Washington, D.C. - The Bison of Howard University allowed Mercyhurst an early field goal but had to rally with a last-second field goal of their own to hand the Lakers their first defeat of the 2024 season, 32-31, Saturday night at Greene Stadium. The contest marked the first ever at the D-I level, the Lakers having transitioned from D-II several months ago to the Northeast Conference (NEC). Both teams are now 1-1. Mercyhurst won at Division II Wheeling University 28-25 nine days ago while Howard, playing before nearly 48,000 fans at Rutgers (Big 10) fell 44-7. The visit to the nation's capital was Mercyhurst first since October 1983 when the Division III Lakers won at Gallaudet. Howard finished 6-6 (4-1 MEAC) last season and played in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, bowing in a 30-26 thriller to Florida A&M. 

Highlights 

Howard took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards before fumbling at the Lakers three-yard line. The loose ball was recovered by senior LB Nevan Novitski. Mercyhurst then moved 92 yards in 14 plays but had to settle for senior Nathan Nagucki's 21-yard field goal. The Bison had a second opportunity to get on the scoreboard late in the quarter, but senior Dylan West missed a 37-yard field goal.  

Howard forced a Mercyhurst punt early in the second quarter and moved 73 yards in eleven plays, with Jarrett Hunter rushing the final eleven. West converted. The Bison held the ball for six-and-a-half minutes in taking their first lead 7-3. Mercyhurst then fumbled deep in its territory, but the defense stiffened as Howard lost seven yards in three plays. West cooperated by missing his second field goal attempt of the night, this one bouncing off the left goal post from 37 yards. The Bison forced a three-and-out and, after a 35-yard punt, took over at their 44 with 3:49 left in the half.  Howard used a 30-yard pass from Ja'Shawn Scroggins to Breylin Smith to get to the Lakers' eleven. One play later, Hunter carried for the final seven yards. West made the point after and the Howard advantage increased to 14-3. The half ended with Howard having an edge in all major statistics: first downs, 14-7; rushing yards, 104-18; receiving yards, 153-85; total yards, 236-103. Each team lost a fumble. The Bison ran 16 more plays, 41-25, and held the ball for 18:39 in the first half.  

Howard stretched its lead to 21-3 midway in the third, driving 90 yards in nine plays. Scroggins threw an 11-yard pass to Nathanial Clark for his first TD toss of the season. Back came the Lakers as QB Adam Urena took the team 75 yards in 13 plays with junior RB Ayron Rodriguez scoring on a two-yard plunge. Mercyhurst forced another Howard punt and the resilient Lakers scored again on the last play of the third. Urena threw to WR Rylan Davison from three yards out. Mercyhurst opted to go for two and Urena threw to Davison again and, suddenly, the Howard lead was down to 21-18. Howard regrouped and Hunter ultimately notched his third rushing touchdown of the night, scoring from a yard away. West's point after was no good. With the Bison in control 27-18, the roller coaster affair in the fourth quarter continued as the Lakers drove 71 yards in eight plays. Urena passed 13 yards to Cameron Barmore. Nagucki converted and the Howard lead was just 27-25. The Lakers defense held and Mercyhurst got the ball back with just over three minutes left. With the clock winding down and the Lakers facing fourth and 13, Urena connected with Davison for a first down in Bison territory. The Lakers continued to move the football and Urena hit Barmore from 22 yards away to put Mercyhurst ahead for the first time since the first quarter. The drama continued, however, as the point-after was blocked and returned all the way for two points. Mercyhurst led 31-29. After the Lakers kick-off went out of the end zone, Scroggins scrambled for a first down, then completed a pass to the Mercyhurst 46. Flushed out of the pocket, Scroggins ran to the Lakers' 20 with just two seconds left. Having already missed two field goals and an extra point, West came onto the field and promptly drilled a 37-yard field goal as the horn sounded. 

For the Lakers, Urena finished 23 of 34 for 225 yards and two scores, both fourth-quarter connections to Barmore, his only receptions of the contest. Chaz Davis caught 3 passes for 53 while Joe Kerbacher grabbed 7 more for 53. Brian Trobel led the rushing game with 4 carries for 64. Hunter (126) and Scroggins (122) led the Howard ground game. The Bison led in first downs 25-24, rushing yards 275-109 and total yards 432-334. The Lakers had more receiving yards, 225-164. Howard hurt itself with penalties. The Bison were flagged 10 times for 107 yards. Mercyhurst was penalized only five yards. 

Next Game 

The Lakers will continue their season-opening four-game road trip next Saturday with a game at Robert Morris in suburban Pittsburgh at 12 noon. Following that, Mercyhurst football will cross the Mississippi for the first time to play Montana State on September 21. Montana State is #1 in the latest FCS rankings. The Lakers won't play at home until Saturday, September 28, when Mountain East Conference member Frostburg State comes to Erie for a 1:00 pm kickoff. That will be the first contest between the schools on the gridiron since October 16, 1995.