Brendan Klemensic Action Photo
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Gannon needs to win its final three games to clinch its fourth winning season during the last five years.

Football Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Football Team Faces Tough Task Saturday at No. 4 IUP (Video/Game Notes)



GAME DAY CENTRAL
Gannon University (3-5, 2-3 PSAC West) at No. 4 Indiana University of Pennsylvania (8-0, 5-0 PSAC West)
  • When: Saturday, October 28, 2017
  • Where: Indiana, Pa.
  • Stadium: George P. Miller Stadium (6,000)
  • Kickoff: 12 noon
  • Live Radio: Jet Radio (1400)
  • Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
  • Live Video: Click Here
  • Live Stats: Click Here

GAME INFORMATION
  • General Admission Tickets: $11
  • Reserved Seating Tickets: Starting at $15
  • Parking: Click Here
  • Directions: To George P. Miller Stadium I GPS Address: 694 South 11th Street, Indiana, Pa.

GAME COVERAGE
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Indiana (Pa.) leads 6-3
  • First Meeting: November 1, 2008 - Indiana (Pa.) 35, at Gannon 10
  • Last Meeting: October 29, 2016 - Indiana (Pa.) 48, at Gannon 3
  • Series Notes: Gannon trails the all-time series 6-3. The Golden Knights have dropped their last three games on IUP's home turf after posting a 29-3 win during their first-ever trip to George P. Miller Stadium in 2009. Gannon is 2-3 against Indiana (Pa.) at McConnell Family Stadium. The Golden Knights average 24.8 points at home during the series, but only 17.5 points in away contests.

OTHER LINKS
SATURDAY STORYLINES
  • Indiana (Pa.) is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Super Regional One Poll released Monday afternoon. The Crimson Hawks are tabbed No. 2 nationally by D2football.com and No. 4 by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
  • Gannon saw its two-game win streak come to an end last Saturday with a 38-35 loss against California (Pa.) at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • It was another close loss by the Golden Knights who have four setbacks this season by a single score, including the last three by a combined nine points.
  • Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) leads all divisions of the NCAA in rushing yards per game (213.9), rushing yards (1,711) and rushing touchdowns (21). The junior tailback also tops NCAA Division II in rushing yards per carry (9.45), total touchdowns (23) and points per game (17.3). NCAA Division II single-season records within his sight are rushing yards per game (220.0) and per carry (9.0).
  • Jones produced his eighth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and ninth in 19 games as a Golden Knight last Saturday against California (Pa.). He is the first Gannon player in program history to open a season with eight consecutive 100-yard games.
  • Gannon sported its camouflaged uniforms last weekend for Military Appreciation Day. Unfortunately, the Golden Knights have dropped both games this season when wearing the alternate uniforms, falling by a combined seven points in those games despite having a chance to win both on their final possession.
  • Jones broke Gannon's single-season records for rushing yards (1,711) and all-purpose yards (1,953) last weekend despite still having 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.
  • Redshirt senior Tyler Palka (Temperance, Mich./Saline) produced a career-high in all-purpose yards for the third consecutive week with 203 yards. He recorded eight receptions, 145 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, nine carries, 58 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 18 passing yards and two total touchdowns against the Vulcans. Palka has generated 387 all-purpose yards during the last two games.
  • Gannon scored at least 33 points for the sixth time this season.
  • Redshirt freshman Jimmy Keefe (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/St. Edward) became the sixth quarterback in program history to throw for over 300 yards in a single game and first since Liam Nadler had 357 passing yards during a 66-41 victory against East Stroudsburg on November 14, 2015 at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Sophomore Noah Harris-Lyles (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) produced career-highs in both tackles for a loss (4) and sacks (3).
  • Gannon swept the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) weekly awards with Palka (Offensive Player of the Week), Harris-Lyles (Defensive Player of the Week), junior Jarod Morrison (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) (Special Teams Player of the Week) and Keefe (Rookie of the Week) capturing the entire group of awards after their performances last Saturday.
  • Indiana (Pa.) was picked to finish first in the PSAC Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll. The Crimson Hawks received six 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 236 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.
  • Holland ranks second all-time at Gannon in career field goals (28) through 40 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 152.
  • Jones has already broken Gannon's single-season records for rushing yards (1,711), all-purpose yards (1,953), points (138), rushing touchdowns (21) and total touchdowns (23). He is on pace to shatter Jason Cunningham's single-season record for rushing yards per carry (6.6) set in 2001.
  • Morrison enters Saturday's contest with a 41.2 punting average on 69 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 concludes its home schedule Saturday, November 4 against Clarion.
  • Game time is scheduled for 12 noon.
  • It will be Senior Day at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Pregame festivities are expected to begin at 11:40 a.m.
  • The football senior student-athletes will be honored during the pregame while the Gannon gameday cheer and dance team seniors will be honored during halftime.
  • Following the Clarion contest, Gannon concludes the regular season Saturday, November 11 at Millersville.
  • Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
  • The Golden Knights took a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with a 31-14 victory during last year's regular-season finale at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Last year's match-up was the first in the all-time series since 2011.
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Players Mentioned

Noah Harris-Lyles

#44 Noah Harris-Lyles

DE
6' 1"
Sophomore
Undeclared
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
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

P
6' 3"
Junior
Education
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Healthcare Management

Players Mentioned

Noah Harris-Lyles

#44 Noah Harris-Lyles

6' 1"
Sophomore
Undeclared
DE
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
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

6' 3"
Junior
Education
P
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
QB
Zach Phillips

#6 Zach Phillips

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Healthcare Management
QB