Bloomsburg’s Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pocono Mountain West) finished with 132 yards rushing giving him 2,025 for the season. He becomes just the third freshman in Division II history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
The Lakers used a big defensive play to set up their first scoring drive. On Bloomsburg’s first possession quarterback Pat Carey (Loyalsock, Loyalsock Twp.)was hit hard on a third pass at his own 19-yard line. The ball bounced right into the hands of Fred Hale, who returned the ball to the Huskies eight-yard line. Two plays later Rearick scrambled three yards for a touchdown putting the Mercyhurst on top 7-0 with 11:42 left in the first.
Bloomsburg had a chance to cut into the Laker lead on its third possession of the game. Taking over at the Mercyhurst 40-yard line after a short punt, the Huskies drove to the Lakers 25-yard line. However, the drive stalled and Daniel Fisher (Liverpool, Central Dauphin) attempted a 43-yard field goal, but the try went wide leaving the Lakers on top.
Mercyhurst extended its lead to 14-0 early in the second period putting together a long drive. Taking over their own 14-yard line the Lakers marched eight plays down to the Huskies 24-yard line. On a first down play Rearick took off after the pocket broke down and was hit hard by Mike Varanavage (Philadelphia, Archbishop Ryan) and fumbled the ball. While it appeared that Bloomsburg had recovered the ball, Mercyhurst came out of the pile with the ball. On the next play, Rearick hit Gerald Anderson with a pass out of backfield. Anderson dodged a few tackles and went down the sideline into the end zone for a score.
The Huskies had a great chance to get on the board midway through the period when Rearick fumbled with Dave Huot recovering at the Laker 18-yard line. But two rushing plays resulted in losses of four yards and a third down pass went incomplete. On fourth and 14, Carey scrambled, but came up four yards short and Bloomsburg turned the ball over on downs.
Mercyhurst extended its lead to 21-0 early in the third period marching 70 yards in 13 plays, converting twice on fourth down, including fourth and goal at the one yard with Rearick hitting Tim Herbeber with a scoring pass with 5:52 to go in the period.
The Huskies finally got on the board on the ensuing possession with Quiteh scoring from four yards out. The big play on the drive was a 37-yard run by Quiteh, D-II's leading rusher, that moved the ball from the Mercyhurst 48 to the Laker 11-yard line.
In the fourth period the Lakers made it a three touchdown lead when Rearick hit Terrance Coon with a 48-yard scoring pass with 7:00 to play in the game capping an 87-yard drive.
But the Huskies got a 50-yard kickoff return from Wallace Jamison (Hershey, Hershey) that put the ball at the Mercyhurst 35-yard line. Using the pass almost exclusively, Carey directed the 35-yard scoring drive hitting tight end Ben Weaber (Lebanon, Cedar Crest) with a nine yard scoring pass.
Mercyhurst was able to recover the onside kick, but had to punt the ball back to the Huskies. Bloomsburg then moved to the Laker nine-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with just seconds left in the game.
Bloomsburg coach Danny Hale said the Huskies got beat by a good team.
“Mercyhurst is a good team and just beat us,” said Hale. “They played on defense and we could not get things going offensively. We struggled with all our injuries, but that is not an excuse. We just could not overcome our offensive mistakes.”
Rearick finished 24-34 for 252 yards with three TD’s and one interception. Quiteh ended the year with 24 carries for 132 yards and one score to lead the Huskies offense.
Mercyhurst will now host Shepherd, which beat Kutztown, in the regional final next week.
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