Jeremiah Brennin
Joe Mattis
7
Gannon GAN 2-7 , 1-5
28
Winner Mercyhurst MER 4-5 , 2-4
Gannon GAN
2-7 , 1-5
7
Final
28
Mercyhurst MER
4-5 , 2-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon 0 0 7 0 7
MER Mercyhurst 0 0 14 14 28

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

Mercyhurst Clips Golden Knights With Second-Half Surge

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Mercyhurst 28, Gannon 7
  • Records: Gannon (2-7, 1-5 PSAC West) | Mercyhurst (4-5, 2-4 PSAC West)
  • Location: Saxon Stadium — Erie, Pa.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
KEY SEQUENCE
  • After a defense-dominated first half, Gannon used nice field position to start a drive that ended in a 35-yard touchdown toss from Rashad McKee (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) to Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) to tie things up at 7-7 with four minutes to go in the third quarter. The Lakers answered right away though, getting three big plays to start their next drive, and punched it in to take the lead back before the end of the quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Both teams went on their first two drives of the game without picking up a first down, combining for a total of just four yards as the defenses got off to an impressive start. McKee garnered the first first down of the game on a 4-yard scramble, but that drive stalled.
  • For the second consecutive week, the Gannon special teams forced a turnover, once again pouncing on a muffed punt. The turnover gave the Golden Knight offense new life at the Mercyhurst 36-yard line, and a McKee scramble took the ball to the 22, but two short runs and a pair of incompletions turned the ball over on downs near the end of the first quarter.
  • The Lakers again challenged early in the second quarter, getting down to the Gannon 8 before a false start pushed them back to 1st and goal from the 13. From there, Dorian Jones (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) recorded a tackle for a loss before Jayden Ashby (Kensington, Md./The Avalon School) picked off a ball in the end zone to keep it scoreless.
  • The Golden Knights embarked on their longest drive of the game after the touchback, chipping away to reach Mercyhurst territory after a 15-yard pitch-and-catch between McKee and Stanley. A stop on 4th and 2 flipped the ball to the Lakers, who went on their own longest drive.
  • That possession got down to a first-and-goal at the Gannon 3 before an impressive stand by the Knights. Joshua Jackson (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) and Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) combined to stuff running back Garrett Owens for a gain of just one, then Jones shot from his safety position for a big stop at the 1 after a short pass, allowing the clock to expire and send it to the half at 0-0.
  • Three-and-outs from each offense started the second half, but Mercyhurst struck quickly on its second chance, completing an 80-yard bomb for the first score of the game just four minutes into the third quarter. Gannon managed to get back to its stingy ways on the next drive, getting a sack from Malik Bridgeman (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga College HS) and Nicholas White (Randallstown, Md./Milford Mill Academy) to help force a punt.
  • McKee found a rhythm when the Knights got the ball back, hitting Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) for 14 yards, and putting up a nice ball to Freeman on the next play that helped draw a pass interference flag. When Gannon faced yet another fourth down, the true freshman looked deep, finding Stanley sitting in a hole in the zone for 35 yards and the tying touchdown.
  • Hurst would get back in front before the end of the third quarter though, and its first drive of the fourth would also result in a touchdown to push the lead out to 21-7 as the Lakers pulled away.
     
GAME NOTES
  • The Gannon punt team again extended the streak to 10 consecutive games that Gannon has forced at least one turnover out of their opponent, as Tre McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) hopped on the muffed punt late in the first quarter.
  • The defense then added to the tally in the second quarter with Ashby's interception, the freshman's fourth of the season. The Knights, which entered the game ninth in the nation in interceptions, have now picked off 14 passes.
  • McKee, who saw his first career game action Saturday, had a solid debut, throwing for 115 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, and adding 21 rushing yards on nine carries after eliminating sacks.
  • McKee's favorite target was classmate Stanley, who put up one of the best games of his young career with four catches for 63 yards and his third touchdown in four games.
  • Tre McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) led the Gannon defense in tackles for the fourth straight game, recording seven stops to match Jeremiah Brennin (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd) for the most on the team.
  • White, Thompson and Tyler Tiggs (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) each made six tackles, with Tiggs adding a solo tackle for loss and White 1.5 TFL.
  • The Golden Knights recorded a season-high four sacks as they got continual pressure on the quarterback. Jeremy Mensah (Laurel, Md./Riverdale Baptist) finished with two, while Bridgeman tallied 1.5.
 
UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns home for Senior Day next Saturday, hosting No. 10 Slippery Rock.
  • Live video, live stats and live audio will be available for the noon kickoff at Saxon Stadium.
  • The Rock sit at 9-0, and 6-0 in PSAC West play after a 31-28 on their own Senior Day against California (Pa.) Saturday to earn a spot in the PSAC Championship for the second straight season.
  • SRU holds an 8-6 lead in the all-time series after picking up a 48-7 win at home last season.
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