Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University football team allowed a season-low 148 yards of total offense to the visiting Fighting Scots of Edinboro and the Lakers knocked off their rivals 19-6 on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Tullio Field on Senior Day. The win moved the Lakers to 5-4 overall on the season and evened their mark at 3-3 in the PSAC Western Division. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots dropped to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

Edinboro could muster just 51 net yards on the ground on 38 carries (1.3 yards per carry) and just 97 more yards through the air against a stingy Laker defense which sacked Edinboro quarterbacks five times and had eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Mercyhurst also put heavy pressure on Edinboro passers six more times, forcing errant throws. Dustin Galich, who was one of 21 seniors honored prior to kickoff, led the way with 11 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, and a quarterback hurry. Redshirt sophomore Niko Otto, freshman Ryan Carroll, and redshirt junior Matt Hyland also had huge afternoons on defense, combining for the other three sacks and six tackles for a loss.

The Lakers did not have their best offensive day either on a rainy Saturday afternoon, but they were able to generate 266 yards on the ground against the Edinboro defense. Mercyhurst quarterbacks, however, completed just 7-of-16 passes for 87 yards - the second straight game Mercyhurst has not thrown for at least 100 yards.

Redshirt sophomore Brandon Brown-Dukes left the game prior to halftime after rushing for 67 yards on ten carries, moving past Mercyhurst Hall of Fame running back Tim Ruth (1982-85) into third place on the school's all-time rushing list. Brown-Dukes now has 2,248 career rushing yards.

But, without Brown-Dukes in the second half, the depth of the Laker rushing corps shined on a dreary day.

Senior Allen Jones II had his third 100-yard output of the season, rushing for 148 yards on 21 carries. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Richie Sanders, playing in just his third game after missing 17 consecutive games with an injury, added 50 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

The Lakers got on the board first when a poor snap on a fourth-down punt resulted in a Mercyhurst safety less than four minutes into the contest. It was Mercyhurst's second safety of the season (Seton Hill). Five minutes later in the quarter, a pair of seniors hooked up as quarterback Anthony Vendemia found wide receiver Steven Yarbrough for a 61-yard touchdown and, with senior Steven Wakefield's PAT, the lead increased to 9-0. It was Yarbrough's only catch of the game and his first career touchdown.

The Lakers scored again five minutes into the second quarter when Sanders galloped eight yards through a gaping hole. Wakefield converted the point after.

Edinboro trimmed the lead to 10 by converting a Mercyhurst fumble into an 11-yard drive with less than six minutes left in the half. Keith Regis finshed the short drive with a 3-yard run. The Fighting Scots went for two but the conversion was nullified by a holding penalty and a subsequent kick was missed.

There was no further scoring until Wakefield kicked a 25-yard field goal with 11:05 left in the game.

Edinboro missed a field goal late in the first half when T.J. Hardy's attempt from 39 yards caromed off the left upright.

The Lakers lost the turnover battle, throwing two picks and losing just their second fumble of the season. Edinboro had one pass intercepted.

The Mercyhurst win snapped a streak of five consecutive successes by the visiting team and squared the all-time series at five wins aoiece.

The Boro used three quarterbacks in the game and the trio combined for 10 of 26 with an interception.

Vendemia was replaced by redshirt freshman Zach Emerick at the start of the second half. Emerick completed 4 of 6 in the final 30 minutes for just 17 yards.

Both teams struggled with the inclement weather in the second half. Each had six possessions after intermission. Edinboro punted three times, lost the ball twice on downs and threw an interception. The Lakers punted four times, kicked a field goal, and finished the game by taking a knee deep in Edinboro territory.

Mercyhurst will conclude the season with road games at California University of Pa and East Stroudsburg.