Defensive Struggle Goes to the ‘Hurst, 17-10
October 11, 2003

Complete Game Stats

Industry has taken its lumps in Western Pennsylvania. The Land of Steel has felt the cold grasp of recession.

In Erie, PA, the Land of Steal remains. What could have been a reception on a simple pass pattern became a game-winning interception for Mercyhurst’s Rob Keefe Saturday (Oct. 11) at MC’s Tullio Field as the Lakers handed the Ashland University Eagles their fourth consecutive loss, 17-10.

The Eagles are 1-6, 1-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Mercyhurst broke a three-game slide with Saturday’s win and is 3-3, 2-3 in the league.

AU led 7-3 after one quarter and 10-3 at the break. The momentum shifted early in the third quarter. First, with 4:13 left in the frame, MC wide receiver Mario Tullis took a dump pass from quarterback Jeff Nowling and raced through the AU defense 69 yards for a touchdown that tied the score at 10-10. With 10:57 left in regulation, AU freshman quarterback Nick Strance looked to throw toward the right sideline. His pass was picked off by Keefe, who returned the ball 27 yards for the touchdown that put MC ahead for good.

That’s the fourth time this year the Eagles have had the opposition return an interception for a touchdown. Add in a fumble recovery that Hillsdale returned for a score and GLIAC defenses had five touchdowns against the Eagles this year.

The theft was the biggest play Keefe made all afternoon and as his stat line shows, no one had more opportunities to make plays. A defensive back by trade, he had four tackles, a forced fumble and broke up three passes. He returned five punts for 38 yards, three kickoffs for 20 yards and as a running back, had four carries for 24 yards.

AU had two possessions after that Keefe pick and twice the Eagles marched into MC territory. They got to the MC43 before punting with 7:53 to play in regulation and then on their final drive, got to the ‘Hurst 17 before an incompletion, a sack and two more incompletions ended any comeback hopes.

The Eagles outgained the home team, 233-202. Mercyhurst had just 10 first downs. Ashland had three sacks, intercepted a pair of passes and held the Lakers to 35 yards rushing (1.2 ypc.). Offensively, junior tailback Antwan Hart rushed 22 times for 100 yards – his third 100-yard day of the season. Junior wideout Michael Hull caught six passes for 74 yards. Sophomore kicker Austin Wellock booted a school-record 50-yard field goal and freshman punter Trevor Wood got off a season-best 61-yard punt.

Despite all those positive numbers, the figures that mattered the most, 17-10, took away all of AU’s joy.

“It just leaves a sour taste in your mouth,” said defensive coordinator Matt Pawlowski.

Pawlowski gave his defense high marks for its work except for one mistake, the pass play that Tullis turned into a score. The MC wide receiver had seven catches for 127 yards.

“I thought we played very well,” said Pawlowski. “But we gave up that one big play. You can say we did this, we did that, if this, but that, but we lost the game. We missed tackles on the play and we didn’t execute. That’s what we always preach. We didn’t execute.”

The Eagles ended up with only 10 points, but early in the game, it was hard to fault their execution. Hart repeatedly banged off tackle for five yards at a clip and got free around the end several times. On the first play of the game he ran through the Lakers for 38 yards.

“We do things right sometimes,” said AU head coach Gary Keller, “and then we shoot ourselves in the foot.”

In addition to Keefe’s interception the Eagles lost the ball twice on fumbles. Neither team was proficient on third down – AU was 3 of 16 and Mercyhurst was 1 of 13.

AU’s lone touchdown came with 9:01 to go in the first quarter, Strance picking his way through the Lakers for a 29-yard TD run. Wellock’s school-record field goal came with 4:53 left in the first half. He was backed by a strong wind.

“When you go back there, it’s hit or miss,” said Wellock. “You don’t expect to make it, but you hope you can. I had perfect conditions.”

Unfortunately for the Eagles, their performance didn’t mirror the weather. AU’s next attempt to break into the win column comes next Saturday (Oct. 18), when Ashland hosts Northern Michigan at 1:25 p.m.