Johnny Freeman Jimmy Keefe 2020-21

Football David Rung, Director of Athletics Media Relations

PREVIEW: Gannon Set To Host Mercyhurst In Final Game Of Spring Season (Game Notes)

GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Mercyhurst at Gannon
Game Details  Saturday, April 24, 2021 | Noon | Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium
Records  Gannon (0-3) | Mercyhurst (0-1)
Game Coverage  Live Video – Click Here
 Live Stats – Click Here
 Live Audio – Click Here
 Radio - Jet Radio 1400 AM/96.7 FM
Tickets  Admission to Saturday's game is limited to a pass list for each team. For Gannon's full spectator policy - CLICK HERE
Gannon Links  Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Mercyhurst Links  Game Preview | Roster | Schedule | Statistics Unavailable
 
 
SERIES HISTORY
  • All-Time Series: Mercyhurst leads 16-6-1
  • Details: Saturday will be the 24th meeting between Gannon and Mercyhurst, the most played series in Gannon's history. The two sides will make two returns this week, as they'll meet as nonconference opponents for the first time since 1997 and at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2013.
 
THE GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS COACHES SHOW
  • Click Here - Football coach Erik Raeburn makes his debut on the Gannon Golden Knights Coaches Show, Episode 5
 
SCOUTING GANNON
  • Gannon will embark on the most unusual season in its history this spring, with five — turned to four — games against nonconference opponents on its slate after the fall season was pushed back and the PSAC schedule was canceled.
  • Gannon put up a second-half scare on Davenport twp weeks ago, outscoring the Panthers after halftime with a flurry of big plays from both the offense and defense as a comeback fell just short in a 37-22 contest.
  • A number of young players saw meaningful time for the Golden Knights in 2019, with that trend continuing early this spring. Two-thirds of the starters from Week 3 are in their first or second year.
  • Sixteen months and one day after he was announced as the newest Gannon football coach, Erik Raeburn got to coach his first game. The veteran kicked off his 20th season in charge of a program after 16 years at Division III stalwarts Wabash and Coe, and three at then-Division I Savannah State.
  • Since joining the PSAC prior to the 2008 season, the Golden Knights have put together an impressive 10-5 record against teams from outside the league. That mark will get put to the test this spring, with four games, all against nonconference competition.
  • Three quarterbacks have lined up behind center for the Knights this season. Redshirt freshman Nick Demchuk (North Royalton, Ohio/Benedictine) has started all three games, leading the team with 365 yards and three touchdowns. True freshman Jonathan Quinque (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) posted a stellar 7-of-9, 137-yard, two-touchdown performance last week against Davenport. Veteran QB Jimmy Keefe (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) is also back after making 20 starts behind center over the past three years. The redshirt junior, who is in his fifth year with the program, stands fifth in program history with 3,743 passing yards, and fourth with 29 passing touchdowns.
  • Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) made the most of his career-high 23 carries in the opener against Davenport, rushing for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown. The junior also added a career-high 58 receiving yards. In the past two games, Michiah Burton (Columbus, Ohio/New Albany HS) was the lead back, and leads the team with 48 carries and 163 yards.
  • Nicholas White (Randallstown, Md./Milford Mill Academy) has picked up a sack in each of his first three games of the season, and the redshirt sophomore posted his biggest game last week. White notched a pair of strip sacks against Davenport, bumping his season totals to 4.0 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
 
SCOUTING MERCYHURST
  • Saturday will be just the second game of the spring season for Mercyhurst, which fell to Shepherd two weeks ago in its only game thus far.
  • That 38-14 loss to Shepherd saw the Rams open up the game with 28 second-half points, rushing for 153 yards while holding the Lakers to 58.
  • Mercyhurst used a number of different players in that game, including five different players who attempted a pass and 10 different ball carriers.
 
UP NEXT
  • Saturday marks the final game of Gannon's first-ever (and hopefully last-ever) spring season.
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Players Mentioned

Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

RB
6' 0"
Junior
Business
Jimmy Keefe

#6 Jimmy Keefe

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Master of Business Administration
Nick White

#51 Nick White

DL
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sports Management
Nick Demchuk

#16 Nick Demchuk

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Pre-Dental
Jonathan Quinque

#15 Jonathan Quinque

QB
5' 10"
Freshman
Business Administration
Michiah Burton

#37 Michiah Burton

RB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Entrepreneurship

Players Mentioned

Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

6' 0"
Junior
Business
RB
Jimmy Keefe

#6 Jimmy Keefe

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Master of Business Administration
QB
Nick White

#51 Nick White

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sports Management
DL
Nick Demchuk

#16 Nick Demchuk

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Pre-Dental
QB
Jonathan Quinque

#15 Jonathan Quinque

5' 10"
Freshman
Business Administration
QB
Michiah Burton

#37 Michiah Burton

5' 9"
Sophomore
Entrepreneurship
RB