Sept. 8, 2007

Box Score

Big Rapids, Mich. - Junior running back Richard Stokes rushed for a career-high 244 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Mercyhurst football team stunned Ferris State 42-23 Saturday night in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) action. A relentless offensive attack, combined with a defensive effort that stymied standout quarterback C.J. Van Wieren, led to the team's first win in the state of Michigan since 2000.

Stokes had 124 yards in the first half and 120 in the second for the second-highest single game rushing total in school history. He is just the third Mercyhurst player to ever rush for 200 yards in a game (joining Brian Haberstock's 282-yard game against Buffalo in 1990 and Craig Woodard's 222-yard output against Canisius in 1992) and also broke the school record by carrying the ball 37 times (Lou Konyha had 34 carries against Grove City in 1987).

"He set the tempo from the first drive of the game," head coach Marty Schaetzle said. "He was on a roll today and really feeling it, and when we've got a running back feeling it, I'm going to give him the ball."

Ferris State was unable to contain the Mercyhurst offense all night and was left bewildered by Stokes and quarterback Mitch Phillis, who was 20-of-32 for 248 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.

As well, Schaetzle had a few unexpected tricks up his sleeve, using linebackers Charlie Gleisner and Dave Stallard in short yardage offensive sets. Both players scored touchdowns as Gleisner caught a one-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Stallard scored on a two-yard plunge early in the third.

"It's something we've been practicing all year," Schaetzle said. "We just haven't had enough goal line situations to use it yet."

A year ago, Ferris State held Stokes to 22 yards on 13 carries, while the Bulldogs racked up 234 yards on the ground. Schaetzle said that the lines remembered how the Ferris State front dominated last year's contest and wanted to make up for that. They did that by opening big holes for the running game and keeping Van Wieren in check once the Ferris State offense did get on the field.

Van Wieren, who was named the D2Football.com Co-Offensive Player of the Week last week, threw for 266 yards, but was only 21-of-42 passing, had an interception, and was sacked three times.

"We got some pressure on him," Schaetzle said. "But he still made some incredible plays when we thought we had him. He wasn't that far off from having the same sort of game he had last week."

After Jim Yates made the first of his three field-goals to put Ferris State ahead 3-0, the Lakers went on a four-play, 90-yard scoring drive in which Stokes began to assert himself. He had a 39-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and capped the drive with a 22-yard touchdown scamper.

Ferris State would answer back though, and Leonard Curry's two-yard touchdown with 13:08 to play in the second put the Bulldogs on top 10-7. Mercyhurst fumbled away the kick return and it looked as if Ferris State might begin to take control. But the Laker defense stood strong and Yates missed a 42-yard field goal attempt that opened the door.

Mercyhurst took the next possession 75 yards in nine plays, coming up with a 32-yard run by Stokes that gave the Lakers a first-and-goal situation. On third down, Phillis found Gleisner for a one-yard touchdown pass to put the Lakers back on top 14-10.

Later in the half, Mercyhurst capitalized on a Ferris State turnover that gave the Lakers short field position. Theo Hall forced a fumble on a punt return and Aaron Parks recovered the loose ball. Stokes completed the 27-yard scoring drive with his second touchdown of the game, a five-yard romp that gave Mercyhurst a 21-10 halftime lead.

As the second half began, Mercyhurst took possession on its own 38-yard line. The Lakers used a 34-yard reception from Frank Ziegler to get back into the red zone and Stallard scored from two yards out to make it 28-10. But Ferris State was not done.

The Bulldogs used a 42-yard kickoff return to set up a field goal that cut the deficit to 15 points. After Mercyhurst's next drive stalled, Ferris State got an eight-yard touchdown pass to Ron Hardy to make it 28-20.

After Laker kicker Chris Ryan's field goal attempt was blocked late in the third quarter, Ferris State answered with a field goal of its own to make it 28-23 and momentum had swung.

But the Mercyhurst offense posted its best drive of the game, a 13-play 75-yard possession that ate 5:16 off the clock. The Lakers had five first-downs on the drive and Phillis completed it with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Haynes that made the score 35-23.

Ferris State tried to rally, but Van Wieren's pass attempt on fourth-and-seven fell incomplete and the Lakers sealed the scoring with Stokes' third touchdown, a one-yard plunge with 1:20 left on the clock that completed a nine-play, 80-yard drive.

"This was a very solid win for us," Schaetzle said. "We need to continue to believe that we can win ball games, but it's fun to watch the guys having fun out there."

Ferris State falls to 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in the GLIAC, while Mercyhurst improves to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in GLIAC play. The Lakers will finally play in front of their home fans Saturday when the Lakers host Wayne State at Tullio Field at 1:30 p.m.