Oct. 27, 2007

Box Score

Marquette, Mich. - With a 60-yard run midway through the third quarter, junior running back Richard Stokes passed Craig Woodard to become Mercyhurst's all-time leading rusher. The Lakers, however, scored just three points in the second half in a 45-31 loss to Northern Michigan.

Mercyhurst played an almost-flawless first half offensively, getting strong running from Stokes and a big passing day from quarterback Mitch Phillis. He went 9-of-10 in the opening half for 172 yards in the first 30 minutes as the Lakers built a solid lead.

Stokes scored from two yards out early in the first and Josh Szeluga caught a two-yard pass, the first of his two touchdown receptions, to give Mercyhurst a 14-7 lead after one.

Northern Michigan's Anthony Leandri hit a 30-yard field goal midway through the second period, but Stokes scored from one-yard out and Szeluga caught his second touchdown pass with 1:08 to play in the half to put Mercyhurst on top 28-10.

A short kickoff and a strong return gave Northern Michigan great field position and the Wildcats scored with just nine seconds left to get within 11 at the break.

Mercyhurst's Chris Ryan made a 38-yard field goal with 8:08 to play in the third that gave the Lakers a 31-17 lead. But from that point forward, it was all Northern Michigan.

Fred Wells caught a 62-yard touchdown pass 20 seconds later and Mark Bossuah scored two rushing touchdowns in the final 2:31 of the third to give Northern Michigan its first lead of the day at 38-31. The Wildcats added another Bossuah score in the fourth to put the game away.

Stokes finished with 28 carries for 162 yards -- his fifth 150-yard rushing game of the season. That total gives him 1,114 yards on the season and he is just the second player in program history to break 1,000 in one year. He also has 13 rushing touchdowns, tying him for the all-time single season lead.

Mercyhurst, now 4-6 overall and 3-6 in the GLIAC, will attempt to end a five-game skid Saturday. The Lakers finish the season when they host Indianapolis at 1:30 p.m.