Mercyhurst Game Notes
Live Audio
Live Video
Live Stats

WALTHAM, Mass. - The Mercyhurst University football team will be looking to get the 2014 season off to a strong start when it opens the regular season with a non-conference game at Bentley University on Saturday, September 6.

The two teams met in the season opener last season - a contest that saw the Falcons edge the Lakers, 17-16, at Bentley Stadium. Mercyhurst outgained Bentley 379-299 and held a 16-10 lead late in the third quarter before the Falcons' Jet Kollie scored on a six-yard run with 2:49 left in the third for the final score of the game.

It marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Head coach Marty Schaetzle (62-70, 13th season) guided the Lakers to a 7-4 season last year with a 4-3 mark in PSAC play. After finishing 9-2 in 2012, the program put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since head coach Jim Chapman was at the helm in 1991 and 1992. The two-year stretch of 16-6 is the best since inaugural coach, Tony DeMeo, led Mercyhurst to a 16-3 record during the 1984 and 1985 seasons.

The Lakers have not strung together three consecutive winning seasons since the 1980s when they ran off seven straight from 1983 to 1989.

Bentley, meanwhile, posted a 6-5 record in 2013 as a member of the Northeast-10 conference.

Things started inauspiciously in 2013 as the Lakers lost three of their first four games. However, Mercyhurst won six of its final seven games, including road wins against California (Pa.) and East Stroudsburg to close out the year.

Entering the 2014 season, the Lakers were predicted to finish fourth in the PSAC West as announced in the preseason coaches poll revealed at PSAC Football Media Day on August 11.

If the Lakers are to post a third straight winning season, Mercyhurst will have to rely on two-time PSAC West First Team selection and 2012 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, running back Brandon Brown-Dukes, to have another huge season. Brown-Dukes became the first player in school history to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons after finishing with 1,008 in 2013. He already ranks third on the school's all-time list with 2,303 rushing yards in his first two seasons. He also ranks fourth on the school's all-time list in rushing touchdowns with 24, ninth on the all-time list in all-purpose yards with 2,441, and ranks second in career all-purpose yards per game (116.2).

Also returning are two preseason All-Americans - redshirt senior offensive lineman Ben Gysin and senior free safety Colin Kimball. Gysin was the anchor of an offensive line that helped Mercyhurst average 237.8 rushing yards per game last season - second in the PSAC. Meanwhile, Kimball set school records for interception return yards in a game (86 vs Millersville), interception return yards in a season (151), and interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season (2) a year ago. He picked off six passes in 2013 - the most since Neil Harris had six in 2004.

But, Mercyhurst does have its question marks, most notably at quarterback and at placekicker. At quarterback, redshirt sophomore Zach Emerick appears to be the week one starter. In limited action last season, the Trafford, Pennsylvania native completed 15-of-25 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown. He was a three-year starter at Penn-Trafford High School and was a First Team All-Conference selection as a senior. During his career, Emerick threw for 3,555 yards and 33 touchdowns and also rushed for 782 yards and ten scores.

At kicker, Mercyhurst must find a replacement for graduated Steven Wakefield, who left as the school's all-time leader in nearly every statistical category at kicker. He also is the school's all-time leader in scoring, at any position, with 278 points. Sophomore Dylan Kondis is expected to handle the placekicking duties after not attempting a point after or a field goal last season. Sophomore Jordan Spangler will serve as the backup should Kondis falter. Spangler was 1-for-1 in field goals and 1-for-2 in extra points as a freshman.

Fans can listen to all of the action, all season long, on Mercyhurst's radio station - WMCE 88.5 FM and AM 1530. Fans can also listen online at wmce.fm. The pregame show begins at 11:45 a.m. with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. from Bentley Stadium.