Jerome Lee vs. IUP
Bryce Dolak
35
Winner Indiana (PA) IUP 6-3 , 3-3
7
Gannon GAN 2-6 , 2-3
Winner
Indiana (PA) IUP
6-3 , 3-3
35
Final
7
Gannon GAN
2-6 , 2-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
IUP Indiana (PA) 0 21 7 7 35
GAN Gannon 7 0 0 0 7

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

Golden Knights Take Early Lead but Fall 35-7 to IUP

Whitaker scores on 13-yard run on opening drive

THE GAME FACTS
Final Score: Indiana (Pa.) 35, Gannon 7
Records: Gannon (2-6, 2-3 PSAC West) l Indiana (Pa.) (6-3, 3-3 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Location: Erie Pa. I McConnell Family Stadium
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon took the opening kickoff and drove 74 yards for a quick 7-0 lead but the rest of the game belonged to visiting Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium. The 35-7 loss dropped the Golden Knights to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC West while IUP improved to 6-3 and 3-3, respectively.

The Golden Knights had won the previous two meetings against the Crimson Hawks, but after the impressive initial touchdown drive the stout IUP defense held the Gannon offense at bay. The Crimson Hawks proceeded to score on five of their next six possessions to pull away.

The IUP defense proved as stingy as its pre-game numbers. It came in ranked second in the PSAC and 22nd in Division II in scoring defense and total defense. Gannon would finish the day with 252 total yards and was forced to punt on eight straight possessions before the final drive ended on downs at the IUP 15.

Gannon has two games remaining in the 2024 campaign. The Golden Knights play for the final time on the road next Saturday, November 9 at Clarion, then host Lock Haven on Saturday, November 16.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
After winning the toss and choosing to receive, Gannon drove smartly down the field on a nine-play, 74-yard drive that ate up 5 minutes, 15 seconds. Redshirts freshman quarterback Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) completed all four of his pass attempts for 58 yards. The last one covered 19 yards to Napoleon Harris (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy) to the IUP 9. After David Morgan Jr. (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) was thrown for a four-yard loss, Whitaker scored on the next play for a 13-yard touchdown run. He faked a pitch to the left then sprinted up the middle untouched into the end zone.
IUP took control of the game with three touchdowns in the second quarter, all set up by Kalen Frazier punt returns. The first was a 17-yard return to the GU 47. Six plays later the Crimson Hawks were in the end zone thanks to a three-yard touchdown run by JD Younger with 9:23 left in the second quarter.

The Crimson Hawks took the lead for good on their next possession following a three-and-out for Gannon. This time Frazier's 10-yard return gave IUP the ball at its own 30. Karst Hunter completed a 32-yard pass to bruising fullback Parker Gregg on the first play from scrimmage. Hunter then threw deep to imposing wide receiver Maurice Massey for the first of Massey's three TD grabs on the day. This one covered 38 yards.

Gannon would gain one first down on its next possession before punting. Frazier had his best return of the day, a 45-yarder, and IUP took over at the GU 32. This time the Crimson Hawks needed four plays to go up 21-7, the score coming courtesy of a four-yard run by Kaleb Monaco with 2:25 left in the half.

IUP would put together two long scoring drives in the second half, one in each quarter. Both were scored by Massey. The first was a 52-yard pass from Hunter to cap an eight-play, 95-yard drive with 5:33 left in the third quarter.

Gannon was able to drive inside IUP territory to the 45 on the following possession before having to punt. The Crimson Hawks took over at the 20 and needed eight plays once again to cover 80 yards. Massey's third touchdown of the game covered 38 yards for a 35-7 lead with 12:02 left in the game.

The Golden Knights' final possession was a 10-play, 71-yard drive featuring the running and receiving of Jerome Lee (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights). Lee caught three passes for 23 yards and Whitaker hooked up with Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) for a 43-yard completion, the longest reception of Soboleski's career. The drive reached the IUP 8 but an incompletion and sack turned the ball over on downs.  
     
BY THE NUMBERS
IUP finished with 460 total yards while the Golden Knights were limited to 252. The Crimson Hawks had 303 through the air and another 157 yards rushing. Gannon was unable to establish a running game after the opening drive, with the figure also impacted by four sacks. The Golden Knights had 198 yards passing but just 54 on the ground.

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) has now accounted for 13 of Gannon's 15 touchdowns this season. The redshirt freshman quarterback opened the scoring with a 13-yard run. He completed 16-of-25 passes for 198 yards and was also Gannon's leading rusher, albeit for 18 yards on 14 carries.

Jerome Lee (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) entered late and finished with 15 yards rushing on seven carries, adding three receptions for 23 yards. Donell "Tank" Mason caught three passes for 45 yards to go over 100 career receptions. Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) caught two passes for 61 yards.
Freshman wide receiver Andrew Kuban (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) was a bright spot in the return game. He returned five kickoffs for 104 yards.

The Gannon defense was led by Keoke Toomer (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis). The redshirt sophomore linebacker posted a career-high 11 tackles. Tyler Tiggs and Hayden McDonald (Tigard, Ore./Tigard) added eight apiece. Serrell Curtis (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) had the lone tackles behind the line of scrimmage for Gannon, finishing with 2 TFL among his 6 stops. Charles Calhoun (Euclid, Ohio/St. Edward) recovered a fumble, the lone turnover of the afternoon for either team. Tiggs hit caused the fumble.

Karst Hunter paced IUP with 303 yards passing, completing 14-of-20 passes with 3 TDs, all to Maurice Massey. Massey turned in a monster effort with 6 receptions for 181 yards. JD Younger led the IUP ground game with 54 yards on 13 carries.   

THE RECORD BOOK
Donell "Tank" Mason became the tenth receiver in Gannon history to reach 100 career receptions. The junior wide receiver had 3 catches for 45 yards to give him 101 career receptions. That is tied for ninth all-time. He is also eighth in career receiving yards with 1,474 yards.

Though playing with several injuries Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) has moved into the top 20 in career tackles. The redshirt junior linebacker totaled six stops on Saturday to boost his career total to 224. That is good for 17th in the career tackles chart.

UP NEXT
Gannon plays its final road game of the 2024 campaign on Saturday, November 9. The Golden Knights play at Clarion with the kickoff set for 12 noon. 
 
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