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ERIE, Pa. – It came down to one bounce on Saturday afternoon at Gannon University's McConnell Family Stadium. Unfortunately for the Bloomsburg University football team, the ball just didn't bounce its way.

Facing a third-and-goal from the Bloomsburg one-yard line in its first possession of overtime, Gannon running back Tyler Johnson fumbled before getting into the endzone. After a lengthy scrum, however, Johnson recovered the loose ball in the endzone to propel the hosts to a 30-27 overtime victory over the Huskies in a battle of previously unbeaten teams. Bloomsburg dropped to 2-1 overall while Gannon improved to 3-0 on the season.

It was the fifth meeting between the two schools with the Huskies now leading the all-time series, 3-2.

In Bloomsburg's overtime possession, a costly holding penalty negated a long run from senior Lawrence Elliott Jr. (Utica, N.Y./Thomas R. Proctor) on the drive's first play and the Huskies had to settle for a career-long-tying 42-yard field goal from freshman Kyle Butts (Clarksville, Md./Archbishop Spalding) to take a 27-24 lead. Butts, earlier in the game, hit from 42 yards out for his first collegiate field goal. On Gannon's possession, the Golden Knights methodically drove 24 yards in eight plays – all running plays. It was the ninth play of the drive that produced the game-ending fireworks.

It was an inauspicious start for the Huskies as Elliott Jr. caught the opening kickoff but momentum carried him out-of-bounds at the Bloomsburg two-yard line. Then, before the Huskies even ran a play, Bloomsburg had to burn a timeout for having the wrong personnel on the field. But, the Huskies quickly turned the opening game hiccups into seven points as t drove 98 yards on 11 plays in 4:31 with Elliott Jr. capping off the impressive drive with a seven-yard touchdown run – his first of three rushing touchdowns on the afternoon.

After the teams exchanged punts, Gannon's Nico Law returned senior Will Wagner (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser)'s boot 29 yards to the Bloomsburg 38-yard line to give the hosts excellent field position on their second drive of the game. Gannon took advantage, driving six plays with quarterback Zach Phillips scampering into the endzone from four yards out to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:29 left in the opening quarter.

Bloomsburg drove down the field on its next possession, aided by a first-down run of 19 yards on 3rd-and-14 by redshirt senior Joe Parsnik (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) to the Gannon 26-yard line. Three plays later, however, redshirt junior Chris Palubinsky (Ringtown, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) was picked off at the Gannon 20-yard line by Mike Zanders to eliminate a chance at points. The Golden Knights again took advantage as they drove 80 yards in five plays with the big play being a 59-yard screen pass from Tyler Palka to Tyler Johnson to set up first-and-goal from the Huskies' 10-yard line. Two plays later, on the first play of the second quarter, Johnson had his number called again and he plunged into the endzone from five yards out to give the Golden Knights their first lead, 14-7, after the extra point.

Bloomsburg went three-and-out on its ensuing possession but Wagner booted a 55-yard punt that went out-of-bounds at the Gannon two-yard line to seemingly give the Huskies an advantage in the field position battle. However, the Golden Knights had other ideas as they drove 88 yards on 13 plays but stalled at the Bloomsburg 10-yard line. Gannon, despite the impressive drive, had to settle for three points on a 28-yard field goal from Karch Holland to take a 17-7 lead with 7:59 left in the first half.

The Huskies got their offense back on track on their next possession. Facing a third-and-two from the Bloomsburg 32-yard line, Elliott Jr. rambled 23 yards for a first down to the Gannon 45-yard line. Later in the drive, facing a third-and-nine from the Gannon 16, Palubinsky hit redshirt freshman Michael Allen (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) on a 16-yard strike to set up a first-and-goal from the five. Three plays later, Elliott Jr. plowed into the endzone from a yard out to cut the Gannon lead to 17-14 after redshirt sophomore Ryan Abbott (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School) booted the extra point.

Redshirt senior Jerrin Toomey (York, Pa./West York) then gave the Huskies an opportunity on Gannon's next possession when he picked off Phillips at the Bloomsburg 31-yard line and returned it 16 yards to the 47. The Huskies, with time winding down in the half, had their drive stall at the Gannon 24-yard line but got a game-tying 42-yard field goal from Butts with three seconds left to send the teams to the locker rooms tied at 17.

The momentum shift carried into the second half as the Bloomsburg defense stiffened. On Gannon's second drive of the half, the Golden Knights were forced to punt from their own 11-yard line. Freshman Ethan Price (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) seemingly blocked the punt with the ball bouncing out of the back of the endzone that would have resulted in a safety. However, the Huskies were assessed an offsides penalty negating the big play. But, a bad snap on Gannon's next punt attempt resulted in punter Jarod Morrison falling down on the ball at the one-yard line to give the Huskies first-and-goal. Elliott Jr., on the first play of the drive, ran around right end and into the endzone to give the Huskies a 24-17 lead with 6:02 left in the third quarter.

The lead remained intact until Palubinsky was picked off at the Bloomsburg 41-yard line with 10:31 left in the fourth quarter. Gannon's Nathan Adams returned the interception 16 yards to the 25-yard line and, to add insult to injury, Bloomsburg was assessed a personal foul penalty on top of that to give the Golden Knights the ball at the Huskies' 13-yard line. Four plays later, Johnson plunged into the endzone from two yards out with Holland tying the game at 24-24, with 9:05 left, with his extra point.

Both teams had opportunities to end the game in regulation, but neither team was able to capitalize. Regulation, in fact, ended with senior Jarell Boyd-Ross (Pittsburgh, Pa./Dickinson (N.J.)) picking off Palka in the endzone on a hail-mary attempt from the Bloomsburg 45-yard line.

After allowing 250 yards of offense to Gannon in the first half, the Huskies allowed only 58 yards in the second half and overtime sessions as the hosts finished with 308 yards of offense. Bloomsburg managed 399 yards of offense – 224 through the air and 175 on the ground.

Elliott Jr. finished with 111 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. It was his third straight 100-yard effort to start the season and the second time in three games that he had gotten into the endzone three times. He moved to within 49 yards of reaching 2,000 rushing yards for his career. Palubinsky completed 15-of-35 passes for 224 yards but was picked off twice. Redshirt senior Chad Hoffman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton) (six catches, 97 yards) and Allen (six catches, 82 yards) combined for 12 catches and 179 yards. The yardage totals were both career-highs.

Johnson led Gannon with 74 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Phillips and Palka combined to go 11-of-24 passing for 145 yards and two interceptions. Quad Law was the favorite target as he caught six passes for 48 yards. Bloomsburg's defense shut down Gannon's dual-threat, Phillips, all afternoon. Phillips, who entered as the PSAC's second-leading rusher, was limited to 43 yards on 17 carries while he only completed 8-of-19 passes for 60 yards and was picked off once.

Bloomsburg redshirt senior Andrew Harris (Bethlehem, Pa./Whitehall) recorded a career-high 13 total tackles, one tackle for a loss, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles. Toomey added nine tackles and an interception while redshirt freshman Alex Annan (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) posted a career-best eight total stops.

Zanders led Gannon with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception.

The Huskies will look to get back in the win column next Saturday, September 24, when they travel to Cheyney University to open divisional play. The Huskies are 45-9-1 lifetime against the Wolves and have won the last 25 meetings between the two schools. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.