OFFICIAL GAME NOTES

THE GAME
The Mercyhurst football team will play its 2016 home opener when East Stroudsburg visits Tullio Field for a Pennsylvania State Athetic Conference interdivisional matchup on Sept. 17. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.

The Lakers are coming off a 23-19 comeback win over Kutztown in non-conference action on Sept. 10. ESU lost that same day to then-eighth-ranked Indiana (Pa.), 73-42.

Saturday's matchup between Mercyhurst and Kutztown will be the second meeting between the two programs. The Lakers were victorious in the only other matchup -- a 37-20 decision in 2013.

THE COACHES
Marty Schaetzle (Bucknell '83) is in his 15th season as head coach for Mercyhurst. He owns a 75-81 record. He is a three-time PSAC West Coach of the Year (2008, 2010, 2014) and has coached the Lakers to two PSAC West regular-season championships (2010, 2012) and one PSAC overall title (2010). Prior to coaching at Mercyhurst, Schaetzle has held assistant coach positions at Bucknell, Shippensburg, Northern Arizona, Sonoma State, Arizona and Albany.

Denny Douds (Slippery Rock '63) is in his 43rd year as head coach for East Stroudsburg. He has totaled a 257-182-3 as a varsity football coach. In his time at ESU, Douds has won nine Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the National Semifinals in 2005. He has coached an NCAA Division II-record 442 games and sits tied for 16th all-time in wins among all NCAA divisions (second among active coaches). Prior to joining the Warriors, Douds was an assistant coach at West Virginia.
 
NEXT UP
The Lakers will play their second consecutive home game when Clarion visits Tullio Field on Sept. 24 for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division opener. Mercyhurst will also celebrate Homecoming Weekend at that time. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

Clarion is currently 1-1 on the season after dropping a 35-20 PSAC interdivisional contest to Bloomsburg. The Golden Eagles will be in action on Sept. 17 with a 1 p.m. matchup at Shippensburg.

FOLLOW THE LAKERS
Every Laker home game can be heard on Erie-area radio at WMCE 88.5 FM and WWW.WMCE.FM on the internet. Jay Puskar will handle play-by-play duties. T.J. Keys is set to assist on color commentary.