Philippi, WV - Mercyhurst's football team got their 2022 campaign started how they wanted: with a win. The Lakers traveled to Philippi, WV and took home the 45-28 season-opening win against Alderson Broaddus for the second year in a row. Head Coach Ryan Riemedio follows in the footsteps of four of the previous five Mercyhurst coaches with a win in his coaching debut.

How It Happened
The Lakers fired the opening salvo towards the end of the first quarter, taking a 7-0 lead. In their third drive of the game, the Lakers mounted a strong drive that saw them break past the pylon thanks to David Alize. The sophomore running back scored the first touchdown of the Riemedio era with a carry up the middle from one yard out to grab the lead with 3:15 remaining in the opening quarter.

After a made kick by Brian Alsobrooks, Mercyhurst's defense caused a fumble thanks to Camden White who also recovered the loose ball to put the Lakers in good field position. Mercyhurst didn't waste it as Dustin Shoaf punched it in from four yards out to make it a 17-7 game with 7:12 to go in the first half.

After another Battler score made it 17-14, the Lakers found the end zone for the third time in the first half. Midway through the second quarter Michael Lowery found Cameron Barmore in the end zone on a 30-yard pass to help Mercyhurst take their first double-digit point lead of the game at 24-14 with 5:15 to go in the second period. Lowery then added his second TD of the game before the first half came to a close with a 32-yard pass to Trevon Tate to add to the Laker's lead and make it a 31-14 score with under a minute to go. Alderson Broaddus then scored before the end of the half to pull within 10 going into the locker room.

Alderson Broaddus came out of the locker room and managed to move a little closer as they scored the first TD of the second half to make it a 31-28 game with 8:50 to go in the third. Mercyhurst then mounted a six-minute, 13-play drive that ended with Shoaf scoring his second touchdown of the night to give the Lakers a 38-28 lead going into the final frame. Mercyhurst then continued to add on once the fourth quarter got underway as Alize's second TD of the day came with 10:54 left in the stanza, making it a 45-28 score in favor of the Lakers. 

By The Numbers
The Lakers put together a very strong offensive performance with 45 points up on the board, cracking 40 points for the first time defeating Clarion 57-10 on November 9, 2019. They accumulated 192 yards on the ground with 130 of those coming courtesy of David Alize for the first Laker runner to reach the century mark since Garrett Owen tallied 182 in 2019. On defense, Camden White recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles while freshman Marquis Mauney had an excellent collegiate debut with a pair of picks.

What's Next
The Lakers will be on the road next week as well as they are set to take on Lock Haven. Mercyhurst will travel to take on the Bald Eagles on Saturday, September 10th, at 6:00 p.m.