Oct. 6, 2007

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - The Grand Valley State football team showed why it is the No. 1 team in the country, shutting down a potent Mercyhurst offense in a 59-7 victory Saturday at Tullio Field. After scoring at least 40 points in four consecutive games, Mercyhurst was held to one fourth-quarter touchdown and 224 yards of total offense.

Although Grand Valley State led 14-0 after one quarter of play, Mercyhurst had outgained the "other" Lakers 101-96 and had moved the ball effectively. But an interception on Mercyhurst's first possession gave Grand Valley short field position and the Lakers scored on a one-play, four-yard drive to make it 7-0.

Mercyhurst did have a seven-play drive on its next possession but was forced to punt and Grand Valley went 86 yards on 13 plays, capped off by a James Berezik four-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-0.

On its next possession, Mercyhurst almost cut the deficit in half behind the strong play of Richard Stokes. Starting at the 26, Stokes had a 10-yard run and a 29-yard pass reception to put the Lakers inside Grand Valley territory. A 24-yard Stokes rush gave Mercyhurst first-and-goal from the three. However, the drive stalled and Head Coach Marty Schaetzle opted to try for the touchdown on fourth down, but Phillis' pass attempt to Aaron Haynes came up short and Grand Valley took over on downs.

Berezik scored his second touchdown of the game on a 72-yard rush early in the second and Grand Valley took a 35-0 lead into the half. The lead ballooned to 59-0 after three quarters and Ben Jennings scored the only touchdown of the fourth quarter, posting two carries of at least 20 yards on the drive and finishing it with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Jennings finished the game with six carries for 56 yards, while Stokes had 11 rushes for 63 yards. Phillis and Joe Laffey split time at quarterback, combining for 107 yards through the air.

Now 4-3 on the season and 3-3 in GLIAC play, Mercyhurst will head on the road to play Findlay Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The Lakers are 3-1 on the road this year.

Postgame Notes: Richard Stokes average 5.7 yards per carry on 11 rushes and back-up Ben Jennings averaged 9.3 yards per carry on six carries and had Mercyhurst's only touchdown of the game...Stokes became Mercyhurst's all-time leader in carries with 482 and also went over 500 career receiving yards on a 29-yard pass reception in the first quarter. He needs 22 yards rushing to become the first player in program history to have 2,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in his career...With his 63 yards rushing against Grand Valley, Stokes now has 735 on the season, moving him into fifth place on the Mercyhurst single-season chart.