ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst football team came up short dropping a 56-24 decision to No. 21 IUP in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division opener for both teams. 

The Lakers trailed 21-7 after IUP's Dondrea Tillman returned an interception 51 yards with 6:07 left in the first quarter. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a strong kick return set Mercyhurst up at the IUP 23 to start the next drive. It took just three plays for Doug Altavilla to connect with Garrett Owens for 12-yard touchdown strike to trim the lead to 21-14 at the 4:40 mark of the first. 

The Crimson Hawks moved the ball on the next possession, but Bradley Burrows ended the drive when his hit from behind knocked the ball loose from Quinton Maxell. Joseph Scro scooped up the fumble and returned it to the Hawks nine. The Lakers would settle for a field goal with 1:02 of the first to trim the lead to 21-17. 

Mercyhurst grabbed their first lead of the game on their first drive of the second quarter marching 55 yards in nine plays. Jason Armstrong hauled in an 11-yard pass from Altavilla to make it 24-21 at the 9:49 mark of the second quarter. 

IUP took the lead back with an eight-play, 73-yard drive to make the score 28-24, a lead the Crimson Hawks would hold going into the break. 

The Crimson Hawks would outscore the Lakers 28-0 in the second half to set the final at 56-24. 

Garrett Owens led the way for the Lakers rushing for 45 yards on 13 carries while adding 85 yards on five catches and a touchdown. Cortez Watson hauled in three catches for 50 yards and a score. Altavilla finished 13-for-22 for 192 yards and three touchdowns. 

Jake Tarasovitch recorded eight tackles, six solo, to pace the Mercyhurst defense. Alex Zacharyasz and Joseph Scro each also recorded eight stops.  

The Lakers are now 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in the PSAC West. They are back in action next Saturday when they host Slippery Rock at 12 p.m. at Saxon Stadium.