Gannon Golden Knights Action Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Another large crowd is expected for Saturday's contest between Gannon and California (Pa.) at McConnell Family Stadium. Sun and temperatures in the 70's are in the weather forecast.

Football Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Football Team Hosts California (Pa.) Saturday on Military Appreciation Day (Video/Game Notes)



GAME DAY CENTRAL
California University of Pennsylvania (5-2, 2-2 PSAC West) at Gannon University (3-4, 2-2 PSAC West)
  • When: Saturday, October 21, 2017
  • Where: Erie, Pa.
  • Stadium: McConnell Family Stadium (2,500)
  • Kickoff: 12 noon
  • Live Radio: Jet Radio (1400)
  • Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
  • Live Video (FREE): Click Here
    • Video also available through Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Android TV by searching for "PSAC" on the app interfaces on any of the compatible devices, then downloading the free app and filtering to Gannon.
  • Live Stats: Click Here

GAME INFORMATION
  • General Admission Tickets: $5 adults / $3 Non-Gannon students / $3 Senior Citizens
  • All veterans will be admitted free of charge as part of Military Appreciation Day.
  • All Gannon students, staff and faculty are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID.
  • Parking: Free on-street parking
  • Directions: To McConnell Family Stadium I GPS Address: 430 Sassafras Street, Erie, Pa. 16507

GAME COVERAGE
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
  • As part of Military Appreciation Day, all veterans and their families will be admitted free of charge.
  • Military Appreciation Day festivities will include:
    • Military vehicles will be on displayed outside the front gate of McConnell Family Stadium, including a M1114 Up-Armored Humvee and M997A3 HMMWV Ambulance Humvee.
    • The singing of the national anthem by Mrs. Jannette Rempfer, the wife of Professor of Military Science LTC Dan Rempfer.
    • Pride of Pennsylvania Army ROTC Gannon University Company Color Guard will present the flags.
    • Cadet Battalion Commander Susan Lipster and Cadet Battalion Command Sergeant Major John McGraw wil serve as honorary captains and be present for the coin toss at midfield prior to the game.

ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: California (Pa.) leads 8-1
  • First Meeting: October 18, 2008 - California (Pa.) 42, at Gannon 24
  • Last Meeting: October 22, 2016 - at California (Pa.) 35, Gannon 14
  • Series Notes: Gannon is 1-8 all-time against California (Pa.), but the Golden Knights are looking for their first victory on the field. The Vulcans won the first six games in the all-time series, before Gannon received a forfeit win in 2014. Cal is 4-0 all-time at McConnell Family Stadium, out-scoring Gannon 159-52 while producing at least 34 points during all four of those contests.

OTHER LINKS
SATURDAY STORYLINES
  • Gannon rides a two-game win streak into Saturday's contest after setting a PSAC record for team rushing yards (567) and a school record for points (76) last Saturday during a 76-31 victory at Seton Hill.
  • Three of the Golden Knights' four losses this season have come by a single score, including the last two by a combined six points.
  • Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) leads all divisions of the NCAA in rushing yards per game (220.0), rushing yards (1,540), rushing touchdowns (20), total touchdowns (22) and all-purpose yards per game (251.57). The junior tailback also tops NCAA Division II in rushing yards per carry (10.20) and points per game (18.9). NCAA Division II single-season records within his sight are rushing yards per game (220.0) and rushing yards per carry (9.0).
  • Jones received more national attention this week after producing 247 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, three receptions, 34 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 281 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns last Saturday at Seton Hill. He accomplished all this despite participating in only five plays during the second half. Jones was named D2football.com Offensive Player of the Week for the second time, PSAC Western Division Offensive Player of the Week for the third time and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time.
  • A 52-yard touchdown run by Jones that included a leap over the Seton Hill safety in open field was listed No. 1 on this week's NCAA Division II Football Plays of the Week which can be seen by clicking here. It was also tabbed No. 7 among the NCAA Plays of the Week that consider all sports at all levels of the NCAA. That top-10 list can be viewed by clicking here. One of his runs has been listed among the NCAA Division II Football Plays of the Week three times this season.
  • Gannon broke a PSAC record with 567 rushing yards last Saturday at Seton Hill, surpassing the previous mark of 559 set by Millersville against Bloomsburg in 1981.
  • The Golden Knights scored at least 45 points for the fourth time this season.
  • Gannon broke school records for points in the second half (43), points in the third quarter (29) and total points (76). The previous top marks for second-half points (41) and third-quarter points (27) were set during a 58-28 victory against Seton Hill on October 25, 2014 at McConnell Family Stadium. The previous scoring record was 66 points against East Stroudsburg (W 66-41) in 2014 and Kutztown (W 66-31) in 2015.
  • The Golden Knights' 696 yards of total offense ranked second all-time in program history behind a 712-yard effort during a 66-31 victory at Kutztown on September 19, 2015.
  • Junior Jarod Morrison (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) was named ECAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Tuesday for his efforts at Seton Hill.
  • California (Pa.) was picked to finish second in the PSAC Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll. The Vulcans received two of the eight first-place votes.
  • Gannon was predicted to finish fifth in that same poll.
  • Karch Holland became Gannon's all-time scoring leader against Edinboro on October 7, moving past previous record holder Jon Richardson (2006-09). Holland ranks No. 1 with 231 career points. He converted 52 consecutive extra points from October 24, 2015-September 2, 2017.
  • Zach Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) sits seventh all-time at Gannon with 2,405 career passing yards. The redshirt junior can move past Matt Butler (2004-06) and into sixth place with 399 yards. His 1,724 passing yards in 2016 represented the eighth-highest single-season total in program history.
  • Jones is closing in on Gannon's single-season records for rushing yards (Brock Jones - 1,628 - 2014) and all-purpose yards (Brock Jones - 1,826 - 2014). He enters the California (Pa.) game with 1,540 rushing yards and 1,761 all-purpose yards through seven games. Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside)' 132 points already surpasses Brock Jones' record set in 2014.
  • Holland ranks second all-time at Gannon in career field goals (28) through 39 career games. He needs five field goals to tie the program record of 33 set by Jeremy Ditzler (2007-10). Holland's 84.6 field goal percentage (11-13) as a freshman in 2014 represents the best single-season mark in school history. He also holds the school record for PATs with 147.
  • Jones has generated 485 rushing yards more than the next best NCAA Division II player. Bryce Love of NCAA Division I Stanford is the closest student-athlete at any level of the NCAA. However, Love still enters the week 153 yards behind Jones.
  • Morrison enters Saturday's contest with a 41.4 punting average on 64 career punts. It currently ranks first all-time in program history ahead of Adam Schaffer's 39.4 average on 122 career punts from 2011-13.
  • Gannon has recorded three winning seasons during the last four years with a 6-5 mark in 2015, 9-2 record in 2013 and 6-5 mark in 2013. The program's streak of three straight winning seasons represented its longest since producing a program-record four consecutive winning seasons from 1992-95. Gannon has recorded 13 winning campaigns in school history, including a stretch of five in six seasons from 1990-95.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues alternating home and away games Saturday, October 28 when it travels to Indiana (Pa.) for a 12 noon kickoff.
  • The Crimson Hawks are ranked No. 3 in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll.
  • IUP sports a perfect 7-0 record heading into this week's contest at Clarion.
  • Following the Indiana (Pa.) contest, Gannon returns home Saturday, November 4 for Senior Day against Clarion.
  • Game time at McConnell Family Stadium is scheduled for 12 noon.
  • It will be the final home game of the regular season.
  • Eight Golden Knights will be honored during pregame ceremonies that are expected to begin at 11:40 a.m.
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Players Mentioned

Andrew Berger

#93 Andrew Berger

DE
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
Marcus Jones

#4 Marcus Jones

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Middle Childhood Education
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

P
6' 3"
Junior
Education
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Healthcare Management
James Simms

#1 James Simms

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts

Players Mentioned

Andrew Berger

#93 Andrew Berger

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
DE
Marcus Jones

#4 Marcus Jones

5' 11"
Junior
Middle Childhood Education
RB
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

6' 3"
Junior
Education
P
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Healthcare Management
QB
James Simms

#1 James Simms

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
LB