Here’s the good and the bad from the initial NCAA Super Region One football rankings released Monday.
The Good: Gannon is ranked in the poll for the first time in program history.
The Bad: Gannon is ranked No. 8.
Looking up and down the top 10 in the rankings, the Knights only have one game left on their schedule that (if they win) warrants a “big win” honor.
That game is Nov. 7 at Indiana (Pa.) (5-2), who is ranked No. 9.
Other than that, the two remaining games — Oct. 31 vs. California (Pa.) and Nov. 14 against East Stroudsburg — are just so-so wins.
IUP takes on Clarion, ranked No. 6 in the region, Saturday, which could cause problems for the Knights.
A Clarion win more than likely drops IUP out of the rankings and diminishes the importance of a Gannon win over IUP.
If IUP wins, the Hawks are likely to hurdle Gannon, who plays a 5-3 Cal team.
Gannon can possibly sit at No. 9, barring the rest of the top nine teams win.
The only thing Gannon can do is win out and hope for losses among the region’s top teams to earn its first ever playoff appearance…In other local PSAC action, Edinboro is still searching for its first win of the year, after falling to Erie county rival Mercyhurst 38-28. Edinboro’s Darren Massey became the career record-holder for pass receptions with 164 after catching seven passes in the loss. The junior surpassed David Bostic’s record of 160.
DOMINIC SANSONE
