The Griffin football team closed out the PSAC West portion of their schedule as they hosted Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon at Offutt Field.

The defense pitched a shutout as the Griffins defeated the Lakers by a 7-0 score.  The shutout was the third in the history of the Seton Hill program.

The SHU defense was dominant as they held Mercyhurst to just 114 yards of total offense.  They held the Lakers to -48 yards rushing in the contest and allowed just 11 first downs.  SHU finished with eight sacks and held the Lakers to just three of seventeen on third down conversions and 0-2 on fourth down tries.  

The teams exchanged punts on each of their first two possessions.  SHU had three sacks on the first two Laker possessions.  On their final possession of the first quarter, the Griffins began at their own 45 yard line.  Two penalties backed the Griffins up with a 1st and 25.  Back to back completions from Tyler Bradley to JaiQuawn McGriff for ten yards and one to Todd Phillips for 11 yards got the Griffins back to third and four at the end of the first quarter. 

McGriff then got ten yards on a run for a SHU first down.  On the next play, McGriff completed a pass to Phillips for a 30 yard gain to the Laker nine yard line.  Two Ky'Ron Craggette runs put the Griffins in the end zone as SHU took a 7-0 lead on a two yard run from Craggette with 12:36 to play in the half.  The defense allowed just two first downs over the final twelve minutes as they carried the 7-0 lead into the halftime break.  

On the opening kickoff of the second half, the Lakers used a reverse as they got to the Laker 43 yard line.  The Lakers were able to drive to the SHU 28 yard line but missed a 45 yard field goal.  Near the end of the third quarter, the Lakers were able to return a punt back to the SHU 32 yard line. 

That drive ended when Na'Sir Douglas intercepted a pass in the end zone with 13:39 left in the fourth quarter.  Midway through the quarter, the Lakers were able to recover a fumble and return it to the SHU 23 yard line.  The defense stiffened and on the first play, Douglas and Quinton Posey got a tackle for loss.  Jaden Mack then got a sack on second down and the Lakers were forced to punt.  SHU took over at their own 13 yard line after the punt with 3:39 to play.  After three runs, SHU was forced to punt and Jack Wagner drilled a 52 yard punt to flip field position and move the Lakers to their own 38 yard line.  Two completions moved the ball into SHU territory.  A sack from Justice Griffin and Jaylen McDuffie on first down and a sack from Nelson Gedeon on fourth down turned the ball back to the Griffins who was able to just run victory formation and run out the clock.

Bradley finished 13-20 for 122 yards.  Craggette rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown.  McGriff had seven catches for 71 yards.  

McDuffie led the defense with 13 total tackles.  He finished with 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble.  Mack added nine tackles including a sack.  Narrio Walks added seven tackles including one for loss.  Griffin had five tackles and 1.5 sacks.  

SHU will close out the regular season next weekend when they host Millersville.