IUP 41, SAINT AUGUSTINE’S 19
Three first quarter touchdowns would be all IUP would need to put away Saint Augustine’s in the Crimson Hawks’ season opener, winning, 41-19.
Chase Haslett executed three scoring drives and threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter to give IUP a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and the Hawks never looked back, never trailing en route to the win.
Stat leaders:
IUP – PASSING: Chase Haslett – 14-20-1 176 yards 3 TDs; RUSHING: Luigi Lista-Brinza 21-116 2 TDs; RECEIVING: Drew Carswell 3-37 1 TD; TACKLES: Kevin Clarke – 13; SACKS: Jordan Batts, Matthew Mowad, Jemal Averette, Karon Gibson – 1; INTERCEPTIONS: Alex Berdahl, Tahki Turner – 1
Saint Augustine’s – PASSING: – AJ Gilford – 21-31-1 260 yards 2 TDs; RUSHING: Roderick Davenport 30-111; RECEIVING: Claytin Lewis – 7-113; TACKLES: Denzel Watkins 10; SACKS: Darius Goodman – 1; INTERCEPTIONS: Jont’ta Cooper – 1
GANNON 23, SOUTHERN CONN. STATE 7
Gannon built up a 17-0 halftime lead and Southern Connecticut State had no answer in a 23-7 Gannon victory.
Gannon’s Liam Nadler did his thing in the air and on the ground and scored both of Gannon’s touchdowns. Karch Holland went 3-for-4 in field goals for the Knights in the win. Southern Connecticut State didn’t score until under two minutes remaining in the game.
Stat leaders:
Gannon – PASSING: Liam Nadler 16-29-1 163 2 TDs; RUSHING: Brock Jones 24-153; RECEIVING: Jestin Hamm – 5-52 1 TD; TACKLES: Mike Zanders, Qwaheem Marshall, Josh Wiechelt – 10; SACKS: Luke Rankie – 2; INTERCEPTIONS: Luke Rankie, Mike Astorino, Nico Mendleta – 1
Southern Conn. State – PASSING: Brandon Basil – 15-31-3 181 1 TD; RUSHING: Julian Hayes 13-36; RECEIVING: Gary Williams – 6-72; TACKLES: Kajjuan Bynum, Brian Wilcox – 10; SACKS: Jamie Holbrook – 2; INTERCEPTIONS: Gaven Harley – 1
CAL 33, VIRGINIA STATE 24
A back-and-forth game eventually led to Cal picking up a win in the opening week, 33-24.
After weather delays, Cal’s James Harris finally settled in and tossed two touchdowns in the second quarter to send the Vulcans to the break with a 27-21 advantage. The Vulcans’ lead would hold after Cody Nuzzo drilled two field goals in the second half to push it to 33-24.
Stat leaders:
Cal – PASSING: James Harris – 15-27-2 280 yards 2 TD; RUSHING: Terrell Roberson 16-71; RECEIVING: Kowann Short – 6-113 TD; TACKLES: Branko Busick 10; SACKS: Jawan Turner, Skyler Dickinson – 1; INTERCEPTIONS: Jordan Bowman, Daemond Pierce – 1
Virginia State – PASSING: Tarian Ayers 22-44-2 325 yards 2 TD; RUSHING: Kavon Bellamy 21-40; RECEIVING: Javion Smallwood – 5-116 1 TD; TACKLES: Tyrell Smith – 10; SACKS: Andre Rawls – 1; INTERCEPTIONS: Andre Rawls. Darion Thomas – 1
BENTLEY 27, MERCYHURST 21
A sluggish start to the second half was the downfall for Mercyhurst as it dropped the season opener, 27-21, to Bentley.
Trailing just 14-10 heading into the third quarter, Bentley’s Sean Myers hauled in a 4-yard score from Dan Guadagnoli to pull ahead. Guadagnoli later found Chris Calvanese for a score and Bentley added a field goal in the fourth before the Lakers’ Zach Emerick tossed a 1-yard TD to T.J. Latimer with just under two to play to pull within six after Pat Belhm blocked a Bentley punt. An onside kick wasn’t recovered by Mercyhurst, however, and Bentley was able to run out the clock.
Stat leaders:
Mercyhurst – PASSING: Zach Emerick – 14-24-1 106 yards 1 TD; RUSHING: Brandon Brown-Dukes 15-61 1 TD; RECEIVING: Jaquan Williams 1-37; TACKLES: Michael Foster – 10; SACKS: 0; INTERCEPTIONS: 0
Bentley – PASSING: Dan Guadagnoli – 15-22-0 223 yards 2 TDs; RUSHING: George Craan 24-91 1 TD; RECEIVING: Chris Calvanese 7-135 1 TD; TACKLES: Kyle Young, Blaine Hopwood – 8; SACKS: Quincy Giles, Bryan Hardy – 1; INTERCEPTIONS: Sam McDonald – 1
SAINT FRANCIS 27, CLARION 13
After falling behind early, Clarion attempted to rally in the second half but ultimately fell short by a score of 27-13.
The Golden Eagles were down 27-0 heading into the half thanks to a steady rushing attack from Saint Francis. Delrece Williams attempted to lead a charge in the fourth quarter after getting Clarion on the board with an 11-yard score but Clarion would only muster up one more touchdown before falling in the season opener.
Stat leaders:
Clarion – PASSING: Connor Simmons – 6-9-0 50 yards TD; RUSHING: Darelle Carson 12-42, Delrece Williams 9-41 TD; RECEIVING: Mark Nicholas – 3-25 TD; TACKLES: Julian Howsare, Cory McNamara – 7; SACKS: Kwame Bell – 1; INTERCEPTIONS: 0
Saint Francis – PASSING: Max Ward 5-8-0 44 yards; RUSHING: Khari Dickson 25-157 2 TDs; RECEIVING: Anthony Bowman – 2-21; TACKLES: Solomon Leaneo – 11; SACKS: 0; INTERCEPTIONS: Semo Sila – 1
Photo Credit: IUP
