By Jenny Mosley

Coming off a 45-21 loss at Assumption, the KU Golden Bear football team (0-2) was looking to start off their PSAC campaign with a win. After holding Mercyhurst (1-1) to three points throughout the first half, the Golden Bears collapsed, falling to the Lakers 23-19.

In front of 4,811 fans, the Golden Bears came out strong offensively, scoring 13 of their 19 points in the first quarter. Red-shirt sophomore Craig Reynolds rushed for 108 yards en-route to a career high of 144 before the final whistle.

Senior Kellen Williams, who pulled in two touchdown catches, now sits four receiving touchdowns behind KU’s all-time record. Williams’s three catches in the game raises his total, 161, to fifth all-time at KU.

Defensively, the Golden Bears posted eight sacks, the most the team has had in 20 years.

Senior defensive lineman Chris McMonagle’s 2.5 sacks helped hold the Lakers to 31 yards gained in the first quarter before allowing the Lakers 139 yards throughout the next three quarters.

According to kubears.com, Mercyhurst’s 170 yards of total offense are the fewest for an opponent in a win over KU in the last 20 years, through the 1997 season.

Entering the third quarter, KU led Mercyhurst 13-3 before Mercyhurst’s Kyle Briggs recovered a blocked punt to bring the lead down to three.

With junior kicker Alec Rosenfeld nursing an injury, the Golden Bears have had to transition senior QB Brennan Scott into a kicker/punter, resulting in not only a blocked punt, but two blocked extra point attempts as well, which made all the difference for KU.

The Golden Bears are looking to amend their home record as they take on PSAC rival West Chester on Saturday, October 1, starting at 6:05 p.m.