Jayden Whitaker vs. Cal
Nate Kurtz
34
Winner Gannon GAN 3-6 , 3-3
28
Clarion CLA 3-7 , 1-5
Winner
Gannon GAN
3-6 , 3-3
34
Final
28
Clarion CLA
3-7 , 1-5
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GAN Gannon 7 7 7 13 34
CLA Clarion 0 14 7 7 28

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

Defense Comes Up With Late Stand, Whitaker Accounts for 4 TDs in 34-28 Win at Clarion

THE GAME FACTS
Final Score: Gannon 34, Clarion 28
Records: Gannon (3-6, 3-3 PSAC West) l Clarion (3-7, 1-5 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Location: Clarion, Pa. I Memorial Stadium
 
ERIE, Pa. – After appearing to take a safe lead Gannon found itself needing a defensive stand late in Saturday's game at Clarion, and the defense did just that. The Golden Knights denied the Golden Eagles on fourth down at the Gannon 42 with just over a minute.

The end result was a 34-28 win for the Golden Knights, who have now won two of their last three games to improve to 3-6 overall. They finish at 3-3 in PSAC West action with a crossover game remaining against Lock Haven next Saturday. Clarion dropped to 3-7 and 1-5 in the PSAC West.

Gannon never trailed in the game but the outcome was in doubt until Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) took three kneel downs to run out the clock.

After jumping out to a 14-0 advantage the Golden Knights were tied with Clarion at 21-21 entering the fourth quarter. The regained the lead early in the final period on Whitaker's second touchdown run and took an apparent safe lead with another touchdown with just under three minutes remaining.

Then things got a little crazy. The extra point was missed and following a long kickoff return nineteen seconds later Clarion closed the gap to 34-28. The Golden Eagles recovered the ensuing onside kickoff but the Gannon defense held Clarion without a first down.

Whitaker continued his outstanding play with the best game of his career. The redshirts freshman quarterback threw for 366 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores. He had 408 yards in total offense.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams entered the game tied at 21-21 after Clarion completed a 56-yard drive with a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter. Gannon regained the lead for good just four plays later with a 75-yard drive. Jerome Lee (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) had the longest run of the season for Gannon on the first play, going 38 yards to the Clarion 37. Three players later Whitaker accounted for his fourth score with a 26-yard TD run. With 12:39 remaining Gannon held a 28-21 lead.

The Gannon defense gave up a 21-yard completion on Clarion's first ensuing play to the GU 50, but the Golden Eagles were forced to punt following three straight incompletions.

Taking over at its own seven yard line with just under 11 minutes left, the Golden Knights embarked on a time-consuming drive that ate up over half of the quarter. Going 93 yards in 17 plays, the drive lasted 8 minutes, 8 seconds and resulted in a touchdown with 2:42 remaining.

Gannon converted twice on third down and once on fourth down. The latter was a two-yard run Whitaker on 4th-and-2 near midfield. All told he threw for 66 yards and ran for another 14 yards. His 14-yard pass to Armani Bailey (Lincoln, Pa./Woodland Hills) on 3rd-and-9 carried to the Clarion 4. Jay'Den Birch (Lakewood Ranch, Fla./Riverview) took over from there. After a three-yard run, he scored his first career touchdown from a yard out.

Even with failing to make the extra point Gannon looked to be in charge with a 34-21 lead with 2:42 left to play. But Logan Kent returned the kickoff 83 yards to the seven and Clarion reached the end zone on the next play. Just 19 seconds after Gannon led 34-21 the margin was now 34-28.

Clarion recovered the onside kickoff and took over at the GU 47. Charles Calhoun (Euclid, Ohio/St. Edward) sacked Anthony Guercio for a loss of eight yards on first down. After an incompletion a 13-yard gain left Clarion facing a 4th-and-5 at the GU 42. Keoke Toomer (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) pressured Guercio and his pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over to Gannon.      

For the second straight game Gannon took the opening kickoff and scored a touchdown. The Golden Knights drove 75 yards in 10 plays as Whitaker completed five passes for 77 yards. Donell "Tank" Mason covered the final 34 yards thanks to a Whitaker pass to give Gannon a 7-0 lead at 10:00 of the first quarter.

Gannon went ahead 14-0 with just under nine minutes remaining in the second quarter thanks to a six-play, 78-yard march. The drive began with a 40-yard hookup between Whitaker and Mason. Two more passes to Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) covering 27 yards moved the ball to the Clarion 6. On second and goal Whitaker scored on a four-yard run.

Back came Clarion with touchdowns on its next two possessions to tie the game at 14-14 at the half. Guercio threw for both scores, a 41-yard completion to Trevon Tate and a 17-yarder to Davon Jones.

Each team scored in the third quarter. Whitaker threw his second TD pass midway through the quarter, a six-yard score to Armani Bailey (Lincoln, Pa./Woodland Hills) to complete a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Clarion used a 24-yard punt return to get in scoring position late in the quarter. Guercio scored on a one-yard on the last play of the third quarter.       

BY THE NUMBERS
The numbers suggest a larger margin of victory but it was still the best game of the season. Gannon a season-high 492 yards while limiting Clarion to 266 yards. A majority of that came through the air – 366 yards – but Gannon ran for 126 yards. Gannon's 492 yards in total offense are the most since a 629-yard performance against Clarion on September 24, 2022.

Gannon did not commit a turnover for the third straight game as the game was turnover-free.

Thanks to the impressive fourth quarter drive the Golden Knights held a significant advantage in time of possession, 36:14 to 23:46 for Clarion.

The defense held Clarion to 80 yards rushing and recorded three sacks. It limited the Golden Eagles to 2-of-9 on third down.   

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) enjoyed the finest game of his career, setting career records for completions (27), attempts (36), yards passing (366) and total offense (408). He threw touchdown passes of 34 and six yards while running for scores from four yards out and 26. The redshirt freshman has now accounted 17 of Gannon's 20 touchdowns, with nine TDs passing and eight more rushing.

Donell "Tank" Mason enjoyed his third 100-yard game receiving with 121 yards on seven receptions, including a 34-yard TD grab. Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) had his finest game as a Golden Knight with seven catches for 87 yards. Michael Watkins III (Pompano Beach, Fla./American Heritage School), in his first season at Gannon after transferring from Edinboro, had six catches for 83 yards, all Gannon highs.

Jay'den Birch and Jerome Lee (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) both had the best games of their careers while spearheading the ground game. Birch, a redshirt sophomore, gained 51 yards on 11 carries. That includes a one-yard touchdown run, his first career six-pointer. Lee, a junior in his first season as a Golden Knight, ran for 44 yards on five carries.

Hayden McDonald (Tigard, Ore./Tigard) paced the Gannon defense with seven tackles including a sack. Charles Calhoun (Euclid, Ohio/St. Edward) also had a sack among his six tackles, 2.5 TFL and a forced fumble. Rasheed Frederic (Everett, Mass./Everett) had Gannon's other sack, the first of his career.  

Gannon has now won five straight games against Clarion while taking a 9-7 lead in the all-time series.

Clarion was led by multi-talented quarterback Anthony Guercio. He threw for three touchdowns while completing 16-of-24 passes for 186 yards. Gannon held him to 37 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Trevon Tate came in as the leader in the PSAC in receptions and yards receiving. He finished with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.   

THE RECORD BOOK
With seven catches for 121 yards Donell "Tank" Mason continued to ascend the receiving records. The junior wide receiver is now eighth in career receptions with 108 and has moved up to seventh in career receiving yards with 1,595.

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) threw for 366 yards, the 13th-highest total in a game. In addition, the 408 yards in total yards rank 12th and the 27 completions are tied for ninth. He has rushed for eight touchdowns which is tied for fifth in a season by a quarterback. He has thrown for 1,805 yards this season. That ranks ninth in a season. 

NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon concludes the 2024 campaign on Saturday, November 16 hosting Lock Haven in a PSAC crossover game. Kickoff at McConnell Family Stadium is set for 12 noon with 22 seniors set to be recognized prior to the game as part of Senior Day festivities.  
 
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