Oct. 14, 2006

Stats

ERIE, Pa. - A 47-yard screen pass from Mitch Phillis to Richard Stokes in the first quarter gave Mercyhurst (2-5, 2-5 GLIAC) a lead it would not relinquish as the Lakers downed Findlay (1-6, 0-6 GLIAC) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest.

Phillis ended his day 19-of-27 passing for 249 yards and a pair of scores. Stokes rushed for 64 yards and also led Mercyhurst with 59 yards receiving.

On the Lakers' first drive, Phillis hit Brandon Hill for 11 yards to keep the chains moving on third and three. After an incompletion and a penalty, Stokes caught a 12-yard pass and on the following play had his 47-yard catch and run to give Mercyhurst a 7-0 lead.

With a nasty crosswind, Phil Scanlon's kickoff travelled to the Findlay 18, where the Oilers' failed to field the ball and the Lakers' Adam Brown recovered. Three plays later, Scanlon booted a 31-yard field goal as Mercyhurst took a 10-0 lead with 6:44 left in the first period.

Findlay answered back with a steady diet of Melvin Jackson. The Oiler running back carried eight times on the drive for 63 yards. The 12-play, 85-yard march ended with a seven-yard touchdown from Anthony Lanzara to Joel McDaniel to make it 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams failed on fourth down conversions on their first possession of the second period. After Lanzara's pass on fourth and seven was broken up by Bryan Boyce, Mercyhurst went on a 13-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up over six minutes of game time. Mercyhurst faced a fourth and three on the drive, but drew Findlay offide to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Phillis hit Mark Watson for a nine-yard score and a 17-7 lead.

A pair of defensive plays highlighted the second half for the Lakers. Late in the third quarter, Findlay had a fourth and one at the Mercyhurst eight. The Oilers handed off to Jackson, who was stopped in the backfield by Boyce.

In the fourth quarter, with Mercyhurst leading 24-7, Mike Leach, who relieved Lanzara in the second half, completed four straight passes as the Oilers marched to the Mercyhurst 21. But Leach and his receiver had miscommunication, resulting in a Craig Moone interception in the end zone with 8:00 to play.

The Lakers had taken the 24-7 lead earlier in the quarter on a 12-yard end around by David Lough.

The Laker defense was led by the linbackers. Jimmy Kokrak had 10 tackles to lead Mercyhurst. Boyce had eight stops, two for loss, and broke up a pass. Aaron Parks had seven tackles and a sack. Charlie Gleisner also made seven tackles.

Jackson gained 99 yards on 17 carries. Leach finished 10-of-15 for 90 yards and an interception, all in the second half. George Ashman caught four passes for 51 yards.

Nick Notario and Justin Lyons had 10 tackles apiece.

The Lakers dominated in time of possession. After Findlay held the ball for 8:38 in the first quarter, the Lakers held the ball for 28:21 over the final 45 minutes to end the game with a 34:43-to-25:17 advantage.

Mercyhurst also outgained Findlay 344-to-278. Nine players caught passes for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst will look for its third win of the season when the Lakers travel to 3-4 Hillsdale on October 21 for a 2:30 PM kickoff.