“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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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.

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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Trevor Kennedy is having a special season, but as a team, Mercyhurst College is not./ETN file photo.

Trevor Kennedy slapped the ground after catching a 26-yard pass a yard short of the end zone on the game’s final play today.

He’s hurting.

The Mercyhurst College senior receiver has caught 13 touchdowns this season, but the Lakers (3-4, 1-3 PSAC West) lost their third straight game, 30-20, to Edinboro today at Tullio Field.

“We’re a better football than what we show,” said a tearful Kennedy after today’s 10-point loss to the rival Scots. “On Saturdays, we never come out on the right end. There are no words to put it in. We work hard. We go practice every day. We work hard. Things are just not hitting our way right now.”

Kennedy set a single-season school record for receiving touchdowns by catching two against the Scots. He had 13 touchdown catches total heading into this season.

He now needs just three more touchdown catches to pass Ed Bailey and become the school’s all-time leader in that department. Bailey (1997-2000) finished his career with 28 touchdown grabs.

Against Edinboro today, Kennedy caught eight passes for 147 yards. For the season, Kennedy has 50 catches for 944 yards in seven games.

Last season, Kennedy had 75 catches for 924 yards in 13 games.

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.

Travis Rearick may have sustained a season-ending knee injury in today's 30-27 loss to Gannon./ETN file photo.

Bryant Kimball couldn’t hold back the tears after Mercyhurst College lost, 30-27, to  Gannon today.

His sorrow was for more than losing the crosstown PSAC West rivals in Mercyhurst’s homecoming game at Tullio Field.

The Lakers were hurting emotionally because they lost senior quarterback Travis Rearick to a serious left knee injury early in the second half.

“It just hurt to see him out there hurting like that,” said Kimball, an McDowell High graduate.

Rearick, who threw 23 touchdowns last season to spark Mercyhurst’s run to winning a 2010 PSAC title, earning its first-ever NCAA playoff bid and winning a playoff game, had 13 touchdowns passes this season counting the two he had today that gave the Lakers a 13-3 halftime lead.

Then early in the second half, Rearick went down after being hit by Gannon senior defensive tackle Randy Colling after completing a 20-yard pass to Steve Yarbrough.

“My back was to him,” Mercyhurst sophomore center Steve Reinhardt of Bradford said. “I saw the ball go over my head. I heard some noises, then shoulder pads and he started screaming. I didn’t even know it was him when it happened. I thought it was one of their D-linemen. Then I turned around and saw a flag and he was down.”

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Mercyhurst College senior linebacker Ian Wild (17) forced Gannon's Joe Sobucki to fumble in today's PSAC West game./Photo by Jack Hanrahan of the Erie Times-News.

The Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills each had a scout in the press box for today’s Gannon-Mercyhurst College game at Tullio Field.

Gannon won 30-27.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a scout there as well. The Titans are playing at Cleveland against the Browns on Sunday.

The three NFL teams were checking out Gannon senior defensive tackle Randy Colling, Mercyhurst senior linebacker Ian Wild and Mercyhurst senior receiver Trevor Kennedy.

Here’s how each did today.

Colling – 4 tackles (1 sack, 2 stops for loss).

Wild – 14 total tackles (11 solo stops, 4 stops for loss), forced fumble, blocked punt (that lead to a return for a touchdown).

Kennedy – 10 catches, 157 yards, 2 touchdowns. Two punt returns for 53 yards. Four kickoff returns for 85 yards.

Colling’s fumble recovery set up Gannon’s final touchdown drive, Wild was simply all over the place and even caught a touchdown.

As for Kennedy, he now has 10 touchdown catches for the season. He had 11 in 13 games last season.

“It was a very sick feeling for everybody.” – Mercyhurst head coach Marty Schaetzle about last season’s 14-10 loss at Gannon.

Zach Boedicker was on the run all day, but his last-second decision to throw won the game for Gannon./ETN file photo.

Jason Ladouceur had three catches all last season.

Two went for a combined 32 yards. The other beat Mercyhurst College.

On Oct. 2, 2010, Gannon trailed the Lakers late in the fourth quarter before Zach Boedicker hit Ladouceur for a 73-yard touchdown with two minutes, one second left to give Knights a 14-10 victory and cap one of the most memorable  games between the PSAC West rivals.

“It was a very sick feeling for everybody,” Mercyhurst College coach Marty Schaetzle said.

Below are two stories from the Erie Times-News about the game.

Late score gives Gannon 14-10 rivalry win against Mercyhurst College
Big brother gets last word for Gannon

Earlier this week, ETN sports reporter Duane Rankin asked the Mercyhurst players their memories of the game.

Heartbreak.

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Seven catches. 193 yards. Four touchdowns.

And his best play – a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown – was called back because of a penalty.

Mercyhurst College senior receiver Trevor Kennedy’s performance in last week’s 35-28 loss to No. 16-ranked Kutztown (2-0) left his teammates in awe of what he did.

“He’s a great player,” Mercyhurst senior quarterback Travis Rearick said. “It’s a privilege to play with him. I love it. He had a great game. That’s one for the books there. I wish we could have pulled it out and made it a win because it would have meant a little more, but you can’t take away anything that he did. That was a great performance by him. I tip my hat to him.”

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