blanks
Melvin Blanks ran for a career-high 195 yards and a touchdown.
14
Winner Gannon GU 3-4 , 2-2
10
Seton Hill SHU 3-4 , 1-3
Winner
Gannon GU
3-4 , 2-2
14
Final
10
Seton Hill SHU
3-4 , 1-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GU Gannon 0 7 7 0 14
SHU Seton Hill 0 0 10 0 10

Game Recap: Football | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Relies on Punishing Ground Game, Timely Defense for 14-10 Win at Seton Hill

GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Gannon football team had plenty of chances to fold on Saturday while playing at Seton Hill. Instead, the defense came up with big stop after big stop and the offense used a punishing ground to spoil the Griffins' Homecoming. Gannon prevailed by a 14-10 margin at Offutt Field to improve to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in PSAC West action. Seton Hill is also 3-4 and now 1-3 in conference action.

The win was the second on the road for Gannon this season, the most since 2017 when Gannon won three times on the road.

Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) set career highs for yards rushing (195) and carries (25) while scoring the game-winning touchdown. Understudy Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) added 82 yards on 16 carries. The duo paced a ground game that finished with 277 yards on 49 rushes against a Seton Hill defense that came in ranked second in the PSAC in rushing defense, allowing just 78.8 ypg.

The 227 yards are the most for Gannon since a 453-yard effort against Lock Haven in the final game of the 2018 season, and the most allowed by Seton Hill this year. Blanks also became the first back to reach 100 yards against the Griffins' defense. He came into the game as the third-leading rusher in the PSAC and now has three 100-yard rushing games this season and four for his career.

The defense, meanwhile stepped up and forced three turnovers while limiting Seton Hill to 314 total yards. They would stop the Griffins on two occasions inside the five yard line, once at the three and later at the one.        

Gannon would open the scoring early in the second quarter after holding the Griffins on a 4th-and-2 play at the GU 4. Joe Loiseau and Cam Jenkins combined to stop Logan Wiland a yards shy of the first down.

The Golden Knights proceeded to put together a 10-play, 97-yard drive that featured a big 10-yard run by Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) on a 3rd-and-2 play from the GU 11. Blanks followed with three runs for 31 yards and a play later Wright ran for 11 yards. After a Seton Hill penalty moved the ball to the SHU 36, Curtis threw his 15th touchdown pass of the season and the team-leading fifth to Alex Whittaker (Medina, Ohio/Medina). The redshirt junior tight end caught a short pass over the middle, eluded a tackler and went into the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown reception. Eric Scarpino's (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) extra point made it 7-0 with 13:08 remaining in the half.

The score would remain that way at halftime, although the Golden Knights nearly scored on their next possession following an SHU turnover. Keith Thompson's (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) big hit on quarterback Jake McCormick forced a fumble, with Jay Bullock (Garfield Heights, Ohio/University School) recovering at the GU 30. With Wright catching a 25-yard pass and carrying the ball four times for 22 yards, Gannon would reach the SHU 8. The drive would stall, and Scarpino's 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Seton Hill would open the third quarter with a long drive that covered 11 plays and 74 yards. Unfortunately, the Griffins needed 75 yards for a touchdown. With a 1st-and-goal from the five, Wiland would carry the ball four straight times. A week earlier he had run for three touchdowns against Mercyhurst. Rhakim Williams (Worcester, Mass./Doherty Memorial) stopped him for no gain on 3rd-and-goal from the on3, and Loiseau led the interior line that stuffed Wiland on fourth down.

The Griffins would finally score moments later. After Curtis went for no gain on first down, the redshirt sophomore combined with what appeared to be a 30-yard gain to Whittaker. However, Gannon was called for holding in the end zone resulting in a safety and a 7-2 lead with 9:10 left in the third quarter.

Seton Hill took over following the ensuing free kick at the SHU 39 and proceed to take the lead on a nine-play, 61-yard drive.  The Griffins would twice convert on 3rd-and-9, the second a 12-yard touchdown pass from McCormick to Taro Gaither. McCormick then passed to John Makell IV for the two-point conversion and a 10-7 lead with 4:54 left in the quarter.

Gannon responded with a bruising drive that covered 75 yards on 11 plays, all on the ground. Blanks carried five straight times for 36 yards, with a Seton Hill penalty also in the series as Gannon reached the SHU 29. Wright spelled Blanks and went for eight yards. Blanks returned and netted ten yards on two rushes to the SHU 6. Wright picked up three yards, then Blanks returned to cap the drive. The junior picked up two yards to the one, and on 3rd-and-goal squeezed into the end zone for his sixth touchdown of the season on the ground an=d a 14-10 lead with 19 seconds left in the third stanza.

Seton Hill's ensuing possession would reach the GU 43 before the Griffins were forced to punt. Gannon would use up close to five minutes on its next possession, reaching the SHU 32 before a holding penalty ultimately halted the drive.

The Gannon would defense would allow one first down before forcing a punt, and Seton Hill's last possession ended with an interception by Kwan Mickens at the GU 50. Just over two minutes remained when Gannon took over following the pickoff. Blanks again rose to the occasion with Seton Hill looking to get the ball back. He broke off a 44-yard run on 3rd-and-5 from the SHU 45, just being tripped up at the one. Three kneel downs ran out the clock.

Gannon finished with 386 yards against a Seton Hill defense that came in ranked third in the PSAC in total defense at 258.5 ypg. Gannon held the Griffins to 314 total yards. Curtis would complete 7-of-21 passes for 109 yards, but he directed an offense that did not commit a turnover. Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Euclid, Ohio/St.. Edward) ended with 3 catches for 38 yards.

Seton Hill workhorse Wiland ran 31 times for 104 yards after carrying the ball 38 times last week at Mercyhurst. The second-leading rusher in the PSAC was unable to break a big run. McCormick completed 17-of-33 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown and 2 INTs. He added 35 yards rushing. Gaither was his favorite target with 5 catches for 50 yards.

Cameron Jenkins (Ladera Ranch, Calif./Orange Lutheran) and Mickens led the Gannon defense with 8 tackles apiece, with Mickens recording his second interception of the year. Trevaughn McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) added 7 tackles along with his second career interception.

Gannon returns home for the next two weeks, beginning with a Saturday, October 23 game against local rival Edinboro. The Fighting Scots are 1-5 after losing 27-20 to Mercyhurst in overtime earlier today. Kickoff at McConnell Family Stadium is set for 12 noon.       
 
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