Football defense Davenport 032021

Football

Golden Knights Open 2021 Campaign with Thursday Night Game at Northwood

Gannon Golden Knights (0-0) at Northwood Timberwolves (0-0)
DATE:  Thursday, September 2, 2021 
STADIUM:  Midland Community Stadium, Midland, Mich.
KICKOFF:  7:00 p.m.
RADIO:  90.5 WERG 
 

The Gannon University football team will open what hopefully is a "normal" 2021 season on Thursday, September 2 at Northwood. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Midland Community Stadium in Midland, Michigan.
 
RADIO
Gannon fans can catch all the action of Golden Knights' football, both home and away, on 90.5 WERG. Jack Quinn is the voice of the Golden Knights. 

THE GANNON-NORTHWOOD SERIES
Northwood leads 3-0
Last Meeting:  2005 -- Northwood 24, Gannon 7

This marks the fourth meeting between the two schools, with the last meeting taking place in 2005. Northwood came away with a 24-7 road victory in that meeting, with the Timberwolves now holding a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series. The last two meetings came as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
SERIES RESULTS
1999 – at Northwood 49, Gannon 0
2004 – at Northwood 62, Gannon 21
2005 – Northwood 24, at Gannon 7

Gannon was picked to finish seventh in the PSAC Western Division in the coaches' preseason poll. However, the Golden Knights have the advantage of being one of the few teams in the conference to play football in the spring. They would finish with a 1-3 record, rallying for a 28-21 win in overtime over crosstown rival Mercyhurst. Erik Raeburn 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.
 
Northwood has not played since November 16, 2019, and will be taking the field for the first time in 656 days. The Timberwolves look to improve on a 1-10 finish in 2019 and were picked to finish eighth in the GLIAC. This will be the final season in the GLIAC for Northwood, with the move to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference coming in 2022-23.
 
SCOUTING NORTHWOOD
The Timberwolves are in their sixth season under head coach Leonard Haynes. They come off a 1-10 finish in 2019 and were picked to finish eighth in the GLIAC. Haynes welcomes back five starters on offense and five more on defense. Sophomore Nate Gomez is expected to open at quarterback after completing 44-of-101 passes for 710 yards with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. He added 178 yards and 4 TDs on the ground. Cashual Goldsmith, a 5'8", 194 lb. sophomore, led Northwood in rushing as a freshman with 439 yards and 3 TDs on 104 carries. Noah Koenigsknecht had a team-high 23 receptions for 250 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2019. Another youngster, Erik Santiago, is the top returnee on defense. The 5'9", 188 lb. redshirt freshman was second on the team in tackles with 84 while lining up at strong safety. Dylan Zagula, 6'2", 220 lb. sophomore linebacker, added 43 tackles.

HEAD COACH ERIK RAEBURN
Prior to joining the Gannon staff, Raeburn was the head coach at Division I Savannah State from 2016-18. He served as the head coach at division III Wabash from 2008-15. In those eight seasons, he led the Little Giants to a 78-13 overall record and won the North Coast Athletic Conference title three times (2008, 2011, 2015). He was named the conference Coach of the Year after finishing 12-1 and reaching the NCAA quarterfinals in 2011, one of five years his teams reached the NCAA playoffs. Raeburn's winning percentage of .857 stands second, and his 78 wins place him third. The Little Giants earned 13 All-America honors during his time there, and placed 121 players on the all-conference team, including seven conference offensive or defensive players of the year.  Raeburn got his head coaching start at Division III Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he compiled a 57-26 record in eight seasons between 2000 and 2007. The Kohawks won three conference titles in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now American Rivers Conference), and Raeburn was named IIAC and regional Coach of the Year in 2002. Coe went to the NCAA playoffs twice under Raeburn, picking up the first playoff victory in program history in 2002. Raeburn produced 60 all-conference performers and six All-Americans in his time in Cedar Rapids. A native of northeast Ohio, Raeburn got his college coaching start at his alma mater, national power Mount Union. In six years as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, he helped the Raiders to six Ohio Athletic Conference championships and three consecutive NCAA Division III national championships.  
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Youth is the keyword in 2021, although "normal" may also come to mind. The depth chart is dotted with youthful players, with no fewer than 10 freshmen and 10 more redshirt freshmen on the 2-deep. As for normal, after beating the odds and playing four games in the spring of the COVID-ravaged 2020-21 year, it is hoped collegiate athletics will have a more familiar look in 2021-22. "We're excited," noted Raeburn. "It's been a long time since things have been normal. We're excited to see where we're at. Our returning players have developed, and the new players are talented. I'm anxious to see where we're at as a team."
 
OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Raeburn welcomes back nine starters from the 2020 spring campaign, led by running back Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills). The 6'1", 212 lb. junior got off to a fast start in the spring with career highs of 23 carries and 142 yards vs. Davenport. He added 58 yards receiving for 200 all-purpose yards. Blanks would finish with 203 yards on 44 carries with 3 TDs in three games in 2020 after finishing second in rushing in 2019 with 460 yards and 2 TDs on 94 carries. He added 13 receptions for 146 yards and a score in 2019.
 
"We have some depth at running back," Raeburn commented. "It's a talented group with several guys who can step in there. Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) has the most experience, but Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) (West Melbourne, Fla. / West Melbourne), Tyerell Sturgis-Cofer (San Ramon, Calif. / Liberty), Luke Sittinger (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep), Jhavoun Blake (Kelowna, B.C./Clearwater Academy International) (Kelowna, B.C. / Clearwater Academy Intl.), and David Morgan (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) (Niagara Falls, N.Y. / Niagara Falls) are all going to do good things.
 
After using three quarterbacks in the spring, Raeburn will turn to a newcomer in Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) (Cape Coral, Fla. / Island Coast) as the anticipated starter. At 6'4", 260 lbs., Curtis evokes memories of Kentucky's Jared Lorenzon. He spent three seasons as a backup quarterback at Ohio State before playing at Bryant in 2019. In 11 games, he completed 174 of 301 passes for 1,700 yards with 7 TDs and 6 INTs, adding a pair of touchdowns rushing.  "Kory is new to Gannon but not new to college football," Raeburn stressed. "He has a lot of college football experience. He's a super-talented player. We are very young on offense and look to Kory to provide leadership."
 
Three of the top four receivers are back, led by Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) (Jackson Twp., N.J. / Saint John Vianney) at wide receiver. The junior hauled in 12 passes for 130 yards and 3 TDs. In 2019, East was second on the team in receptions with 15, good for 258 yards and 2 TDs.
 
Redshirt sophomore Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) (Philadelphia, Pa. / St. Joseph's Prep) added 11 catches for 170 yards and a score in the spring after totaling 14 receptions for 256 yards and 2 TDs in 2019. Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston), a redshirt sophomore, also returns at wideout. Stanley had a team-leading 25 receptions for 341 yards and 3 TDs in 2019, then added 8 catches for 115 yards this past spring. He has started 13 games in his career, the most among any projected starter on the offense.
 
"They have improved," noted Raeburn in regards to the receiving corps. "Stanley East and Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) were true freshmen in 2019, but they have played in the PSAC. All three played and all three have improved. The addition of KeJohn Batiste (Covington, La. / Covington), Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Euclid, Ohio/St.. Edward) (Euclid, Ohio / St. Edward), and Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) make that a pretty talented group."
 
Alex Whittaker (Medina, Ohio/Medina) (Medina, Ohio / Medina), a 6'3", 262 lb. redshirt junior, started the last two games in 2020 at tight end. He ended with 3 receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown. "Alex saw most of his action on special teams in 2019, and played tight end in 2021," Raeburg commented. "He's a smart guy who really knows the game after playing quarterback in high school." Raeburg also expects good things from Isaiah Pae (Burlington, N.J./Burlingtomn) (Burlington, N.J. / Burlington), a 6'3", 190 lb. redshirt freshman. "He is still learning, but he is really athletic and has great hands. He could be a tremendous receiving threat."
 
Youth is definitely the keyword on the offensive line. Raeburg will trot out a redshirt sophomore, a sophomore, two redshirt freshmen, and a true freshman. The quintet has a total of 17 career starts. The most experienced is redshirt sophomore Montana Nietert (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora) (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora), who has started eight games in his career. At 6'4", 318 lbs., Nietert will start at right guard. Sophomore Jacob Petit (Uniontown, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) (Uniontown, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban) (6'1", 280 lbs.) will start at left guard and owns five career starts, three in the spring. He played on the defensive line in 2019. Redshirt freshman Jordan Covatto (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep) (5'11", 255 lbs.) has won the starting job at center and will make his first career start.
 
Raeburn will send out a pair of freshmen at the tackle spots, although Riley Noble (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) did start all four spring contests at right tackle. He is a 6'4", 265 lb. redshirt freshman. True freshman Elisha Bacon (Vero Beach, Fla. /Vero Beach) (Vero Beach, Fla. / Vero Beach) (6'3", 252 lbs.) has won the starting nod at left tackle.
 
"The offensive line is a talented, hard-working group," related Raeburn. "Unfortunately, they are extremely young. You like to see some juniors and seniors in there, but that's not the case. But we feel they are a talented group. In a few years this could be a really good group."
 
DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
 The defense can boast of a bit more experience, with six starters returning from 2019, and virtually everyone back from the group that played in the spring. "The defensive line is our most experienced group by far," Raeburn commented. "As a team, we're pretty inexperienced. The defensive line is one position where we feel like we have a bunch of older players, and is our most talented group."
 
The four-man front boasts Nick White (Randallstown, Md./Milford Mill Academy) (Randallstown, Md. / Milford Mill Academy) and Jay Bullock (Garfield Heights, Ohio/University School) (Garfield Heights, Ohio / University School) at defensive end. White, a 6'3", 240 lb. redshirt sophomore, was the team MVP in the spring after finishing with 20 tackles, with team highs in tackles for losses (8.5) and sacks (5.5). In 2019, White was fifth on the Knights in tackles with 43, with a team-high 9.5 tackles for losses, including 2.5 sacks.  
 
Bullock did not play this past spring, but in 2018 and 2019 he was an All-PSAC West second team selection. In 2019, he totaled 24 tackles, six for losses. In 2018, he totaled 39 stops. Bullock is a 6'1", 254 lb. redshirt senior who owns 21 career starts. In addition, Javon Hubbard (Riviera Beach, Fla./William T. Dwyer) (Riviera Beach, Fla. / William T. Dwyer) provides depth on the line. A 6'1", 242 lb. redshirt sophomore, Hubbard started all four games in the spring in place of Bullock. He finished with 13 tackles.
 
Redshirt junior Malachi Woody (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy) (Lynchburg, Va. / Liberty Christian Academy) is the most experienced of the Golden Knights in terms of games started. A 6'1", 314 lb. defensive tackle, Woody has made 24 career starts. He made seven tackles in three spring games. Malik Bridgeman (Washington, D.C. / Gonzaga) started three contests in the spring, totaling 10 tackles, including a career-high 9 tackles vs. Mercyhurst. He is a 6'0", 321 lb. junior.
 
Despite his freshman status in the spring, Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) (Kettering, Ohio / Kettering Fairmont) led Gannon in tackles with 31. He is a 6'0", 207 lb. freshman and will start at middle linebacker. He's flanked by Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) (Woodbridge, Va. / Woodbridge) and Nigel Reddick (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) (Stafford, Va. / Colonial Forge). Thompson is a 5'9", 212 lb. redshirt junior who had 30 tackles, 8 for losses, in the spring. In 2019, he started all 11 games and was third on the team in tackles with 59, including 8 for losses. Reddick, a 6'0", 218 lb. redshirt sophomore, made his first career start in the final spring game against Mercyhurst. He had 14 tackles in the spring.
 
Rhakim Williams (Worcester, Mass./Doherty Memorial) (Worcester, Mass. / Doherty Memorial) and Jacob Yost (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield) will also see action at linebacker. Williams (6'1", 233 lbs.) is a graduate student who previously played at Connecticut and then Maine. Yost is a 5'11", 209 lb. junior who started three games in the spring.   
 
"We have some experience returning at linebacker," noted Raeburn. 'Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) and Jacob Yost (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) are more veteran guys. Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) played in the spring and is a talented guy. Rhakim Williams (Worcester, Mass./Doherty Memorial) is a graduate student transfer, and Nigel Reddick (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) doesn't have a lot of game experience but has been here. We're excited to see what the linebacker group does."
 
Raeburn is excited about the talent in the secondary, but injuries will impact the group to start the season. "We are really thin right now due to injuries," admitted Raeburn. We're young but we have some talent. It's a matter of getting games under their belt to gain experience.'
 
Reginald Hamlette Jr. (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) (Temple Hills, Md. / Oxon Hill) and Kam Snell (Owings Mills, Md./Good Counsel) (Owings Mills, Md. / Good Counsel) are expected to open at cornerback with Trevaughn McNeill (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) (Philadelphia, Pa. / LaSalle College) out with an injury. Both started three games in the spring.  Hamlette is a 5'10" redshirt sophomore who had 10 tackles in the spring, while Snell, a 5'10" redshirt freshman, had nine stops and a team-leading four passes broken up.  O'Neill, a starter in nine games in 2019 and 17 in his career, finished with a team-leading 77 tackles.
 
Chris Farnsworth (Bristol, Pa./Milton Hershey) (Bristol, Pa. / Milton Hershey) and Terrell Johnson (Linden, N.J./Linden) (Linden, N.J. / Linden) will line up at safety. Farnsworth is a 5'10" sophomore who appeared in two games in the spring, while Johnson is a 6'0" redshirt sophomore who has played in three games as a Golden Knight.
 
Look for Khwan Mickens (Miramar, Fla./West Broward) (Miramar, Fla. / West Broward), a 5'11" sophomore, to also see plenty of action in the secondary. Mickens made one start in the spring, and three in 2019, when he totaled 34 tackles.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS BREAKDOWN
For starters, Raeburn feels the Golden Knights possess an excellent long snapper in Grant Hutchings (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) (Webster, N.Y. / Webster Thomas). He also believes the kicking game is in capable hands. Redshirt sophomore Eric Scarpino (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) (Waterford, Pa. / Fort LeBoeuf) returns as the placekicker. He didn't miss a kick in the spring, going 5-for-5 on PATs and 2-for-2 on field goals. That including a 29-yarder as time expired against Mercyhurst to send the game into overtime. In 2019, he was 3-of-4 on field goals and 23-of-24 on extra points. He's backed by John-Victor Oliveira (North Port, Fla./North Port) (North Port, Fla. / North Port), a redshirt freshman who will handle kickoffs.
 
Raeburn will use both Hudson Barry (Sandy Bay, Australia/Barrenjoey) (Sandy Bay, Australia / Barrenjoey) and Isaac West (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (Wexford, Pa. / North Allegheny) at punter. Barry is a redshirt freshman who punted times in the spring for an average of 31.6 yards. West handled the punting chores in 2019, averaging 31.5 yards on 66 punts.
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Hudson Barry

#26 Hudson Barry

P
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Business
Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

RB
6' 1"
Junior
Business
Jay Bullock

#3 Jay Bullock

DL
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Sport Management and Marketing
Jordan Covatto

#67 Jordan Covatto

OL
5' 11"
Redshirt Freshman
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
Reginald Hamlette Jr.

#31 Reginald Hamlette Jr.

DB
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Von Hubbard

#99 Von Hubbard

DL
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Physical Therapy
Grant Hutchings

#48 Grant Hutchings

TE/LS
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Exercise Science
Terrell Johnson

#28 Terrell Johnson

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business Management
Trevaughn McNeill

#1 Trevaughn McNeill

DB
6' 0"
Senior
Communication Arts

Players Mentioned

Hudson Barry

#26 Hudson Barry

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Business
P
Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

6' 1"
Junior
Business
RB
Jay Bullock

#3 Jay Bullock

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Sport Management and Marketing
DL
Jordan Covatto

#67 Jordan Covatto

5' 11"
Redshirt Freshman
OL
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
Reginald Hamlette Jr.

#31 Reginald Hamlette Jr.

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB
Von Hubbard

#99 Von Hubbard

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Physical Therapy
DL
Grant Hutchings

#48 Grant Hutchings

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Exercise Science
TE/LS
Terrell Johnson

#28 Terrell Johnson

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business Management
DB
Trevaughn McNeill

#1 Trevaughn McNeill

6' 0"
Senior
Communication Arts
DB