Tyler Palka Action Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Redshirt senior Tyler Palka generated career-highs in all-purpose yards (203) and receiving yards (145).
38
Winner California (Pa.) CAL 6-2 , 3-2
35
Gannon University GAN 3-5 , 2-3
Winner
California (Pa.) CAL
6-2 , 3-2
38
Final
35
Gannon University GAN
3-5 , 2-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CAL California (Pa.) 21 10 0 7 38
GAN Gannon University 7 14 7 7 35

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

Gannon Football Team's Rally Blocked As Jones Breaks Single-Season Rushing Record (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: California (Pa.) 38, at Gannon 35
  • Records: Gannon (3-5, 2-3 PSAC West), California (Pa.) (6-2, 3-2 PSAC West)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: Junior Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) broke Gannon's single-season records for rushing yards and all-purpose yards, but it was a blocked field goal in the final minute that helped California (Pa.) escape McConnell Family Stadium Saturday afternoon with a 38-35 victory.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • A defensive score ignited a first-half scoring explosion as Cal's Lamont McPhatter II returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown 1:29 into the contest.
  • Gannon immediately answered with an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. The Golden Knights picked up at least 12 yards during five of those plays. After Jones rushed for 25 yards on two carries, redshirt senior Tyler Palka (Temperance, Mich./Saline) accounted for 54 yards on the other three plays. A 13-yard touchdown run capped the drive 5:37 into the game.
  • California (Pa.) countered with an eight-play, 77-yard drive to forge back ahead 14-7 at the 5:54 mark.
  • Gannon went for it on fourth down at the Cal 34-yard line during its next possession, but a four-yard completion turned the ball over on downs. The Vulcans scored on the next play when Michael Keir connected with Tom Green for a 70-yard touchdown pass.
  • The Golden Knights responded with a six-play, 73-yard drive that started in the first quarter and ended in the second stanza. Jones had runs of 22 and 10 yards, before redshirt freshman Jimmy Keefe (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/St. Edward) hit Palka for a 29-yard touchdown score, cutting the deficit to 21-14 seven seconds into the second quarter.
  • California (Pa.) appeared to take control with an 18-yard field goal and 36-yard touchdown pass from Keir to Luke Smorey for a 31-14 lead.
  • Momentum appeared to change at the end of the first half when Gannon drove 85 yards in 74 seconds to claw within 31-21 at the intermission. Keefe started the drive with a 27-yard pass to Palka and ended it with a 47-yard touchdown pass to senior Brendan Klemensic (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) with seven seconds showing on the clock.
  • The second half calmed down and turned into more of a defensive chess match. After five combined scoreless drives by both teams, Gannon made things extremely interesting with a six-play, 77-yard scoring drive. A 38-yard pass from Keefe to sophomore Dontae Owens (Reading, Pa./Reading) was the big play. Jones capped the drive by blasting into the end zone from five yards out with Vulcans hanging on him, falling across the goal line with his helmet falling off. The power run brought the Golden Knights within 31-28 with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter.
  • The back-and-forth boxing match continued with Cal scoring another touchdown during its next possession to regain a 10-point lead at 38-28 four plays into the final quarter.
  • Gannon used another long drive to climb back within three points. A nine-play, 73-yard drive had four plays of at least 10 yards. On third-and-five, Keefe found Owens in the corner of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
  • The Golden Knights then stopped Cal and regained possession at their 30-yard line with 5:24 remaining. On fourth-and-one from the Cal 41-yard line, Jones picked up three yards to keep the drive alive.
  • On fourth-and-18 from the Cal 46-yard line, Todd Coles Jr. was called for pass interference when he bumped sophomore Joey Cox (Costa Mesa, Calif./Calvary Chapel). The 15-yard penalty resulted in an automatic first down.
  • Gannon set up a potential game-tying field goal with six more yards, but Gannon's 43-yard field goal attempt was tipped by Cameron Tarver with 30 seconds left and sailed right to secured Cal's three-point victory.

GAME NOTES
  • Gannon wore its camouflaged uniforms as part of Military Appreciation Day.
  • The Golden Knights finished with advantages in first downs (28-21), rushing yards (233-11), total yards (564-446) and time of possession (33:09-26:51).
  • The Vulcans countered with a 435-331 edge through the air. 
  • Jones recorded his usual 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 171 yards and one touchdown on a season-high 30 carries. He added two receptions for 21 yards.
  • Palka generated a career-high 203 all-purpose yards with 58 rushing yards and a career-high 145 receiving yards on eight catches. He scored via the ground and air.
  • Keefe went 18-of-36 for 331 yards and three touchdowns through the air. His passing yards and touchdowns represented career-highs.
  • Owens finished with five catches for 74 yards and one touchdown.
  • Klemensic hauled in three passes for a season-high 75 yards and one score. 
  • Junior Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell) led the Gannon defensive unit with eight tackles and a half-sack.
  • Junior James Simms (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) and freshman Tre McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College) added seven and six stops, respectively.
  • Sophomore Noah Harris-Lyles (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) came off the defensive line to record five tackles, four tackles for a loss (18 yards) and three sacks (13 yards).
  • Military Appreciation Day festivities included military vehicles 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 was performed by Mrs. Jannette Rempfer, the wife of Professor of Military Science LTC Dan Rempfer. The Pride of Pennsylvania Army ROTC Gannon University Company Color Guard presented the flags. Cadet Battalion Commander Susan Lipster and Cadet Battalion Command Sergeant Major John McGraw served as honorary captains and were present for the coin toss at midfield prior to the game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Entering the day as the leading rusher at all levels of the NCAA, Jones produced his eighth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and ninth in 19 games as a Golden Knight. He is the first Gannon player in program history to open a season with eight consecutive 100-yard games.
  • Gannon has dropped both games this season when wearing the camouflaged uniforms, falling by a combined seven points in those games despite having a chance to win both on its final possession.
  • Jones broke Gannon's single-season records for rushing yards (1,711) and all-purpose yards (1,953) with three regular-season games remaining. The previous records were held by Brock Jones with 1,628 rushing yards and 1,826 all-purpose yards in 2014.
  • Palka produced a career-high in all-purpose yards for the third consecutive week with 203 yards. Palka has generated 387 all-purpose yards during the last two games.
  • Gannon scored at least 33 points for the sixth time this season.
  • Keefe became the sixth quarterback in program history to throw for over 300 yards in a single game. He is the first to do so since Liam Nadler had 357 passing yards during a 66-41 victory against East Stroudsburg on November 14, 2015 at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Harris-Lyles produced career-highs in both tackles for a loss and sacks.
  • McNeill had five career stops entering week seven, before having six during each of the last two contests.

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Players Mentioned

Noah Harris-Lyles

#44 Noah Harris-Lyles

DE
6' 1"
Sophomore
Undeclared
Anthony Howard

#25 Anthony Howard

LB
6' 0"
Junior
Marcus Jones

#4 Marcus Jones

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Middle Childhood Education
Jimmy Keefe

#16 Jimmy Keefe

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Middle Level Education and Special Education
Brendan Klemensic

#13 Brendan Klemensic

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Marketing
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
James Simms

#1 James Simms

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
Dontae Owens

#8 Dontae Owens

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
Joey Cox

#11 Joey Cox

WR
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business Management
Trevaughn McNeill

#28 Trevaughn McNeill

DB
6' 0"
Freshman
Communication Arts

Players Mentioned

Noah Harris-Lyles

#44 Noah Harris-Lyles

6' 1"
Sophomore
Undeclared
DE
Anthony Howard

#25 Anthony Howard

6' 0"
Junior
LB
Marcus Jones

#4 Marcus Jones

5' 11"
Junior
Middle Childhood Education
RB
Jimmy Keefe

#16 Jimmy Keefe

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Middle Level Education and Special Education
QB
Brendan Klemensic

#13 Brendan Klemensic

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Marketing
WR
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
QB
James Simms

#1 James Simms

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
LB
Dontae Owens

#8 Dontae Owens

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
WR
Joey Cox

#11 Joey Cox

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business Management
WR
Trevaughn McNeill

#28 Trevaughn McNeill

6' 0"
Freshman
Communication Arts
DB