Jordan Tolliver
Jeff Kirik
Jordan Tolliver celebrates fumble recovery in fourth quarter.
17
Seton Hill SHU 2-3 , 1-1
23
Winner Gannon GAN 1-4 , 1-1
Seton Hill SHU
2-3 , 1-1
17
Final
23
Gannon GAN
1-4 , 1-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SHU Seton Hill 0 10 0 7 17
GAN Gannon 10 10 3 0 23

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

Gannon Defense Comes Up Big as Golden Knights Celebrate Homecoming with 23-17 Win over Seton Hill

THE GAME FACTS
Final Score: Gannon 23, Seton Hill 17
Records: Gannon (1-4, 1-1 PSAC West) I Seton Hill (2-3, 0-1 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Location: Erie, Pa. I McConnell Family Stadium
 
ERIE, Pa. – A battered Gannon team celebrated Homecoming with a 23-17 win over Seton Hill in front of a large crowd at McConnell Family Stadium on Saturday. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak dating back to last year as the Golden Knights improved to 1-4 and 1-1 in the PSAC West. Seton Hill saw a two-game winning streak come to an end while moving to 2-3 and 0-1, respectively.

The Golden Knights had faced a very difficult first four games, with the four opponents a combined 13-3. In Seton Hill they faced a team they had enjoyed success against previously, winning nine of the previous ten meetings, including the last three.

Gannon jumped out to a 10-0 lead after one quarter, and at one point appeared ready to seize control of the game. It turned into a contest in which the defense had to step up with several big plays to hold off the Griffins.

Most notable was three turnovers forced by the Gannon defense, along with a blocked punt. The Golden Knight D had failed to produce a turnover in the first four games.

The blocked punt midway late in the first quarter led to a field goal and the 10-0 lead. An interception and long return by linebacker Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) set up a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half, giving Gannon a 20-10 lead.
Gannon recovered a pair of fumbles in their territory in the final period, the first by Jordan Tolliver (Baltimore, Md./Woodlawn) and the second by Baker with just under a minute to play.

The Golden Knights are back in action next Saturday, October 12 at No. 9 Slippery Rock. It will be Homecoming at SRU, with The Rock coming in at 5-0 after a narrow 33-32 win at No. 21 Indiana (Pa.) today.    




GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon took the opening kickoff and proceeded to drive 57 yards on just five plays to a quick 7-0 lead. It looked like the drive would stall immediately with a holding penalty on the very first play. But Donell "Tank" Mason broke off an 11-yard run and David Morgan Jr. (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) followed with a 23-yard burst. Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) and Mason combined on a 14-yard pass play to the SHU 19. After an incompletion Whitaker found Matthew Bean (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee) running free in the left flat. The big 6-foot-5, 259 lb. tight end caught the pass and rambled into the end zone to complete the 19-yard scoring play with 12:18 left in the first quarter.

Gannon made it 10-0 late in the opening quarter after Andrew Kuban (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) blocked a punt, with Eric Steinle (Cranesville, Pa./Northwestern) recovering at the SHU 13. The Golden Knights would reach the six before Bryson Costa (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) stepped in and kicked a 24-yard field goal at 2:45. It was the freshman's first career three-pointer.

Seton Hill scored the next ten points in just 17 seconds to knot the score at 10-10. The Griffins got on the board following the Gannon field goal with a field goal of their won. Ben Zavatchan converted from 21 yards out with 13:56 left in the half.    

On Gannon's first play from scrimmage following the field goal D'Kairi Boone stepped in front of a Whitaker pass and returned it 26 yards for a pick six and a 10-10 tie with 13:39 remaining.

Gannon's next possession resulted in a lost fumble after the Golden Knights had driven to the SHU 15. The defense produced a three-and-out, and short punt left Gannon with the ball at the SHU 40. Two first downs saw the Golden Knights inside the ten, but the drive stalled and Costa was forced to come in and attempt another field goal. This time the freshman was good from 27 yards for a 13-10 lead with 3:10 remaining in the half.

Seton Hill drove into Gannon territory with a minute to play when redshirt senior Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) came up with one of the biggest plays of his career. The linebacker dropped back into coverage and intercepted Jake Cruz' pass at the GU 29. He proceeded to weave his way all the way down to the SHU 3, breaking numerous tackles in the process for a 68-yard return. It was Gannon's first forced turnover of the season.

Forty-nine seconds remained following Baker's return. On 3rd-and-goal from the two Whitaker tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to another tight end, Jonathan Bowden (Palm Bay, Fla./Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy). The score with 18 seconds left in the half gave Gannon a 20-10 lead at intermission.

After an exchange of punts to start the third quarter the Gannon defense rose up to stop Seton Hill on a 4th-and-3 play at the GU 41. Redshirt senior linebacker Hayden McDonald (Tigard, Ore./Tigard) roared in to throw Seton Hill standout running back Ky'Ron Craggette for a three-yard loss. It was one of the few times all day the defense was able to corral Craggette, who finished with 165 yards rushing.

The defensive stop led to Costa's third field goal of the day, this one from 45 yards out with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter. The field goal was set up by an 18-yard pass from Whitaker to Mason and gave the Golden Knights a seemingly comfortable 23-10 advantage.

Things got much tighter early in the fourth quarter after Whitaker threw his second interception of the day. Quinton Posey returned it 26 yards to the GU 43. On their first play following the pickoff the Griffins used a trick play to closed the gap to 23-17. Wide receiver Cody Rubrecht took a backwards pass from Cruz and found Taiyon battle wide open at the GU 28. Battle completed the 43-yard scoring pass to make it 23-17 with 13:25 left to play.

The Gannon defense staved off two more Seton Hill drives, forcing fumbles to halt the Griffins. The first came after a blocked punt gave Seton Hill the ball on the GU 48. Two plays later David Francis Jr. (North Hollywood, Calif./Ulysses S. Grant) forced a fumble and Jordan Tolliver (Baltimore, Md./Woodlawn) pounced on it with just over ten minutes to play. Tolliver was returning after missing the last three games with an injury.

Following three punts Seton Hill took over with just under four minutes left in the game at their own 29. Eleven plays later the Griffins were at the GU 21. Facing 3rd-and-10 Cruz dropped back and was hit by Charles Calhoun (Euclid, Ohio/St. Edward). The SHU quarterback fumbled with Baker recovering at the 36. Three kneeldowns later Gannon had its first win of the season.
     
BY THE NUMBERS
Gannon finished with 289 total yards while Seton Hill gained 338 yards. Both teams ran off 61 plays. For the first time this season it was the Gannon rushing attack that led the way. The Golden Knights ran for a season-high 166 yards despite missing three starters on the offensive line. Seton Hill finished with 149 yards rushing and 189 yards through the air. Gannon had 123 yards passing.

While having an up-and-down day Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) accounted for 200 yards in total offense. The redshirt freshman ran for a career-high 87 yards on 21 carries while passing for 123 yards. He completed 12-of-20 passes. David Morgan Jr. (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) added 56 yards on the ground on 10 carries. Donell "Tank" Mason paced the Golden Knights with three receptions for 50 yards.

Seton Hill's Ky'Ron Craggette finished with 165 yards rushing on 25 carries while adding six catches for 30 yards. Tayon Battle had three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Ty Tiggs (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) had a career-high 11 tackles to pace Gannon. Hayden McDonald (Tigard, Ore./Tigard) added eight stops and Serrell Curtis (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) seven. Tiggs and Curtis are the only two members of the secondary to start all five games.

Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) inched closer to the top 20 in career tackles, boosting his total to 209 tackles. The redshirt senior had a 68-yard interception return and recovered a fumble. The 68-yard INT return is tied for the seventh-longest in team history.

After seeing seven players make their first career starts a week ago due to injuries Gannon had two more players start for the first time this week. A revamped offensive line missing three starters had redshirt freshman Nevin Davila (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) open at center and redshirt junior Cameron Stoffel (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) get the start at right tackle.

Bryson Costa (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals. The freshman had previously missed his lone attempt. He made good from 24, 27 and 45 yards. The 45-yarder is tied for the 13th-longest all-time. He also averaged 36.8 yards on four punts.

In addition to Costa's first field goal, there were several other firsts for the Golden Knights. Matthew Bean (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee), a transfer from Eastern Illinois, caught his first career touchdown pass, covering 19 yards. Trey Baker's (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) interception was the first of his career. Freshman Andrew Kuban (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) caught the first two passes of his career, good for 22 yards.

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) has now had a hand in seven of Gannon's eight touchdowns this year after throwing for two scores. The redshirt freshman has five touchdowns passing and two rushing.

Gannon entered Saturday's game with just seven points scored in the first and second quarters this year. The Golden Knights eclipsed that total with ten points in both quarters for a 20-10 lead at the half.   

UP NEXT
Gannon faces its second ranked opponent in four weeks making the short journey down I-79 to play at No. 9 Slippery Rock. It will be Homecoming for SRU, with kickoff at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium set for 1:00 p.m. The Rock improved to 5-0 on Saturday with a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining to win at Indiana (Pa.) 33-32.
 
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