Sept. 24, 2007

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst football team is ranked No. 22 for the second week in a row by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette following a 49-28 road victory over rival Gannon Saturday.

Mercyhurst is 4-1 on the year and has scored 149 points during the past three weeks, an average of 49.7 per game, to begin to gain national recognition. In the Lakers' win over Gannon, Mercyhurst compiled 520 yards of total offense, led by a career-high 313 passing yards from quarterback Mitch Phillis.

Grand Valley State is the only Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team ranked ahead of Mercyhurst, sitting in the No. 1 spot. This week's opponent, Ashland, is No. 26. Saginaw Valley State is No. 37 and Hillsdale is No. 39.

Mercyhurst is off to its best start since 1992 and hosts Ashland for Homecoming Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Lakers have played four of their first five games on the road and will close with four of six games at home.