LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — In a stunning finish on Saturday, Mercyhurst quarterback Adam Urena connected with Dylan Evans for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining to lift the Lakers to a 16-15 victory over Saint Francis (PA), handing the Red Flash their ninth consecutive loss.

The game-winning drive was necessitated after Saint Francis (PA) had taken its first lead of the game with just over a minute to play. The Red Flash appeared to have sealed the win when Colin Douglas forced and recovered a fumble from Evans, returning it to the Mercyhurst 7-yard line with 1:35 on the clock. But the Lakers’ defense held firm, forcing the Red Flash to settle for a 25-yard Mac Plummer field goal, his fourth of the game, for a 15-10 lead.

Urena, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound quarterback from Chino Hills, California, then engineered a frantic 65-yard drive in just over a minute. He completed five passes on the drive, four of them to Evans, culminating in the decisive score. Urena finished the game 22 of 32 for 234 yards and the one touchdown.

The comeback spoiled a gutsy performance from Saint Francis (PA) quarterback Nick Whitfield Jr., who threw for 193 yards and rushed for 37 more. The Red Flash offense was methodical but struggled to find the end zone, relying entirely on Plummer’s right leg until the final minutes.

Mercyhurst’s offense was powered by running back Brian Trobel, who gashed the Red Flash defense for 93 yards on 11 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Evans was the primary target in the passing game, hauling in nine catches for 138 yards and the game-winning score.

The game was a defensive struggle for three quarters. Saint Francis (PA) took a 9-0 lead into halftime on field goals of 28, 34, and 26 yards from Plummer. Mercyhurst finally broke through in the third quarter with a 35-yard field goal from Max Young, followed by Trobel’s touchdown run to take a 10-9 lead.

The loss extends a difficult season for Saint Francis (PA), which falls to 0-9. The Red Flash were a 9.5-point pregame favorite, and the Interstat game simulator had projected a 36-28 victory for the home team. Mercyhurst improves to 4-6 with the road victory.

Saint Francis (PA) will look for its first win next Saturday when it hosts Long Island University. Mercyhurst returns home to face Robert Morris.