Erie, Pa. – Richard Stokes rewrote the record book and the Mercyhurst football team retained possession of the Niagara Cup with a 35-32 victory over Gannon Saturday night at Gannon's University Field. The Lakers have beaten Gannon three years in a row, averaging 39.7 points per game in those victories.

 

On a night when Stokes became Mercyhurst's career touchdown leader, he posted one of the biggest games in program history, becoming the first player to score five touchdowns in one contest. He finished the game with 38 career touchdowns, passing Justin Gibson (who scored 36). Stokes also rushed for 145 yards – his third consecutive game with at least 138.

 

Mercyhurst overcame a 10-7 halftime deficit and led 14-10 through three periods before a wild fourth quarter in which the two teams combined for 43 points. Stokes scored on touchdown runs of three yards and one yard to make it 28-10 with 10:22 to play in the game, but Gannon battled back.

 

The Golden Knights got a three-yard Bob Bartley touchdown with 7:02 to play to make it 28-17 and then forced the Lakers to go three-and-out to regain possession with 4:50 left. Gannon cut into the deficit as Bartley completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brig Van Etten and then Bartley found Jacobe Smith on the two-point conversion try to make it 28-25 with 1:45 to go.

 

Gannon attempted the on-side kick but the Lakers recovered and Stokes took the first play 43 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory. The Golden Knights capped the scoring on a Bartley touchdown pass to Levar Goff as time expired, but it was not enough to overcome the 10-point deficit.

 

Mercyhurst got on the board quickly to start the game as Stokes scored from nine yards out on the Lakers first possession. On that drive, Kensy completed a 17-yard screen pass to Stokes on a third-and-14 and then found Max Khuri behind the defense for a 37-yard bomb that set up Stokes' first score.

 

Gannon scored late in the first quarter on a Jon Richardson 22-yard touchdown to tie the game and the Golden Knights got the only scoring of the second quarter on a Jeremy Ditzler 22-yard field goal.

 

Kensy finished the game 11-for-17 passing for 169 yards and one interception. Bartley was 22-of-37 for 266 yards for Gannon and Zach Boedicker was 3-for-5 for 35 yards. Richardson was held to only 85 yards rushing for the Golden Knights.

 

Defensively, Mercyhurst had three quarterback sacks but did not force a turnover. Bryan Boyce led the team with 13 tackles, three for loss. Bryant Kimball and Jimmy Kokrak had nine tackles apiece.

 

Gannon drops to 3-4 on the year and 1-3 in PSAC West play. The Lakers improve to 5-2 on the season and remain tied for first in the West with a 4-0 division record. Mercyhurst will look to stay at the top of the conference standings when the Lakers play at Indiana (Pa.) Saturday at 1 p.m.