Marc Jones
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Junior Marc Jones set a new PSAC record with 354 rushing yards in addition to 449 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns.
49
Winner Slippery Rock ROCK 4-0 , 1-0
45
Gannon University GAN 1-3 , 0-1
Winner
Slippery Rock ROCK
4-0 , 1-0
49
Final
45
Gannon University GAN
1-3 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ROCK Slippery Rock 6 21 6 16 49
GAN Gannon University 7 13 12 13 45

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

Gannon Football Team Stunned Late by No. 21 Slippery Rock Despite Marc Jones' PSAC Record-Setting Day (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: No. 21 Slippery Rock 49, at Gannon 45
  • Records: Gannon (1-3, 0-1 PSAC West), Slippery Rock (4-0, 1-0 PSAC West)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: Junior Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) rushed for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record 354 yards and broke a school record with 449 all-purpose yards, but a Slippery Rock 73-yard touchdown pass with 1:36 to play helped the Rock fend off the upset-minded Golden Knights 49-45 Saturday afternoon in steamy conditions at McConnell Family Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • There was no indication of the shootout that was to come after Gannon held a 7-6 lead after one quarter. Slippery Rock scored on its first drive, but missed the extra point. Gannon followed with a touchdown during the next possession to assume the one-point advantage.
  • Action picked up in the second frame. Slippery Rock momentarily grabbed control with consecutive touchdowns to surge ahead 20-7 with 9:44 left in the first half.
  • After the two teams traded touchdowns, Gannon took a little momentum into halftime with a seven-play, 59-yard touchdown drive. Every yard came on the ground, beginning with a 42-yard rush by Jones. Redshirt freshman Jimmy Keefe (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/St. Edward) later scored with a keeper on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.
  • The extra point with eight seconds remaining in the first half sent the Golden Knights into the intermission down 27-20.
  • Gannon took the lead for the first time since the first quarter with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Jones ripped off a 38-yard touchdown run during the first possession of the second half, but a missed extra point left the home squad behind 27-26.
  • The Rock's next possession stalled at the Gannon 20-yard line when junior Anthony Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop O'Connell) had an eight-yard sack on third down and a fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete.
  • Gannon followed with an 80-yard drive to regain its first lead since the first quarter. The first eight plays stayed on the ground, including a 34-yard run by Jones. The only pass attempt came on the final play when Keefe hit redshirt sophomore Nico Law (Monroeville, Pa./Ringgold) with a 24-yard touchdown pass into the corner of the end zone. The two-point conversion failed, but the Golden Knights remained in the lead 32-27.
  • On the ensuing kickoff, Marcus Johnson raced 88 yards down the right sideline to quickly put Slippery Rock back in front 33-32 after another two-point conversion failed.
  • Gannon went right back in front during its next drive that started in the third quarter and ended in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the final frame, Keefe hit Jones on a screen pass that went for 51 yards and the go-ahead score. Another two-point conversion failed to leave the score at 38-33 in favor of the home team.
  • The shootout was on at that point. Slippery Rock converted a third-and-goal from the 16-yard line to forge back ahead 39-38 with 12:02 remaining.
  • A fumble on the ensuing kickoff led to a Slippery Rock field goal that pushed the visitors' lead to 42-38 at the 10:11 mark of the final quarter.
  • Two monster plays during the final three minutes eventually sealed the outcome. Still trailing by four, Jones ripped off a 76-yard run with 2:38 left in regulation to give Gannon another lead at 45-42.
  • The Golden Knight then appeared to have the Rock where they wanted. After a miscommunication on the kickoff, SRU was forced to start at its own eight-yard line. On third-and-two from the Slippery Rock 16-yard line, Tanner Garry connected with Andrew Bridgeforth for an 11-yard catch and a first down.
  • On the next play, Garry hit Johnson for a 73-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to give the Rock a 49-45 advantage with 1:36 to play.
  • Gannon had one last chance and drove to the Rock 29-yard line. The drive was aided by a Keefe-to-Law 28-yard connection on third-and-10. However, Jones was stuffed on a fourth-and-two play on the Rock 29-yard line with 39 seconds left.
  • Slippery Rock then took two knees to run out the clock and fend off the upset.

GAME NOTES
  • Saturday's contest was the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opener for both programs.
  • The game was played in steamy conditions with temperatures in the 80's and sunny skies.
  • Gannon wore dark camouflaged uniforms as part of American Law Enforcement Day at McConnell Family Stadium. The uniforms included patches honoring American Law Enforcement personnel.
  • Prior to the contest, children in the Police Athletic League (PAL) were recognized at midfield along with Law Enforcement personnel. In addition, former Gannon football standouts Justin Caliste and James Chest were honorary team captains for the coin toss. Caliste is currently a member of the New Orleans police force while Chest is a member of the Gannon police force.
  • Slippery Rock finished with advantages in first downs (30-25), passing yards (518-186), total yards (597-585) and time of possession (33:14-26:46).
  • Gannon dominated rushing game by a 399-79 count.
  • Jones remained red hot with a school-record 354 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries. He also hauled in four passes for 95 yards and a score, totaling 449 all-purpose yards.
  • Keefe finished 10-of-19 for 182 yards through the air. He threw two touchdowns with no interceptions.
  • Law was the top aerial target after Jones, hauling in three passes for 61 yards and one touchdown. 
  • Howard led the Gannon defensive unit for the fourth consecutive week with 12 tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss and one pass break-up. 
  • Redshirt junior James Simms (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) was close behind with 11 stops.
  • The two teams combined to convert 16 of 28 third-down chances.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Entering the day as the leading rusher in NCAA Division II, Jones broke the PSAC record for rushing yards in a game. He finished 64 yards shy of the NCAA Division II record.
  • Jones broke the school record for rushing yards (354) and all-purpose yards (449). He tied program records for rushing touchdowns (4) and total touchdowns (5).
  • Gannon's 399 rushing yards as a team represents the fourth-highest single-game total in program history.
  • The Golden Knights' 585 yards of total offense were the 10th-highest single-game total in school history.
  • Jones produced his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and fifth in 15 games as a Golden Knight. He is the second Gannon player in program history to open a season with four consecutive 100-yard games. Brock Jones performed the feat in 2014.
  • Saturday's 1,182 combined yards of total offense by the two teams were the most in a game involving the Golden Knights since September 19, 2015. Gannon (712 yards) and Kutztown (505 yards) combined to produce 1,217 yards of total offense that day as the Golden Knights rolled 66-31.
  • Howard has reached double digits in tackles during all four contests this season.
  • Jones has 878 rushing yards this season, equaling the most by a Golden Knight during the first four games of a season since at least 1998. He only needs 36 more yards to enter Gannon's all-time top-10 in single-season yards despite not being at the season's halfway point yet.
  • Simms reached double digits in tackles for the second time in four contests.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon begins a two-game local rivalry stretch Saturday, September 30 at crosstown rival Mercyhurst.
  • Game time for the Lakers' Homecoming Game at Tullio Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
  • The contest will be televised live locally on The CW.
  • Mercyhurst escaped McConnell Family Stadium last year with a 38-35 overtime victory.
  • Gannon earned a 16-13 win during its last trip to Tullio Field in 2015.
  • Gameday links will include a live video webcast (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/gannon), live Jet Radio 1400 audio (http://www.wergfm.com) and live statistics (http://www.sidearmstats.com/hurst/football).
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Players Mentioned

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
Nico Law

#12 Nico Law

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Psychology
James Simms

#1 James Simms

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts

Players Mentioned

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
Nico Law

#12 Nico Law

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Psychology
RB
James Simms

#1 James Simms

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Communication Arts
LB