Marc Jones
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Junior Marc Jones finished with the eighth-highest rushing yards per game average (197.7) in NCAA Division II history.
39
Winner Gannon University GAN 5-6
7
Millersville MILL 4-7
Winner
Gannon University GAN
5-6
39
Final
7
Millersville MILL
4-7
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon University 13 3 7 16 39
MILL Millersville 0 0 0 7 7

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

Gannon Football Team Runs to 39-7 Victory at Millersville in Regular-Season Finale; Sets Single-Season Scoring Record

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Gannon 39, at Millersville 7
  • Records: Gannon (5-6), Millersville (4-7)
  • Location: Millersville, Pa. - Biemesderfer Stadium
  • The Short Story: Junior Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside)' normal rushing effort led to 193 yards and two touchdowns as the Gannon football team coasted to a 39-7 victory at Millersville Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both programs. In the process, the Golden Knights set a program record for points in a season with 426.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon wasted little time to get the scoreboard rolling, scoring touchdowns on its opening two possessions.
  • The first score was set up by redshirt sophomore Andrew Berger (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) who blocked and recovered a punt at the Millersville 48-yard line.
  • Gannon's first drive consisted of all runs and needed only six attempts to find the endzone. Redshirt senior Tyler Palka (Temperance, Mich./Saline) generated 25 yards on the drive while Jones added 22, including a seven-yard run that found the endzone for a 7-0 lead 6:54 into the contest.
  • On the second play of Millersville's next possession, freshman Tyger Winston (New Rochelle, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards to the Marauders' 23-yard line. Jones ate up all those yards on four carries, culminating with a five-yard touchdown run at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter. A missed extra point kept the score at 13-0.
  • Gannon used one of the longest drives that resulted in the fewest yards to tack on three points for the only scoring of the second quarter. The Golden Knights gain possession at the Millersville 33-yard line after a 29-yard punt. Gannon ran the ball eight consecutive times, before throwing the ball twice and settling for a 30-yard field goal by senior Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) that gave the visitors a 16-0 advantage at the intermission. The drive lasted 11 plays, but only gained 21 yards.
  • The difference expanded to 23-0 after another poor punt in the third quarter. Gannon set up shop at the Millersville 34-yard line after a 30-yard punt from the Marauders' own four-yard line. Three plays later, redshirt freshman Jason Dambach (Fombell, Pa./Riverside) reached paydirt from 27 yards out with 4:23 remaining in the third quarter.
  • Millersville scored its only points of the contest when Jhet Janis returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown 1:45 into the final quarter, cutting the deficit to 23-7.
  • Gannon iced the victory with 16 unanswered points the rest of the way on a 39-yard field goal from Holland, a 27-yard touchdown pass from Dambach to Palka and a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell).

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's contest was the regular-season finale for both programs.
  • Gannon finished with advantages in first downs (18-11), rushing yards (298-101) total yards (345-159) and time of possession (32:37-27:23).
  • Millersville managed a slight edge in passing yards (58-47). 
  • Jones completed the season as he performed all year with another 100-yard rushing performance. He generated 193 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 36 carries.
  • Dambach only needed to complete four passes for 47 yards through the air. He threw one touchdown pass and zero interceptions.
  • Palka caught two of the four completions for 43 yards and one score.
  • Howard led the Gannon defensive unit with eight tackles, one tackle for a loss and one interception returned for a touchdown.
  • Sophomore Noah Harris-Lyles (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) and redshirt junior Martell Davis (Columbus, Ohio/Licking Heights) followed with seven tackles each. Harris-Lyles also recorded two tackles for a loss of 19 yards and one sack for a loss of eight yards.
  • Six Golden Knights recorded a tackle for a loss and four had interceptions.
  • Berger finished with four stops, two tackles for a loss and one blocked kick.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon ended the season with consecutive victories to finish 5-6 overall for the second straight year.
  • The Golden Knights won for the fifth time during their last six regular-season finales.
  • Entering the day as the leading rusher at all levels of the NCAA, Jones recorded his school-record 10th 100-yard rushing performance in 11 games. He reached the 180-yard plateau for the sixth time.
  • Gannon scored at least 22 points for the 10th time in 11 games.
  • In his first career start at quarterback, Dambach recorded his first career rushing touchdown and first career passing touchdown during the second half.
  • Gannon's 47 passing yards were its fewest in a victory since having 31 passing yards during a 31-9 win against Southern Connecticut State during the 2016 season opener at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • The Golden Knights broke school record for points in a season with 426, surpassing the previous mark of 414 in 2014.
  • Gannon also broke the school record for fewest fumbles in a season with 14, eclipsing the old mark of 15 set in 1989 and 2009.
  • Jones finished with Gannon single-season records for rushing yards (2,175), rushing yards per carry (8.1), 100-yard rushing games (10), rushing touchdowns (29), all-purpose yards (2,463), points (186) and total touchdowns (31).
  • Junior Jarod Morrison (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) broke Gannon's single-season punting record with a 42.6 average on 38 punts. He erased the previous mark of 41.2 set by Adam Schaffer in 2013.
  • Other Gannon single-season team records broke included rushing yards (3,061), rushing yards per carry (6.6), rushing touchdowns (42) and total touchdowns (61).
  • The Golden Knights fell 26 yards shy of the program's single-season record for total offense (5,146 in 2014) and tied the single-single mark for yards per play (6.7 in 2014).
  • Jones' average of 197.7 rushing yards per game ranked eighth all-time among NCAA Division II players. His 2,175 rushing yards were the 13th-highest single-season total in NCAA Division II history.
  • Freshman Tre McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College) recorded his first career interception during the third quarter.
  • Gannon's four interceptions were its most in a game since October 22, 2016 at California (Pa.).
  • Millersville's six completions, 58 passing yards and 159 yards of total offense were the fewest by a Gannon opponent since the Golden Knights posted a 48-0 road shutout at Cheyney on September 13, 2014. The Wolves had six completions, 29 passing yards and 48 yards of total offense.
  • The Marauders' seven points were the fewest by a Golden Knight opponent since Gannon's 44-6 victory against Cheyney at McConnell Family Stadium on September 12, 2015.
  • Gannon created five turnovers for the first time since a 34-12 victory against Seton Hill at McConnell Family Stadium on October 15, 2016.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concluded the 2017 campaign with Saturday's victory at Millersville.
  • The 2018 regular season is tentatively scheduled to open Saturday, September 1 against Southern Connecticut State at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Game time is tentatively slated for 12 noon.
  • Gannon and Southern Connecticut State will face each other in the season opener for the fifth consecutive year.
  • The Golden Knights have won the previous four match-ups.
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Players Mentioned

Andrew Berger

#93 Andrew Berger

DE
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
Jason Dambach

#17 Jason Dambach

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Business
Martell Davis

#20 Martell Davis

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Sport Management and Entrepreneurship
Noah Harris-Lyles

#44 Noah Harris-Lyles

DE
6' 1"
Sophomore
Undeclared
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

K
5' 9"
Senior
Biology
Anthony Howard

#25 Anthony Howard

LB
6' 0"
Junior
Marcus Jones

#4 Marcus Jones

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Middle Childhood Education
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

P
6' 3"
Junior
Education
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
Trevaughn McNeill

#28 Trevaughn McNeill

DB
6' 0"
Freshman
Communication Arts

Players Mentioned

Andrew Berger

#93 Andrew Berger

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
DE
Jason Dambach

#17 Jason Dambach

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Business
QB
Martell Davis

#20 Martell Davis

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Sport Management and Entrepreneurship
DB
Noah Harris-Lyles

#44 Noah Harris-Lyles

6' 1"
Sophomore
Undeclared
DE
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

5' 9"
Senior
Biology
K
Anthony Howard

#25 Anthony Howard

6' 0"
Junior
LB
Marcus Jones

#4 Marcus Jones

5' 11"
Junior
Middle Childhood Education
RB
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

6' 3"
Junior
Education
P
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
QB
Trevaughn McNeill

#28 Trevaughn McNeill

6' 0"
Freshman
Communication Arts
DB