Seton Hill hosted Gannon for Homecoming on a cool but sunny Saturday afternoon at Offutt Field.
In the last minute of the game, the Griffins got a safety and a 17 yard touchdown pass to turn a 21-17 deficit into a 25-21 homecoming victory. SHU is now 1-4 overall and 1-2 in PSAC West play while the Knights drop to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in PSAC West play.
Head coach Dan Day won his first game as head coach of his alma mater.
Gannon won the opening toss and deferred to the second half and the Griffins took the ball to start the contest. SHU picked up one first down on their first two drives and forced a three and out for the Knights on their first defensive possession. Gannon got on the scoreboard on their second possession of the game. They marched 77 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead with 4:30 to play in the first quarter.
As the quarter flipped over to the second, the Griffins got to the Gannon 26 yard line but a few negative plays forced a punt. With Gannon starting on their own six yard line, the defense forced a punt and SHU took over on the Knights 33 yard line. A big play from
Ryan Barabe to
Michael Elardo got the Griffins to the ten yard line. Barabe followed with a 10 yard touchdown pass to
Clay Metz to tie the score at seven with 10:12 to play before the half. The defense again stepped up and forced a turnover on downs. The Griffins took the lead on a 21 yard touchdown pass from Barabe to Elardo with 53 seconds to play in the half. SHU took the 14-7 lead into the halftime break.
The Knights marched after the opening kick of the second half, 74 yards on eleven plays, the last one a 27 yard TD pass to tie the game at 14 with 10:10 to play in the third quarter. Both teams missed a scoring opportunity in the third quarter as they both missed field goals and the game headed to the fourth quarter with the score tied at fourteen.
On their first possession of the fourth quarter, the Griffins were able to take a 17-14 lead with a 22 yard field goal from
Hunter Miller with 8:09 to play. It did not take long for Gannon to retake the lead as they moved the ball 75 yards in six plays to take a 21-17 lead with 5:41 left. The Griffins were able to march to the Gannon 10 yard line but a negative run and penalty pushed the ball back to the 33 yard line. On fourth down, Barabe hit Elardo but they came up a yard short of the first down at the three yard line with Gannon taking over. That play would be huge though as the Griffin defense again made another stand and recorded a safety with 48 seconds to play to cut the lead to 21-19.
The Griffins took over on the 50 yard line after the free kick. Barabe hit Humphrey for 18 yards on the first play from scrimmage.
Matthew Williams pulled down a seven yard reception to get to the Gannon 25. On a third and three, Barabe found Humphrey for an eight yard catch to move to the 17. Barabe then found Williams in the corner of the endzone for a 17 yard touchdown pass to give SHU a 25-21 lead with 17 seconds to play. Gannon returned the kick to their 31 yard line but two completions were not enough as time ran out, giving the Griffins the win.
Barabe finished the game 20-25 for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. Humphrey had 10 catches for 100 yards. Elardo finished with 5 receptions for 98 yards and 1 touchdown.
Jayden Emberton-Gaines led the defense with 13 total tackles.
Narrio Walks added 9 and Syeko Noble added 8. Walks and Emberton-Gaines each had two tackles for loss.
SHU will return to action next Saturday when they travel to Mercyhurst.
