On Oct. 6, the Mercyhurst University Lakers hosted the Edinboro University Fighting Scots.  The game, which was dedicated to ALS awareness and research, was streamed live across Pennsylvania and Ohio and on ESPN3.

The Lakers won the game 24-6 thanks to dominant performances by both offense and defense, handing the Fighting Scots their second loss of the season and the Lakers’ second win.

For the Lakers, the victory caps off a tough stretch of the season in which they were handed back-to-back losses on the road by conference leader Slippery Rock University (Sept. 29, 21-41 final) and traditional PSAC heavyweight Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Sept. 21, 7-34 final).

The game started off well for the Lakers, as the opening kickoff was returned all the way to the Scots’ 33-yard line by Dante Redwood, allowing the Lakers to put 3 points on the board on their first drive.  With the Laker defense holding the Scots to a punt on the next drive, the Lakers received the ball back on their own 16-yard line.  On the Lakers’ ensuing drive, quarterback Doug Altavilla connected with runningback Garrett Owens on a 60-yard catch and run into the endzone.  Owens shook one defender off and hurdled another to put the Lakers up 10-0.

“As a team, we came together and took the game to them,” said Owens. “We did not wait and get a feel for the speed of the game. I felt on all sides of the ball we continued to play fast throughout the game.”

Another stop by the defense led to another touchdown in the second quarter, once again by Owens, this time on a 13-yard touchdown run.  In response, Edinboro drove down the field to the Mercyhurst six-yard line, but the defense held them to only a field goal, keeping a 14-point lead.  Another drive into the MU red zone resulted in a field goal once again, putting the score at 17-6 with 2:48 left in the first half.

This was plenty of time for the Lakers.

Altavilla put together a great drive, including two first down runs by himself, two first down throws and a 22-yard touchdown throw to Fredrick Green to go up 24-6 with 12 seconds left on the clock.  In the second half, the defense took over.  The defense held the Scots’ offense to zero points in the second half, recording three interceptions by Henry Caldwell, Redwood and Corbin Kessler.

This defensive effort allowed the Laker offense to run down the clock to end the game 24-6.  Owens rushed for 148 yards, received for 62 yards and scored two touchdowns.  Altavilla threw for 224 yards and a touchdown, completing 15 of 17 attempts, and rushed for 46 yards himself.  Rocky Owens recorded seven tackles, followed closely by Dante Rodriguez and Chris Peluso who both had five tackles.  Peluso and Kaz Struna each recorded a sack on the Fighting Scots’ quarterback Andrew Tomko.

Improving to 2-4 (1-2 PSAC record) with the win, the next game for the Lakers is Oct. 13 against Seton Hill, who will host the Lakers.  Seton Hill is 0-6 for the season and is at the bottom of the PSAC West standings, giving the Lakers opportunity to pick up their first road win of the season.  The next home game for the Lakers will be against California University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 20.  California is a game behind Slippery Rock (5-1 and 4-2 respective seasonal records) for second place in the PSAC West.