Redshirt junior Ardell Brown made plays in all three fazes of the game on Saturday afternoon as the Griffins picked up their first victory of the season with a 34-33 come from behind win over Mercyhurst.  Brown had two touchdown receptions, added a punt return for touchdown and then sealed the win with an interception on the final play of the game.  SHU is now 1-6 overall and 1-3 in PSAC play while the Lakers drop to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in PSAC play. 

In the first quarter, there was not much offense as the team's combined for just three points, on a 20 yard field goal for the Lakers.  Syeko Noble Jr. made a big play on defense for the Griffins on the first Laker drive.  He stripped the Laker wide out at the SHU five yard line and Tyrell Best-Savage recovered at the one yard line to stop a Laker scoring drive.  Mercyhurst carried the 3-0 lead into the second quarter. 

The Griffins completed a 15 play, 96 yard drive to open the second quarter.  Ryan Barabe hit Ardell Brown with a seven yard touchdown pass to give the Griffins a 7-3 lead with 11:23 to play in the half.  That lead did not last very long at all as the Lakers returned the kickoff 96 yards to the house to retake a 10-7 lead.  After a three and out for the Griffins, the Lakers marched 67 yards in 13 plays, to increase their lead to 17-7 with 2:34 left in the half.  Another Griffin three and out gave the Lakers the ball back with just over two minutes to play.  Mercyhurst went 80 yards in just six plays to build a 24-7 halftime lead.

Mercyhurst took the second half kickoff and drove 60 yards in just six plays to push their lead to 31-7 with 11:39 to play in the third quarter.  From that point on it was all Seton Hill.  Chris Jones took over at the quarterback spot and sparked the Griffin offense.  Jones connected with Brown on back to back plays, the second one a 54 yard bomb that trimmed the lead to 31-14 with 9:23 to play in the quarter.  SHU continued the momentum and went with an onside kick after the touchdown.  John Watt recovered his own onside kick to give the Griffins the ball at the SHU 46.  SHU could not continue the momentum and were forced to punt.  The defense forced another Laker punt and SHU continued to cut into the Laker lead.  Jones hit Terrell Ford for 47 yards on a third and seven to get the drive going.  Jones capped the drive with a seven yard touchdown pass to Cinque Sweeting.  The extra point was missed and SHU trailed the Lakers 31-20 with 13 seconds left in the quarter. 

Seton Hill caught a break on the second Laker possession of the fourth quarter.  The ball was snapped thru the punter's legs and the Griffins took over at the Laker 19 yard line.  Sweeting scampered in from ten yards out on a fourth and one to cut the lead to 31-26 with 7:30 to play in the game.  The two point conversion failed.  The defense again forced a three and out and took over at their own 36 yard line with 4:36 to play.  SHU went three and out and punted back to the Lakers with 3:55 to play.  The defense forced another Laker punt.  This time Brown took the punt at his own 31 yard line, made a few players miss and raced down the Laker sideline to the end zone for a 69 yard punt return to give the Lakers the lead.  Jones ran in the two point conversion to give SHU a 34-31 lead with 2:13 to play.  Noble Jr intercepted a Laker pass in the end zone and returned it to the 20 yard line with 1:14 left in the contest.  A hold on the play pushed the Griffins back to the 10 yard line.  The Griffins decided to take three knees and then a delay of game penalty setting up a fourth down with just over 20 seconds left in the half.  Brown took the snap and ran around in the end zone for a little while before running out of the end zone for a safety with 19 seconds left.  The free kick was returned to the Laker 44 yard line and Mercyhurst took over with 13 seconds left.  After a completion, Brown picked off the final pass of the game to close out the game and give the Griffins their first win of the season.

Chris Jones finished the game 10-16 for 173 yards and two touchdowns in one half of play.  Brown caught 4 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.  Cole Shuker led the defense with 12 tackles including a sack and one tackle for loss. 

SHU will return to action next Saturday when they travel to Edinboro for another PSAC West contest.