • Phillips entered his first career start with 182 career rushing yards, before erupting for 181 against SCSU. He tied a program record for rushing touchdowns in a game, accomplished three previous times. His rushing yards tied the program's 20th-highest all-time single-game total.
  • Johnson arrived at the season opener with 572 career rushing yards, before pounding out 155.
  • Phillips and Johnson became the 17th Gannon duo to rush for over 100 yards in the same game. They are the first since Johnson joined Brock Jones (Peninsula, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) to accomplish the feat during a 48-0 victory at Cheyney on September 13, 2014.
  • Brown finished one tackle shy of his career-high.
  • Carpenter and Adams were making their Gannon debuts after transferring from NCAA Division programs Towson State and Eastern Michigan.
  • Redshirt freshman Jay Bullock (Garfield Heights, Ohio/University School) and true freshman Noah Harris-Lyles (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) recorded their first career sacks during their collegiate debuts.
  • Holland tied a career-best with a 47-yard field goal during the third quarter. It was the sixth-longest field goal in program history.
  • Southern Connecticut State's 44 rushing yards were the fewest by a Gannon opponent since Seton Hill had 19 yards during a 58-28 Golden Knight home victory on October 25, 2014.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns to action Saturday, September 10 at Shippensburg.
  • The first road contest of the season is scheduled for 1 p.m.
  • Shippensburg was predicted to finish second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll.
  • The two programs have split two all-time meetings, but haven't met since the 2011 season.
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Players Mentioned

Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

RB
5' 10"
Senior
Business Entrepreneurship
Justin Brown

#11 Justin Brown

DB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Business
Jay Bullock

#3 Jay Bullock

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Sport Management and Marketing
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
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

Players Mentioned

Brock Jones

#25 Brock Jones

5' 10"
Senior
Business Entrepreneurship
RB
Justin Brown

#11 Justin Brown

6' 1"
Sophomore
Business
DB
Jay Bullock

#3 Jay Bullock

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Sport Management and Marketing
LB
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
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