Box Score ERIE, Pa. – Despite a tremendous defensive effort on the road, the Lock Haven University football team fell to Mercyhurst, 19-10 today in PSAC West action after the Lakers rallied for a late fourth-quarter touchdown to put the game away.

Lock Haven (0-6, 0-3 PSAC West) scored with just over 10 minutes to play in the game, making it 13-10 in favor of Mercyhurst (5-1, 3-0 PSAC West), but the Lakers rallied late and went on a long drive that took over eight minutes and produced a touchdown with less than two minutes to play in the game.

Anthony Vendemia's three-yard touchdown pass capped of a 15-play, 70 yard drive that took 8:13 and put the Lakers up 19-10 (PAT was blocked) with 1:47 to play.

LHU led 3-0 after a first quarter that proved to be a defensive battle, which set the tone for the rest of the game.

Noah Heimer's (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) 36-yard field goal put LHU up 3-0 with 1:53 to go in the first quarter and  it capped off a 12-play, 78-yard drive that ate up six minutes and thirty seconds.

It marked the first time since Week 3 in 2010 at Kutztown where LHU held a lead after the opening 15 minutes of play.

The Lakers tacked on 10 points in the second quarter and led 10-3 at halftime.

With 10:07 left in the game, Ian Smith (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) hauled in a five-yard TD pass from Jarrett Kratzer (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) to make it a three-point game at 13-10 Mercyhurst.

The Lakes however responded with their big game-clinching drive.

Kratzer finished 13-for-20 for 138 yards.

Seven different players had a catch for the Bald Eagles including Jesse Hoover (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville, who made three catches for 27 yards.

Brandon Brader (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) carried the ball 14 times for 43 yards in the loss.

The Bald Eagles defensive unit came up huge today and kept Lock Haven in the game. James Goins (Marion Heights, Pa./Mount Carmel) and George Christas (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown) each made 11 tackles.

Ryan Good (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) and Tashawn Bunch (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) each added eight tackles in an all-around solid outing.

LHU returns to action next Saturday (October 13) at California (Pa.). Kickoff in the PSAC West clash is set for 3:30 p.m.

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