Marc Jones
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Junior Marc Jones became the first Golden Knight to open the season with five straight 100-yard rushing games.
22
Gannon University GAN 1-4 , 0-2
24
Winner Mercyhurst MER 3-2 , 2-0
Gannon University GAN
1-4 , 0-2
22
Final
24
Mercyhurst MER
3-2 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon University 7 3 6 6 22
MER Mercyhurst 7 14 0 3 24

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Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

10/7/2017 | 12:00 PM

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Oct. 07 (Sat) / 12:00 PM
 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

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

Gannon Football Team Drops Another Close Decision; Falls By Two in Rivalry Game (Video)



THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: at Mercyhurst 24, Gannon 22
  • Records: Gannon (1-4, 0-2 PSAC West), Mercyhurst (3-2, 2-0 PSAC West)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Tullio Field
  • The Short Story: A pair of failed two-point conversions and a four-and-out on Gannon's final drive resulted in a 24-22 loss for the Golden Knights Saturday afternoon in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Mercyhurst's Tullio Field.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Mercyhurst took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards on six plays for an early 7-0 lead 2:37 into the contest.
  • Gannon matched the score with redshirt senior Tyler Palka (Temperance, Mich./Saline)'s three-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Three of the five plays on the drive went for double-digit yards, highlighted by redshirt freshman Jimmy Keefe (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/St. Edward)'s 30-yard pass to redshirt freshman Jordan Smith (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillian).
  • The visitors grabbed what eventually proved to be its only lead of the afternoon early in the second quarter. A 10-play drive started in the first quarter and ended with a 23-yard field goal by senior Karch Holland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) 48 seconds into the second frame.
  • Mercyhurst regained the lead for good late in the first half. After a missed 44-yard field goal, the Lakers went 74 yards on only three plays. The possession started with a 33-yard pass and concluded with a 42-yard touchdown completion. A blocked extra point left the Mercyhurst lead at 13-10 with 3:46 left in the first half.
  • A key turn of events took place in the waning minutes of the second quarter. Junior Jarod Morrison (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton)'s punt with 1:09 showing on the clock touched a Mercyhurst player and was recovered by the Golden Knights at the Lakers' 39-yard line.
  • Gannon immediately went deep on the next play, but Mercyhurst intercepted the pass and return the ball 38 yards. A personal foul was then tacked on to the play and put the Lakers at the Gannon 45-yard line.
  • The home squad then completed a 43-yard pass on the next play and scored two plays later. A two-point conversion sent the Lakers into halftime with a 21-10 advantage.
  • Gannon scored the only points of the third quarter when junior Marc Jones (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) powered his way into the end zone from three yards out with 2:51 left in the period. It capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive that included seven rushes. A two-point conversion failed, leaving the deficit at 21-16.
  • Mercyhurst immediately responded with a 22-yard field goal during its next drive to grab a 24-16 edge with 12:06 to play.
  • Gannon counterpunched with a 10-play, 88-yard drive that found pay dirt. Big plays included a 27-yard pass from Keefe to redshirt sophomore Nico Law (Monroeville, Pa./Ringgold) and 45-yard jaunt by Jones to the Mercyhurst four-yard line. Three plays later, Keefe found redshirt sophomore Dontae Owens (Reading, Pa./Reading) for a 10-yard touchdown connection on third-and-goal. However, the two-point conversion failed again to leave the Gannon behind 24-22 midway through the final quarter.
  • Mercyhurst ate 6:20 off the clock with its next possession, but Gannon regained possession after stuffing a third-and-one quarterback sneak and forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down.
  • Starting the decisive possession at its 24-yard line, Gannon was unable to move the ball and went four-and-out.
  • Mercyhurst then ran out the final 66 seconds to remain in control of the Niagara Cup.

GAME NOTES
  • The two rivals were once again play for the Niagara Cup, a trophy award to the winning team each season.
  • Played in front of a packed house, Saturday's rivalry game was seen live nationally on ESPN3 and the ESPN College Extra. It was shown live locally following a 30-minute pre-game show on The CW. The broadcast was also available in selected markets, including Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. 
  • Gannon finished with advantages in first downs (20-19), rushing yards (205-82) and total yards (425-387).
  • Mercyhurst countered with the better statistics in passing yards (305-220) and time of possession (31:32-28:28).
  • Jones recorded his usual 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 154 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries. He added three receptions for 32 yards.
  • Keefe went 17-of-33 for 220 yards and one touchdown through the air.
  • Eight different Golden Knights caught a pass, led by Owens' five receptions for 49 yards and a score. 
  • Redshirt junior Geremy Paige (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) led the Gannon defensive unit with nine tackles and a half-sack. 
  • Redshirt junior Martell Davis (Columbus, Ohio/Licking Heights) followed with seven stops and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
  • Gannon finished 8-of-14 on third-down conversions and scored all four times instead the red zone.
  • In contrast, Mercyhurst was 3-of-10 on third down and 2-of-4 inside the red zone.
  • Both teams committed only one turnover.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Entering the day as the leading rusher in NCAA Division I and II, Jones produced his fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and sixth in 16 games as a Golden Knight. He became the first Gannon player in program history to open a season with five consecutive 100-yard games.
  • Gannon tied a season-high with three sacks.
  • Jones became the sixth Golden Knight in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. His 1,032 yards through only five games represent the fifth-highest single-season total in program history.
  • Gannon and Mercyhurst had their match-up decide by a single score for the fourth consecutive year and three points or less for the third straight season.
  • Holland grabbed sole possession of second place all-time at Gannon with his 28th career field goal during the second quarter. It snapped a tie with Brendan McNicholas (2003-06).
  • Jones moved his all-purpose total to 1,197 yards which is the ninth-highest mark in school history.
  • Redshirt junior James Simms (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) recorded his first sack in a Gannon uniform during the first quarter.
  • Redshirt sophomore Andrew Berger (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) produced a sack for the third consecutive game.
  • Three of Gannon's four losses this season have come by one score, including back-to-back setbacks by four points or less.
  • The Golden Knights lost at Tullio Field for the first time since 2009.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues its stretch of local rivalry games Saturday, October 7 against Edinboro at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Game time is slated for 12 noon.
  • It will be Homecoming Weekend for the Golden Knights.
  • Gannon had won three consecutive games against Edinboro until the Fighting Scots posted a 41-17 victory last season at Sox Harrison Stadium.
  • Outlets to follow the game include a live broadcast on the Gannon Sports Network (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/gannon), live gameday statistics (http://www.sidearmstats.com/gannon/football) and live gameday audio (http://www.wergfm.com).
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Players Mentioned

Andrew Berger

#93 Andrew Berger

DE
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
Martell Davis

#20 Martell Davis

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Sport Management and Entrepreneurship
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

K
5' 9"
Senior
Biology
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
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

P
6' 3"
Junior
Education
Geremy Paige

#9 Geremy Paige

LB
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Sport Management and Marketing/Entrepreneurship
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
Jordan Smith

#81 Jordan Smith

TE
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Biomedical Engineering

Players Mentioned

Andrew Berger

#93 Andrew Berger

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Criminal Justice
DE
Martell Davis

#20 Martell Davis

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Sport Management and Entrepreneurship
DB
Karch Holland

#46 Karch Holland

5' 9"
Senior
Biology
K
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
Jarod Morrison

#39 Jarod Morrison

6' 3"
Junior
Education
P
Geremy Paige

#9 Geremy Paige

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Sport Management and Marketing/Entrepreneurship
LB
Tyler Palka

#2 Tyler Palka

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Secondary Education
QB
Jordan Smith

#81 Jordan Smith

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Biomedical Engineering
TE