Complete Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.- The Mercyhurst football team ended its 2011 season on a losing note, falling at Shippensburg 40-16 on Saturday afternoon. The game was tied 13-13 at halftime and the Lakers led 16-13 after a Steven Wakefield 33-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, but the Raiders scored four touchdowns to close the game on a 27-0 run. The Lakers ended the 2011 season with a 4-7 overall record.

Senior wide receiver Trevor Kennedy, playing in his final game as a Laker, compiled 302 all-purpose yards in a losing effort, capping a monster senior season that earlier this week earned him a nomination for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

Freshman running back Richie Sanders scored both Laker touchdowns in the first half, the first on a nine-yard pass play from quarterback Anthony Vendemia with 8:29 left in the first quarter, giving the Lakers a 6-3 lead. He then scored on a two-yard run with 8:58 left in the opening half, which tied the game at 13-13.

Wakefield booted his 33-yard field goal with 5:20 left in the third quarter, giving the Lakers a 16-13 lead. But, long plays and quick drives would doom the Lakers from that point on, as the Red Raiders would score the final 27 points in the span of 9:23 to put the game out of reach.

Shippensburg's Mike Frenette scored on a 53-yard run on the next Red Raider possession, putting the home team up for good at 20-16 with 4:25 left in the third quarter. Frenette would finish the day with 112 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Then, quarterback Zach Zulli found Trevor Harmon from 64 yards out with 25 seconds left in the third, put Shippensburg up 27-16.

The Red Raiders would tack on two more scores early in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

The Lakers' offense was held to 246 yards on the day, while the Red Raiders gained 338 against the Laker defense. Sophomore Allen Jones II led the Lakers' ground attack with 80 yards on just five carries, aided by a career-long 59-yard run in the first half. Sanders finished with 50 yards on 14 carries and both touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving).

Vendemia had a rough afternoon, completing just 15-of-44 pass attempts for 138 yards. He threw one interception and was sacked four times. Kennedy was the favorite target, catching 12 of Mercyhurst's 16 completions on the day, for 109 yards. Senior quarterback Travis Rearick, who was lost for the season during the Gannon game, started and threw one pass - a completion to Kennedy.

Kennedy racked up a majority of his 302 all-purpose yardage on kickoff returns, running back seven kicks for 196 yards, including a long of 79.

Defensively, the Lakers were led by sophomore Dustin Galich, who finished the afternoon with 10 total tackles and two tackles for a loss. Senior Bryant Kimball and redshirt freshman Michael Foster chipped in with eight tackles apiece.

NOTES:

A native of Akron, Ohio, Kennedy had a season to remember for the Lakers in 2011. He set Mercyhurst single-season records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,389), receiving touchdowns (15), and all-purpose yards (2,232). He held the previous records for receptions (75) and touchdowns (11), which he set during last season PSAC Championship year. His receiving yard number broke Ed Bailey's 11-year record of 1,102, and his all-purpose yardage figure has shattered Richard Stokes' record of 1,540 back in 2007. 

He led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in all four of those categories and also led the conference in touchdowns scored by any running back or wide receiver.

He also broke the school's single-game record with four receiving touchdowns against Kutztown back on September 10. Kennedy also eclipsed school records this season in consecutive games with a touchdown catch with seven (previously held by Justin Siemon who had six in 1999) and most games catching a touchdown pass in a season with eight (previously held by Siemon in 1999, Bailey in 2000, and Josh Szeluga in 2007 who all had seven).

Career-wise, Kennedy finishes second all-time in receptions with 194 (Ed Bailey had 201) and receiving yards with 2,758 (Bailey had 2,983). He tied Bailey's record with 28 career receiving touchdowns. He also finishes second all-time in all-purpose yards with 4,249, but first all-time on a per-game basis, averaging 118 yards over 36 career games.

Senior defensive back Bryant Kimball had eight tackles, giving him 60 for the season, and 252 for his career - placing him 16th on the all-time list.

Senior linebacker Kevin Williams had six tackles, giving him 70 for the season, and 193 for his career - placing him 28th on the all-time list.

Despite finishing the season at 4-7, the Lakers still outscored their opponents 308-301. Saturday's game marked the first time all season that Mercyhurst did not score first in a game this season.

Senior linebacker Ian Wild missed the final three games due to a shoulder injury. He still led the team with 90 total tackles in eight games, which gave him 304 for his career - tied for eighth on the all-time list.

Earlier in the week, Kennedy was named one of 22 nominees for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Also, a program-record four players were named First Team Capital One Academic All-District selections - seniors Ian Wild, Bryant Kimball, and Andrew Bukta; and redshirt sophomore Steve Reinhardt.