Sept. 23, 2006

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ERIE, Pa. -

Mercyhurst (1-3, 1-3 GLIAC) used big plays, long drives and turnovers to bring the Niagara Cup back to campus with a 35-14 win over rival Gannon (0-4, 0-4 GLIAC) at Tullio Field.  The Lakers scored on plays of 41 and 37 yards, had a 99-yard touchdown drive and returned an interception for a touchdown in the game.

Richard Stokes rumbled for 168 yards - the most for a Laker in 13 years - and three scores to lead the Lakers to the victory.  Mitch Phillis was 14-of-19 for 239 yards and a touchdown, completing passes to eight different receivers.  In all, Mercyhurst tallied 399 yards of total offense.

Mercyhurst got on the board first when Stokes rushed 41 yards to cap a 77-yard drive with 3:34 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

The Lakers also scored on their next two possessions.  After Craig Moone had the first of his two interceptions on the day, Phillis hit David Lough for the 37-yard score on the first play for a 14-0 lead.

Gannon took the kick and marched down the field.  The Golden Knights faced fourth and goal on the one yard line and Bryan Boyce made the biggest of his 11 tackles, stopping Jon Richardson as Gannon turned the ball over on downs.

On the first three plays of the drive, Stokes ran for six, 11 and 27 yards.  Later, on a third and seven, Phillis hit Lough for 27 yards to keep the drive going.  Stokes capped the 10-play, 99-yard drive four plays later with a one-yard plunge, as the Lakers took a 21-0 lead into the half.

In the third quarter, the Lakers attempted a 31-yard field goal, but the snap was bad.  Phil Scanlon picked up the loose ball and tried to throw it away, but the Golden Knights' Tomar Pettis intercepted the ball and took it 95 yards for the score.

Gannon had its best chance to get back into the game after the Lakers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the GU took over at the Mercyhurst 23.  On fourth and five from the 18, Butler was pressured  and threw into the endzone, where Moone came up with a diving break up to get the Lakers the ball back.

Mercyhurst then marched 82 yards as Stokes ran for his third touchdown on another one-yard plunge for a 28-7 lead.  Phillis hit Aaron Haynes for a 58-yard strike in the middle of the drive that moved the ball to the Gannon five.

In the fourth quarter, after Brandon Hill pinned the Golden Knights at their own four yard line with a 49-yard punt, Vinnie DeLuca was picked off by Freddie Banks, who returned the ball 36 yards for the score and a 35-7 lead.  It was the first time a Laker returned a pick for a score since Ben Bluemle on September 11, 2003 against Ferris State.

Gannon added a late score with just over a minute left when DeLuca hit Ronald Keels for a 46-yards score and the 35-14 final.

Stokes' 166 yards are the second best effort in the series and the sixth highest single game total by a Mercyhurst player. Craig Woodard ran for 168 yards in the 1993 meeting between the rivals.  It was also the third time Merychurst had a player rush for three scores against Gannon. 

The defense came up big for the Lakers.  The unit entered the game 13th in the conference in rush defense, but held the Golden Knights to just 67 yards on the ground.

Boyce had two tackles for loss among his 11 stops.  Theo Hall had eight tackles, forced a fumble, and picked off a pass.  Moone had his two interceptions and critical pass breakup.

Hill averaged 52 yards on four punts. 

The Lakers intercepted Butler four times, the most in a game for Mercyhurst since the squad intercepted UIndy five times on October 25, 2003.  

Butler threw for just 141 yards on 12-of-24 passing.  Jon Richardson ran 14 times for 30 yards.  Sam Culberth became Gannon's all-time leading receiver with 74 yards on five catches.  Dan Tomko led all players with 12 tackles.

The win was Mercyhurst's first in the series since the series resumed in 2004.   

The Lakers will try to make it back-to-back wins when they travel to Ashland on Saturday, September 30 for a 1:00 PM kickoff.