Melvin Blanks
Joe Mattis
Melvin Blanks ran for a career-high 169 yards and a touchdown.
27
Gannon GAN 1-2
31
Winner Bloomsburg BLOOM 1-2
Gannon GAN
1-2
27
Final
31
Bloomsburg BLOOM
1-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon 0 7 7 13 27
BLOOM Bloomsburg 7 7 3 14 31

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

Golden Knights Drop See-Saw 31-27 Affair at Bloomsburg

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – In a see-saw contest played at Bloomsburg's Redman Stadium, Gannon suffered a heartbreaking loss on the final play of the game, dropping a 31-27 decision to the Huskies on Saturday afternoon. The result left both teams with 1-2 records.

The game featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter, with the two teams combing for scores on five straight possessions. Gannon used a seven-play, 73-yard drive to take the lead. Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) completed three passes on the drive for 64 yards, the last a 28-yarder to Alex Whittaker (Medina, Ohio/Medina) for the tight end's third touchdown of the season.
That gave Gannon a 27-23 lead, but a miscue on the extra point led to a defensive PAT for Bloomsburg to close the gap to 27-25 with 8:13 remaining.  The snap was fumbled and BU's Chris Monaco returned it for the two points.

Gannon would drive to near midfield before being forced to punt. Isaac West's (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) punt pinned the Huskies at their own 10-yardline with 1:21 remaining in the game.  Facing a 4th-and-4 at the BU 27, freshman Ben Ries completed a 25-yard pass to Tyshaun Pollard to the GU 48 with under 20 seconds to play and no timeouts. Ries would clock the ball immediately, leaving four seconds showing on the clock. Ries proceeded to fire a long pass down the left side to Malik Langley, who hauled it in while surrounded by three defenders for the winning 48-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining.

Bloomsburg took a 17-14 lead into the fourth quarter after Torsten Hartmann kicked a 30-yard field goal with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Gannon claimed a 21-17 lead thanks to an 11-play, 75-yard march, one of four drives of 70-or-more yards on the day. Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) did the honors, as the junior running back reached the end zone on a 15-yard run with 13:36 remaining. Blanks carried seven times for 60 yards on the drive.

The Huskies responded with a score less than two minutes later. Nyfease West scored on a 48-yard run, but Hartmann's extra point was no good, leaving the Golden Knights trailing 23-21 and setting up the drive that would give Gannon the late lead.

Bloomsburg opened the scoring following a Gannon punt on the first possession of the game. The Huskies needed just two plays, as Ries completed a 56-yard pass to Nas Jones for a 7-0 lead with 12:02 remaining in the first quarter.

Gannon knotted the score at 7-7 with 10:58 left in the half, also striking in quick fashion. Curtis and Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) combined for a pair of completions, the latter covering 69 yards for Freeman's first touchdown in 2021.

The Huskies would stun the Golden Knights late in the first half after recovering a fumble at the Gannon 37. Eight plays later, Alex Gooden gave the Huskies a 14-7 advantage with 13 seconds left on a two-yard run.

Gannon tied the score at 14-14 on its first possession of the second half. The Golden Knights needed just three plays to cover 93 yards following a Bloomsburg punt, the longest scoring drive this year. Blanks burst 55 yards to the BU 38 on the first play. Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) then came in and ran for 18 yards, followed by a 20-yard run to the end zone with 10:58 left in the third quarter.

Gannon would finish with a season-high 462 yards, but a depleted defensive unit that was missing numerous starters allowed 521 yards.  The 462 yards was the highest total since a 557-yard effort vs. Clarion om 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. Bloomsburg took advantage of a secondary that was missing three starters to throw for 343 yards, adding 178 yards on the ground.

Blanks paced the Gannon ground game with a career-high 169 yards on 20 carries, his second 100-yard game this season and the third of his career. The 169 yards was the most by a Gannon rusher since Marcus Jones ran for 410 yards against Lock Haven in the final game of the 2018 season. Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne), a redshirt freshman, fell just shy of his first 100-yard game with 92 yards on 14 carries.

Curtis completed 13 of 18 passes for 215 yards with 2 TDs. Freeman enjoyed a career day with 5 receptions for 111 yards, both career highs. It marked his first career 100-yard game and the most yards receiving by a Golden Knight since Joey Cox went for 114 yards against Seton Hill in 2019.  Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) (37 yards) and Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) (36 yards) caught 3 passes apiece.

Ries split time at quarterback with fellow freshman David LePoidevin, completing 14 of 28 passes for 243 yards and 2 TDs. Pollard caught 8 passes for 121 yards. Monaco and West paced the effort on the ground with 68 and 62 yards, respectively.

The Gannon defense came up with 4 sacks and 6 tackles for losses. Junior linebacker Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) matched his career high with 11 tackles.   

Gannon returns home next Saturday, September 25 to celebrate Homecoming. Clarion will visit McConnell Family Stadium, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version