INDIANA, Pa. - The Gannon football team out-gained Indiana (Pa.) 331-116 and rolled to an unexpected easy 29-3 road victory Saturday afternoon, extending its win streak to three games and keeping hopes alive of its first winning season since 2003.
The victory gave Gannon its first three-game win streak since the program won its final two games in 2004 and first contest in 2005. In the process, the Golden Knights held their opponent to three points or less in back-to-back games for the first time in a season since opening the 1993 campaign with back-to-back shutouts of St. Francis (Pa.) (20-0) and Waynesburg (9-0).
Gannon wasted little time taking control of Saturday’s game, scoring on its first two possessions to assume a 15-0 lead.
Zach Boedicker (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) capped a quick three-play opening drive with a 55-yard touchdown run 3:48 into the contest.
Connor Kimball’s (Erie, Pa./McDowell) pass to
Evan Twombly (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Baldwinsville) on a fake extra point gave the Golden Knights an 8-0 lead.
The defensive unit then forced IUP into a three-and-out, setting the offense up at the IUP 43-yard line after a 27-yard punt. Five plays later, Boedicker found the endzone for the second time on a six-yard rushing play. Gannon took a 15-3 lead into the intermission after IUP kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
If there was any doubt who was going to win Saturday’s game, Gannon wasted little time in the second half to erase all doubts. The Golden Knights dominated the second half with large advantages in total yards (198-17), first downs (11-3), rushing yards (136-minus 8) and time of possession (22:05-7:55).
As it did in the first half, Gannon scored a touchdown on its first possession of the second half. The Golden Knights drove 71 yards on eight plays, culminating with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Boedicker to
Matt Davis (Cheswick, Pa./Shaler) 4:29 into the third quarter.
Parris Williams (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) recorded his second interception of the game on IUP’s first possession of the second half, setting Gannon up at its own 47-yard line. Three plays later,
Tyler Batts (Homestead, Pa./Penn-Trafford) blasted through the line for a 46-yard touchdown scamper to put the Golden Knights up 29-3 with 7:10 left in the third quarter.
Neither team dented the scoreboard the rest of the way as Gannon avenged a 28-point loss to IUP last year with a 26-point victory.
Gannon finished the game with advantages in total yards (331-116), rushing yards (246-56), passing yards (85-60), first downs (17-9) and time of possession (34:30-25:30).
Three Golden Knights rushed for at least 78 yards. Batts led the way with 97 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries.
Jon Richardson (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) had 81 yards on 20 carries, while Boedicker added 78 yards and two scores on 13 attempts. Boedicker only threw 10 times, completing seven passes for 85 yards and one touchdown.
Jonathon Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas) was Gannon’s leading receiver, hauling in three passes for 21 yards. Twombly caught two passes for 21 yards.
Randy Colling (Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer) and Williams led a dominating defensive unit. Colling led all tacklers with seven stops, one sack, three tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. Williams recorded five tackles, two interceptions and two pass break-ups.
Gannon evened its record at 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. IUP dropped to 4-6 overall and 1-6 in conference play. The Golden Knights will attempt to post their first winning season since 2003 Saturday, November 7 when they conclude the regular season at 10th-ranked Bloomsburg. Game time is scheduled for 12 noon.
For a complete box score from Saturday’s Gannon-Indiana (Pa.) football game, please
click here.