“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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“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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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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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.

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.

Travis Rearick made the game-winning, two-point conversion pass to beat Edinboro last season./ETN file photo.

Last season, Mercyhurst beat Edinboro in overtime 22-21 at Sox Harrison Stadium on a two-point conversion pass from Travis Rearick to Trevor Kennedy. It was a tremendous finish to an incredible game.

Here are links to the first and second half/overtime of that game in Edinboro. Image Sports did the broadcast.

FYI. Hit the pause button and give it time to load before playing the videos to avoid stops and starts.

On Saturday, the Scots and Lakers will renew their PSAC West rivalry in a noon game at Tullio Field. Image Sports is broadcasting it live again.

In the last three years since Mercyhurst has joined the PSAC, the road team has won each game between the Lakers and Scots.

In a game that had a ton of big plays, none were bigger than Mercyhurst senior defensive end Dan Kruper forcing Edinboro senior David Bostic to fumble and senior safety Bryant Kimball recovering the ball at the Edinboro 31 in the fourth quarter with the Scots leading, 14-7. The Lakers scored on the ensuing drive to tie the game with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Gerald Anderson scored on a 9-yard touchdown run.

In overtime, Edinboro scored first on a 1-yard run by sophomore quarterback Cody Harris. The Lakers responded with Rearick finding sophomore Terrence Coon for an 11-yard touchdown pass.

The Lakers decided to go for two instead of kick a PAT to tie the game and go into a second overtime session.

So they sent Kennedy in motion from left to right. Rearick took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right and hit Kennedy for the two-point conversion to win the game for Mercyhurst.

Tapscott missed today's game with an injury./ETN file photo.

Gannon was without redshirt freshman Daniel Tapscott for today’s PSAC West game at No. 15-ranked California (Pa.). The Knights (2-4, 1-2) lost, 33-6, to the Vulcans (5-1, 3-0).

Tapscott was coming off a three-touchdown performance in last week’s 30-27 win at rival Mercyhurst College, but during that game, he took a hit on his right hand or arm.

After that game, Tapscott was asked about it, but brushed it off by saying he was alright.

Apparently he wasn’t.

In his place, redshirt freshman Ty Watson made his first career start and went 15-of-28 for 155 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and was sacked six times by the Vulcans.

The crazy thing about this is Gannon, Edinboro and Mercyhurst all started new quarterbacks today.

Edinboro started true freshman Ty Stoldt in today’s 24-23 loss to Slippery Rock for sophomore Cody Harris, who was out from a concussion he sustained last week at Indiana (Pa.).

Mercyhurst started third-year sophomore Anthony Vendemia in today’s 35-28 overtime loss to IUP for senior Travis Rearick, who had a season-ending knee injury last week against Gannon.

Here’s a video preview of Saturday’s noon PSAC West game between Indiana (Pa.) and Mercyhurst College.

Mercyhurst College produced the video.

The Lakers (3-2, 1-1) are coming off a 30-27 homecoming loss to rival Gannon in which their starting quarterback, Travis Rearick, had a season-ending knee injury while IUP (2-2, 1-1) is coming off a 19-0 home win against No. 25-ranked Edinboro.

Last season, Mercyhurst edged IUP, 28-27.