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Football Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Hosts Clarion in PSAC West Opener on Homecoming Weekend

CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (0-3, 0-0 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (1-2, 0-0 PSAC West)
Homecoming (official sponsor Cobblestone Hotel and Suites)
DATE:  Saturday, September 25, 2021
KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m.
STADIUM:  McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS
 
RADIO:  90.5 WERG FM – Listen to all the exciting action of Gannon football with Jack Quinn providing the play-by-play.
 
ERIE, Pa. – Its Homecoming at Gannon, as the Golden Knights host Clarion for the second straight Homecoming affair. The two teams squared off in 2019 with Gannon claiming a 51-35 victory. This also marks the start of PSAC action for both teams. The Golden Knights come into the contest with a 1-2 record following last week's 31-27 loss at Bloomsburg. They 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 two weeks ago. The Golden Eagles are 0-3 after playing their first three contests at home. The first two games were narrow setbacks, a 31-26 loss to Lake Erie and a 21-17 defeat to Millersville. This past week, Shippensburg posted a 62-33 win over Clarion.         
 
SERIES RECORD
Clarion leads 7-5
 
LAST MEETING
2019 – at Gannon 51, Clarion 35
In a game that featured almost 1,100 yards in total offense, Gannon jumped out to a 41-14 halftime lead while scoring its most points since 2017.  The Golden Knights would post the first four scores of the afternoon, aided by a pair of pass interceptions. Gannon would register four interceptions in all. Jimmy Keefe (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) completed 11 of 24 passes with five going for touchdowns as he threw for 368 yards.  Joey Cox caught 3 passes for 113 yards, including touchdowns of 75 and 19 yards. Zevin Holley caught a 58-yard TD pass, while Tyger Winston had a 51-yard TD catch, and Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) added a 23-yarder for six points. Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) paced the ground game with 93 yards on 12 carries, with a 21-yard TD run, and Holley scored on a five-yard run. Eric Scarpino (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) wrapped up the scoring with a 41-yard field goal. Gannon would total 557 total yards, while Clarion finished with 511 yards. Mylique McGriff ran for 146 yards on 23 carries for Clarion. Three quarterbacks combined to complete 25 of 50 passes for 341 yards. Terrell Ford had 8 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown, with Kahliq Muhammad had 6 receptions for 81 yards and a score.
 
LAST WEEK
at Bloomsburg 31, Gannon 27
Bloomsburg completed a 47-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired to shock the Golden Knights. A back-and-forth game saw four lead changes in the fourth quarter, with Gannon taking a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 15-yard run by Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills). Bloomsburg would retake the lead less than two minutes later at 23-17, before Gannon answered with a 7-play, 73-yard drive. Alex Whittaker (Medina, Ohio/Medina) hauled in Kory Curtis' (Cape Coral, Fla.) second touchdown pass of the day, a 28-yarder, for a 27-23 lead with 8:13 remaining. A fumbled snap on the PAT led to a Bloomsburg defensive PAT, closing the gap to 27-25. The Huskies would drive 90 yards on nine plays, converting a 4th-and-4 play for 26 yards in the final seconds before the winning 47-yard TD pass. Gannon ended the day with a season-high 462 yards. That included 247 yards on the ground. Blanks ran for a career-high 169 yards on 20 carries, with Antonio Wright (West Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) adding 92 yards on 14 rushes. Curtis completed 13 of 18 passes for 215 yards with 2 TDs. Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) posted career highs for receptions (5) and yards receiving (111).
 
Shippensburg 62, at Clarion 33
The Red Raiders totaled 594 yards and led 38-14 at the half. Clarion was limited to 84 yards rushing while throwing for 337 yards. Taylor Eggers led the Golden Eagles with 329 yards and 4 TDs, completing 16 of 25 passes. Quinn Zinobile was named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week after catching 5 passes for 202 yards with 2 TDs. Kahliq Muhammad added 102 yards receiving on 7 catches, also scoring 2 TDs. Mylique McGriff ran for 100 yards on 18 carries, with a touchdown    
 
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 145-66 career record and is in his 21st season as a head coach. He joined the Gannon staff as offensive coordinator in 2018 after serving as the head coach at Division I Savannah State in 2016 and 2017. 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.    
 
Chris Weibel (Clarion '98) is in his seventh season as the head coach at his alma mater after enjoying a standout playing career for the Golden Eagles.  He has a 19-36 record, including a 7-4 finish in his first season in 2015. Weibel was inducted into the Clarion Hall of Fame in 2010. As the Golden Eagles' quarterback in 1996, he led Clarion to an 11-3 record, winning the NCAA Division II East Regional and advancing to the Final Four before losing in the final seconds to Northern Colorado.
 
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. Clarion, meanwhile, was picked to finish eighth. The Golden Eagles did not play in 2020-21, and were coming off a 3-8 finish in 2019.
 
CLARION GAME FEATURES TOP BACKS IN PSAC
Two of the top running backs in the PSAC will be on display on Saturday. Gannon's Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) ranks second in the PSAC in rushing, averaging 98.7 ypg. Clarion's Mylique McGriff is third at 80.5 ypg. Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) stands fourth in the conference in passing yards per game at 238.7 ypg. He has eight touchdowns passing, tied for second in the PSAC. Clarion's Quinn Zinobile is second in the PSAC in receiving, averaging 117.3 ypg. His 17 receptions are tied for fourth, with Gannon's Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) also showing 17 catches. East stands 12th in receiving at 70.7 ypg.
 
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.
 
TRIO POSTS CAREER BESTS AT BLOOMSBURG
Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) 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 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. Blanks previously ran for 102 yards on 16 carries at Northwood. 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. Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) also enjoyed a career afternoon 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.   
 
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE D
The offense wasn't the only unit to see career records set. Junior linebacker Keith Thompson (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) matched his career high with 11 tackles. A banged-up defensive unit saw two players make their first career starts at Bloomsburg. Sir Giles (St. Cloud, Fla./Tohopekaliga) and Jamir Francis (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) both earned starts in the secondary, their first as Golden Knights.  
 
CURTIS TOSSES 3 TDs IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
For the second straight week Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) threw three touchdown passes against Shepherd. The transfer from Ohio State and Bryant 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. The last time a Gannon quarterback threw three touchdown passes in back-to-back games was Liam Nadler in 2015.
 
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. Whittaker would add to his touchdown total with a 28-yarder at Bloomsburg.
 
CURTIS-TO-EAST BECOMING LETHAL COMBINATION
Quarterback Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) and wide receiver Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) have become a potent combination. The two have combined for 17 receptions for 212 yards and 3 TDs. East enjoyed a career day in the season-opening win at Northwood. He set career-highs for receptions (7) and yards receiving (100), while matching his career high with two touchdowns. He caught scoring passes of nine and 25 yards, the latter accounting for the winning score. Against Shepherd, he again caught 7 passes, good for 76 yards and a 17-yard TD pass.
 
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 seven-of-eight field goals in his career.
 
YOUTHFUL O-LINE HOLDING UP
A young offensive line with a true freshman and two redshirt freshmen allowed just one sack in each of the first two games, and five over three contests. The elder statesman of the line is right guard Montana Nietert (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora), a redshirt sophomore who has started 11 games 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 seasons 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.
 
WATCH OUT FOR BOOKENDS WHITE AND BULLOCK
The strength of the Gannon defense lies in the defensive line, and in particular, defensive ends Jay Bullock (Garfield Heights, Ohio/University School) and Nick White (Randallstown, Md./Milford Mill Academy). 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 24 career starts.
 
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 CLARION
The Golden Eagles are looking for their first win in 2021 after opening the season with three straight losses. This marks the first road game of the season after losing at home to Lake Erie (31-26), Millersville (21-17), and Shippensburg (62-33). Clarion has used four different players at quarterback, with Taylor Eggers the only one to appear in all three games. The 6'3", 225 lb. redshirt freshman has completed 26 of 41 passes for 424 yards with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. The Golden Eagles possess a pair of dangerous wideouts in Quinn Zinobile and Kahliq Muhammad. Zinobile, a 6'3", 195 lb. sophomore, has caught 17 passes for 352 yards, a 20.7 yard average, with 4 TDs. Muhammad, a senior, adds 8 catches for 114 yards and 2 TDs.  Clarion rotates backs Mylique McGriff and Khalil Owens. McGriff is a senior who has 161 yards and a TD on 34 carries in two games. He was a first team All-PSAC West selection as a senior after rushing for 836 yards and 6 TDs in eight games. He currently has 2,488 career yards on the ground, ranking fourth all-time at Clarion. Owens, a sophomore, adds 109 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown. 
 
UP NEXT
Gannon goes back out on the road for the third time in the first five games as the Golden Knights play at Indiana(Pa.) on Saturday, October 2. Kickoff at Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium is set for 2 p.m. as IUP celebrates Homecoming.
 
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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
Jay Bullock

#3 Jay Bullock

DL
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Sport Management and Marketing
Sam East

#20 Sam East

WR
5' 11"
Junior
Undeclared
Johnny Freeman

#18 Johnny Freeman

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Montana Nietert

#76 Montana Nietert

OL
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
Eric Scarpino

#94 Eric Scarpino

K
5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mechanical Engineering
Keith Thompson

#7 Keith Thompson

LB
5' 9"
Junior
Finance
Isaac West

#22 Isaac West

WR/P
5' 10"
Sophomore
Nick White

#51 Nick White

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sports Management

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
Jay Bullock

#3 Jay Bullock

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Sport Management and Marketing
DL
Sam East

#20 Sam East

5' 11"
Junior
Undeclared
WR
Johnny Freeman

#18 Johnny Freeman

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Montana Nietert

#76 Montana Nietert

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
OL
Eric Scarpino

#94 Eric Scarpino

5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mechanical Engineering
K
Keith Thompson

#7 Keith Thompson

5' 9"
Junior
Finance
LB
Isaac West

#22 Isaac West

5' 10"
Sophomore
WR/P
Nick White

#51 Nick White

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sports Management
DL