ERIE, Pa. -- Time ran out on the Mercyhurst football team as it suffered a 34-31 loss to East Stroudsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference interdivisional matchup on Saturday at Tullio Field.

Mercyhurst quarterback Doug Altavilla completed 22 of 38 passes for 314 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Brad Novak added six catches for 95 yards while the Lakers' leading rusher, running back Richie Sanders, finished with 12 carries for 72 yards.

Wide receivers Danavian Clay and Brian Matthews had touchdown receptions for MU (1-2) and running back Drew Robinson contributed a touchdown run. Clay finished with three catches for 59 yards. Fellow wide-out Zach Smith made four grabs for 28 yards.

Defensively, the Lakers were led in the tackling department by defensive back Rocky Owens, who totaled eight stops. Linebacker Nick Slonac and defensive back chipped in with seven total tackles apiece. Slonac also had a sack and forced fumble. Interceptions were recorded by defensive backs Dante Redwood and Dorian Stevens. Redwood broke up three ESU passes.

After falling behind 3-0, the Lakers answered with a pair of touchdowns. Altavilla hooked up with Clay on a 53-yard score, finishing off a six-play, 75-yard drive in the first quarter. A two-yard TD run by Drew Robinson helped push the Laker advantage to 14-3 early in the second.

From that point, the Mercyhurst defense had trouble containing East Stroudsburg running back Robert Healy, who racked up 256 yards on 30 carries. The Warrior runner scored four touchdowns.

Healy scored from 5 and 13 yards out before halftime, enabling the Warriors to take a 17-14 led into intermission, before building ESU's lead to 24-14 with 7:00 to go in the third quarter.

The team's traded field goals before an Altavilla-to-Novak 57-yard touchdown hookup finished off a three-play, 84-yard drive for the Lakers and closed the home team's deficit to 27-24.

But, then Healy ripped off his biggest run of the day -- a 77-yard dagger to paydirt -- to extend the East Stroudsburg lead back to 10 points at 34-24.

Altavilla threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Matthews with 1:55 remaining in the game as the Lakers closed out an impressive 12-play, 81-yard drive, but too much time ticked off the clock for Mercyhurst.

ESU grinded the timer down to eight seconds before punting away to Mercyhurst -- and ultimately covered the return as time expired.

East Stroudsburg quarterback Bruce Campbell finished 114 of 27 for 159 yards, one TD and two interceptions. His top target was Tim Wilson, who had eight grabs for 65 yards.

For the Warrior defense, linebacker Sekou Jones had 11 total tackles, inclding a sack. Fellow LB Mike Poulter made nine stops and defensive Andre' Gray made an interception.

ESU won the yardage battle, 435-425, and was fueled by a 282-135 advantage in the run game. Mercyhurst accumulated 314 passing yards to East Stroudsburg's 159.

The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 24, with a 1 p.m. home contest against Clarion. That will serve as Mercyhurst's homecoming game as the two teams open up PSAC West Division play.