Cameron Zbrzeznj

Gannon’s Cameron Zbrzeznj was named the PSAC men’s golf freshman of the year Wednesday. The Cathedral Prep graduate also was named to the all-conference second team.

Zbrzeznj averaged 75.9 strokes in 24 1/2 rounds and claimed a top-10 finish in seven of 12 events. He finished his year with a solid 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional.

In women’s golf, Gannon’s Bhanisha Nagindas earned a spot on the all-PSAC first team for the third straight year.

Nagindas’ teammate, Amanda Teodorsson, claimed a spot on the all-conference second team.

Nagindas, a junior, averaged 82.5 strokes through 17 rounds this season. She had top-10 finishes five times in 10 events.

Teodorsson, also a junior, averaged 80.3 strokes in 14 rounds and had six top-10 finishes in eight events.

Mercyhurst also had a pair of all-PSAC honorees. Junior Caitlin Kempton and sophomore Andrea Novoa were named to the second team for the second time in their careers.

Kempton averaged an 83.6 in 17 rounds this season, placing in the top 10 in six-of-nine events.

Novoa averaged 83.2 in 19 rounds with six top 10 finishes in 10 events.

Mercyhurst senior receiver Paris Bruner will return to his home state of Ohio for Thursday’s season opener against Notre Dame College (Ohio).

The top returning receiver for the Lakers, Bruner is from Warren, which is less than 50 miles from Lyndhurst where the game will be played at Korb Field.

Two-time PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, Mercyhurst senior wide receiver/returner Trevor Kennedy, accepted an invitation to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie mini camp, which begins today.

Earlier this week, we caught up with Kennedy at Mercyhurst to ask him about this opportunity with the Bucs.

Tickets for the Gannon University at Mercyhurst College basketball doubleheader Jan. 18 will go on sale Jan. 14.

Tickets will be available at the Slippery Rock University at Mercyhurst games. Mercyhurst Athletic Center doors will open at noon for the 1 p.m. women’s game. Tickets will be sold until halftime of the men’s game, or approximately 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Mercyhurst students, faculty, and staff will be admitted free of charge. Those with a Mercyhurst College President’s Card or a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference pass also will be admitted free of charge.

Mercyhurst students with a valid university ID also will be able to obtain tickets Monday and Tuesday in Egan Cafeteria.

The women’s game Jan. 18 is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men’s game at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Erie Times-News reporter Duane Rankin caught up with Bryant and Colin Kimball to discuss a variety of topics. From Erie, Bryant Kimball is a senior safety at Mercyhurst College while Colin Kimball is a true freshman cornerback for the Lakers.

Garrett Wild

Garrett Wild saw something. Thank goodness he was right.

When the Mercyhurst College true freshman linebacker called a fake punt against city rival Gannon this season, his older brother, Ian Wild, was the long snapper.

The youngest Wild, who was the up man on the play,  took the snap and completed a 31-yard pass to Todd Wingate for a first down.

“I made the call,” said Garrett Wild, who is the youngest of three brothers who went to Mercyhurst. The oldest, Zac, finished his career there in 2008.

“We put than in earlier in the year. (Assistant coach Tom Herman) gives me the responsibility. If I see anything that’s open, you take it. You make the call. I glanced. I saw him. I just called it and threw the ball out there.”

Thank goodness he made the right one.

“He saw the uncovered gunner,” Ian Wild said. “He makes on the calls on punt. It was a pretty bold call for a freshman to make it.”

Big brother had to trust the call.

“He must see something,” Ian Wild said. “If he’s calling it, someone must be wide open. I just snapped it to him and it was a good play.”

When asked what would have happened had the play not worked, Ian Wild did something he rarely does during interviews – laugh out loud.

“I would have wanted an explanation,” said a laughing Wild. “‘Was he open or not?’”

Chad Noce/SRU

In a continuing series of Q&As with local players who are playing area college football, Duane Rankin caught up with Slippery Rock senior tight end Chad Noce to talk about several topics.

Noce and the No. 24-ranked Rock (8-2, 6-1 PSAC West) are preparing for Saturday’s PSAC title game at Kutztown against the No. 8 Golden Bears (9-1, 6-1 PSAC East). Noce, who played defense his year at Slippery Rock in 2008, is known for his run blocking ability at tight end.

A McDowell High graduate, Noce has just two career catches for 10 yards. Both grabs came last season against Gannon, which ironically upset the Rock last week, 33-27, in Erie. With the Rock trying to rebound from that loss, Rankin caught up with Noce to talk about their playoff hopes and the chance to win a championship.

You’re coming off a tough loss, but can make amends in the PSAC championship game. How are you guys feeling right now heading into that game? We’re feeling good. We know we made a mistake. I feel like we overlooked Gannon a little bit. I feel like we were looking toward the next week. We had the Gannon game. We knew we were in the PSAC championship already so I think that played a little part in that loss. Underestimating them a little bit, we’re feeling good. We should be ready to go.”

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Senior Bryan Kelly and the Gannon defense did the job in helping the Knights shock No. 14-ranked Slippery Rock, 33-27, at Gannon University Field./Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News

What a day of college football in the PSAC. Here are some highlights from the games.

Biggest upset: Gannon stuns No. 14-ranked Slippery Rock, 33-27. The Knights had just three wins, but got four touchdown passes from redshift freshman Daniel Tapscott and forced five turnovers to knock off the Rock (8-2, 6-1). The Rock will still play in next week’s PSAC title game, but Gannon sent them into it on negative momentum.

Biggest comeback: Mercyhurst College rallied from a 24-point, third-quarter deficit to win at Clarion, 42-38.  Anthony Vendemia picked up his first win as a starter to end Mercyhurst’s five-game losing skid. Richie Sanders’ 1-yard run with 32 seconds left put the Lakers up for good.

Two-minute rally: Down 20 points late in the fourth quarter, Edinboro scored two touchdowns and was an onside kick conversion away from having a chance to beat No. 22 California (Pa.).  Instead the Vulcans recovered the onside kick and edged Edinboro, 34-28.

Biggest beatdown: In a battle of Top 25 teams, No. 13 Kutztown destroyed No. 12 Bloomsburg, 52-14, to earn a spot in next week’s PSAC championship game. Kevin Morton threw three touchdowns, no interceptions and ran for another score to lead the Golden Bears to victory.

Having both lost to Edinboro and California (Pa.), Mercyhurst College senior receiver Trevor Kennedy and Gannon coach Jim Kiernan have an idea of what the Scots (7-2, 4-2) and No. 22-ranked Vulcans (7-2, 5-1) can do.

The Lakers lost 30-20 to Edinboro at home Oct. 15 and fell 32-26 at Cal in overtime Oct. 22 . The Knights lost 27-0 at home to Edinboro on Sept. 24 and fell 33-6 at Cal on Oct. 8.

So this week, we asked Kennedy and Kiernan how they see this PSAC West showdown between the Scots and Vulcans going today at 3:30 p.m. at Cal.

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PSAC leading tackler Ian Wild (90 stops total) is out with a shoulder injury. Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News

If losing five straight games isn’t enough, Mercyhurst College (3-6, 1-5)  is dealing with a rash of injuries heading into Saturday’s PSAC West finale at Clarion (2-7, 2-4).

Senior linebacker Ian Wild (shoulder) – Missed last week’s 28-21 loss at Slippery Rock. Got hurt against California (Pa.) Won’t play Saturday.

Senior safety Bryant Kimball (neck) – Was injured last week.

Senior defensive end Dan Kruper (foot) – Missed last two games.

Sophomore nose guard Dustin Galich (concussion) – Missed last game.

Sophomore kicker Steven Wakefield (knee) – Hurt in Cal game. He kicked, but didn’t punt at Slippery Rock.

These injuries are the most recent ones. The Lakers lost  starting fifth-year senior quarterback Travis Rearick to a season-ending knee injury against Gannon. The Lakers haven’t won a game since.