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Oct. 31, 2009
Quarterback Zach Boedicker scored two first quarter touchdowns to get Gannon off to a quick start, and the Golden Knights held IUP to its lowest offensive output in 28 years in a 29-3 victory over the Crimson Hawks Saturday at Miller Stadium. The loss ensures that IUP (4-6, 1-6 PSAC West) will have its first losing season since 1982 while Gannon evened its overall record at 5-5 and is 3-4 in the division. The game was just the second between the two schools, and the Golden Knights avenged a 35-10 defeat last year in Erie. The Crimson Hawks could not develop any offensive rhythm all day, finishing with just 116 yards of total offense, their lowest since gaining 94 versus Edinboro in 1981. IUP rushed for 56 yards and Pat Smith completed 11 of 22 passes for 60 yards and was intercepted twice. Tobias Robinson rushed for 33 yards for the Crimson Hawks and increased his career total to 2,142 yards, passing Dave Seidel and Tink Stennett to move up to ninth on the all-time IUP career chart. Mychal Skinner caught two passes and became the 14th player in school history with 100 career receptions, finishing the game with 101. IUP avoided a shutout on the final play of the first half when it rushed to get its field goal team on the field before the clock ran out, and Craig Burgess connected from 21 yards out to make it 15-3. That score was set up by a short field when the Crimson Hawks took over at the Gannon 24 following a 24-yard punt by Evan Euler. The field goal was the 29th of Burgess' career, tying him with Josh Telenko for second place in school history and one shy of John Sandstrom for the top spot. Other than the late field goal, Gannon dominated play in the first half, holding IUP to three first downs over the opening 30 minutes. Boedicker raced 55 yards for a touchdown on Gannon's first drive, and Connor Kimball passed to Evan Twombly for a two-point conversion. A 27-yard punt by Jared Kaufmann set the Golden Knights up at the IUP 43 on their next possession, and Gannon covered the distance in five plays, with Boedicker going in from the six to make it 15-0 with just 7:19 expired in the game. IUP reached the Gannon 22 on its ensuing drive, but Kaufmann could not handle the snap on a Burgess field goal attempt. The Golden Knights limited IUP to only 17 yards the entire second half and took a 22-3 lead with a 71-yard drive at the outset of the third quarter, culminating in a 31-yard touchdown pass from Boedicker to Matt Davis. Gannon's Parris Williams made his second interception of the game, and Tyler Batts raced 46 yards for a score to make it 29-3 with still 7:10 left in the third quarter. A Mike Gee sack of Boedicker forced a fumble that Cosie Spigelmeyer recovered at the Gannon 20, but IUP turned the ball over on downs, and the Crimson Hawks did not threaten again. Batts led a balanced Gannon rushing attack with 97 yards on 14 carries. Jon Richardson rushed for 81 yards and Boedicker gained 78 on the ground. Boedicker attempted only 10 passes, completing seven for 85 yards. He was sacked by Gee, Mark Jackson and Thomas Lindsay. IUP will look to finish out the season with a win next Saturday when it travels to Kutztown for a 1 p.m. game. It will be the first game for IUP at Kutztown since a 21-20 victory in 1986. |
