Football | 9/9/2017 2:30:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst football team will host Kutztown in a matchup of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West and East Division teams, respectively, on Saturday at Tullio Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. Watch the game live by clicking HERE.

The Lakers are coming off a 19-11 loss to non-conference opponent Hillsdale in their season opener. The Bears also began the 2017 campaign with a loss, falling to Assumption, 31-28.

Quarterback Doug Altavilla and wide receiver Brad Novak hooked up for the Lakers' only touchdown on a 32-yard pass in the third quarter against Hillsdale. The pair linked again on the ensuing two-point attempt to trim Mercyhurst's deficit to eight points, but those were the last points of the day for Mercyhurst.

Altavilla finished 16 of 38 for 252 yards. Novak added four catches for 82 yards.

Zach Smith was the Lakers' leading receiver, totaling six grabs for 95 yards. Running back E'Andre Smith rushed 13 times for 80 yards.

For the Mercyhurst defense, defensive backs Ben Young, Dante' Redwood and Jake Tarasovitch recorded seven total tackles each. Redwood broke up four passes while Young broke up two. Tarasovitch made two tackles-for-loss.

Kutztown leads the all-time series against Mercyhurst, 2-1. The Lakers won last year, 23-19, on Sept. 10. Momentum shifted with four blocked kicks by the Lakers, enabling Altavilla to throw for one touchdown and run in another, as the Lakers earned a comeback victory over Kutztown.

MU (1-1) blocked three punts -- one of which was returned for a touchdown -- and knocked down an extra-point attempt. In the end, the Lakers climbed back from a 13-0 first-quarter deficit.

Blocks were recorded by linebackers Avery Jones and Nick Slonac and defensive backs Akeel Marsh and Dante Redwood. Marsh's block was the precursor to a two-yard blocked-punt touchdown return by fellow defensive back Kyle Briggs.