ERIE, Pa. – What a wild finish at Tullio Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Mercyhurst University football team rallied from a 14-point second quarter deficit and then needed a missed field goal as time expired to defeat the visiting Golden Rams of West Chester University, 37-35, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East-West contest. The Lakers improved to 2-0 on the season while the Golden Rams dropped to 0-2 on the young campaign.

With the victory, the Lakers have now won nine straight dating back to last season and have started the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2003 - head coach Marty Schaetzle's second season as the Laker boss. That season, Mercyhurst opened with wins over West Virginia Wesleyan and Northern Michigan.

While most of the scoring occurred during the first half before mother nature took control of the game, the fans that stuck around for the end saw an incredible finish. With West Chester leading 35-31, the Golden Rams took over after redshirt senior quarterback Brendan Boylan was intercepted in the endzone with 6:15 left in regulation. After rattling off two first downs, the West Chester drive stalled, thanks to a personal foul penalty and a sack by senior James Karasek - the only sack of the game from either side. Facing a 4th-and-36 from its own six-yard line, West Chester was forced to punt. But, Brendan Paulison shanked his kick and Mercyhurst took over at the West Chester 15-yard line.

On 4th-and-3 from the eight-yard line, Boylan rushed around the right end and scampered into the endzone with 52 seconds left to give Mercyhurst a 37-35 advantage. It was Boylan's fourth career rushing touchdown. But, on the ensuing point after attempt, the snap was mishandled and then a desperation pass was picked off at the goal line. Kevin Duggan seemingly returned the ball the length of the field, which would have tied the game at 37-37. However, an illegal block in the back at midfield against the Golden Rams nullified the return and Mercyhurst kept the two-point lead.

West Chester's Pat Moriarty drove the Golden Rams to the Mercyhurst 18-yard line setting up a potential game-winning 35-yard field goal attempt for Ben Solis. However, the kicked sailed wide right and Mercyhurst was able to hang on for the two-point victory - the program's first in three tries against West Chester. It was also the first game between the two schools in Erie.

66 of the game's 72 points were scored in the first half.

The Lakers jumped out quickly and drew first blood when redshirt senior Brandon Brown-Dukes scooted 15 yards to paydirt with 11:56 left in the first quarter. The rushing touchdown was Brown-Dukes' second of the season and 31st of his career. He now trails all-time leader Richard Stokes by six for the all-time record for rushing touchdowns in program history. Junior Dylan Kondis converted the point after.

The Golden Rams wasted little time in tying the contest, going 71 yards in just six plays on the ensuing drive. Eddie Elliott capped off the drive when he scored from 13 yards out. Sophomore Ben Solis hit the first of his five points after on the afternoon.

West Chester took the lead when Moriarty found wide receiver Jim Hurley with a six-yard strike with 5:38 still left in the opening 15 minutes. The lead, however, was short-lived as the Lakers drove 85 yards in eight plays on their next possession. The 3:45 drive culminated with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Boylan to senior wide receiver Dylan Bongiorni.

The Golden Rams retaliated early in the second quarter when Eerin Young scampered in from six yards out to retake a seven-point lead, 21-14. West Chester then forced a three-and-out and after the Lakers' punt was returned to their 39, Moriarty and Hurley connected on a 39-yard TD pass and the Golden Rams' lead was suddenly at 14 points, 28-14.

Mercyhurst then drove 66 yards in 13 plays. When the drive, however, stalled at the West Chester 18, Kondis converted a 34-yard field goal, his first attempt of the season. It was also a career-long for the junior kicker - he booted a pair of 30-yard attempts a year ago. 

Continuing the offensive explosion, the teams combined for three scores within a two-minute span late in the quarter. Boylan threw a pair of touchdown passes to senior FJ Williams, one for 23 yards and one from 17 yards out, sandwiched around a 21-yard scoring scamper by the Golden Rams' Adam Dempsey – bringing the halftime score to 35-31 in favor of West Chester.

The wind and rain slowed both offenses in the second half. But, both teams did have chances to put points on the board before the frenzy in the closing minute.

Early in the third quarter, West Chester had a first-and-goal from the Mercyhurst three-yard line but could not punch it in after a brilliant goal line stand by the Laker defense. On the ensuing drive, Mercyhurst drove all the way to the West Chester 14 before Boylan mishandled a snap and fumbled it away to West Chester's Drew Formica.

In the fourth, Mercyhurst had a first-and-goal from the West Chester seven-yard line. But, on second down, Boylan's pass intended for freshman tight end Bryce Mostoller appeared to slip out of his hand and Ted Patton picked it off in the endzone.

The team combined for 903 yards of offense, 454 for Mercyhurst. The Lakers had more first downs, 24-21 and more passing yards (332-272). Boylan was 19 of 41 on the afternoon for 331 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. It was his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing effort which established a new school record for most consecutive 300-yard games. Senior FJ Williams was his favorite target with nine catches for 174 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Williams has made his presence felt in his first two games as a Laker - hauling in 12 catches for 267 yards and two scores.

Brown-Dukes finished with 21 carries, a touchdown, and 112 of the Lakers' 122 yards on the ground. It was his 16th career 100-yard effort and moved him to within 106 yards of becoming the school's all-time leading rusher - a record currently held by Richard Stokes from 2005-08.

Defensively, redshirt junior Tarique Ellis led the way with 10 tackles and two pass break-ups while redshirt junior Bruno Natter had eight. Junior Dorian Stevens had the Lakers' lone interception.

Mercyhurst will play its first road game of the season next Saturday, September 19, when it visits PSAC-rival Bloomsburg University at 2:00 p.m. The Huskies lead the all-time series 3-2.