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LYNDHURST, Ohio – It was an all-around game of firsts in the season-opener for the Mercyhurst and Notre Dame College football teams. 

The Falcons, playing collegiate football for the first time in the institution's 88-year history, had its inauguration spoiled by the Lakers with a 23-0 win at Brush High School's Korb Field. Meanwhile, the Lakers celebrated the opening of their 30th season of football by winning the season-opener for the first time since the 2007 season. 

And like the Falcons, the Lakers continuously registered firsts on the day. 

To begin, Mercyhurst freshman Steven Wakefield put the Lakers on the board with a 30-yard field goal in his first career attempt, capping off a 10-play, 66-yard drive that took just 5:04 off the clock in the squad's second possession of the game. 

Then, red-shirt sophomore Andrew Bailey added his first career rushing touchdown to give the Lakers a 10-0 lead. Bailey, who was a wide receiver a year ago, scored from 1-yard out to highlight a 5-play, 75-yard drive in which he also registered a 22-yard run. 

Wakefield then added his second field goal of the day, this time from 27 yards out to push the Lakers to a 13-0 advantage that would hold through the close of the first half. 

The Lakers did have two very good opportunities to add to their total in the opening stanza, but both times Mercyhurst found itself deep inside Falcon territory Notre Dame College responded. First, with the Lakers facing a 1st-and-10 from the NDC 35-yardline, Garrett Kensy fumbled the ball . The Lakers threatened again on their final possession of the second quarter, but with less than a minute left Kensy's pass was intercepted at the Falcons' 18-yardline. 

In the second half, the Lakers opened with Wakefield's third field goal on the day, this time from 32-yards out. Wakefield finished the game one field goal shy of the game record set in the 1992 season-opening win against Bethany. 

That looked like the only scoring the Lakers would see in the third quarter, but another Bailey rushing touchdown, this time from three yards out, capped off an eight-play, 31-yard drive for a 23-0 advantage. A blocked field goal in which the Falcons were penalized for an illegal jump allowed the drive to continue.
Bailey finished with career-highs in his first true game as a running back, gaining 31 yards on nine carries. Gerald Anderson also aided the Lakers ground game that picked up in the second half, collecting 47 yards on 21 carries. 

The aerial attack quietly amassed 201 yards passing, with Kensy connecting on 16-of-27 passes,

Defense was the name of the game for the Lakers, holding the Falcons to 127 yards of total offense, 34 of which came on the ground in 36 attempts. The only real chance for the Falcons came with 12:56 remaining in the game. Facing a 4th-and-8 from the Mercyhurst 15-yardline, the Falcons nearly pulled out the catch and run by but fell just inches short. 

Ian Wild and Bryan Boyce each recorded nine tackles in the contest, with Boyce registering three sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. 

The Lakers open PSAC mandated crossover play on Sept. 11 at Kutztown after a bye-week. Kickoff against the Golden Bears is set for 6:05 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the two squads. 

Notes:

In its 30th season of competition, the Mercyhurst College football team improved its all-time record to 137-144-4. 

The Lakers win their first season opener since 2007 when they defeated Kentucky State, 21-6, and move to 4-5 in the first game of the year under head coach Marty Schaetzle. 

Against teams from Ohio, the Lakers move to 16-27 all-time, last winning against Ashland and Findlay in 2007. 

Senior linebacker Bryan Boyce overtook 18th place on the all-time tackles list at Mercyhurst. He now stands at 220 for his career. Additionally, his 2.5 sacks moved his career total to 12, taking over 14th place all-time at Mercyhurst. 

Running back Andrew Bailey scored the first rushing touchdown of his career and added another to post his first multi-touchdown game of his career.

Freshman kicker #Steven Wakefield just missed tying the Lakers' single-game record (4) for field goals.