2023 Gannon football team photo

Football Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Look to Defend PSAC West Regular Season Crown in 2023

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University football team reached heights rarely seen in 2022. For the second time since joining the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference the Golden Knights finished as the Western Division co-champions. Gannon went 6-1 in the division to tie for first with Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock, and ended the year at 8-3 overall, one win shy of a school-record nine wins.
 
Unfortunately the season ended with head coach Erik Raeburn's team coming up just short of a first-ever NCAA postseason berth. Gannon entered the final week ranked seventh in the Super Region 1 rankings, but a 35-28 loss in overtime to Shippensburg denied the Golden Knights a playoff bid.
 
Raeburn has been a proven winner throughout his 22 years as a head coach, and the prospects are bright in 2023. The fourth-year coach welcomes back an experienced squad yet one that will have some new faces in key spots. He looks to lead the Golden Knights to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2015 when Gannon enjoyed a winning finish for the third season in a row.
 
Last year's strong showing definitely made people sit up and take notice. The Golden Knights received votes in the recent AFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 and were picked fourth in the PSAC West in the Coaches Preseason Poll behind the usual powerhouses of Indiana (Pa.), Slippery Rock and California (Pa.). Last year marked the first time Gannon had beaten IUP and Cal on the field since joining the PSAC.
 
With former Lake Erie head coach Reilly Murphy directing the offense last year, Gannon featured an explosive offense which ranked fourth in the PSAC in both scoring offense (32.0 ppg.) and total offense (440.6 ypg.). The Golden Knights scored 40-or-more points on four occasions.
Eight starters return on offense, but two key pieces are gone. Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) will no doubt be missed after concluding his career ranked fourth in career rushing with 2,923 yards. But the combination of Antonio Wright (Palm Bay, Fla./Melbourne) Jr, who has proven a very capable backup the last two years, and transfers Donnie Marcus (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) (Ball State) and Braxton Todd (Martinsburg, W. Va./Martinsburg High) (Bowling Green), plus a veteran offensive line should make for a solid ground game.
 
The quintet of Montana Nietert (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora), Riley Noble (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Jacob Petit (Uniontown, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban), Eybar Robles, and Jake Vasko (Strongsville, Ohio/Benedictine) have combined for 93 starts on the O-line. Nietert is a two-time All-PSAC West selection who earned second-team honors last year while Petit was a first-team pick in 2022. Nietert has started 29 games in his career with Petit all 22 since moving over from the defensive line in 2021.     
 
Replacing quarterback Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla./Island Coast) may not be as easy, although plenty of candidates exist and the talent is there, just not the game experience. Curtis earned first team All-PSAC West accolades a year ago after passing for 2,879 yards with 27 TDs and just 4 INTs. In fact maybe the most important number is Gannon committed just 11 turnovers last year with Curtis at the controls.
 
Raeburn isn't ready to divulge who will end up behind center but he firmly points out the receiving corps is talented and deep. Ke'John Batiste (Covington, La./Covington) emerged as one of the top receivers in the PSAC and set a school record with 957 yards. His 64 receptions were tied for second in a season, with eight going for touchdowns. Donell "Tank" Mason (26 rec.-332 yds.-1 TD) was named the PSAC West Offensive Freshman of the Year, and the quartet of Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) (86 rec.), Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) (73), Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) (67), and Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) (39) have combined for 265 career receptions and 32 touchdowns. Keep an eye on big tight end Jonathan Bowden (Palm Bay, Fla./Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy) (17 rec.-285 yds.-1 TD) as well.
 
Gannon exhibited a much-improved defense in 2022 and welcomes back six starters along with a host of experienced reserves. The defense will have a new look this year with defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo moving on as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Just the fact Nardo moved on to a Power Five team should say enough about the team's accomplishments in just one year.
 
After allowing 29 points and 396 total yards per game in 2021 those figures dropped to 21.9 points and 287.4 yards per game. Gannon ranked sixth in the PSAC in scoring defense and fourth in total defense along with seventh in rushing defense (103.5 ypg.) and sixth in passing defense (183.9 ypg.). The Golden Knights recorded 33 sacks, the second-highest total in the PSAC and 22nd in Division II.
 
With that improvement in mind, Raeburn elevated Thomas Pearson and Cody Swanson to co-defensive coordinators with Nardo's departure.
 
The strength of the Gannon defense lies in the back eight, with two starting linebackers and the entire secondary returning. The unit feeds off the talents and energy of Chris Farnsworth (Bristol, Pa./Milton Hershey). The senior defensive back is now a two-time All-PSAC West performer after earning first team honors last year. He led the team both in tackles (91) and interceptions (4), along with numerous big plays. Redshirt junior Kam Snell (Owings Mills, Md./Good Counsel) started all 11 games at safety and redshirt senior Reginald Hamlette Jr. (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) ten contests at cornerback. 
 
Senior Zharell Walker (Severn, Md./Meade) is an undersized linebacker at 5'11", 200 lbs. but joined the starting lineup midway through the year and ended the year third in tackles with 50. He was in his first year as a junior college transfer. Hayden McDonald (Tigard, Ore./Tigard) was another transfer to make a big impact, starting all 11 games and totaling 45 tackles.
 
The question on the defensive side of the ball is the front three. All three starters earned All-PSAC West honors, but all are gone. Raeburn notes that plenty of talent exists up front, but game experience is lacking. Defensive end Obi Ezeigbo (Ewing, N.J./Ewing), a 6'3", 252 lb. redshirt junior, leads the way after finishing with eight TFL and 4.5 sacks last year.
 
It's a bit of the old and a bit of the new with the kicking game. Redshirt senior Eric Scarpino (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) returns as the placekicker and ranks among the career kicking leaders. Newcomer Donovan Warren (Santa Cruz, Cal./Santa Cruz County Office of Education), a transfer from San Diego Mesa, is expected to handle the punting duties. He averaged 38.9 yards on 33 punts last year.
 
For the second straight year Gannon opens the season against Mountain East Conference foe Charleston (WV) on a Thursday night. Last year the Golden Knights debuted with a 47-13 win over the Golden Eagles at McConnell Family Stadium. This year the two teams will meet in Charleston on August 31 as Gannon seeks its third straight season-opening win. Charleston was 6-5 a year ago and was recently picked to finish third in the MEC preseason poll.



 


Head Coach:

Erik Raeburn enters his fourth season as Gannon's head coach and his 23rd overall. He owns a 14-12 record at Gannon, but overall is an impressive 157-74. He captured win number 150 in last year's season opener vs. Charleston (WV). In addition to Gannon, Raeburn has also served as the head coach at Coe College, Wabash and Savannah State. In 2021 the Golden Knights posted a 5-6 finish, the most wins since the 2017 squad was also 5-6. Raeburn assumed the head coaching duties during the COVID-impacted 2020 season, picking up his first win at Gannon with a 28-21 win over Mercyhurst in overtime.
 
Key Returnees – Offense:
 
Redshirt senior WR Ke'John Batiste (Covington, La./Covington) – after hauling in just four passes for 72 yards in 2021, the redshirt senior earned first team All-PSAC West accolades after catching 64 passes for a school-record 957 yards with 8 TDs. The 64 receptions were tied for second all-time. He had five games with 100-or-more yards.   
 
Redshirt junior RB Antonio Wright (Palm Bay, Fla./Melbourne) Jr. – the redshirt junior takes over as the lead runner for the Golden Knights after serving as Melvin Blanks' (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) caddy the last two years. The 5'10", 170 lb. native of Florida finished eighth in the PSAC in rushing last year while finishing with 700 yards on 110 carries with 4 TDs, averaging 64 yards per carry. He gave a glimpse of what he's capable of with larger volume against Edinboro, rushing for 213 yards and 3 TDs on 21 carries after Blanks went down with an injury and did not play in the second half.
 
RECs Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep)/Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)/Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney)/Bransen Stanley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston)/Donell "Tank" Mason – a deep receiving corps feature these five receivers in addition to Ke'John Batiste (Covington, La./Covington) and tight end Jonathan Bowden (Palm Bay, Fla./Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy). Mason (26 rec.-332 yds.-1 TD) was named the PSAC West Offensive Freshman of the Year, taking advantage of an injury that limited East to just three games. East was off to a fast start with 21 receptions and 4 TDs before going down for the year. He has 73 career receptions, while Stanley has 86, including 30 for 410 yards and 3 TDs last year. Johnny Freeman (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) has 67 career catches and may see time at tight end this year, while Damerisse Freeman Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) adds 39 career receptions. All told the group has combined for close to 300 career receptions and 33 touchdowns.
 
Redshirt senior C Montana Nietert (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora) – the redshirt senior has started 29 games in his career and is a two-time All-PSAC West honoree. He earned second team recognition a year ago after being named to the first team in 2021. Nietert has bulked up to 315 lbs.
 
Senior OG Jacob Petit (Uniontown, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) – Petit provided the Golden Knights with a pair of All-PSAC bookend guards along with Nietert. He moved over from the defensive line in 2021 and has started all 22 games since then. He was picked to the All-PSAC West first team in 2022.
 
Key Returnees – Defense:
 
Senior DB Chris Farnsworth (Bristol, Pa./Milton Hershey) – now a two-time All-PSAC West pick after moving up to the first team following a second team selection in 2021. He finished second on the team in tackles with 74 that year, and with the defense designed to take advantage of his skills, led the team last year with 91 tackles and four interceptions.
 
Senior LB Zharell Walker (Severn, Md./Meade) – a junior college transfer who was in his first season as a Golden Knight, the senior stepped into the starting lineup in the fifth week and proceeded to finish third on the team in tackles with 50.
  
Redshirt senior DL Obi Ezeigbo (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) – the top returnee on a defensive line that had all three players earn All-PSAC West honors last season. The 6'3", 252 lb. defensive end had 25 tackles in a reserve role with eight TFL. He was third on the team in sacks with 4.5.
 
Redshirt senior DB Reginald Hamlette Jr. (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) – started the final 10 games at cornerback, ending the year with 41 tackles and finishing second on the team with three interceptions. He has made 18 career starts in the secondary.
 
Key Returnees – Special Teams:
 
Redshirt senior PK Eric Scarpino (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) – enters his final season ranked in numerous career categories, including 14th in career points scored with 143, seventh in career field goals made (17), tied for sixth in career field goals attempted (23), and third in career field goal percentage (73.9 pct.). In addition, he is third in career extra points made (93), fourth in career extra points attempted (99), and fifth in career PAT percentage (92.9 pct.). A year ago he made 4-of-6 field goals and was 36-of-40 on extra points. In 2021 he had a career-long 45-yard field goal against Shepherd and drilled the game-winning three-pointer, a 27-yarder, at East Stroudsburg midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Season Opener:
Thursday, Aug. 31: at Charleston (WV), 7 p.m.
 
Preseason Polls:
Gannon was picked to finish fourth among eight teams in the PSAC West Preseason Poll. In addition, the Golden Knights are among others receiving votes in the AFCA Division Preseason Top 25.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

RB
6' 1"
Senior
Business
Kory Curtis

#7 Kory Curtis

QB
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
Ke

#1 Ke'John Batiste

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Jonathan Bowden

#84 Jonathan Bowden

TE
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sam East

#3 Sam East

WR
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Undeclared
Obi Ezeigbo

#33 Obi Ezeigbo

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Chris Farnsworth

#9 Chris Farnsworth

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Johnny Freeman

#18 Johnny Freeman

TE
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Damerisse Freeman Jr.

#2 Damerisse Freeman Jr.

WR
6' 3"
Senior
Reginald Hamlette Jr.

#7 Reginald Hamlette Jr.

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Melvin Blanks

#2 Melvin Blanks

6' 1"
Senior
Business
RB
Kory Curtis

#7 Kory Curtis

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Ke

#1 Ke'John Batiste

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Jonathan Bowden

#84 Jonathan Bowden

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
TE
Sam East

#3 Sam East

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Undeclared
WR
Obi Ezeigbo

#33 Obi Ezeigbo

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
DL
Chris Farnsworth

#9 Chris Farnsworth

5' 11"
Senior
DB
Johnny Freeman

#18 Johnny Freeman

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
TE
Damerisse Freeman Jr.

#2 Damerisse Freeman Jr.

6' 3"
Senior
WR
Reginald Hamlette Jr.

#7 Reginald Hamlette Jr.

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
DB