By The Daily Item
BLOOMSBURG -- Jeremy Ditzler kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime and the Gannon defense recovered a fumble on Bloomsburg's first drive in the extra period to post a 10-7 win in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday.
The loss dropped the Huskies to 8-3 on the season and severely hurts the team's chances to gain an NCAA playoff bid. The bids will be announced today between 3 and 3:30 p.m. on ESPN News.
With the score tied at 7 at the end of regulation, the Golden Knights (6-5) got the ball first on offense in the extra session and drove to the Bloomsburg 9-yard line. Three running plays pushed the ball back to the Huskies' 12, where Ditzler connected on his first field goal of the game after missing on three previous attempts.
On Bloomsburg's overtime possession, on the first play quarterback Dan Latorre dropped back, then took off upfield and was hit by Gannon's Johnny Jones, with the recovery by the Golden Knights' Khayree Connors ending the game.
In the first half Gannon took the opening kickoff and moved to the Huskies' 29 when its drive stalled and Ditzler was short on a 48-yard field goal attempt. In the second quarter the Huskies defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Mike Varanavage at the Gannon 22. Facing a fourth-and-one at the Gannon 13, Latorre was sacked and fumbled, ending the scoring threat. Just before halftime Gannon had a chance to get on the scoreboard, but Ditzler misfired from 29-yards ending the half.
Bloomsburg finally broke the scoring drought in the third period with a short drive, set up by a 62-yard kickoff return by Brandon Real to start the second half. Three plays later Latorre hit Cory Stiger with a 25-yard scoring pass to make it 7-0.
Later in the third period, after pinning the Huskies back deep in their own territory, the Knights took advantage of a short punt that gave them the ball at the Bloomsburg 28. Two plays later Zach Boedicker scored on a three-yard run to tie the score at 7 with 37 seconds left in the third period.
In the fourth, both teams had a chance to go in front, but Ditzler missed a 41-yard field goal try with three minutes left. The Huskies had a chance to win the game on the final play, but Jon Koenig's 45-yard field goal try was blocked, forcing the extra session.
Latorre, a Southern Columbia graduate, was 9-of-16 for 105 yards and one score, while Thomas McFarland had a team-high 10 tackles. Gannon was led by Boedicker, who was 13-of-20 for 104 yards passing and also gained 69 yards rushing.
