The Gannon University football team will play a four-game schedule this spring, the school announced Thursday.

Football is usually a fall sport, but due to COVID-19, the fall season was canceled and most of the fall teams will now play a shortened, non-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule this spring. In addition to no PSAC competition, there will be no Division II tournament for football.

Gannon’s first game will be on March 20 at home – but not on campus — against Davenport, followed by another game against the Panthers, this time in Michigan on April 9.

The Knights will find themselves in Michigan again on April 17 against Hillsdale, then will close the season in Erie against rival Mercyhurst.

Both home games for Gannon will be played at Erie Veterans Stadium rather than McConnell Family Stadium.

The Knights will be coming off a season where they went 2-9 in 2019. The team will also have a new head coach this year in Erik Raeburn after former coach Brad Rzyczycki moved to an administrative role in the Gannon athletic department.

Raeburn spent the 2019 season as Gannon’s offensive coordinator before being named Rzyczycki’s successor.

The Knights will look to strengthen their defense, which gave up 33.55 points per game in 2019.

Although Gannon will not be playing for championships or playoff appearances this spring, it is a good opportunity for the team to build momentum with a new head coach leading into the 2021 fall season.

ALEX PEPKE

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