Jacob Petit, Russell Cooper
54
Winner California (Pa.) CALU 5-2 , 3-1
14
Gannon GAN 2-5 , 1-3
Winner
California (Pa.) CALU
5-2 , 3-1
54
Final
14
Gannon GAN
2-5 , 1-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CALU California (Pa.) 13 13 14 14 54
GAN Gannon 7 0 7 0 14

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

Cal Defense Frustrates Gannon To Pick Up PSAC West Win

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: California (Pa.) 54, Gannon 24
  • Records: Gannon (2-5, 1-3 PSAC West) | California (5-2, 3-1 PSAC West)
  • Location: McConnell Family Stadium — Erie, Pa.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
KEY SEQUENCE
  • Gannon moved down the field quickly to take the first lead of the game, and its defense stood up after having to face a short field, but California slowly chipped away at the hosts, kicking a short field goal on the first play of the second quarter. The Vulcans took control when they put together back-to-back scoring drives around a three-and-out from their defense to build a 26-7 lead with less than three minutes left in the first half.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • A 40-yard dart down the right sideline from Jimmy Keefe (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/St. Edward) to Tyger Winston (New York City, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) got the Gannon offense moving on the game's first drive. On the next play, Keefe hit a wide-open Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) for the final 13 yards and a 7-0 lead after just four plays.
  • Cal answered with a nice kickoff return, and methodically chipped away to cover 58 yards and tie it up with 10:32 still left in the opening quarter. An interception on Gannon's next drive put the defense in a tough spot, but the Knights stepped up to get the stop on 3rd and 4 and force the three-and-out.
  • Chunk plays from the Vulcan offense after a Gannon punt pushed them down the field, and a four-yard toss from Noah Mitchell to Tyson Hill bumped the guests ahead 13-7. The defense held after facing a 1st and goal, with a sack from Malik Bridgeman (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga College HS) and Javon Hubbard (Riviera Beach, Fla./William T. Dwyer) forcing a short 29-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.
  • With the Gannon offense unable to get drives rolling, California built up their lead. A pair of passes covered 55 yards for the Vulcans and overcame a tackle for loss by Jacob Petit (Green, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) and Davey Cooper (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) and made it 23-7. Seven minutes later, Cal knocked through another 29-yard field goal and pushed the lead out to 19.
  • Gannon got a strong start to the second half, as Petit started the frame off with a sack, leading to solid field position for the Knights. Gannon got into Cal territory with solid runs from Zevin Holley (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) and Jason Dambach (Fombell, Pa./Riverside), but a fumble cut the drive short, and the Vulcans would go on to score with the short field.
  • The Golden Knights answered in a big way on the next play, as Dambach hit Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) on a slant-and-go to cover 69 yards down to the Cal 14. Dambach took a keeper four yards to make it 1st and goal, and then snuck through for the final yard to get the Knights back on the board and make it 33-14.
  • With Gannon back to within 19 points, the Vulcans ripped off three touchdowns over a span of just under seven minutes to maintain control, with the final 10 minutes covered by four drives to run out the clock.
     
GAME NOTES
  • Jay Bullock (Garfield Heights, Ohio/University School) brought pressure off the edge, a defensive lineman got a deflection, and Aaron Webb (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) hauled in the interception with 45 seconds left before the half, as Gannon ran its streak to eight straight games with a forced turnover, including all seven games this season.
  • Freeman's 69-yard reception in the third quarter was Gannon's second-longest play from scrimmage this season, and the longest non-scoring play. The freshman's yardage total has gone up in each of his four games played this season.
  • Joey Cox (Costa Mesa, Calif./Calvary Chapel), who pulled in five catches for 32 yards, moved into a tie for 10th place in Gannon's history with 1,026 career receiving yards.
  • For the second consecutive week, safety Tre McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) has been heavily involved on the defensive side of the ball. He once again led the Golden Knights in tackles, this time posting 11 stops.
  • Petit has continued his rise on the defensive line. The freshman recorded season-highs with five total tackles, two solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss. In the past three games, he has put up 5.0 TFL and 2.5 sacks.
 
UP NEXT
  • Gannon begins a stretch of three of its final four games on the road next week at Indiana (Pa.).
  • Live video, live stats and live audio will be available for the noon kickoff at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • The No. 22 Crimson Hawks sit at 6-1 and 3-1 in PSAC West play after a 59-21 victory at home against Clarion Saturday.
  • IUP holds a 8-3 lead in the all-time series, earning a 43-34 victory last season in a game filled with weather delays at McConnell Family Stadium.
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