THE GAME FACTS
Final Score: Gannon 38, #14/#16 Slippery Rock 35
Records: Gannon (1-4, 1-0 PSAC West), Slippery Rock (3-2, 0-2 PSAC West)
Location: McConnell Family Stadium, Erie, Pa.
Date: October 4, 2025 ERIE, Pa. – Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) came off the bench to rally Gannon to 38-35 win over nationally-ranked Slippery Rock on Saturday at McConnell Family Stadium. The win was the first of the season for the Golden Knights after four straight losses and snapped a ten-game losing streak to SRU.
Slippery Rock jumped out to a 28-14 lead early in the second quarter as SRU scored on each of its first four possessions. The tide turned in the final six minutes of the half as Gannon scored three touchdowns and took a 35-28 lead at the half.
Two much-maligned phases of the game – defense and special teams – played a huge role in the rally as Gannon came up with several stops while improving to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC West. THE KNIGHT CAP

• 6 for 6: Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) has shared the quarterback duties with Anthony Harris (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) this season, and in fact it was Harris who drew the start. But Hurst, a transfer from Clarion, relieved in the third series and remained at the helm the rest of the way. He completed 13-of-19 passes for 209 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 66 more yards with a touchdown on 18 carries. The redshirt sophomore even punted twice for a 43.0 yard average.  
• More of Moore: With leading receiver Donell "Tank" Mason missing his second straight game with an injury a young group of receivers was asked to step up. Freshman Damario Moore (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) caught 3 passes for 46 yards, including a 38-yard TD reception, and had 28 yards rushing on four carries. But his most impactful play was an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that tied the score at 14-14 midway through the first quarter. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2013. Oddly enough it also came against Slippery Rock, a 93-yarder by Quad Law.
• Special Teams Special: The special teams units had struggled over the first four games but on Saturday played a huge role in the upset. In addition to Moore's kickoff return for six points, Bryson Costa (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) kicked a 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter which actually proved to be the winning margin. And Hurst ran 16 yards on a fake punt to keep a drive alive. It eventually led to Costa's three-pointer. Finally, they pulled off a successful onside kick in the second quarter that led to a touchdown that tied the game at 28-28. 
• D Forces Three Turnovers: A year ago Gannon forced just five turnovers and the unit had just two entering today's game. The Golden Knights forced three by SRU – a fumble recovery by Sir Jerome Treadwell (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll) and interceptions by David Fairer (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) and Donovan Faria (Land O'Lakes, Fla./Land O'Lakes). Fairer's came at the goal line to save a potential touchdown and Faria's diving pickoff, his first career INT, halted SRU's final drive near midfield with just over a minute remaining.
• A Look at the Numbers: Slippery Rock outgained Gannon 540 yards to 438 but the Golden Knights held a 12-minute advantage in time of possession (36:02 to 23:58). That despite a ten-minute drive to start the second half. The Gannon defense forced a turnover on downs to the GU 8 to end that drive.
• SRU Ranked 14^th and 16^th Nationally: Slippery Rock came in ranked 14th in the AFCA Div. II Top 25 and 16th in the D2Football.com poll. The win was the first over a ranked opponent since Oct. 29, 2022, a 43-36 win over No. 11 Indiana (Pa.).
• Tush Push Works: Both of Gannon's quarterback scored on the tush push, a play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles. Anthony Harris (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) gave Gannon a 7-0 lead on a one-yard plunge and Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) did the same in the second quarter. The play features backup tight end Blaine Duncan (Hickory, N.C./Fred T. Foard) providing the "push".
• Hurst to Faulkner for the Lead: Gannon's comeback from a 28-14 deficit was complete when James Faulkner (West Bloomfield Township, Mich./West Bloomfield) hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hurst with 64 seconds left in the first half. That gave the Golden Knights a 35-28 lead.   

UP NEXT
The Golden Knights play back-to-back games at home with Clarion visiting McConnell Family Stadium on Saturday, October 11. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.