Gannon seniors on Senior Day
Jeff Kirik
21
Winner Lock Haven LHU 5-6 , 3-4
13
Gannon GAN 3-7 , 3-3
Winner
Lock Haven LHU
5-6 , 3-4
21
Final
13
Gannon GAN
3-7 , 3-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LHU Lock Haven 7 7 0 7 21
GAN Gannon 7 3 3 0 13

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

Rare Turnovers Lead to 21-13 Loss to Lock Haven on Senior Day

THE GAME FACTS
Final Score: Lock Haven 21, Gannon 13
Records: Gannon (3-7, 3-3 PSAC West) l Lock Haven (5-6, 3-4 PSAC East)
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Location: Erie, Pa. I McConnell Family Stadium
 
ERIE, Pa. – One thing that Gannon had done well all year was avoiding turnovers. But on Saturday the Golden Knights turned the ball over four times – all in interceptions – resulting in a 21-13 loss to Lock Haven on Senior Day.

The day began with 24 seniors being recognized on Senior Day and then the Golden Knights drove 65 yards on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead. But that was the last time Gannon reached the ends zone, as they had to settle for two Bryson Costa (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) field goals the rest of the day.

Gannon came in ranked among the Division II leaders in turnovers lost with just 10 turnovers. In fact the Golden Knights had not committed a turnover in three games and just one in the last four contests. But Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) was intercepted four times, three on tipped balls. The miscues only led to one Lock Haven touchdown, but two came in Lock Haven territory.

Gannon concludes the season at 3-7 while Lock Haven finishes at 5-6.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
Lock Haven took the opening kickoff and drove into Gannon territory but the defense stiffened and Gannon the ball over on downs at its own 35. Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) proceeded to direct an eight-play, 65-yard drive. He called his own number for the opening score, a four-yard run with 8:13 left in the opening quarter. It was the third straight game Gannon scored on its opening possession. Whitaker hooked up twice with Donell "Tank" Mason for 38 yards on the drive.

Lock Haven tied the game immediately with a nine-play, 77-yard march. Record-setting quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky completed five passes on the drive, the last to Quon Williams. Williams broke a tackle and sprinted a total of 28 yards down the right sideline to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:11 remaining.

Gannon's second possession also resulted in a score. However, they had to settle for three points after driving inside the Lock Haven ten yard-line before being called for a holding penalty. The 15-play, 63-yard drive included a 16-yard pass from Whitaker to Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell), one of the 24 seniors honored before the game. The completion came on a 4th-and-6 play and carried to the LHU 9. After reaching the five freshman Bryson Costa (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) came in and booted a 23-yard field goal with 10:36 left in the second quarter for a 10-7 lead.

A roughing the punter penalty extended Lock Haven's ensuing possession after the Golden Knights' defense had halted the Bald Eagles on their won 29. Given new life, Lock Haven continued the drive and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on a 4th-and-7 play that started at the GU 27. Ostrowsky was able to find T'iar Young for a 27-yard touchdown. A big receiver, Young was able to shield a Gannon defender and come down with the ball in the end zone. That gave LHU a 14-10 lead with 5:06 left in the half.

Gannon inched closer at 14-13 when Costa kicked his second field goal of the day late in the third quarter. The freshman drilled a 44-yarder with 1:16 left in the quarter to cap a nine-play, 44-yard drive after the Gannon defense held the Bald Eagles on downs at the GU 34. It was his second field goal of 40-or-more yards this season. The drive featured a conversion on 3rd-and-18 as the Whitaker-Mason connection hooked up for 23 yards. On the next play it was Soboleski catching a 25-yard pass.

Two of Gannon's last three possessions ended in interceptions. The first came midway through the fourth quarter as Whitaker's throw tipped off a Gannon receiver and into the hands of Jaelon Perry at the LHU 34. Perry returned the kick 47 yards to GU 19, and a personal foul against Gannon the Bald Eagles a 1st-and-10 at the nine. Following an incomplete pass Damir Green scored on a nine-yard run to boost Lock Haven's lead to 21-13 with 5:25 remaining.

Gannon failed to get a first down on its next possession after beginning inside the 50. The Bald Eagles were able to eat up some time before having to punt. The Golden Knights took over at their own 23 with 1:53 left to play. Whitaker led the Golden knights to a pair of first downs while completing three passes. The last was a 21-yard completion to Napoleon Harris (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy) giving the Golden Knights a first down at the LHU 34 with a minute left. His next pass ended up in the hands of Lock Haven's Darryl Pollard to end the drive. Two kneel downs ended the game.

BY THE NUMBERS
The total offense numbers were even, with Gannon gaining 398 yards and Lock Haven 379. Both teams did most of their damage through the air, with Gannon throwing for 308 yards and Lock Haven 278.

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) topped 300 yards passing for the second straight game, completing 19-of-31 passes for 308 yards. However, after throwing just five interceptions over the first nine games he was guilty of four on Saturday. The redshirt freshman was also sacked four times.

Donell "Tank" Mason had his second consecutive 100-yard receiving effort and third of the season. The junior wide receiver caught seven passes for 120 yards. Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) added four catches for 69 yards and Michael Watkins III (Pompano Beach, Fla./American Heritage School) had three for 65 yards.

Jerome Lee (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) finished as Gannon's leading rusher with 34 yards on seven carries. The junior had a 37-yard run called back by a penalty.

A trio of linebackers led the Gannon tackles chart. Bryce Wood (Erie, Pa./McDowell) had a career-high 12 stops, with Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) and Hayden McDaniel finishing with 10 apiece. Both were playing in their final game. Jordan Tolliver (Baltimore, Md./Woodlawn), yet another Golden Knight in his final game, had eight stops and a pair of passes broken up.

Lock Haven featured a passer with 250 yards, and a rusher and receiver with 100 yards. Jackson Ostrowski threw for 278 yards, completing 25-of-43 passes with 2 TDs. As usual T'iar Young was his favorite target. He added to his season totals of 60 catches for 1,034 yards with nine grabs for 112 yards and a TD. Damir Green ran for 101 yards on 15 carries, also scoring a touchdown.

THE RECORD BOOK
Donell "Tank" Mason will enter his senior season ranking sixth in career receptions and career receiving yards. He boosted his career numbers to 115 catches for 1,715 yards. Mason ended the year with 49 catches, good for a tie for tenth in a season, and his 769 yards stands seventh in a season.

Redshirt senior linebacker Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) added 10 tackles to his career total on Saturday. He departs with 235 career stops which ranks 14th all-time.

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) ended the season throwing for 2,113 yards. That figure is good for ninth in a season. In addition, he totaled 2,367 yards in total offense. That ranks tenth in a season.          
 
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