Bryce Wood vs. Kutztown
Mike Gallagher

Football Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Football Game Preview: Golden Knights Travel to California (Pa.) to Open PSAC West Action

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS at CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS
DATE/TIME: Saturday, September 28, 2024 | 12 noon
STADIUM/LOCATION: Adamson Stadium l California, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
GAME NOTES
 

THE GANNON-CALIFORNIA (PA) SERIES
California (Pa.) leads 12-3

Last Meeting: Nov. 4, 2023 – California (Pa.) 34, Gannon 17 | RECAP
Davis Black threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Cal pulled away for the win at McConnell Family Stadium. Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Sam East (Jackson Township, N.J./Saint John Vianney) early in the third quarter to pull Gannon to within 14-10 but the Vulcans scored the next 17 points. Gannon stopped the run with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Nate Mikell (Summerfield, Fla./Wildwood) to Ke'John Batiste (Covington, La./Covington).
 
RECORDS
Gannon: 0-3; 0-0 in PSAC West
California (Pa.): 2-1; 0-0 in PSAC West
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon opens PSAC West action on Saturday, September 28 playing at California (Pa.). Kickoff at Adamson Stadium is 12 noon. The game is the home opener for the Vulcans.

The Golden Knights come in reeling after beginning the season against three teams that are a combined 8-1. The going certainly doesn't get any easier against one of the powerhouses of the Western Division. California (Pa.) finished at 7-3 a year ago, its 19th consecutive winning season. That is the longest in the PSAC. The Vulcans were 6-1 in league play, good for second place in the division. They were picked to finish second in the preseason poll.

Gannon is 0-3 after opening with a 28-14 loss to Northwood, followed by a 24-7 setback at East Stroudsburg and last week's 37-14 loss to seventh-ranked Kutztown. The Golden Knights also lost their first three games a year ago but then won five of their next six contests.  

Head coach Erik Raeburn hopes to see a similar turnaround this year. The Golden Knights now face a California (Pa.) team that is 2-1 and riding a two-game winning streak. The Vulcans opened the season with a 23-19 loss at then No. 23 Charleston (WV). Since that time they posted a 38-28 win at West Chester and last week won a 27-20 decision at Lock Haven in a third straight road game.

Gannon's defense has had to battle injuries, particularly in the secondary where numerous players had to step in. The offense, meanwhile, has had to rely on the right arm of Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg). The redshirt freshman has thrown for 626 yards and 3 TDs, with Donell "Tank" Mason ranking fourth in the PSAC in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game. He has 17 receptions for 278 yards and a touchdown.

The Golden Knights will look once again to establish a ground game. They have faced some of the best rushing defenses in Division II the first three weeks and California (Pa.) is no exception. The Vulcans Cal are ranked fifth in the PSAC and 13th in Division II in rushing defense, allowing 75.3 ypg. That is helped by a PSAC-leading 12 sacks. Braxton Todd (Martinsburg, W. Va./Martinsburg) turned in a strong effort vs. Kutztown with 12 carries for 61 yards.

Following the game at California (Pa.) the Golden Knights return to McConnell Family Stadium on Saturday, October 5 to host Seton Hill. The game is the annual Homecoming game.

Rosters:  Gannon  California (Pa.)
Schedules:   Gannon  California (Pa.)
Statistics:   Gannon  California (Pa.)
Head Coaches:  Gannon's Erik Raeburn   California (Pa.)'s Gary Dunn

Golden Knights to Watch
QB Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) -- Whitaker played three games at quarterback last year, leading the Golden Knights to come-from-behind wins over Mercyhurst and Indiana (Pa.) before going down with a season-ending injury the next week. He has completed 45-of-79 passes for 626 yards with 3 TDs and one interception. The redshirt freshman threw for a career-high 289 yards against Northwood.

WR Donell "Tank" Mason – the junior enjoyed the biggest night of his career against Northwood. He hauled in eight passes for a career-best 181 yards. That's the fourth-highest single-game total and bettered his 164-yard showing against Clarion last year. The 2022 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Mason leads Gannon with 17 receptions for 278 yards while climbing into 14th place in career receptions with 83 and 12th in career receiving yards with 1,244.

RB Braxton Todd (Martinsburg, W. Va./Martinsburg) – the redshirt sophomore missed the Northwood game with an injury but has returned since and leads Gannon with 90 yards on 19 carries. He had 61 yards on 12 rushes against a very strong Kutztown defense.

LBs Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) and Hayden McDonald (Tigard, Ore./Tigard) – the two redshirt seniors rank one-two in tackles. McDonald led the Golden Knights with a career-high 17 tackles against Northwood and has a team-high 26 stops after three games. A year ago McDonald started all 11 games and totaled 61 tackles and 10.5 TFL. Fellow redshirt senior Baker had 10 tackles in each of the first two games and has 25 tackles, including a team-high 4 TFL. He finished as the second-leading tackler a year ago with 65 stops, including 8.5 TFL and has 26 career starts and 200 career tackles.

P/PK Bryson Costa (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) – a true freshman, Costa is off to a fast start serving the dual role of placekicker and punter. He is averaging 47.4 yards on 13 punts, with seven covering 50+ yards. His average ranks second in the PSAC and fourth in Division II. He is also a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points while missing his lone field goal attempt.
 
Scouting California (Pa.): After three straight games on the road to open the season the Vulcans debut at home hosting Gannon. They survived the three-game road trip with a 2-1 record, losing at then 23rd-ranked Charleston (WV) 23-19, before winning at West Chester (38-28) and Lock Haven (27-20). Cal was picked to finish second in the PSAC West preseason poll after finishing 7-3 overall, the 19th straight winning season, and 6-1 in the division, good for second. Head coach Gary Dunn, in his ninth season, welcomed back 17 starters, including nine on offense. That includes senior quarterback Davis Black, who finished second in the PSAC last season with 252.5 passing yards per game. A former transfer from Charleston (WV), Black threw for 2,525 yards with 19 TDs and 12 INTs. He has completed 48-of-85 passes for 606 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. He's also run for four TDs. He was a first team All-PSAC West selection in 2023. Eric Willis III, his top target a year ago with 56 catches for 925 yards and 9 TDs, is also back after earning first team All-PSAC West honors. The junior wide receiver had a breakout 2023 season, leading the PSAC in receiving yards and receptions per game. He is off to a fast start with 12 receptions for 199 yards and a score.  Cal's defense has been particularly stingy against the run, limiting opponents to 75.3 ypg. rushing along with 326.7 ypg. in total defense. Cal is ranked fifth in the PSAC and 13th in Division II in rushing defense. A week ago the Vulcans limited Lock Haven four yards rushing, thanks in part to seven sacks. Cal ranks second in the PSAC and fourth in Division II in sacks with 12 in just three games. Nine different players have taken part in sacks, with Armani Caraballo already recording four sacks.

Next for the Golden Knights:  Sat., Oct. 5 vs. Seton Hill, 1:00 p.m.
Gannon will celebrate Homecoming when the Griffins visit McConnell Family Stadium.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ke

#1 Ke'John Batiste

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Sam East

#3 Sam East

WR
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Undeclared
Nate Mikell

#6 Nate Mikell

QB
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Trey Baker

#50 Trey Baker

LB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Hayden McDonald

#4 Hayden McDonald

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Braxton Todd

#28 Braxton Todd

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
Jayden Whitaker

#9 Jayden Whitaker

QB
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
Bryson Costa

#33 Bryson Costa

PK
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ke

#1 Ke'John Batiste

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Sam East

#3 Sam East

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Undeclared
WR
Nate Mikell

#6 Nate Mikell

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Trey Baker

#50 Trey Baker

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Hayden McDonald

#4 Hayden McDonald

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Braxton Todd

#28 Braxton Todd

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
RB
Jayden Whitaker

#9 Jayden Whitaker

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
QB
Bryson Costa

#33 Bryson Costa

6' 0"
Freshman
PK