ERIE, Pa. — Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) powered across the goal line from 3 yards out in overtime, capping a dominant final possession and lifting the Bloomsburg football team to a 33-27 victory over Gannon on Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium.
The Huskies (2-1) overcame deficits of 13-3 and 20-10, scoring 17 points over the final 3:50 of the first half before the defense delivered a pair of decisive stops late in regulation and another in overtime.
Bloomsburg's defense forced three turnovers, including interceptions by Idriz Ahmetovic (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) and Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia). Ryan Corros (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) recovered a fumble with four seconds remaining in regulation, and the Huskies pushed Gannon backward on the Golden Knights' final play of overtime to set the stage for the winning drive.
Gannon (0-3) opened overtime with a 10-yard run to the Bloomsburg 15, but the Huskies allowed just 1 yard on the next three plays. Facing fourth-and-9 from the 14, the Golden Knights lost 20 yards on a fumbled exchange, ending the possession at the Bloomsburg 34.
The Huskies handed the game to their rushing attack from there.
Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) gained 7 yards on the opening play and added 2 more before breaking a 12-yard run on third-and-1 to reach the Gannon 4. Zimmerman moved the ball to the 3 on the next snap, and Clancy finished the victory with his game-winning touchdown.
Clancy rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries, while Zimmerman added 76 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts. Bloomsburg finished with 158 rushing yards and held Gannon to 50 yards on the ground.
Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) completed 20 of 36 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown without an interception in his return under center for the Huskies. Alex Achenbach (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) caught eight passes for a career high 79 yards, and Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) finished with four receptions for 68 yards and a score.
Bloomsburg struck first with a methodical 11-play, 58-yard opening possession. Etheridge connected with Nick Ryan (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) for 34 yards to move the Huskies into the red zone, and Peter Kashynski (Falls Church, Va./Justice) completed the drive with a 30-yard field goal.
Gannon answered with touchdown drives on its next two possessions to build a 13-3 advantage, but the Huskies responded with their longest drive of the afternoon.
Bloomsburg marched 84 yards in 18 plays and took 8:44 off the clock. The Huskies converted four third downs during the possession, including a 14-yard completion from Etheridge to Achenbach on third-and-10. Etheridge finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, pulling Bloomsburg within 13-10 with 3:50 remaining in the half.
The Golden Knights restored their 10-point lead just 18 seconds later on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Ty Hurst to Chazz Corley, but Bloomsburg answered immediately.
Etheridge moved the Huskies 74 yards in 11 plays, completing an 18-yard pass to Xavier Diaz (Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel), a 17-yard connection with Achenbach and an 11-yard throw to Wolfe on third-and-10. Zimmerman then broke free for 17 yards before scoring from 2 yards out to trim Gannon's lead to 20-17.
The Bloomsburg defense created another scoring opportunity on Gannon's next snap. Ahmetovic intercepted Hurst and returned the ball to the Gannon 43 with one minute remaining. The Huskies moved into the red zone, and Kashynski drilled a 31-yard field goal to send the teams into halftime tied at 20.
Bloomsburg's defense struck again early in the third quarter. Garcia intercepted Hurst at the Gannon 30, giving the Huskies their second consecutive takeaway.
The offense turned the short field into its first lead since the opening quarter. Clancy rushed four times for 25 yards on the possession before Etheridge found Wolfe for a 16-yard touchdown on third-and-9, putting Bloomsburg ahead 27-20.
Gannon tied the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Hurst to Donell Mason with 12:48 remaining, but the Huskies' defense controlled the rest of regulation.
With Gannon taking possession at its 24 with 3:25 left, Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) dropped Hurst for a 9-yard sack. Zhamir Rowan (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) then broke up a third-down pass to force a punt.
Kashynski's potential go-ahead 53-yard field goal fell short with 43 seconds remaining, giving the Golden Knights one final opportunity. Gannon advanced to the Bloomsburg 34, but the Huskies generated pressure on consecutive plays. Hurst recovered his first fumble before Donohue secured another loose ball at the Bloomsburg 46 with four seconds left, sending the game to overtime.
Bloomsburg outgained Gannon 398-290, held a 24-20 advantage in first downs and converted 11 of 18 third downs. The Huskies were also perfect on six red-zone opportunities, scoring four touchdowns and two field goals.
Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS) led the defense with nine tackles. Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) recorded eight tackles and a tackle for loss, while Garcia and Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) finished with seven stops apiece. Turner added six tackles and a 9-yard sack.
The Hukies open PSAC East play next Saturday when they welcome Shippensburg to Redman Stadium for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff. During the game, the Huskies will honor and celebrate the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center and the Horst family.
Inside the Box Score
- Bloomsburg outgained Gannon 398-290, including a 158-50 advantage on the ground.
- The Huskies recorded 24 first downs and converted 11 of 18 third-down opportunities.
- Bloomsburg finished a perfect 6-for-6 in the red zone with four touchdowns and two field goals.
- The Huskies possessed the ball for 31:59 and ran 76 offensive plays compared with Gannon's 56.
- Bloomsburg's defense produced three takeaways — interceptions by Idriz Ahmetovic (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) and Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) and a fumble recovery by Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain).
- The Huskies scored 10 points off Gannon's turnovers and did not allow the Golden Knights to turn Bloomsburg's lone turnover into points.
- Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) completed 20 of 36 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception.
- Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) rushed for 92 yards and the game-winning touchdown, while Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) added 76 yards and a score. The duo combined for all 25 yards on the winning overtime possession.
- Alex Achenbach (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) led the receiving corps with eight catches for 79 yards. Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) added four receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
- Bloomsburg's defense held Gannon to 4 of 8 on third down and stopped the Golden Knights on their only fourth-down attempt.
- Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS) led the Huskies with nine tackles, followed by Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) with eight. Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) and Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) each recorded seven stops.
- Peter Kashynski (Falls Church, Va./Justice) connected on field goals of 30 and 31 yards and finished with nine points.
