CLARION, Pa. – After winning three straight to start the year, the Mercyhurst University football team bowed for the second successive week, this time a 41-27 road loss to unbeaten Clarion Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Lakers fell to 3-2 overall and to 0-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division. Clarion, under first-year coach Chris Weibel, improved to 5-0 and 2-0 respectively.

Redshirt senior running back Brandon Brown-Dukes rushed for an even 100 yards on 12 carries against the Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon to become the school's all-time leading rusher. The 100 yards gave Brown-Dukes 3,427 yards for his career, surpassing Richard Stokes who finished his brilliant career with 3,381 yards from 2005 to 2008. It was Brown-Dukes' 17th career 100-yard rushing effort - extending his school-record.

The Golden Eagles took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in six plays capped off by a 41-yard pass from junior quarterback Connor Simmons to Delrece Williams. Phil Esposito kicked the point after, one of his 11 points in the contest – five points after and two field goals.

The Lakers couldn't move the football on their first possession and Esposito kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 10-0 Clarion advantage after a five-play, 18-yard drive stalled.

The Lakers retaliated when redshirt senior quarterback Brendan Boylan found senior tight end John Matarazzo from 21 yards out and, with a junior Dylan Kondis point after conversion, the Golden Eagles' lead was trimmed to three.

But Clarion scored again late in the first quarter when Simmons threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time to Kevin Genevro, and the hosts led 17-7 after 15 minutes.

Mercyhurst then moved 65 yards in nine plays with Boylan hitting redshirt senior fullback T.J. Latimer from a yard away with 12:09 left in the second quarter. Kondis converted for the second time to cut the Clarion lead to 17-14.

Back came Clarion, however, on a nine-play, 65-yard drive of its own capped by Simmons' eight-yard scamper.

Neither team scored again in the half as the teams went to their dressing rooms with Clarion holding a ten-point (24-14) advantage.

The Lakers closed to 24-21 midway in the third when senior wide receiver FJ Williams caught a two-yard toss from Boylan. But that was as close as the Lakers would get the rest of the way as the Golden Eagles rattled off 17 unanswered from that point. Simmons scored his second rushing touchdown (1 yard) with 3:44 left in the third and the Clarion ten-point lead was restored at 31-21.

The Golden Eagles put the Lakers and the game away with two fourth quarter tallies eight minutes apart. Simmons threw his third touchdown pass of the game – a 15-yard strike to junior wide receiver Matt Lehman – with 10:30 left and Esposito closed Clarion's scoring with a 35 yard field goal with 2:41 on the clock. Mercyhurst redshirt junior quarterback Zach Emerick relieved Boylan on the Lakers' final possession and threw a 26-yard strike to FJ Williams, his first TD toss of the season, with just four ticks left. Kondis point after was blocked.

Clarion piled up 22 first downs and 482 yards of total offense, 431 via the air. Simmons finished 26-of-33 for 431 yards and three touchdowns. The Clarion quarterback also rushed for a pair of scores.

The Lakers totaled 17 first downs 314 yards of offense, 211 over the top. Boylan finished 21-of-32 for 141 yards and three scores. Emerick was 6-of-6 off the bench for 70 yards and a touchdown.

FJ Williams now has six TD receptions for the year as the Lakers have scored 15 of their 19 offensive touchdowns through the air.

Redshirt junior Tarique Ellis led the Lakers' defense with nine total tackles. Redshirt senior Tevin Stewart hauled in the game's only interception - his third of the season. The Lakers were a combined 9-of-18 on third and fourth down conversions and a perfect 4 of 4 in the red zone. Clarion finished 4-of-8 on third down and 6-of-7 in the red zone.

Mercyhurst, which blanked Clarion 28-0 last year at Tullio Field, still leads the all-time series 5-3.

Mercyhurst will try to regroup next Saturday, October 10, when it hosts cross-town rival Gannon University at Tullio Field. Kickoff is slated for 12:04 p.m. due to national television coverage.