Melvin Blanks vs. Mercyhurst
Ed Mailliard
13
Gannon GAN 4-6 , 3-4
24
Winner Mercyhurst LAKERS 4-6 , 3-4
Gannon GAN
4-6 , 3-4
13
Final
24
Mercyhurst LAKERS
4-6 , 3-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon 6 0 7 0 13
LAKERS Mercyhurst 7 7 3 7 24

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

Blanks Reaches 1,000 Yards Rushing but Gannon Drops 24-13 Decision at Mercyhurst

ERIE, Pa. – Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) became the first Gannon running back to top 1,000 yards since 2018, but Gannon was unable to maintain its hold on the Niagara Cup, losing at Mercyhurst, 24-13 at Saxon Stadium. The loss denied the Golden Knights a possible winning season as they dropped to 4-6 overall and finished at 3-4 in PSAC West action. Mercyhurst is also now 4-6 and 3-4, respectively. The Golden Knights were also facing a Mercyhurst crowd charged with emotion, as head coach Marty Schaetzle was coaching his final home game after 20 years as head coach.

Blanks, a junior running back, entered the game needing 35 yards to become the first Gannon rusher since Marcus Jones to reach 1,000 yards rushing. He would accomplish the fete late in the first half, but was limited to 50 yards on 16 carries on the day. Gannon was unable to maintain its ground game most of the afternoon against a Mercyhurst defense which ranked among the better units in the PSAC. Blanks now has 1,016 yards rushing, which ranks eighth in a season.

Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) added 38 yards on eight carries, but overall Gannon was limited to 66 yards on the ground. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, rode David Alize and Chawntez Moss to 177 yards rushing. While neither was listed in the pre-game two-deep, Alize had his second straight 100-yard effort with 114 yards on 22 carries. The freshman scored all three of Mercyhurst's touchdowns. Moss, a transfer from Grand Valley State, added 73 yards on 17 carries.  

Gannon ended the day with 261 total yards, while Mercyhurst totaled 286 yards. Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) completed 17-of-31 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown, but threw three interceptions. He was plagued by several drops, with his second pickoff coming on a drop, and the third a desperation pass late in the game. The redshirt sophomore had entered the contest with just four interceptions.

Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Euclid, Ohio/St.. Edward) led Gannon's receivers with 5 catches for 69 yards. Freshman Chaz Davis (Callahan, Fla./West Nassau), pressed into service due to a variety of injuries at wide receiver, added 3 catches for 23 yards.

Joe Carter completed 10-of-18 passes for 109 yards and tossed a pair of interceptions. Three Lakers had two receptions apiece.

Gannon jumped out to a quick 6-0 after the first two possessions. The Golden Knights took the opening kickoff and drove from their own 18 to the Mercyhurst 18. Curtis threw deep to Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Euclid, Ohio/St.. Edward) on the very first play from scrimmage to the MU 41. The duo would combine four times on the initial drive for 53 yards. The drive stalled at the 18, with Eric Scarpino (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) kicking a 35-yard field goal with 10:37 remaining in the quarter for a 3-0 lead.

The Golden Knights were back in scoring position just three players later after Cam Jenkins intercepted a Carter pass and returned it eight yards to the MU 28. A Curtis-to-Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) completion covered 17 yards, but three running plays would net just seven yards to the four. Scarpino entered again and converted from 21 yards out for a 6-0 lead with 6:21 left.

The complexion of the contest changed after the first of two Curtis interceptions in the first half. Keith Brickman returned the pickoff 46 yards to the GU 39. Two plays later the Lakers were in the end zone. Alize did the honors, going up the middle then cutting left for a 32-yard touchdown run. With 1;14 remaining in the first quarter, Brian Alsobrooks' extra point put the Lakers on top 7-6.

Mercyhurst increased the lead to 14-6 midway through the second quarter thanks to the best drive of the day, going 82 yards in nine plays. After a pair of first downs, a penalty forced the Lakers into a 2nd-and-24 situation at the MU 27. Carter completed a 25-yard pass to Justin Hill Jr., and the officials tacked 15 more yards on for a roughing the passer penalty. Two passes to Cameron Barmore covered 23 yards, and Alize scored his second touchdown on 10-yard run with 7:06 remaining in the half.

The Gannon defense kept the Lakers off the board later in the half, as Chris Farnsworth (Bristol, Pa./Milton Hershey) intercepted a Carter pass at the GU 4 with under three minutes to play.

Gannon closed the gap to a point at 14-13 with 7:55 left on its first drive of the second half. The Golden Knights twice converted on fourth down plays while going 39 yards on 10 plays. The Golden Knights had a short field after a Mercyhurst fake punt went awry. Alsobrooks appeared to have a man open, but Zach Evans (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) was able to tip the pass and it fell short.

After a penalty pushed Gannon back to midfield, Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) burst 22 yards to the 28. Curtis would twice follow with conversions on fourth down, each time with a pair of two-yard runs. The second gave the Golden Knights a 1st-and-goal from the MU 7.  Curtis combined with Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Euclid, Ohio/St.. Edward) for the final seven yards, hitting the redshirt freshman in the right front corner of the end zone.

The Gannon defense came up with another turnover on the ensuing series after Mercyhurst drove inside GU territory. Alize lost control of a handoff, with Javon Hubbard (Riviera Beach, Fla./William T. Dwyer) falling on the loose pigskin at the GU 33.

Mercyhurst increased its lead to 17-13 with 31 seconds left in the third quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Alsobrooks. The short drive got off to a great start. A short punt forced the Mercyhurst return man to rush up and make a fair catch. Gannon was called for a personal foul for tackling him, and the Lakers were starting at the GU 31. They needed just one first down to get in field goal range.

The Lakers followed with a time-consuming drive that took 8 minutes, 30 seconds and led to Alize's third touchdown run of the afternoon. Once again, Gannon was hurt by an officials' flag that kept the drive alive. On 3rd-and-11, the Knights were called for roughing the passer and the Lakers had a first and goal at the seven. Alize carried twice, the second time from two yards out, to boost Gannon's deficit to 24-13 with 6:06 left.  

Gannon concludes the 2021 campaign next Saturday, November 13 at East Stroudsburg. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at Eiler-Martin Stadium. It represents the longest trip of the season for the Golden Knights. The two teams meet for the first time since 2015.
Print Friendly Version