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Erik Riess

Football Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Faces Third Ranked Opponent as 15th-Ranked Cal U Visits McConnell Family Stadium

#15/#25 CAL U VULCANS (5-0, 2-0 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (2-3, 1-1 PSAC West)
DATE:  Saturday, October 9, 2021
KICKOFF: 12:00 noon
STADIUM:  McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.

LIVE COVERAGE:  Live Video l Live Stats l Live Audio
COMPLETE GAME NOTES : Click Here

RADIO:  90.5 WERG FM – Listen to all the exciting action of Gannon football with Jack Quinn providing the play-by-play.
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon plays its third nationally-ranked team in the first six weeks of the season on Saturday as Cal U visits McConnell Family Stadium. The Vulcans climbed ten spots to 15th in the latest AFCA Division II Top 25 after being tied with Indiana(Pa.) for 25th place a week ago. In addition, Cal is 25th in the D2Football.com Top 25. The Golden Knights have already played then 13th-ranked Shepherd and a week ago suffered a narrow 28-23 loss at 25th-ranked IUP. Gannon is 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights opened the season with a 28-21 overtime win at Northwood, followed by a 56-26 loss to 13th-ranked Shepherd in their home opener. After dropping a last-second 31-27 heartbreaker at Bloomsburg, Gannon celebrated Homecoming with a 56-21 triumph over Clarion. Cal U enters with the stingiest defense in the country along with a high-powered passing attack. The Vulcans are 5-0 and 2-0 in conference play. They have shut out three opponents while allowing just 26 points on the season. Cal ranks first in Division II in scoring defense (5.2 ppg.), total defense (135.2 ypg.), and passing defense (87.0 ypg.), along with fourth in rushing defense (48.2 ypg.). Cal posted a 37-0 win over Mercyhurst last Saturday.
 
SERIES RECORD
Cal leads 10-2
 
LAST MEETING
2019 – Cal 54, at Gannon 14
Noah Mitchell paced the Vulcans to the win, throwing four touchdown passes, including three to Tyson Hill. The duo connected on scoring passes of 4, 23, and 3 yards, with Mitchell also throwing an 8-yard TD pass to nelson Brown. Jimmy Keefe (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) opened the scoring with a 13-yard TD pass to Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), and Jason Dambach accounted for Gannon's other score on a one-yard run. Keefe and Dambach split time at quarterback, with Keefe throwing for 94 yards and Dambach 92. Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries. Mitchell completed 20-of-35 passes for 295 yards, with Hill hauling in 10 passes for 167 yards.
 
LAST WEEK
at #25 IUP 28, Gannon 23
After falling behind 14-0 less than halfway through the first quarter, the Golden Knights battled the 25th-ranked Crimson Hawks on even terms and nearly came from behind for the win. Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) caught a 6-yard TD pass from Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) midway through the second quarter to make it 14-7 at the half. Gannon still trailed 21-10 after three quarters following an IUP touchdown and Eric Scarpino's (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) 21-yard field goal. Curtis guided the Golden Knights on an 11-play, 91-yard drive, hooking up with Blanks for the second time, this one from 31 yards, as Gannon closed to 21-16. An IUP score made it 28-16 with 5:37 remaining, but GU needed just 96 seconds to go 64 yards and pull to with five points at 28-23. Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) Jr. did the honors on a one-yard run. Gannon would force an IUP punt, but the Golden Knights would turn the ball over on downs with two minutes remaining. Curtis enjoyed another strong day behind center, completing 18-of-35 passes for 263 yards with 2 TDs. Blanks caught both of those, finishing with 4 catches for 51 yards and rushing for 63 yards on 10 carries. Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Euclid, Ohio/St.. Edward) caught 3 passes for 101 yards.
 
at #25 Cal 37, Mercyhurst 0
Cal improved to 5-0 with its third shutout of the season, holding Mercyhurst to just 106 total yards. The defense intercepted a pair of passes and recorded 5 sacks. Both pickoffs were returned for touchdowns in a span of 63 seconds late in the second quarter, building Cal's lead to 24-0 at the half. The Vulcans finished with 359 yards, most of that through the air as Noah Mitchell completed 24-of-35 passes for 304 yards with 3 TDs and an INT. Tyson Hill caught 4 passes for 125 yards, with Drew Lockhart adding 92 yards and a TD on 5 catches.   
 
HEAD COACHES
Erik Raeburn (Mount Union '94) enters his second season as Gannon's head coach after serving as the offensive coordinator in 2019. He took over a Gannon squad which had posted a 2-9 record in 2019. The Golden Knights were 1-3 during the spring. Raeburn has a 146-68 career record and is in his 21st season as a head coach. He joined the Gannon staff as offensive coordinator in 2019 after serving as the head coach at Savannah State for three seasons from 2016 to 2018. From 2008-15, Raeburn enjoyed great success at Wabash. He led the Little Giants to a 78-13 record in eight seasons, with five NCAA Division II Playoffs appearances and three North Coast Athletic Conference titles. Prior to that he served as the head coach at Coe College from 2000-07, where he was 57-26 in eight seasons. That included three conference championships and two trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Mount Union, in 1994.  
 
Gary Dunn (Cal U '95) is in his sixth season as the head coach at his alma mater. He owns a record of 39-12, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Playoffs. His 34 wins entering the 2021 campaign are the most ever by a Cal coach after four seasons. Dunn was selected the AFCA Region 1Coach of the Year in 2016 after leading Cal to an 11-1 record and a berth in the NCAA Playoffs. The Vulcans returned to postseason action in 2017, finishing with a 9-3 ledger. Dunn previously spent six seasons as the offensive coordinator at Duquesne and 13-years at Morehead State.       
 
PSAC PRESEASON POLL
Gannon was picked to finish seventh in the PSAC Western Division in the coaches' preseason poll. The Golden Knights finished with a 2-9 record in 2019, and was 1-3 this past spring. Cal was picked to finish behind Slippery Rock and IUP in the PSAC West.

PSAC RANKINGS
 
     Gannon         Cal
Scoring    32.0 (6)      33.8 (5)
Scoring Defense    31.4 (13)      5.2 (1)
Total Offense    402.0 (4)    396.8 (5)
Total Defense    432.0 (14)    135.2 (1)
Rushing Offense    153.6 (4)    83.0 (13)
Rushing Defense    170.6 (15)    48.2 (1)
Passing Offense     248.4 (5)    313.8 (3)
Passing Defense    261.4 (13)     87.0 (1)
() PSAC rank
 
 
NOTHING EASY ABOUT GANNON SCHEDULE
Cal represents the third nationally-ranked team in Gannon's first six games. It began with a meeting the second week of the season against a Shepherd team that was ranked 13th at the time. A week ago, the Golden Knights played at 25th-ranked Indiana(Pa.). Now they host the Vulcans, who come in ranked 15th in the AFCA Top 25 and 25th in the D2Football.com rankings.  And on the horizon is a date with Slippery Rock. SRU has climbed to sixth in the latest AFCA Top 25.  

BLANKS, CURTIS COMBINE FOR 2 TDs AT IUP
In 16 previous career games, running back Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) caught 4 TD passes. Last Saturday at IUP, the junior hauled in a pair of scoring passes. He scored Gannon's first touchdown on a six-yard pass from Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.). He added a 31-yard TD reception early in the fourth quarter.
 
CURTIS STREAK WITHOUT A PICK CONTINUES
Quarterback Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) now owns a streak of 135 passes without an interception. He last threw a pick late in the first half in the season opener at Northwood. The transfer from Bryant threw for 263 yards and 2 TDs at IUP. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in each of his first five games, and has thrown two-or-more TD passes in all five games. He has 14 TDs and 2 INTs, ranking third in the PSAC in TD passes.   
 
DEFENSE POSTS BEND-BUT-DON'T-BREAK EFFORT AT IUP
After a tough start Gannon's defense limited IUP to just two scores over the final three-plus quarters. The Crimson Hawks drove into Gannon territory on five occasions without coming up with any points. Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont), a freshman linebacker, led the way with a career-high 14 tackles. Senior defensive back Trevaughn McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS), making his first start after missing the first three games with an injury, added 10 tackles.
 
YOUTHFUL O-LINE HOLDING UP JUST FINE
A young offensive line with a true freshman and two redshirt freshmen has allowed just six sacks over the first five games. IUP was unable to get to Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) a week ago. The elder statesman of the line is right guard Montana Nietert (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora), a redshirt sophomore who has started 13 games in his career. The unit faces a huge challenge on Saturday. Cal's defense ranks eighth in Division II in sacks with 4.0 per game. Gannon's offense ranks 28th in sacks allowed with 1.2 per game.  
 
TRIO OF RECEIVERS REACH THE CENTURY MARK
Gannon has had three different receivers reach 100 yards receiving in a game this season. It began with Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) catching 7 passes for 100 yards in the season opener at Northwood. Two weeks later at Bloomsburg, Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) had 5 receptions for 111 yards. Last week, Damerisse Freeman burned IUP for 101 yards on 3 catches.

 GOLDEN KNIGHTS REALLY CELEBRATE HOMECOMING
A large Homecoming crowd barely had a chance to settle in their seats as Gannon jumped to a big lead against Clarion. The Golden Knights scored on their first four possessions, starting with a 10-play, 75-yard drive to open the game. Not even five minutes had elapsed and Gannon held a 7-0 lead on the first of four Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) touchdown passes. The lead grew to 21-0 after one quarter, and when Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) returned a fumble 99 yards for a score on the first play of the second quarter, it was 28-0. Gannon led 42-14 at the half.
 
GANNON LIGHTS UP SCOREBOARD VS. CLARION
Gannon's 56-21 win over Clarion represented the most points by the Golden Knights since a 77-31 win over Seton Hill in 2017.
 
THOMPSON NAMED PSAC WEST DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AFTER RECORD FUMBLE RETURN
Junior linebacker Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) was selected the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week after pacing a strong defensive effort vs. Clarion. He would even get in on the scoring. With Clarion knocking on the door at the GU 1, Thompson picked up a fumble caused by Malachi Woody (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy) and raced 99 yards down the sideline in front of the Gannon bench for his first career touchdown. He would end the day with 4 tackles while pacing a Gannon defense that held Clarion to 335 total yards and five turnovers. Thompson was also named to the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll. He hails from Woodbridge, Va.
 
CURTIS ACCOUNTS FOR FIVE TDs VERSUS CLARION
Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) accounted for five touchdowns in the 56-21 win over Clarion. He would throw four touchdown passes, covering 7, 4, 19, and 35 yards, along with scoring on a one-yard run. The transfer from Ohio State and Bryant completed 17-of-31 passes for 241 yards.  It marked the third time this season he has thrown for three-or-more TDs. He completed 21 of 36 passes for 252 yards with 3 TDs against Shepherd. In his first start as a Golden Knight, he threw for 249 yards and three scores at Northwood.
 
EFFICIENCY MATTERS
One of the keys to Gannon's win over Clarion was the ability to convert on third down while getting off the field on defense. The Gannon offense converted 9-of-15 third down plays, while the defense held Clarion to just 5-of-18.
 
CLARION GAME FEATURES BIG PLAYS, TURNOVERS
Gannon was able to take advantage of five turnovers against Clarion, scoring three touchdowns following those miscues. The Golden Eagles lost three fumbles and threw a pair of interceptions. The pickoffs were the first career INTs for Sir Giles (St. Cloud, Fla./Tohopekaliga) and Chris Farnsworth (Bristol, Pa./Milton Hershey). The big-play offense featured nine plays of 20-or-more yards, including six passes, along with four more plays of 10-or-more yards.
 
GOLDEN KNIGHTS GET OFFENSIVE AT BLOOMSBURG
Gannon finished with 462 total yards at Bloomsburg. That's the highest total since a 557-yard effort vs. Clarion on September 28, 2019. The balanced attack featured 247 yards rushing, the most since a 261-yard effort against Lock Haven in the final game of 2019, and 215 yards passing.

BLANKS, WRIGHT FORM ONE-TWO PUNCH AT RUNNING BACK
Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and Antoinio Wright are pacing a Gannon ground game that ranks fourth in the PSAC, averaging 153.6 ypg. Blanks, a junior, ranks second in the PSAC with 91.0 ypg. He has 455 yards on 67 carries, an impressive 6.8 yard average, with 4 TDs. Blanks ran for a career-high 169 yards on 20 carries at Bloomsburg. The 169 yards are the most by a Gannon rusher since Marcus Jones ran for 410 yards against Lock Haven in the final game of the 2018 season. His previous career-best had been 142 yards vs. Davenport in the spring.  Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) fell just shy of his first 100-yard game with 92 yards on 14 carries. That was still a career high for Wright, who adds 224 on 40 carries, a 5.6 yard average, with 2 TDs.. 
 
WHITTAKER DOUBLES HIS PLEASURE VERSUS SHEPHERD
Redshirt junior tight end Alex Whittaker (Medina, Ohio/Medina) caught two touchdown tosses against Shepherd, covering 11 and 23 yards. He previously had just one career touchdown reception. Whittaker finished the day with 3 catches for 49 yards. It was a new personal record for touchdowns and receiving yards, and he matched his high for receptions. 
 
SCARPINO GOES DEEP
Redshirt sophomore Eric Scarpino (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) kicked a career-best 45-yard field goal against Shepherd. His previous long was a 41-yarder vs. Clarion in 2019. He would add a 25-yarder later in the game. Scarpino has now made eight-of-nine field goals in his career.  
 
GOLDEN KNIGHTS MAKE FIRST TRIP TO MICHIGAN SINCE 2004 A MEMORABLE ONE
Gannon's trip to Midland, Michigan and subsequent 28-21 overtime win over Northwood marked the first time the Golden Knights had won in Michigan since 2004. At that time Gannon was a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and played numerous contests in Michigan.  The Golden Knights joined the PSAC in 2007. On September 25, 2004, Gannon won at Northern Michigan, 45-40.
 
CURTIS IMPRESSIVE IN DEBUT IN MAROON AND GOLD
Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) might be considered well-traveled, but to Gannon, he represents the future at quarterback. The 6'4", 252 lb. sophomore from Florida spent three semesters as a backup quarterback at Ohio State. He would play at Bryant in 2019 and during the abbreviated 2020-21 spring season. Curtis threw for 1,700 yards in 2019, completing 174-of-301 passes with 7 TDs and 6 INTs. He added a pair of touchdowns rushing. In his first three games, he has completed 51 of 90 passes for 716 yards with 8 TDs and 2 INTs.
 
GO WEST YOUNG MAN
Sophomore Isaac West (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) was a hidden hero for the Golden Knights at Northwood. West punted five times for an average of 40.2 yards, the best average of his career. That included punts of 44 and 43 yards.
 
SCOUTING CAL U
The Vulcans, ranked 15th in the AFCA Top 25 and 25th in the D2Football.com poll, are a perfect 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in PSAC West action. They have shut out three of their five opponents – Lock Haven (59-0), Millersville (30-0), and Mercyhurst (37-0) this past week – while allowing just 26 total points. They rank first in Division II in scoring defense (5.2 ppg.), total defense (135.2 ypg.), and passing defense (87.0 ypg.), along with fourth in rushing defense (48.2 ypg.). In addition, the unit is eighth in sacks per game (4.0) and has forced 10 turnovers. Junior Gerald Brown, a 6'1", 250 lb. defensive lineman, was chosen a preseason second team All-American in the Lindy's Sports college football preview magazine. He has 11.5 career sacks. The offense showcases the talents of Noah Mitchell, a 6'4", 225 lb. junior. Cal ranks 15th in Division II in passing offense at 313.8 ypg. Mitchell has completed 125-of-179 passes for 1,504 yards with 9 TDs and 4 INTs. JaQuae Jackson has a team-leading 33 receptions for 424 yards with 4 TDs. Senior Tyson Hill is a big-play threat, averaging 16.5 yards on his 27 receptions, good for 446 yards. Kyle Brunson is the main ballcarrier. The 6'0", 215 lb. senior has 222 yards on 68 carries with 3 TDs.  
 
UP NEXT
Gannon's stretch of one game at home, one on the road continues with the Golden Knights traveling to Seton Hill on Saturday, October 16. Kickoff in Greensburg, Pa. is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jimmy Keefe

#6 Jimmy Keefe

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Master of Business Administration
Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

RB
6' 1"
Junior
Business
Sam East

#20 Sam East

WR
5' 11"
Junior
Undeclared
Chris Farnsworth

#39 Chris Farnsworth

DB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Johnny Freeman

#18 Johnny Freeman

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Trevaughn McNeill

#1 Trevaughn McNeill

DB
6' 0"
Senior
Communication Arts
Montana Nietert

#76 Montana Nietert

OL
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
Eric Scarpino

#94 Eric Scarpino

K
5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mechanical Engineering
Bransen Stanley

#4 Bransen Stanley

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Keith Thompson

#7 Keith Thompson

LB
5' 9"
Junior
Finance
Isaac West

#22 Isaac West

WR/P
5' 10"
Sophomore
Alex Whittaker

#47 Alex Whittaker

TE
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Jimmy Keefe

#6 Jimmy Keefe

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Master of Business Administration
QB
Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

6' 1"
Junior
Business
RB
Sam East

#20 Sam East

5' 11"
Junior
Undeclared
WR
Chris Farnsworth

#39 Chris Farnsworth

5' 10"
Sophomore
DB
Johnny Freeman

#18 Johnny Freeman

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Trevaughn McNeill

#1 Trevaughn McNeill

6' 0"
Senior
Communication Arts
DB
Montana Nietert

#76 Montana Nietert

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
OL
Eric Scarpino

#94 Eric Scarpino

5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mechanical Engineering
K
Bransen Stanley

#4 Bransen Stanley

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Keith Thompson

#7 Keith Thompson

5' 9"
Junior
Finance
LB
Isaac West

#22 Isaac West

5' 10"
Sophomore
WR/P
Alex Whittaker

#47 Alex Whittaker

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
TE