LORETTO, Pa. — The Mercyhurst football team edged past Saint Francis with a 16-15 victory on the road. Mercyhurst quarterback Adam Urena threw for 234 yards, completing 22-of-32 pass attempts, including a 15-yard touchdown to Dylan Evans to seal the win.
 
The Lakers received the opening kickoff, but the first drive of the game was a short one as SFU forced a Mercyhurst fumble, taking over at the Mercyhurst 25 yard line. The Laker defense held the Red Flash to a field goal and got the ball back with 10:51 on the first quarter clock.
 
The next two Mercyhurst drives ended in punts with the Lakers forcing a turnover on downs in between to keep the score at 3-0 in favor of SFU at the end of the first quarter.
 
Mercyhurst began the second period with momentum, moving the ball into Saint Francis territory after Urena connected with Evans for an 8-yard gain on third down. However, the drive stalled after a significant loss on a rush and a penalty, resulting in a punt. Saint Francis capitalized on their subsequent possession, executing a 13-play drive that culminated in a 34-yard field goal, putting them ahead 6-0.
 
Later in the period, Mercyhurst's offense made strides as Urena completed a 21-yard pass to Evan Van Dyke, advancing into opponent territory. Despite this promising advancement, the drive ended in a turnover on downs at the Saint Francis 47-yard line. Saint Francis then extended their lead with another field goal by Plummer from 26 yards out as the period concluded. Mercyhurst trailed 9-0 at the end of the first half.
 
The third period began with Mercyhurst executing a strategic kickoff and defensive stand, highlighted by Chris Thompson and Colin Scharriter breaking up crucial pass attempts from Saint Francis. Following a Saint Francis punt, Mercyhurst's offense found momentum with a 17-yard rush by Brian Trobel, paving the way for a drive that concluded with Max Young's successful 35-yard field goal, tightening the score to 9-3.
 
The Lakers continued to build momentum with an 86-yard drive, showcasing a 39-yard pass completion from Urena to Joe Kerbacher. This drive culminated in a 10-yard touchdown run by Brian Trobel who hurdled his defender into the endzone, followed by a successful extra point by Max Young, pushing the Green and Blue into the lead.
 
The third quarter closed with the score at 10-9 in favor of Mercyhurst, after their defense maintained pressure and Saint Francis failed to capitalize on their final possession.
 
Keon'te Huguely made a pivotal play early in the fourth quarter by blocking a 35-yard field goal attempt from Saint Francis, preventing them from regaining the lead. Mercyhurst's offense then initiated a drive from their own 20-yard line, with Urena connecting with Rylan Davison for a crucial 13-yard pass to secure a first down. However, the drive stalled, and Garrett McGuire's punt returned possession to Saint Francis.
 
Saint Francis capitalized on a series of penalties against the Lakers to move the ball deeper into opposing territory. Despite advancing to the Mercyhurst 8-yard line, the defense held firm, forcing Saint Francis to settle for a field goal, which pushed their lead to 15-10. Mercyhurst promptly responded with a strong kickoff return by Jonny Askew, setting up a drive at their own 35-yard line.
 
With less than two minutes remaining, Urena orchestrated a rapid drive downfield, linking up with Evans for a series of completions. The decisive moment came when Urena found Evans for a 15-yard touchdown pass with just 20 seconds left on the clock. Despite missing the subsequent two-point conversion, the Lakers' defense held strong in the final seconds, securing a 16-15 victory as the game ended.
 
Trobel led the ground attack with 93 rushing yards on 11 carries, finding the end zone once. Evans was a standout receiver with nine receptions totaling 138 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side, Elijah Binakonsky contributed significantly with 12 total tackles.