Gannon will travel to Mihalik-Thompson Stadium on the campus of No. 18 Slippery Rock for a significant PSAC West matchup this Saturday.
For the first time since 2008 when Gannon joined the conference, the Golden Knights are 5-1, their best start in that span. The Golden Knights hit the road with a 2-1 record as they look to upset The Rock to secure the critical head-to-head victory.
Last week, Gannon rode the performance of sophomore running back Antonio Wright, who broke out for 213 yards and three scores on the ground. The defense also handled business, limiting the Edinboro offense to 202 yards, while forcing four interceptions.
As for ranked Slippery Rock, the team responded with a win over Mercyhurst after a close rivalry loss against Indiana (Pa.). The Rock defense continues to play a league-leading brand of football as they have held offenses to 12.8 points per game and 241.7 yards per game, both first in their respective categories.
Historically, Slippery Rock has had the upper hand in the series, including last year where The Rock scored 63 points in a 63-21 beating against Gannon.
Undefeated IUP Travels to EdinboroÂ
No. 15 Indiana (Pa.) has strung together a solid start to its 2022 campaign as Edinboro is next up on the docket.
The Crimson Hawks have won 11-straight games on the road as they look to continue that streak when they enter Sox-Harrison Stadium. IUP is coming off of two emotional rivalry wins against Slippery Rock and California (Pa.), respectively. The Crimson Hawks have relied on the ground game as they lead the PSAC in yards per game.Â
Meanwhile, Edinboro has struggled to put together any sort of ground game, mustering only 48.3 yards per game. The Fighting Scots sit with a 3-3 record after narrowly escaping in their three wins, including an overtime victory. On the other hand, Edinboro has been outscored 125-31 in its three losses.
Cal U Looks to Bounce Back Against Winless Seton Hill
It has been an up-and-down season so far for California (Pa.), but the Vulcans look to respond from their most recent loss when they travel to Seton Hill.
After a season-opening win, the Vulcans climbed to No. 17 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. Since then, the Vulcans have been unable to string together significant wins. Last week, the Vulcans dropped a 22-21 nail-bitter against rival IUP in the 13th Coal Bowl.
On Saturday, Cal U will meet a winless Seton Hill team that is off to its worst start since 2018. The Griffins have scored a lackluster 10 points per game and also sit last in the PSAC in total yards per game.
Mercyhurst, Clarion Battle for Third Win
The past few weeks have not been favorable for Mercyhurst as the Lakers look to break a four-game losing streak when they host Clarion.
Mercyhurst’s offense has settled down from its first three games. The Lakers have been unable to surpass 17 points in their last three matchups. Mercyhurst once stood near the top in PSAC offensive categories but has since slipped into the middle of the pack.
Clarion is also looking to snatch its third win of 2022 as the Golden Eagles look to carry over momentum from their 40-13 victory last week against Seton Hill. The Golden Eagles found a balanced offensive approach, scoring twice on the ground and twice through the air.
Robert Morris Still Looking for First Win of 2022
The first six games of the season have been forgettable for Robert Morris, but the Colonials have the opportunity to grab their first win on the road against Campbell.
RMU’s 0-5 start is the worst in the Bernard Clark era. Last week’s loss to Gardner-Webb is the worse loss on the season as the Colonials failed to score and were completely outplayed in all facets of the game. One slight positive that came out of the game was that Clark announced that freshman quarterback Zach Tanner will be the guy moving forward.
With Big South play continuing, the Colonials will have to line up against a strong Campbell team. The Fighting Camels are 3-2 and looking to string together their third consecutive win.Â
No. 18 Carnegie Mellon Faces Tough Test in W&J
No. 18 Carnegie Mellon continued its winning ways at Waynesburg last week, but Washington and Jefferson now stand in its way.
Besides two long splash plays by Waynesburg, Carnegie Mellon’s defense held up to secure a 27-20 win over the Yellow Jackets. Inside linebacker Robert Coury led the defense for Carnegie Mellon, earning PAC Defensive Player of the Week. Coury totaled 11 tackles and a career-high nine solo tackles. The junior lived in the backfield, recording six tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Washington and Jefferson moved to 5-1 after a close win last week, but the Presidents pose a threat to the Tartans. W&J has topped 50 points three times this year and has also played a solid brand of defensive football.Â
Grove City Travels to Rival Allegheny for First Time Since 1987
A long and storied history lies between Grove City and Allegheny as the two programs will meet in Meadville, Pa. for the first time since 1987.
The 71st all-time meeting between the two rivals will be another critical game for the Wolverines as they sit tied for second place in the PAC standings with a 3-1 conference record.
Grove City has strung together three consecutive wins, including an impressive 55-7 win over Bethany last week. Allegheny has dropped its last two games as the Gators will once again have another tall task ahead of them with a potent Grove City offense on the other side.
Thiel Looks to Start New Streak Against Westminster
After finally breaking a 41-game losing streak two weeks ago, Thiel looks to come off of its bye week and start a new streak against Westminster.
The Tartans snuck away with a 27-26 win against Bethany on Oct. 1 after several key splash plays lifted them to victory. Westminster is coming off a close 17-14 loss to W&J. Despite the loss, the Titans once again showcased why they boast the best defense in the PAC as they have limited teams to 13.2 points per game.
Waynesburg Meets Rival Bethany for 60th Time
For the 60th time in the rivalry’s history, Waynesburg and Bethany will slug it out, this time in Bethany, W.Va.
Waynesburg suffered back-to-back losses but played No. Carnegie Mellon tightly last week in a 27-20 loss. Senior quarterback Tyler Raines totaled 274 yards through the air with two touchdowns and an interception in the losing effort. As for the Bison, they have lost four-straight games, with their lone win coming at home in the season-opener.
Saint Vincent Returns Home to Host Geneva
For the first time in nearly a month, Saint Vincent returns to Chuck Noll Field when it hosts Geneva.
The two-game road swing was not friendly for the Bearcats, losing by more than three touchdowns in both contests. Just like Saint Vincent, Geneva is looking for its second win of the season. The Golden Tornadoes are coming off of their first win of the season after defeating Allegheny 35-21 at home.
