“I was nervous. I remember smiling back at him, trying to pretend I wasn’t nervous.” — Travis Rearick

Oct. 16, 2010: Mercyhurst 22, Edinboro 21 (OT)

“The rest is history.” — Trevor Kennedy

Quarterback Cody Harris put Edinboro on top in OT, but could only watch Mercyhurst win the game with a two-point conversion pass./ETN

EDINBORO — Two years after winning in dramatic fashion at Edinboro, Mercyhurst was back at Sox Harrison Stadium fresh off a 28-27 thriller at Indiana (Pa.).

On this day, the Lakers forced overtime on an Gerald Anderson 9-yard run with 59 seconds left in regulation.

“We were down like the whole second half,” said Travis Rearick, who was a starting junior quarterback at Mercyhurst in 2010. “So we were finally excited to get back into it.”

In overtime, Edinboro took first possession and scored on an Cody Harris 1-yard run to go up 21-14. The Lakers answered with Rearick finding Terrence Coon for an 11-yard scoring pass.

Mercyhurst lined up for a PAT to force a second overtime.

Then flags flew.

“They were going to kick an extra point,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. “We jumped offsides so it moved (the ball) up a yard and a half.”

A yard and a half closer, the Lakers decided to go for two — and the win.

“It was a momentum thing,” Lakers coach Marty Schaetzle. “It wasn’t a matter of that the play was going to be any better from 1-1/2 or three yards out. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

What?

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Last week, Slippery Rock edged Edinboro, 38-31, in overtime. Here’s a video interview with Rock head coach George Mihalik after the game.

The Scots (3-4, 2-3) play PSAC West rival Mercyhurst (6-2, 4-1) Saturday at noon while Slippery Rock (4-4, 3-2) plays at No. 13-ranked California (Pa.) (7-1, 5-0).

“Our season was on the line. I told Adam Brown I was going to get this.” — Theo Hall.

Oct. 23, 2008: Mercyhurst 24, Edinboro 21

“Probably the toughest loss of my career.” — Trevor Harris

Trevor Harris threw for 11,899 yards and 100 TDs in his career at Edinboro./ETN

EDINBORO — Four years ago, Mercyhurst joined the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference where Edinboro was an established power.

“Edinboro has always been a big presence in the PSAC,” said Travis Rearick, who was a freshman quarterback at Mercyhurst in 2008.

That season, the Scots were led by one of the best quarterbacks to every play NCAA Division II — Trevor Harris. It was Edinboro’s best team under head coach Scott Browning.

“Offensively, we could be balanced,” said Harris, who was a junior in 2008. “We could run the football. We could throw the football and we could it from any different angle on the field.

“We really felt comfortable with everything we were doing. I think we were the best team in region my junior year. I really do, between us and Cal, in 2008.”

The Scots came into that game with one loss to California (Pa.), 35-31, and was looking to continue their playoff push against the underdog Lakers.

“That was our coming out party in the PSAC,” Rearick said. “It was a big opportunity for us.”

Having it on Thursday night was a plus for the Lakers.

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It’s as plain as day.

To remind its players the importance of beating Slippery Rock, Edinboro has been placing a sizable rock painted green on display in its football office for years.

Slippery Rock’s school colors are green and white.

The Scots face this PSAC West rival Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium in Slippery Rock.

Wonder if the Rock have some sort of symbol in their football office to remind their players how big this game is?

“We don’t have any symbol,” Rock coach George Mihalik said. “It’s tough to put a person dressed as a Scot in your office.”

To Mihalik, Edinboro itself is enough motivation.

“We don’t need a reminder,” he said. “All we know is it’s Edinboro. That’s enough of a reminder. We better show up and be ready to play. We know year in and year out it’s a physical game and it’s a four-quarter game.”

– Duane Rankin

Ashton Jones is seventh on the team in tackles with 29 stops./Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News

Ashton Jones came into his senior year at Gannon with 17 total tackles in his two seasons there after a year at Erie Community College in New York.

This season, the Erie native and Strong Vincent High graduate has 18 solo tackles alone.

“It’s just reassurance that I’m able to play,” Jones said.  “My number was called. So to go in and try to help the team out, I’m just doing my best to do whatever the team needs.”

The 5-10, 180-pound Jones has 29 total stops this season for the Knights (1-6, 0-4 PSAC West), who play No. 14-ranked California (Pa.) (6-1, 4-0) Saturday at noon for their homecoming game.

“He’s done it the long road and has earned it,” first-year Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “No one walked in and said, ‘Alright, here’s your position. I don’t care if you made a mistake or not.’ He’s done it through practice. He’s performed in games where he’s gotten better.

“…If there is anyone on this team that has earned playing time, Ashton has earned playing time.”

In his first start this season, Jones had a career-high 12 total stops in last week’s 38-29 loss to rival Mercyhurst.

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Anthony Vendemia accounted for three TDs in Mercyhurst's 38-29 win./Jack Haranhan/Erie Times-News

Last season, Anthony Vendemia and Linnell Robinson had games against Gannon they’d like to forget.

A year later, they were part of a victory they’ll never forget.

Vendemia, a junior quarterback, and Robinson, a senior cornerback, were instrumental in Mercyhurst’s 38-29 win against the Knights today at Gannon University Field.

“The other victories in the past, they were good, but this one means just a little bit more,” Vendemia said. “We wanted this one.”

The Lakers not only won their sixth consecutive game, but ended a two-game skid against Gannon.

“It means a lot because now, I don’t have a losing record against Gannon,” Robinson said. “I’m 3-2 against Gannon. Couldn’t go out with a losing record against Gannon.”

Against Gannon last season, Vendemia came in relief of Travis Rearick, who had a season-ending knee injury. He was sacked five times and lost a fumble that lead to Gannon’s final touchdown drive.

The Knights won 30-27.

Today, he went 12-of-24 for 146 yards and touchdown. He wasn’t sacked, didn’t turn the ball over and had two short rushing scores.

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Connors-McChristian is out for the season with a broken leg./Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News

The injury bug continues to bite Khayree Connors-McChristian.

The Gannon senior safety missed today’s rivalry game against Mercyhurst after breaking two bones in his lower left leg at Wednesday’s practice.

The Lakers won 38-29.

“I broke my fibula and tibia,” he said at today’s game. “I’m done.”

Connors-McChristian was a medical redshirt in 2010 after breaking his right forearm in Week 3 against Millersville.

This season, Connors-McChristian was leading Gannon in tackles with 55 total stops before getting injured in practice. Gannon practices in the mornings and it was raining.

“I was blocking someone and someone rolled under me, right into my leg,” he said. “I caught the turf and it just snapped.”

A Sicklerville, N.J. native, Connors-McChristian watched the game from the sidelines in a wheelchair. He was greeted by numerous fans there.

“I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason,” he said. “Unfortunately, since I’ve been here, it happened to me six times.  Six years. Six times. We all have our path and this is part of my path. Unfortunate, but greater things will come from it, I believe.”

“My friends always tell me I have a positive attitude about everything so this is one of those things I got to have a positive attitude. Otherwise I’ll be just in the dark sleeping somewhere and miserable.”

True freshman Matt Astorino, an General McLane graduate and younger brother of former Penn State safety Drew Astorino, started in Connors-McChristian’s place. He ha five total tackles.

“I told him just go out there and play fearless,” Connors-McChristian said. “Take care of what coach taught you. Do everything coach taught you.”

– Duane Rankin

Mercyhurst travels to Gannon for today’s PSAC West showdown against the rival Knights at noon. Check out players and coaches from both sides talk about this heated rivalry.

The Romantic Era band members Connor Kimball, Bryant Kimball, Colin Kimball, Parris Williams and Ben Griffith have all played in the rivalry game between Gannon University and Mercyhurst University.

Earlier this week, the band members talked about what it was like the play in the rivalry and gave predictions for Saturday’s noon game between the Knights and Lakers at Gannon University Field.

Mercyhurst  junior quarterback Anthony Vendemia will look to lead the Lakers to a win against PSAC West rival Gannon on Saturday at noon at Gannon University Field.

A reserve last season, Vendemia replaced injured starter Travis Rearick in last season’s stunning 30-27 loss to the Knights.