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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Mercyhurst seniors Linnell Robinson, Kevin Poropat and head coach Marty Schaetzle talk about the Lakers being picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West at today’s PSAC West media day in Slippery Rock.

Daniel Tapscott hit Lawrence Coleman for 3 TDs in Gannon's 30-27 win./Photo by Jack Hanrahan of the Erie Times-News

Lawrence Coleman caught three TD passes in today's 30-27 win for Gannon./Submitted photo.

Legend has it Daniel Tapscott and Lawrence Coleman have been clicking in practice, but it hadn’t transferred into big-time production in the games.

That all changed today.

Tapscott, a redshirt freshman quarterback, found Coleman, a senior receiver, three times in the second half to spark Gannon’s 30-27 win at PSAC West rival Mercyhurst College.

“From Day 1, he and I have been talking about clicking,” Coleman said. “Every game, I tell him, ‘Let me get your number. Let me get your number.’ Today I got his number. Hopefully I can keep it and not lose it this time so it feels like a monkey has been lifted off our back.”

Don’t worry Lawrence. Tapscott has faith.

“I think I was little nervous about taking my chances deep and just throwing it up, said Tapscott, who had thrown just three touchdowns in Gannon’s first four games before matching that number today. “I got so much faith in Cole. I know if I just throw it up there, he’s going come down and make a play for me.”

Entering today’s game, Coleman, who played at Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y. before transferring to Gannon, had seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.

On Saturday against Mercyhurst, he had seven catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns against the PSAC’s third best defense.

Read the rest of this entry »