Football Falls To Mercyhurst, 28-20
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Sept. 18, 2010) – The C.W. Post football team amassed 458 yards of offense but it was not enough as Mercyhurst College handed the Pioneers a 28-20 loss in a non-conference contest Saturday afternoon on Hickox Field.
Mercyhurst improves to 2-1 overall while C.W. Post slips to 1-2.
The Pioneers took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter when senior quarterback Erik Anderwkavich (Queens, N.Y.) found an open Sean Persch (Farmingdale, N.J.) for a 32-yard endzone completion.
Mercyhurst found an answer later in the quarter when senior quarterback Garrett Kensy (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) kept the ball and rushed in for a nine-yard score with three seconds left to play in the first.
Mercyhurst's defense frustrated the Pioneers throughout the game and kept them out of the end zone while forcing five turnovers in the game. Meanwhile, the Laker offense scored two straight touchdowns in the second and third quarter, beginning with a four-yard pass from Kensy to Ryan Bartizal at 9:14 in the second followed by a 65-yard rush from senior running back Gerald Anderson (Harrisburg, Pa.) at 9:14 in the third quarter.
C.W. Post tried to close the gap with seconds ticking down on the clock in the second on an attempted 35-yard field goal from senior kicker Paul Stoltz (Stony Brook, N.Y.). But the kick was tipped by Dan Kruper (Gibsonia, Pa.) and the Lakers regained possession at their own 26-yard line. Mercyhurst led 28-20 at the half.
In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers pulled the game in closer when Anderwkavich scored on a two-yard sprint into the endzone with 9:42 to play and trailed by just one touchdown.
Mercyhurst responded in its next drive when Anderson took the handoff from Kensy at the C.W. Post 6-yard line and scored his second touchdown of the day on a series that lasted five minutes, 27 seconds.
After kickoff, C.W. Post got the ball at its own 14 after a holding penalty was called and Anderwkavich effectively made completions that brought the ball to the Mercyhurst 12. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kyle Hardy (Matawan, N.J.) caught a pass from Anderwkavich on the next play with 1:53 on the game clock for the game's final score.
Mercyhurst completed the game with 393 total offensive yards on 68 plays. Anderson carried the ball 33 times for 237 yards and two touchdowns while teammate Kensy completed 11 of 17 pass attempts with one pickoff for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Anderwkavich completed 17 of 28 pass attempts with four interceptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns and also led the ground attack with 81 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Junior inside linebacker Billy O'Connor (Sayville, N.Y.) made a career-high 16 tackles on defense for the Pioneers.
C.W Post returns to action when it opens conference play on the road against Shippensburg on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.