ERIE, Pa. - They say that records were made to be broken. On Saturday afternoon, redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Boylan nearly broke every single-game passing record in Mercyhurst's program history.

Boylan eclipsed single-game school records for completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offensive yards, and touchdowns responsible for, in leading the Mercyhurst University football team to its sixth-consecutive victory, a 59-49 shootout over California (Pa.) on a cold, windy afternoon at Tullio Field. With the win, the Lakers clinched their third straight winning season as they improved to 6-4 overall and 6-3 in the PSAC West standings. The Vulcans dropped to 7-3 overall and 6-3 in conference play.

The three consecutive winning seasons are the first since the program rattled off seven straight winning years from 1983 to 1989.

The Independence, Ohio native completed 37-of-49 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns and then added 19 yards and another score on the ground as he took down record after record on Saturday afternoon. His favorite target, redshirt senior Stephen Yarbrough, also set a school record in the win, recording 238 receiving yards on 12 receptions - three of which went for touchdowns.

All told, the Lakers set a new school record with 640 yards of total offense, breaking their previous record of 628 set against Gannon last season.

But, it certainly wasn't easy as California jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the opening quarter. James Harris, who had a record-breaking performance himself on Saturday afternoon, connected with Kowan Scott on a nine-yard strike just 2:11 into the game. It was the first of four touchdown passes on the day for Harris, who broke California's school record with 473 yards passing in the loss.

Mercyhurst responded with a 29-yard field goal by sophomore Dylan Kondis with 7:26 left in the opening quarter to cut the Vulcan lead to 7-3. But, on the visitors' next drive, Terrell Roberson capped off an 11-play, 77-yard drive with his first of three touchdown runs - a four-yarder - to put California ahead by a 14-3 margin.

Boylan found Yarbrough from three yards out to start the scoring in the second quarter, cutting the Laker deficit to 14-10 with 9:51 left in the opening half. The Laker signal caller then called his own number with 2:13 left in the first half, finishing off a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard sneak into the endzone for Mercyhurst's first lead of the afternoon at 17-14.

But Roberson and the Vulcans drove 65 yards in 1:44 to take a 21-17 lead to the locker room when he scored from two yards out with 22 seconds remaining in the opening half. Mercyhurst drove to the California 30-yard line in the waning seconds of the half, but Boylan was sacked on the final play of the second quarter to nullify an opportunity to take a shot in the endzone.

But, the Lakers, who deferred after winning the opening coin toss, scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 38-21 lead. Boylan had three touchdown passes in the quarter, the first to redshirt senior tight end R.J. Miller with 10:21 remaining to put the hosts back in front by a 24-21 count. Boylan and Yarbrough hooked up on a 44-yard touchdown with 7:05 left and then Miller and Boylan collaborated on a four-yard strike with 5:03 remaining to put Mercyhurst ahead 38-21.

California would make things interesting in the fourth, thanks to big-play connections from Harris to Garry Brown. The duo combined for three touchdowns in the final quarter on pass plays of 76, 75, and 47 yards to keep the Vulcans in the game. The first score from the pair came with 14:27 left in regulation to cut the Laker lead to 38-28. But, Boylan hit redshirt junior fullback T.J. Latimer from four yards out with 11:35 left to put the Lakers back in front by 17.

Brown finished with eight catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

On the second play from scrimmage on California's ensuing drive, Harris and Brown connected for 75 yards, taking just 20 seconds off the clock, again cutting the Mercyhurst lead. The Vulcans then recovered an onside kick and scored again, capped off by Roberson's third rushing touchdown of the day from a yard out with 9:31 left in regulation. The Vulcans, who had their extra point attempt blocked on the previous touchdown, went for two and succeeded when Harris and Brown hooked up to cut the Laker lead to 45-42.

But, Boylan and the Lakers were unfazed. On its ensuing possession, Mercyhurst jumped back in front by ten when Boylan hit Yarbrough for a 54-yard pass play with 7:11 left. Back came the Vulcans when Harris and Brown struck again, this time from 47 yards out with 6:16 left to cut the Mercyhurst lead to 52-49.

Mercyhurst responded with a methodical drive, taking 5:22 off the clock, which was capped off by the first collegiate rushing touchdown for redshirt freshman Alex Misterman from three yards out with exactly one minute left. The big play of the game came on fourth-and-six from the California 14-yard line. Mercyhurst went for it and Boylan found Latimer in the left flat for a nine-yard gain - his record-setting completion - to take additional time off the clock. Senior Colin Kimball picked off Harris for the second time in the game to seal the deal for the Lakers.

Boylan's 37 completions broke Mac McArdle's record of 36 against Michigan Tech in 2000. His 544 passing yards and 563 yards of total offense broke records held by Athletic Hall-of-Famer Matt Kissell in a game against Hillsdale in 1999. Kissell threw for 512 yards and finished with 508 yards of total offense in that contest. Boyln's six passing touchdowns broke the previous record of five held by two different quarterbacks - Kissell twice in 1998 and 1999 and Mitch Phillis in 2007.

He also tied a school record with his fourth 300-yard passing effort of the season.

Yarbrough's 238 yards receiving broke Ed Bailey's record of 235 against Hillsdale in 1999.

Miller had six catches for 82 yards and two scores while Latimer added six receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. The Lakers also got a career-high 93 yards receiving, on three catches, from junior Dylan Bongiorni.

Brandon Brown-Dukes was limited to 16 carries for 55 yards as the ground game for both teams was held in check.

Defensively, Kimball led the way with five tackles and two interceptions. His two picks give him 13 for his career and put him one shy of tying the school record held by Jim Sturm from 1981-84.
Mercyhurst's 59 points set a one-game high at Tullio Field, eclipsing the 58 scored in an overtime win over Wayne State in September of 2007. The combined 108 points were the most in a regulation game at Tullio Field and tied the mark set by Mercyhurst and Wayne State in the Lakers' 58-50 overime win seven years ago.

Mercyhurst will host Shippensburg in the final game of the regular season next Saturday, November 15. Kickoff from Tullio Field is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and will also serve as Senior Day for the Lakers.