ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst football team fought hard for 60 minutes at Youngstown State, but fell short in the season opener, 24-15. Quarterback Adam Urena passed for over 300 yards, but four turnovers from the Lakers held them back in the first ever meeting with the Penguins.

After Youngstown State (1-0) scored on the opening drive of the game, but Mercyhurst responded, driving down the field in 14 plays, spanning 81 yards to score the first touchdown of the 2025 season for the Green and Blue.

On the 11^th play of the drive, Urena converted on fourth down scrambling out of the pocket and picking up six yards to keep the dive alive. Running back Ayron Rodriguez rushed for seven yards on first down before Urena found Colin Melendez at the one-yard line for a 27-yard gain.

Urena pitched the ball to sophomore Evan Van Dyke who found the endzone for the first Laker touchdown of the game. The scored marked the first touchdown of Van Dyke's collegitate career. Max Young converted on the PAT to knot the game at seven with 1:08 left in the first quarter.

Youngstown returned the proceeding kickoff 48 yards to the Mercyhurst 47. The Penguins took 11 plays to drive the 47 yards and take 14-7 lead.

Mercyhurst came up empty on the following possession, going three-and-out. YSU returned the Laker punt to the 50-yard line and went 50 yards on three plays to take a 21-7 lead with 8:54 to go in the first half.
 
Two empty possessions from both teams consumed the rest of the time before the break, as the Lakers headed to the locker room trailing 21-7.

Jameir Gamble was the Lakers' leading rusher after 30 minutes of action while Dylan Evans led in receiving yards with 69.

Mercyhurst received the ball to start the second half, returning the kick to their own 23 yard line.

Gamble rushed for a yard on the opening play of the third quarter, but a pass attempt from Urena was picked off on the second play, opening the door for Youngstown to extend the lead.

The Laker defense stepped up, holding the Penguins to a field goal, and what would ultimately be their last points of the game with 11:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Both defenses came up with stops in the remainder of the third quarter. YSU got the ball back with 56 seconds remaining and took their drive into the opening minutes of the fourth.

Corey Cobb Jr. found a hole in the YSU offensive line on third and eight, sacking the Penguins QB for an eight yard loss, forcing a fourth down.

The momentum seemed to shift in favor of the Lakers in the final stanza as the defensive stop breathed life into the offense.

The Lakers marched down field, going 84 yards in 14 plays to make the score 24-15. The drive took 7:14 off the game clock, leaving seven minutes of game time left in regulation.

Urena completed passes to Gamble and Rylan Davison for 12 and six yards respectively to move into the YSU redzone.

A pass from Urena found Evans in the back corner of the endzone, but after review the play was ruled incomplete. However, Urena found Evans again, this time in the middle of the endzone to score the Lakers' second touchdown of the contest.

Backup quarterback Alex Gevaudan converted on the two-point conversion, as Urena had to sit the play out for his helmet coming off on the previous possession.

An onside kick attempt following the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, and YSU took over at the Mercyhurst 43.

Again, the Laker defense stood tall, holding the Penguins to a three-and-out. On the punt, Joe Kerbacher signaled for the fair catch, but YSU's Kylon Wilson ran into Kerbacher, causing a kick catch interference 15-yard penalty. The Lakers began the drive on their own 22 thanks to the flag.

With 4:21 left on the clock, Mercyhurst look poised to bring the game within one possession. However, after executing seven plays for 42 yards a Urena pass attempt was intercepted at the YSU 20 yard line, halting the Lakers' momentum.

Youngstown retained the ball for the remainder of the two minutes of game time, running out the clock and taking a 24-15 victory in the Thursday night season opener.

Jeff Leavell led the Laker defense with nine tackles while Old Dominion transfer saftey Jean-Christophe Vital Cloutier added eight. 

The Lakers make their home debut next Saturday, Sept. 6 at Saxon Stadium as they host NEC newcomer New Haven.