Nov. 3, 2007

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst College senior quarterback Mitch Phillis threw five touchdown passes in his final game as a Laker but the University of Indianapolis battled back from a 17-point deficit to beat Mercyhurst 43-37 Saturday. The loss ended Mercyhurst's season, its final one as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), with a record of 4-7 overall and 3-7 in the conference.

Indianapolis took its only lead of the game on Eric Wright's third touchdown rush of the afternoon with just 54 seconds remaining. A two-point conversion gave the Greyhounds a 43-37 lead but left time on the clock.

Mercyhurst drove to Indianapolis' 36-yard line before Phillis' fourth-down pass attempt was intercepted to end the game.

In a game that saw a number of Lakers set or tie school records, Mercyhurst was unable to hold onto a 17-0 second quarter lead. Phillis broke the career record for touchdown passes with his fifth one of the afternoon (his 57th of his career), a 37-yard strike to Aaron Haynes that put Mercyhurst ahead 37-28 after three.

Running back Richard Stokes entered the game with 1,114 yards on the ground, needing 52 to break the single-season rushing record. He ended with 63 yards to set the new mark at 1,177. Tight end Josh Szeluga caught two of Phillis' touchdown passes, giving him 10 touchdown receptions on the season, tying another single-season record.

Szeluga's first touchdown reception put Mercyhurst on top 10-0 after one quarter. But a Frank Ziegler touchdown reception late in the second quarter set off a flurry of activity. There would be four touchdowns in the final four minutes of the opening half and Mercyhurst held a 23-14 lead when the dust settled.

Indianapolis quickly found the end zone at the start of the third quarter, but Mercyhurst responded with a 12-yard Haynes touchdown catch to go on top 30-21. Haynes finished the game with five receptions for 116 yards.

Indianapolis scored less than two minutes later, but Haynes' second touchdown catch just before the end of the third put Mercyhurst back on top 37-28. Indianapolis got two Wright touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to overtake the Lakers.

Defensively, senior Craig Moone ended with a game-high 18 tackles. Demond McDonald added 13 and Shawn Daniels had 11. Charlie Gleisner finished with nine tackles and had a pair of interceptions.

Mercyhurst honored eight seniors prior to the game who were playing their final games in Laker uniforms. Dustin Hankinson, Brandon Hill, Bryan Kelly, Moone, Aaron Parks, Phillis, Gary Smith and Ziegler all completed their eligibility.