1. Kansas City    Luke Joeckel      OT          Texas A&M

Analysis: The Chiefs choose the draft’s premier offensive lineman to protect their new franchise QB Alex Smith.

2. Jacksonville   Dee Milliner      CB           Alabama

Analysis: The Jaguars aren’t short on needs, and even QB Blaine Gabbert’s job isn’t safe, but the Jacksonville secondary needs an infusion of young talent.

3. Oakland          Sharrif Floyd      DT           Florida

Analysis: The Raiders’ defensive line is in shambles after losing Richard Seymour and Desmond Bryant, so a top SEC run stopper fits the bill.

4. Philadelphia Dion Jordan        DE           Oregon

Analysis: Jordan may change from a Duck to an Eagle, but he’ll still be playing for Chip Kelly, and the Eagles need an explosive body on the defensive line.

5. Detroit             Ziggy Ansah        DE           BYU

Analysis: The Lions should grab one of the top offensive tackle prospects in Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson, but the departures of Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch will make Detroit call in Ansah for defensive line reinforcement.

6. Cleveland       Jarvis Jones        OLB        Georgia

Analysis: With Milliner and Jordan gone, the Browns may look to move back and pick up a second-rounder to make up for supplemental pick Josh Gordon. But if they stay at No. 6, look for them to add another linebacker to their 3-4.

7. Arizona            Chance Warmack             OG          Alabama

Analysis: The Cardinals have taken a chance on an aging Carson Palmer, but had better improve the line in front of him.

8. Buffalo            Deandre Hopkins             WR         Clemson

Analysis: The Bills have plenty of needs, but if the goal is for either Tarvaris Jackson or Kevin Kolb to lead the offense, Buffalo needs a dynamic threat.

9. N.Y. Jets          Eric Fisher           OT          Central Michigan

Analysis: The Jets have two first-rounders to play with after trading Darelle Revis. Fisher drops to No. 9 and right into a starting role defending Mark Sanchez.

10. Tennessee   Barkevious Mingo           DE           LSU

Analysis: After seeing several defensive linemen come off the board, the Titans jump on the best available at defensive end, and that’s the 6-foot, 4-inch Mingo.

11. San Diego     Larry Warford    OG          Kentucky

Analysis: Mike McCoy is the Chargers’ new head coach who will look to return QB Philip Rivers to an elite form. A fresh offensive guard goes a long way.

12. Miami            Lane Johnson    OT          Oklahoma

Analysis: The Dolphins have 11 total picks in the draft, including five in the first three rounds. Look for them to move up and select a tackle, or stay put and select a tackle.

13. N.Y. Jets (Tampa Bay)             Manti T’eo          LB           Notre Dame

Analysis: With the departure of one defensive superstar in CB Darelle Revis, T’eo takes his athleticism and off-the-field baggage to the NFL’s biggest stage.

14. Carolina        Tavon Austin     WR         West Virginia

Analysis: Austin’s familiarity with athletic option quarterbacks makes him a natural fit with Cam Newton and the Panthers.

15. New Orleans          Kevin Minter          ILB          LSU

Analysis: While the Saints and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan need pass rushers, they won’t feel comfortable passing on Minter.

16. St. Louis        Cordarrelle Patterson    WR         Tennessee

Analysis: The Rams have two first-round picks, and you can bet one of them will fill a hole in their receiving corps, which was quaked by the losses of Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson.

17. Pittsburgh    Eddie Lacy           RB           Alabama

Analysis: The Steelers have a few positions to upgrade after veteran departures at wide receiver (Mike Wallace) and linebacker (James Harrison). But the Pittsburgh offense is at its best with a committee of talented running backs, and Lacy is the next piece.

18. Dallas             Kenny Vaccaro  S              Texas

Analysis: The Cowboys have aging Will Allen and several younger raw safeties in their defensive backfield. Vaccaro can bring both youth and talent to the questions at the position.

19. N.Y. Giants   Alec Ogletree    ILB          Georgia

Analysis: The top defensive linemen have been picked clean by this point, but the Giants can still fill a need at linebacker with a premier SEC athlete. And Ogletree won’t be New York’s only linebacker pick in the draft.

20. Chicago         Arthur Brown    ILB          Kansas St.

Analysis: The Bears would have preferred Minter or Ogletree, but their needs in the middle linebacker spot are too big to ignore.

21. Cincinnati    Joseph Randle  RB           Oklahoma St.

Analysis: The Bengals will draft a complement back to BenJarvus Green-Ellis to shore up the run game.

22. St. Louis (Washington)           Jonathan Cooper                             OG          North Carolina

Analysis: Fixing the hole at guard is in the cards, but reuniting Rams DE Jake Long with his brother Kyle Long (Oregon-OG) is not.

23. Minnesota   Keenan Allen    WR         California

Analysis: With two near adjacent picks, expect the Vikings to draft two playmakers, one on each side of the ball.

24.  Indianapolis                    Damontre Moore        DE           Texas A&M

Analysis: The Colts’ pass rush will have to establish a new identity without veteran Dwight Freeney.

25. Minnesota   Xavier Rhodes   CB           Florida St.

Analysis: At 6-foot, 2-inches, Rhodes is an imposing threat to his wideout assignments.

26. Green Bay    Montee Ball       RB           Wisconsin

Analysis: The passing game is never in doubt when QB Aaron Rodgers is in the huddle, but when will the Packers develop a versatile running game?

27. Houston        Chase Thomas   OLB        Stanford

Analysis: The Texans would like a wideout opposite Andre Johnson, but at this point, they’ll wait until the later rounds.

28. Denver          Marcus Lattimore            RB           South Carolina

Analysis: Aging Willis McGahee and Ronnie Hillman are the only backs under contract past 2013-14, as Knowshon Moreno looks like he’s in his last season with the Broncos.

29. New England          Bjoern Werner           DE     Florida St.

Analysis: Werner strengthens a Patriots pass-rushing attack still learning to walk.

30. Atlanta          Johnthan Banks                                CB           Mississippi St.

Analysis: Without Dunta Robinson, Brent Grimes or Chris Owens, the Falcons need secondary help, and might trade up to get it.

31. San Francisco         D.J. Swearinger     S              South Carolina

Analysis: The defending NFC champs need a suitable replacement for Dashon Goldson.

32.          Baltimore            Tyler Eifert         TE           Notre Dame

Analysis: Will the Ravens land the next Ray Lewis in this draft? The gleaming Lombardi Trophy says no. But Baltimore has been seeking an athletic tight end since the days of Todd Heap.

The 2013 NFL Draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m., with the first round taking place.

DAN KUBACKI

kubacki001@knights.gannon.edu

“He’ll love you up, yell at you when you need it and then love you up again,” Nadler said.

Rzyzcycki, who is technically in his first spring as Gannon head coach after serving under an interim tag until May 3 last year, has gained a largely favorable reputation among his players.

Part of that distinction means recognizing when they can’t play.

“There’s quite a few kids on the shelf that were not going to play and therefore we’re not going to have a spring game,” Rzyczycki said. “Just because I don’t know if we could line up consistently enough bodies to go through a spring game.”

Gannon has managed to largely avoid serious injuries in the 29-day, 15-practice camp that wraps up Friday, but minor nagging injuries have continued to pile up, forcing the cancellation of the game, Rzyczycki said.

“You deal with numbers in camp and there have been some kids I haven’t put through camp because of nagging injuries and I don’t want it to turn into something bigger,” he said. “Right now, we’re paper thin on the defensive line.”

Gannon will look to retool its defense, which was a bellwether for its 2012 season. The Knights won two of their last three games to finish 3-8 overall and 1-6 in PSAC play.

In those wins against Lock Haven University and Long Island University-Post, the Knights allowed seven and six points, respectively. In nine other games, opponents averaged 34.3 points.

Gannon will have to retool on defense after losing several key players to graduation, including middle linebacker and captain Will Giles and three-year starting defensive tackle Ian Jeffers as well as starters Jon Petrigac (linebacker), Matt Jones (tackle), Ashton Jones (safety) and safety Khayree Connors-McChristian, who missed the second-half of last season with a broken leg.

In all, Gannon returns 15 players from both sides of the ball who started at least five games a season.

But it’s what’s left on offense that’s highlighted camp so far.

“I think we’ve progressed because we didn’t have an offensive coordinator in spring ball last year,” Rzyczycki said. “Now we’re able to attack the little things that we may have made mistakes with over the course of a season.”

Rzyczycki singled out the offensive line for its improvement in spring on the heels of a season in which Gannon allowed 42 sacks and ranked second-to-last in the PSAC in rushing with a team total of 806 yards.

“Those kids are experienced; they’re all juniors except for (Matt) Andry but he played the entire year last year,” Rzyczycki said. “Not only are they talented, but they’ve been in the system for a year where blitz pickups and all those protection schemes and running the football, they’re probably the best part of our football team right now.”

Nadler figures to start the season under center when Gannon kicks its season off against Lake Erie College as he did a season ago when he set records with 21 touchdowns and 2,910 yards as a redshirt freshman.

This year, however, he doesn’t have to beat out teammates for the spot like he did in 2012.

“It definitely takes the pressure off you,” Nadler said. “I feel like a heavy load has been taken off my shoulders, but it’s comforting to know there’s another quarterback right next to me in Dan Tapscott, who started a season, that can help me out.”

Rzyczycki also acknowledged being more comfortable with a season of experience.

“Anytime you’re in something new, as time goes on, you become more efficient at it because nothing surprises you, you know what you’re doing,” he said.

Gannon’s run game managed to surprise almost no one in 2012, but the Knights return both main threats in Jansen Jones and Alex Papson.

Jones led Gannon with 692 yards on 181 carries a season ago but the Knights often used multiple backs, something they intend to continue this season, Nadler said.

“It’s been a focus (to get running more involved) and they’ve made tremendous leaps,” he said. “We have a lot of depth at running back and if you look at the way a lot of NFL teams work, they use more than one back, so we like having a lot of guys able to carry the football.”

On Monday, Gannon also announced the signing of 33 recruits to the 2013 class.

“We had some areas we had to address,” Rzyczycki said. “If you go through that list, you’re going to see some older kids who are some defensive linemen.”

The list notably includes seven recruits from California, including four junior college transfers.

Gannon will begin the season at Lake Erie Sept. 5 and hold its home and PSAC opener Sept. 14 against West Chester University.

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu

Question: You picked the San Francisco 49ers to win. Are you happy the Baltimore Ravens won?

Answer: I’m not unhappy about being wrong. I did root for the 49ers because, as a Clevelander, I can’t in good consciousness root for a team that used to be the Browns.

Q: So then why did you pick the 49ers?

A: I had faith in Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco’s first-year quarterback. After Alex Smith’s injury, Kaepernick led the 49ers to a 7-3 record and averaged a 101.4 QB rating in his 10 starts. In the postseason, he threw for 798 yards over three games. He scored seven total touchdowns, throwing for four and rushing for three. Allow for two interceptions and add 264 yards rushing. He played well, especially in the Year of the Young Quarterback.

Q: Not as well as the Ravens.

A: The Ravens wanted to win more, plain and simple.

Q: That’s all it takes to win the Super Bowl these days?

A: Linebacker Ray Lewis was already his team’s emotional leader before announcing his retirement in the middle of the postseason. Now the Ravens had another battle cry, to win one more for their defensive captain so Lewis could end his career on a crescendo.

Q: What about Joe Flacco?

A: What about him? He played flawlessly in the playoffs. With 1,140 passing yards, 11 TDs, no picks and a 118.0 QB rating, Flacco upended the stigma against his consistency in clutch performances. I kept waiting for him to make a mistake in the big game, but he never did. He’s definitely deserving of the Super Bowl MVP trophy and a brand new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette.

Q: So the 49ers weren’t going to win?

A: I didn’t say that. But I’ll admit, after the Ravens had a 28-6 lead early in the third quarter thanks to Jacoby Jones’ record-setting kickoff return for a touchdown, I wasn’t too confident in the game ending as close as it did.

Q: And the ending? Did the referees make the wrong call?

A: If you’re referring to the no-call on the Ravens’ coverage of 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, I’m not willing to go into that. Fans of both teams will, undoubtedly, and I can see why, but I’ve only seen a handful of NFL moments when referees had an extreme impact on a game’s final score. San Francisco’s final drive wasn’t one of them.

If anything, I’d chalk up the 49ers’ loss to poor timeout management and failure to convert the two-point conversion with 10 minutes left in regulation. A successful conversion would have tied the game, and just like the Superdome’s lights going out, who knows how it would have affected the end result.

DAN KUBACKI

kuback001@knights.gannon.edu

While it’s a nice Hollywood ending to what was a great 2012 season, many other storylines will actually shape the outcome of this game. For instance, this is linebacker Ray Lewis’ last hoorah. And San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will have a chance to show the other 31 NFL teams that passed over him in 2011’s draft what they’re missing. And yet here the rookie is leading his team to a possible Super Bowl title.

And that’s just the surface. There are plenty of reasons to watch this game. Below is a breakdown of who has an edge in each facet of the game: offense, defense, special teams and coaching.

OFFENSE

Neither offense will run up the score consistently, but both teams have the capability of gaining big plays. Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense were fifth in the league in passing plays over for 20 yards. Wide receivers Anquan Boldin and the young phenom Torrey Smith are as dangerous as any tandem in the league and are a big reason why they have made it this far in the postseason.

The 49ers also have big play ability, but mainly stick to the ground behind Kaepernick and Frank Gore. Kaepernick and Gore have shown that the read-option can translate in the NFL. It keeps opposing defenses guessing, and, with Kaepernick and Gore’s athletic ability, they’re a home run threat each time they touch the ball.

EDGE: 49ers

DEFENSE

Both of these defenses have exceptional playmakers and were two of the stingiest in the league this season. Although the Raven defense may look average on the stat sheet, they don’t play that way.

With Lewis as their unquestioned leader, the Ravens are among the league’s most talented. Even though they have lost a step or two, Baltimore defense is one of the NFL’s most opportunistic units, totaling 25 takeaways this past season. Over the past two games, they have forced both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to turn the ball over a total of five times

The 49ers have one of the most aggressive front sevens in the league. They ranked third overall in the league in total defense and fourth against the run.

Linebacker Aldon Smith led the team in sacks with 19.5. Opposing quarterbacks also had a tough time throwing against the 49er defense, which ranked fourth in the league against the pass, surrendering 200 yards per game.

EDGE: Ravens

SPECIAL TEAMS

Sometimes the subtlest difference in the outcome of a game could be how well each team performs in the special teams department. The Ravens have clearly got the better kicker in rookie Justin Tucker, who went 30-for-33 this season.

WR Jacoby Jones could also be dangerous in the return game for Baltimore. He’s had three touchdown returns this season.

The 49ers will be pressed to score touchdowns because veteran kicker David Akers hasn’t been all that accurate this season, hitting only 29-of-42 field goal attempts.

While no 49er has returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown, it doesn’t mean San Fran is incapable of doing so. Ted Ginn Jr. is as dangerous as anyone in the NFL in quickly changing field position in a hurry.

EDGE: Ravens

COACHING

As long as neither coach makes a terrible decision, the players should ultimately decide the matchup of this game. Both Harbaughs have similar coaching styles— they are brothers after all. They both coach discipline and both should have their respective players fully prepared for this game.

EDGE: Harbaugh. Sorry folks, I couldn’t resist.

PREDICTION: 49ers 28, Ravens 24

As much as I would like to pick the Ravens in this one considering this will be Lewis’ last game, the 49ers offense will be too tough to handle.

Their read-option is tough to prepare for. And if even the Ravens have two weeks to do so, it’s another thing to actually stop it during a game.

Kaepernick is playing at a pretty high level. He can throw. And he most certainly can run.

The 49ers defense has been one of the best in the NFL this year as well. Expect Aldon Smith to make a big play or two on defense to change momentum.

MVP: Colin Kaepernick

JACOB TARR

tarr003@knights.gannon.edu

The Knights tallied 499 yards of offense, forced four turnovers and produced their most points in a game in two years.

Redshirt freshman Liam Nadler threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns, setting Gannon’s single-season yards and touchdown records in the process.

Nadler started his clinic off in the first quarter with an 8-yard touchdown to junior running back Jansen Jones. He followed it up by connecting with sophomores Joe Sobucki and Justin Caliste, who both raced 58 yards for scores.

Nadler’s 2,910 yards and 21 touchdowns broke records set by Darmel Whitfield.

Sophomore receiver Abraham Ocasio set the school records with 64 catches, 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns for the season.

Ocasio and Caliste were named to the All-PSAC first team Tuesday. Defensive tackle Ian Jeffers, linebacker Will Giles and Khayree Connors-McChristian earned second-team honors.

On defense, junior cornerback Tashawn Sneed was one pick short of Gannon’s single-game record when he intercepted three passes Saturday. The defense gave up its fewest points since its shutout over Millersville in September 2011.

Coach Brad Rzyczycki finished his first season with a 3-8 overall record and 1-6 conference mark.

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu

But both conceded that the Gannon University football team’s 38-35 loss to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West champion Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Gannon University Field Saturday was close.

“At the end of the day a loss is a loss,” Rzyczycki said. “But on Saturday, there was the potential on what we could do on offense.”

“I was proud of our team and the effort we gave,” he added.

Against the conference’s top-ranked defense in IUP, the Knights produced their largest point total since their win season-opening win over Lake Erie College.

“After the game, they were telling us ‘you guys deserved it, you played better,’” said Ocasio, who made a pair of touchdown catches. “That was the thing that got me the most.”

De’Antwan Williams’ 2-yard run with 3 minutes, 16 seconds left sealed the win and the Western Division championship for No. 14 IUP, which will play Shippensburg University for the conference title Saturday.

The Knights had taken a 35-31 lead midway through the fourth when Ocasio made an acrobatic one-handed catch on a 13-yard fade route from redshirt freshman Liam Nadler.

Nadler tied a season-high with four touchdown passes but also threw three interceptions—two of which came in the final minutes following Williams’ go-ahead touchdown and the other resulting in a defensive touchdown for the Crimson Hawks early in the second quarter.

Nadler also hit sophomore receiver Justin Caliste from 30 yards out and connected on a 15-yard pass with junior running back Jansen Jones for touchdowns in the first half.

His 52-yard pass to Ocasio gave the Knights a 21-20 lead to start the second half.

The Knights tried to build on the momentum they took hold of a week before when they notched their first PSAC win of the season over Lock Haven University, 13-10.

On Saturday, Gannon continued its success on the ground with 113 rushing yards, and, in five red zone possessions, the Knights came away with touchdowns each time.

“In the red zone, we didn’t settle for field goals,” Rzyczycki said. “That was important.”

The West’s top-ranked rushing team, IUP also had success on the ground, grinding out 230 yards, led by 126 from Williams, a Rutgers transfer.

“They also took advantage of some of our injuries we had on defense and were able to run the ball on us,” Rzyczycki said.

Rzyczycki also praised his team’s resiliency, adding offseason conditioning will be vital to next season.

Ocasio agreed.

“As a team, we don’t give up,” he said.

“I think (Saturday’s game) shows we’re the best team in the conference. A lot of people are going to throw us in with the other two-win teams, but it all starts somewhere. It’s the first year we’re learning this offense. I think next year is when we really show it.”

The sophomore from New York leads the PSAC West with 10 touchdowns this season. He caught eight passes all of last season.

“It’s nice to have individual stats, but I would trade those for wins,” he said.

Gannon will get one final crack at a win noon Saturday when it hosts Long Island University-Post. Rzyczycki confirmed the game will be played despite rumors of its cancellation due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

“It’s 60 minutes to play and a lifetime of memories for our seniors,” he said. “It’s better to end a season with a win than a loss.”

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu

Garnering national attention from outlets such as Yahoo and ESPN, Gannon’s game at Lock Haven University Saturday was thought to represent the end of the Bald Eagles’ record 50-game losing streak.

Instead, a different losing streak ended, as the Knights repeatedly stymied Lock Haven’s scoring threats en route to a 13-7 win at Hubert Jack Stadium.

“We didn’t address it until we walked onto the field,” said the sophomore defensive back. “The whole team was upset with the national attention and everyone expecting us to lose. We felt we’re 10 times, 100 times better than that.”

Gannon’s losing streak coupled with their perceived disrespect left the Knights with a foul taste in their mouth. The win sweetened things up.

“Winning’s like a deodorant,” coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “It cleans things up pretty fast.”

Gannon’s first win since its season-opening 36-33 victory over Lake Erie College ran the Knights’ record to 2-7 overall and accounts for its lone Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference win of the season. The Knights also improved to 5-0 all-time against Lock Haven.

The Knights had a season-high 196 rushing yards on 43 carries — more than 100 yards better than their season average. Junior running back Jansen Jones’ 183 yards on 29 carries represented a career-high.

“We were able to run the ball, controlled the clock and we stopped the run,” That’s the difference.

Gannon’s prowess on the ground manifested itself on the game’s first drive, when the Knights drove 81 yards — all on the ground. Sophomore running back Alex Papson’s 3-yard dash to the end zone gave the Knights an early advantage.

“Before the game, you wouldn’t have thought we were going to have the success we had,” junior right guard Josh Williams said. “But during the game, we were clicking and the running backs were hitting the holes.”

Gannon’s momentum was short-lived, however. On the ensuing drive, redshirt freshman quarterback Liam Nadler’s pass was intercepted and returned 41 yards for a touchdown.

From there, Gannon’s defense took over.

Gannon forced a pair of turnovers and allowed just 245 total yards of offense to Lock Haven (0-9 overall, 0-6 PSAC), which gave the Knights all they could handle.

“Watching them on film, you wouldn’t think they’re a winless team,” Rzyczycki said.

On what turned out to be perhaps the biggest play of the night, Bailey chased down Lock Haven’s Brandon Brader on the first play of the second half on the 1-yard-line after a 72-yard run. The ensuing play Brader fumbled and Gannon senior safety Ashton Jones recovered.

The Knights’ shutout over Lock Haven was their first since blanking Millersville in September 2011.

“We knew they’re a physical team and our plan was to hit them in the mouth first,” Bailey said.

Senior kicker Matt Szczupakowski’s field goals from 24 and 37 yards out in the second and third quarters made up the difference in score.

For Lock Haven, Saturday’s loss was the second near miss in as many weeks. Last week, Clarion scored on the last play of the game to win 30-28.

Gannon defensive tackle Ian Jeffers said the Bald Eagles are better than what the streak shows.

“They’re an up-and-coming team,” Jeffers said.

In Gannon’s coming game Saturday, the Knights will face a team with a different streak. PSAC-West leading Indiana University of Pennsylvania (8-1, 5-1) has won five in a row, including a 45-0 rout of Clarion University Saturday.

“IUP runs it 70 percent of the time,” Rzyczycki said. “They’ll run it down your throat, so we have to create some packages that will address that.”

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu

A free safety position with additional duties of a linebacker, it’s the Gannon University football team’s version of the man of steel.

“The name says it all,” said freshman Matt Astorino, who started at the position against Mercyhurst University Oct. 13. “The (free safety) position has a lot of responsibilities in the run and the pass.”

But following the departure of All-PSAC defensive back Chris Cook and after fifth-year senior Khayree Connors-McChristian went down for the season after breaking his leg in practice two weeks ago, the secondary could’ve easily become the Kryponite for the Knights, who fell to 1-7 with a 41-0 loss to No. 14 California University of Pennsylvania Saturday.

“Khayree’s injury hurt because he’s been doing it for a long time and he’s good at stopping the run,” Rzyczycki said. “What we’ve had to try to do is use the talent we have to put the best 11 on the field and mold around that talent.”

For a team already decimated by injuries, the loss of the team’s secondary anchor and starter for the last 2 1/2 seasons had an effect.

“It was traumatic for the team,” senior strong safety Ashton Jones said.

During special teams drills the Wednesday before Gannon’s 38-29 loss to Mercyhurst, Connors- McChristian went down and was taken off by ambulance.

“A few drills after that, it hit me that I might have to take a bigger role,” Astorino said.

Thrust into the starting lineup for the first time against Mercyhurst, the General McLane graduate responded with five tackles following an emotional appearance by Connors-McChristian in the locker room prior to the game.

“He came in and we all stood up and cheered him,” Astorino said. “The older guys have been a big help in pointing out things I can do and where to be on the field.”

In addition to his seasoned Gannon teammates, Astorino is also in the rare position to elicit on-demand counsel from a three-year starter at Penn State from 2009-11 — his older brother Drew.

“Mattie and I text or talk to each other several times a week,” said Drew Astorino, who works for a logistics firm in Chicago. “From what I’ve seen this year, he’s playing physical and not being timid, because whenever you play timid, that’s when mistakes happen.”

For the Astorinos, football became a family affair, as they went to every one of Matt’s games at General McLane before turning around and traveling to see Drew play at Penn State.

Drew Astorino, who took part in a Philadelphia Eagles mini-camp this spring, said the family continues this tradition.

“Right now, I’m happy living vicariously through the fact that there’s an Astorino on the field,” he said. “We’re Matt’s biggest fans and toughest critics at once.”

Throughout the season, eliminating mistakes has been a point of concern for the Gannon defense that averages 33.6 points per game against and that has started four different secondaries this season.

“Any time you coach a young team, they bring excitement to play,” Rzyczycki said. “You do have to be more simplistic in your schemes than you would with juniors or seniors, but coaching is coaching.”

In Saturday’s loss to Cal, Gannon started two freshman and two sophomores on defense.  Freshman Trenton Donald and sophomore Mike Phillips led the Knights with 11 tackles each.

The defense will have to continue to learn on the fly, said senior linebacker Will Giles.

“No matter who we put out there, we still need to play like they’re our starters because the season will go on,” Giles said. “It’s good for them to get experience and it will help them next year.”

On offense, sophomore Abraham Ocasio set the school single-season record with his 50th catch of the season.

Gannon will look for its second win of the season when it travels to Lock Haven University Saturday. The Bald Eagles are losers of a Division II-record 50 straight games.

Lock Haven is coming off a last-second 30-28 loss to Clarion University.

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu

Both times the Lakers were stunned late by the Gannon University football team.

But before 1,560 fans at Gannon University Field Saturday and a television audience on Fox and Root Sports Pittsburgh, the Lakers — and Brandon Brown-Dukes — weren’t about to let their arch rivals derail a five-game win streak.

In a clash pitting two teams heading in completely opposite directions, the PSAC West-leading Lakers forced five turnovers and grounded out 269 rushing yards — 192 of which came from their star running back — in their 38-29 win.

Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki said the team is still trying to turn it around.

“The good thing is when you turn on the film to the kids this week, they’re oblivious to what’s being said outside the program,” Rzyczycki said.

The Lakers, winners of their last six after dropping their season-opener to non-conference Notre Dame College, took back the Niagara Cup from the Knights, whose losing streak has reached six after beating Lake Erie College 36-33 on Aug. 30.

“We’re a lot more upbeat than I expected,” senior defensive back Ashton Jones said. “I came into this week thinking I needed to rile up the guys as a senior, but it wasn’t needed.”

After the Knights had staged dramatic second-half comebacks to beat the Lakers the last two years, Mercyhurst took the lead for good on L.J. Stevens’ 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown late in the first half Saturday. It came right after sophomore Justin Caliste returned a punt 65 yards to tie the game at 14.

Turnovers in three of the Knights’ first four possessions spotted Mercyhurst to a 14-0 first quarter lead on a 16-yard pass and a 1-yard run by quarterback Anthony Vendemia. He later ran for another 1-yard score just before halftime to make it 28-14.

The Lakers methodically salted the game away on tough running between the tackles from Brown-Dukes, whose fourth game of more than 150 yards this season came on 30 carries, 17 of which were in the second half.

This was in stark contrast to the Knights who managed just 11 yards on 21 tries as a team.

“Our running game really hasn’t been all that absent, what’s hurt us statistically is me taking too many sacks,” said quarterback Liam Nadler, who was sacked five times Saturday.

Nadler broke the school record for yards in a game for the second time this season, as his 428 yards on 25-of-42 attempts was eight yards more than against Lake Erie.

He also found sophomore Abraham Ocasio for his PSAC-West leading seventh and eighth receiving touchdowns in the second half. His 82-yarder in the third quarter cut Mercyhurst’s lead to 10 before Brown-Dukes’ 37-yard run on the ensuing possession broke it open.

“We’re getting more comfortable together,” Nadler said. “From working with them over the summer, we’re able to go over the issues and correct them.”

Mercyhurst took a 10-5-1 advantage in the all-time series.

As the losses for the Knights begin to pile up, so too do the injuries.

The Knights lost Caliste Saturday when he hurt his ankle in the third quarter and needed to be helped off the field. Rzyczycki said he would be evaluated by doctors this week and his status is uncertain.

They will also likely play the rest of the season without starting strong safety Khayree Connors-McChristian, who broke his leg in practice last week. That leaves the starting job to freshman Matt Astorino, who made five tackles Saturday.

Jones led Gannon’s defense with 12 tackles.

“Khayree’s my best friend on the team, so when he went down it was traumatic for me, but the younger players have made a lot of progress,” Jones said. “I think the coaches did a good job preparing the team.”

The Knights will play 15th-ranked California University of Pennsylvania (6-1 overall, 4-0) noon Saturday as part of Gannon’s homecoming celebration.

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu

Redshirt freshman quarterback Liam Nadler connected on a 7-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Abraham Ocasio on the first drive of the second half to give the Knights a three-point lead. But 10th-ranked Bloomsburg ripped off 22 consecutive points thanks to a stellar ground game to pull away for a runaway 43-24 win.

From the opening whistle, Saturday’s game played out more like the Iditarod statistically speaking, as the Huskies raced circles around the Knights.

Bloomsburg (5-0) entered the game ranked third among Division II teams in rushing yards and didn’t disappoint Saturday. The Huskies racked up 483 yards on the ground and saw their two-headed running back attack of Franklin Quiteh and Eddie Mateo consistently slash and gash the Gannon defense to the tune of 389 yards between the two of them.

The loss was Gannon’s fourth in a row after defeating Lake Erie College in the season opener, all four courtesy of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opponents.

“The ultimate goal is always to win football games, but has time as gone on we have really seen progress,” coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “They have been positive and practices have been good. No one is in the dumps because we are 1-4.”

In front of more than 1,700 fans at Bloomsburg’s Robert Redman Stadium, Gannon was able to match Bloomsburg score for score in the first half.

After Gannon kicker Matt Szuczupakowski kicked a 20-yard field goal on Gannon’s opening drive, Nadler threw second-quarter touchdowns to Ocasio and sophomore Joe Sobucki to keep the Knights within striking distance. Bloomsburg quarterback Tim Kelly hooked up on three first-half touchdowns to make up the Huskies’ 21-17 halftime lead.

Following Ocasio’s PSAC-leading sixth touchdown to begin the second half, Bloomsburg took the game over.

On the ensuing kickoff, D.J. Robinson returned the kick to Gannon’s 6-yard line, where Quiteh promptly found on the end zone on the next play.

Quiteh reached the end-zone once more in the fourth quarter on a 28-yard run, as his scores bookended another Mateo touchdown. Quiteh finished the game with 202 yards on 26 carries, while Mateo contributed another 180 yards. Quiteh increased his season total to 827 yards, which ranks second in Division II.

In all, Bloomsburg collected 205 rushing yards and attempted just two passes in the second half—both incompletions.

The Knights also enjoyed a glimpse of success on the ground, as junior Jansen Jones ran for a season-high 72 yards on 12 carries. Nadler also accounted for 289 yards and three touchdowns on 30-of-46 passing.

“Our offense bounced back from a poor effort against Clarion and moved the ball against a very good Bloomsburg defense,” Rzyczycki said.

Saturday’s game was the Knights’ last crossover game with a PSAC Eastern Division opponent before they host Long Island-Post University in the season finale.

Gannon will return to Erie County when it makes the short trip down Interstate 79 to take on Edinboro University 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Knights have not defeated the Scots since joining the PSAC in 2008 and have gone scoreless the past two years.

“Edinboro has really controlled the ball the last three or four years against us,” Rzyczycki said of the Scots. “They’ve run a lot of more plays and churned out time on the clock. Defensively, we have to get some three-and-outs and get our offense back on the field”

Gannon’s defense is ranked 10th in the 16-team PSAC, allowing 29.2 points per game.

Sophomore defensive back Mike Phillips made a career-high 17 tackles against Bloomsburg, tying the third-highest single-game total in school history.

JOE CUNEO

cuneo001@knights.gannon.edu