Aug. 25, 2007

Box Score

Frankfort, Ky. - The Mercyhurst football team allowed less than seven points for the first time in 10 years as the Lakers opened the 2007 season with a 21-6 non-conference victory over Kentucky State Saturday.

After going winless on the road in 2006, the Lakers put an end to that streak by shutting out the Kentucky State offense as the only Thorobred score came on a punt return for a touchdown. Under first year defensive coordinator Barris Grant, the unit forced four turnovers on a pair of fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Grant has led the squad's transition to a 3-3-5 defense this year in which his unit is able to react quicker than a year ago.

"It was a great day for our defense," Head Coach Marty Schaetzle said. "The big difference was those turnovers."

Not to be outdone, the offense also impressed Schaetzle. Facing a heavy blitz package all afternoon, senior quarterback Mitch Phillis got more comfortable as the game wore on. He finished 9-of-20 passing for 170 yards.

"Mitch handled the blitz very well," Schaetzle said. "We had to beat the blitz all day long and we got better as the game went along."

Mercyhurst was opportunistic against the blitz and took just 89 combined seconds off the clock on its three scoring drives. After a 51 yard pass completion from Phillis to Brandon Hill, sophomore running back Ben Jennings put Mercyhurst ahead 7-0 on a 25 yard jaunt with 5:57 to play in the opening quarter.

Kentucky State got most of that back in a hurry as Jerome Bryant returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown 18 seconds into the second quarter. But the extra point attempt failed and the Lakers held onto a 7-6 lead.

The score remained the same until early in the fourth when junior running back Richard Stokes finished off a four play, 43-yard drive with a touchdown run from 13 yards out.

After a Theo Hall interception on Kentucky State's next possession gave the Lakers great field possession, Mercyhurst made quick work again. On the first play, Phillis found Aaron Haynes for a 32 yard touchdown to finish the scoring.

Jennings and Stokes combined to post solid numbers. Each scored a touchdown and the pair had 22 carries for 113 yards, a 5.1 yard per carry average. Jennings led the way with 15 carries for 75 yards.

Mercyhurst spread the ball around through the air as no player had more than two receptions. Eight different players caught at least one pass and Josh Szeluga and Jennings had two receptions each.

While Hill had the 51 yard reception, he was also a force on the special teams unit as he was a year ago when he led the GLIAC in punting average. He had 10 punts in the contest, averaging 44.3 yards per kick. He had a long of 64 and planted two inside the 20.

On the defensive side of the ball, the line played stellar. Zac Wild ended with eight tackles, three for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Mitch Lorig added eight tackles as well.

The victory snapped a string of three consecutive season-opening losses and gives Mercyhurst momentum heading into its conference opener in a week. The Lakers will travel to Midland, Mich. to play No. 14 Northwood Saturday at noon. The Timberwolves beat Mercyhurst 33-14 in 2006.