GLENVILLE STATE (1-1) at MERCYHURST (0-3)
Saturday, Sept. 19 – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Erie, Pa. – Saxon Stadium
TV: NECFrontRow
The Mercyhurst Football team finally comes home. The Lakers open their 2026 home slate Saturday against Glenville State at Saxon Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET on NECFrontRow. The afternoon carries extra weight: it is the Lakers' home opener, a homecoming celebration and a centennial celebration for the university, which was founded in 1926. It is also a rare cross-division matchup, pairing Mercyhurst, a Division I FCS member of the NEC, with a Division II program from the Mountain East Conference, and the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Mercyhurst Lakers
Mercyhurst is still looking for its first win at 0-3 after a 70-7 loss at New Mexico last Saturday. The Lobos broke open a tie game with a program-record 42 points in the second quarter and forced seven Mercyhurst turnovers on the way to their ninth straight win at University Stadium. Nevada transfer Anthony Wolter threw a 75-yard touchdown to Speedy Yancey on his first pass as a Laker, briefly tying the game at 7-7. It is the longest passing touchdown of the Lakers' season. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Tusai started but left with an injury after going 4-of-7 for 26 yards. Junior Alex Gevaudan, who threw for 212 yards against Youngstown State and 147 at New Mexico State, has been sidelined since exiting the New Mexico State game with an injury.
On the ground, sophomore running back Jameir Gamble leads the Lakers with 112 yards on 29 carries. Grad transfer Byron Cardwell Jr. scored the first touchdown against an FBS opponent in program history at New Mexico State. Senior wide receiver Dylan Evans leads the team with 10 receptions for 97 yards, and tight end Camden Lewis has 10 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, junior Mark Hawkins Jr. made a season-high 11 tackles at New Mexico, and junior Braylon Beckwith leads the team with 21 tackles. Senior linebacker Jeff Leavell has 18 tackles and a pass breakup, and Teddy McDuffie has 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. First-year head coach Thomas Sydeski, who spent the previous two seasons as Mercyhurst's offensive coordinator, will look to settle his club in against a more comparable opponent after three straight games against FBS competition.
The Lakers also have history on their side in home openers. After a 25-24 loss to Frostburg State in 2024, Mercyhurst routed New Haven 48-14 to open Saxon Stadium last fall. A win Saturday would give the program back-to-back home-opener wins for the first time in its Division I history, and the centennial and homecoming festivities are expected to bring the largest crowd of the season.
Scouting the Pioneers
Glenville State enters at 1-1 under first-year head coach Jake Casteel, who dropped his debut 42-7 at FCS Elon before bouncing back to open the brand-new Ike & Sue Morris Stadium with a 24-21 win over Millersville, sealed on a late touchdown from Simmons. The Pioneers used last week's open date to prepare for the trip east. They are averaging 15.5 points and 271.5 yards per game, including 91.5 on the ground, and are allowing 31.5 points and 377.5 yards per game. Their roster leans heavily on transfers, including linebacker Jacob Clark (South Dakota) and defensive back Khaliq Johnson (Idaho State), both of whom have anchored the defense through two games.
Series History
Saturday's contest will be the first-ever meeting between Mercyhurst and Glenville State.
Broadcast Information
Fans unable to attend can watch the game live on NECFrontRow, with live statistics available through hurstathletics.com.
Up Next
Following Saturday's matchup, Mercyhurst hits the road for a 7 p.m. ET game at Western Kentucky on Saturday, September 26, before opening NEC play at LIU on October 3.
