Boxscore

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon University's Jason Ladouceur caught his only reception of the game and broke for a 73-yard touchdown score with 2:01 remaining to complete the 14-10 come-from-behind victory over rival Mercyhurst College. 

Facing a second-and-four from the Gannon 27-yardline, Golden Knights quarterback Zach Boedicker scrambled towards the Mercyhurst sideline where he hit Ladouceur to stun a Laker defense that had been in control until that point. 

Mercyhurst, now trailing 14-10, returned the ensuing kickoff to the 33-yardline where its first play from scrimmage was intercepted by the Golden Knights' Kevin Minor. 

Then, with just under two minutes left on the clock, the Lakers defense did not back down as it forced Gannon to turn the ball over on downs and set the stage for one last comeback attempt when Bryant Kimball stuffed GU running back Tyler Batts on fourth-and-three. 

However, down to their last 45 seconds and the ball at the Mercyhurst 20-yardline, the Lakers comeback bid was foiled by Gannon's Connor Kimball as he recorded the Golden Knights third interception on the day to seal the upset. 

The win marks Gannon's (3-2, 1-1 PSAC West) first over Mercyhurst since 2005 when the Golden Knights handed the Lakers (3-2, 1-1 PSAC West) a 35-26 setback also at Gannon University Field. 

Mercyhurst opened the scoring in fast and furious fashion as the Lakers' Bryan Boyce forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage and an alert Tim Herbener recovered it at the Gannon 35-yardline. 

Two plays later Garrett Kensy completed a 33-yard touchdown strike to Trevor Kennedy who was all alone along the Gannon sideline. 

The Lakers looked as though they would add another score to start the second quarter after Ryan Taylor intercepted Boedicker at the Gannon 43-yardline, but Kensy's pass was intercepted in the endzone by Chris Cook to end the threat. 

And just like the Lakers who transformed a takeaway into points on the next possession, so too did the Golden Knights. Boedicker's 41-yard strike to Corey Bradley knotted the score at 7-7 and capped off an 8-play, 83 yard drive that took 4:05 off the clock. 

Two possessions later, Mercyhurst took a 10-7 lead into halftime after Steven Wakefield nailed a 27-yard field goal with 1:53 remaining in the first half. The kick capped a 10-play, 32-yard drive that chewed up five minutes and eight seconds. 

In a game that featured just 439 yards of combined total offense and 17 punts, the Lakers controlled tempo with just over 34 minutes of possession but two costly penalties in the second half helped turn the tide of momentum in the Golden Knights favor and quiet a struggling offense. 

On one of those punts, Kennedy caught the ball at the 5-yardline and scampered home for what looked to be like a touchdown only to have it called back for a holding. Then, six plays later facing a third-and-10 from the Gannon 23-yardline, Kensy hit Paris Bruner for what looked like a touchdown until that too was negated by a holding penalty. From there, the Lakers' pass fell incomplete on third-and-20 and a delay of game penalty moved the Lakers out of field goal range. 

Mercyhurst could not find momentum after that drive, punting on its next two possessions before turning the ball over on downs at the Gannon 21-yardline with 2:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

The second half featured 10 consecutive punts and no points until the Gannon defense made the critical fourth-down stop. 

Both teams were matched evenly in statistics as Gannon held advantages in passing yards (182-66) and total yards (246-193) while Mercyhurst had the edge in first downs (9-8), rushing yards (127-64) and time of possession (34:08-25:52). 

The Lakers look to get back on track next week when they travel to Indiana (Pa.) for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 9. Mercyhurst defeated the Crimson Hawks a year ago in Erie, upsetting then-ranked No. 21 IUP, 20-16.