Mike Copper|Erie Times-News
Show Caption
Victories, like the one Mercyhurst University football team recorded Saturday, are what Marty Schaetzle will miss the most.
It was July 22 when Schaetzle announced his decision to retire as Mercyhurst University's football coach after the Lakers' 2021 season.
The beginning of that specific end happened Saturday, when the Lakers welcomed Alderson Broaddus University to Saxon Stadium.
Mercyhurst won for the 94thtime in Schaetzle's 20-season coaching tenure as the Lakers downed the Battlers 18-3. The teams' initial meeting also was the first game at Mercyhurst's on-campus facility since Nov. 2, 2019. COVID-19 was the prime reason for that hiatus of nearly two years.
Its also why a boisterous crowd of 2,257, featuringcurrent students and alumni, and augmented by Mercyhurst's band, packed Saxon for its return of live football.
Such an environment is another thing Schaetzle will miss next year and beyond.
“I keep saying it, but football is the greatest game there is,” he said. “We had 100-plus people out here just on the sidelines. We had many more in the stands and you've got 22 people at a time mixing it up on the field.”
“Football is fantastic.”
Burrows bullied Battlers
Senior linebacker Bradley Burrows significantly contributed to a Mercyhurstwin achieved against the only non-PSAC opponent on its schedule.
Burrows finished with a team-high 10 tackles. The Willowick, Ohio, native also disrupted Alderson Broadduspossessions with four sacks of quarterback Jaylen McNair.
“We were talking all week about how we didn't know what they was going to be like, but we just balled (Saturday),” Burrows said. “The (defensive) line did a hell of a job. Without them, we wouldn't had had all of those sacks.”
One of those linemen, sophom*ore Max Mallis, also tackled McNair for the Lakers' fifth sack. McNair completed 11 of his 18 passes, but for only 65 yards.
The 1-0 Lakersalso held the 0-1 Battlers to a measly 86 yards in offense. They didn't force any turnovers, but did put enough pressure on McNair to get him to intentionally ground the ball in his end zone midway through the second quarter.
That penalty resulted in a Mercyhurst safety and the game's first two points.
“The defensive play was outstanding,” Schaetzle said. “We've got a good nucleus of seniors on itand when you play good defense like that, there's a good chance you'll win every game.”
Risky business
The Lakers' defensive play permitted Schaetzle and his staff to gamble on fourth down.
Mercyhurst gained first downs after four of five such snaps of the ball, although such risks didn't always translate to touchdowns.
The Lakers settled for field goals at the end of three significant drives into Alderson Broaddus territory. Kicker Brian Alsobrooks converted from 22, 25 and 37 yards.
Mercyhurst's lone touchdown capped the initial possession for the game's second half.
Sophom*ore quarterback Michael Lowery scurried out of the pocket and spotted Sean Banas in the flat. The fullback caught the ball and then bowled over a Battler cornerback for a 3-yard touchdown catch.
The game's lone touchdown made it 15-0 Lakers.
“We have to finish more in the red zone,” Lowery said. “I'm sure that's going to be our focal pointgoing into (practice) next week. But we know we have some big-time players (on offense), so we should be fine.”
Lowery passed for 274 yards. Seven of his 24 completions wentwide receiver and classmate Rylan Davison.
Getz gets game ball
Schaetzle told the Lakers during their on-field postgame huddle that the game ball for Saturday's win would be presented to Kathleen Getz, whose inauguration as Mercyhurst's next president is scheduled for Oct. 2.
Getz will be the school's first female president in nearly 50 years.
Upcoming schedule
Mercyhurst's victory happened in the first of three home games this month.
West Chester University will travel to Saxon on Sept. 11 for a noon kickoff. After a Sept. 18 road trip to East Stroudsburg, the Lakers conclude the month with their PSAC West Division opener against the visiting Indiana (Pennsylvania) University Crimson Hawks.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
--
Non-conference
ALDERSON BROADDUS 0 0 3 0 — 3
MERCYHURST 0 8 7 3 -- 18
AB M
First downs 7 22
Rushes-yards 21-21 39-102
Passing yards 65 274
Comp-att.-int. 11-18-0 24-36-0
Total offense 86 376
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1
Punts-avg. 6-33.8 4-25
Second quarter
M: Safety, Jaylen McNair intention grounding in end zone
M: Brian Alsobrooks 22 field goal
M: Alsobrooks 37 field goal
Third quarter
M: Sean Banas 3 pass from Michael Lowery (Alsobrooks kick)
AB: Austin Hampton 25 field goal\
Fourth quarter
M: Alsobrooks 19 field goal
Rushing
AB: Anthony Billups 10-41, LeShon Brooks 1-6, team 1-(-4), McNair 9-(-22).
M: Ayron Rodriguez 13-58, Dustin Schoaf 14-42, Trevon Tate 2-12, Justin Hill 1-10, team 1-(-1), Lowery
Passing
AB: McNair 11-18-0-65.
M: Lowery 24-36-0-274
Receiving
AB: Robert Johnson 6-34, Melique Jeffrey 6-22, Billups 2-12, Terrance Tate 3-(-3), Cooper Cole 1-0.
M: Rylan Davison 7-96, Jason Armstrong 5-55, Cameron Barmore 4-44, Banas 3-21, Trevon Tate 1-19, Hill 1-15, Schoaf 1-13, Diondre Cooper 1-8, Ryan Fisher 1-3
