Football Guts Out Road Win

Robert Healy’s 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Warriors. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki Robert Healy’s 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Warriors. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki
Robert Healy’s 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Warriors. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki
Robert Healy’s 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Warriors.
Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki

Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor

The Warriors were able to pull out a win on the road last Saturday.

ESU redshirt senior tailback Robert Healy scored four touchdowns, and the defense made just enough stops for the Warriors to hang on to a 34-31 victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers on a wet and soggy Tullio Field in Erie, Pa.

Healy had 256 yards rushing and 36 yards receiving for a total of 292 yards from scrimmage. That is a new school record for the Warriors.

A 28-yard field goal by ESU sophomore placekicker Nicolas Ruiz gave the Warriors a 27-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors have a high-scoring offense, but the showtime Lakers have a fast-breaking offense, too.

Mercyhurst redshirt freshman quarterback Doug Altavilla threw a 57-yard lightning strike to junior wide receiver Brad Novak to cut ESU’s lead to 27-24.

After leading for most of the game, the Warriors now found themselves in a dogfight.

With the game very much hanging in the balance, Healy busted out a 77-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 34-24 with 5:55 to go in the game.

Healy’s back-breaking touchdown run made it a two-possession game for ESU and effectively sealed the win for the Warriors.

Laker junior wide receiver Brian Matthews caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Altavilla to make the score 34-31 with 1:55 left, but Mercyhurst’s onside kick went directly to an ESU player enabling the Warriors to gut out a gritty three-point win over the Lakers on the road.

Redshirt senior quarterback Bruce Campbell went 14-27 and finished the game with 159 yards.

Junior wide receiver Tim Wilson had eight receptions for 65 yards.

After the game, ESU’s football team enjoyed some welldeserved victory pizza before making the long trek home.

The Warriors (2-1) return to the gridiron this Saturday when they play the Shippensburg Raiders on the road.

Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu