Football
Matt Mead Photography LLC
9
Gannon University GAN 0-4 , 0-1
14
Winner Clarion CLAR 3-1 , 1-0
Gannon University GAN
0-4 , 0-1
9
Final
14
Clarion CLAR
3-1 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon University 0 7 2 0 9
CLAR Clarion 0 7 7 0 14

Next Game:

at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

9/29/2018 | 2:00 PM

The CW (Erie) | 22 the Point (Pittsburgh)

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 29 (Sat) / 2:00 PM
at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Game Recap: Football | | David Rung, Director of Athletics Media Relations

Defense Smothering, But Gannon Football Falls At Clarion

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Clarion 14, Gannon 9
  • Records: Gannon (0-4, 0-1 PSAC West), Clarion (3-1, 1-0 PSAC West)
  • Location: Clarion, Pa. — Memorial Stadium
  • The Short Story: In a defensive battle, Gannon's defense was smothering, holding Clarion to just 164 yards of offense. However, the Golden Eagle defense was just as tough, allowing just one touchdown and scoring one of its own to help secure a 14-9 game in both teams' PSAC West opener.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Nico Law (Monroeville, Pa./Ringgold) returned the opening kickoff to midfield, allowing the Knights to get rolling quickly, but an interception by the Golden Eagles flipped the field position. The hosts rumbled down to the Gannon 36, but were forced to punt. That was the last time outside of three plays near the 50 that Clarion would snap the ball in Gannon territory in the first half.
  • After a scoreless first quarter that saw neither offense able to sustain a drive, Gannon began marching. A pair of first downs on completions by Jason Dambach (Fombell, Pa./Riverside) pushed the ball into Clarion territory, and he hit Alex Hutchings (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) for a 17-yard touchdown strike two minutes into the second quarter to go up 7-0.
  • The Golden Knight defense answered with a stop on the next drive, but the Eagles wouldn't be outdone, as they managed to force a fumble on a sack two plays into the next possession and pounce on the ball in the end zone to draw even with 11:14 left until the break.
  • Both teams managed to move the ball for the final minutes of the second quarter, but neither defense would break, as the half ended with four punts, a missed field goal and a kneel down.
  • Clarion returned the second-half kick to the 47, and moved into Gannon's side of the field, but the Golden Knights held on both third and fourth down at their own 32 to force a turnover on downs.
  • That sequence led to the two sides trading field position, and set Gannon up to take the lead once again late in the third quarter, as the hosts started at their own 14 after a punt, fumbled the ball and had to fall on the ball for a safety to make it 9-7 with 6:10 on the clock.
  • The Knights got the free kick back in good position, and moved to the Clarion 34 before being forced to punt, and the Eagles took advantage, putting together the longest drive of the day to take a 14-9 lead 16 seconds left in the period.
  • With one final chance remaining, Gannon got as close as the Clarion 17 with under a minute to play, but a pass interference flag pushed them back, and a sack on fourth down ended the threat.
     
GAME NOTES
  • The third-quarter safety by the Golden Knights was their first since recording one in a 44-6 win over Cheyney on Sept. 12, 2015.
  • Gannon held Clarion to just 10 yards rushing on 32 attempts, the best performance against the run in a game by the Knight defense since holding Seton Hill to minus-19 in 2016.
  • Jason Dambach (Fombell, Pa./Riverside) took over for starting quarterback Jimmy Keefe (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/St. Edward) on the second possession of the game, and proceeded to throw for a career-high 270 yards.
  • The Gannon defense recorded 11 tackles for loss, the second time this season the Golden Knights recorded double digits in that category.
 
UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues its road swing with a trip to Edinboro Sept. 29, with kickoff scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Sox Harrison Stadium.
  • The contest against the Fighting Scots will be broadcast live on the SportsFever TV network and ESPN3.
  • Live stats, video and radio call will be available, and Molly Brannigan's will be showing the stream live.
  • Edinboro is one of four undefeated PSAC teams after three weeks of play, with lopsided wins against Lake Erie College and East Stroudsburg sandwiching a tight 21-16 win at Bloomsburg.
  • Gannon trails in the all-time series 4-8, although the Golden Knights are 4-1 in the last five meetings.
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Players Mentioned

Jason Dambach

#13 Jason Dambach

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
Alex Hutchings

#15 Alex Hutchings

TE
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
Business
Jimmy Keefe

#6 Jimmy Keefe

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Middle Level Education and Special Education
Nico Law

#12 Nico Law

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Psychology

Players Mentioned

Jason Dambach

#13 Jason Dambach

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
QB
Alex Hutchings

#15 Alex Hutchings

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
Business
TE
Jimmy Keefe

#6 Jimmy Keefe

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Middle Level Education and Special Education
QB
Nico Law

#12 Nico Law

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Psychology
WR