Box Score MEADVILLE, Pa. - After falling behind 14-0 late in the second quarter, the Gators' comeback attempt came up just short, dropping a 24-21 decision to Denison on Senior Day at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

Allegheny scored with just under five minutes left to pull to within three, but Denison was able to run out the clock to close out the game and thwart the Gator comeback.

The Gator defense was the story of the first quarter, forcing a pair of turnovers to keep the game scoreless.  On Denison's first possession of the afternoon, the Big Red looked to take an early lead, gaining first downs on three of their first four plays.  However, on first down at the Allegheny 30, Denison quarterback Brandon Sklenar was unable to handle a shotgun snap, with Gator linebacker Jake Szoszorek pouncing on the loose ball on the Denison 45.

On the ensuing drive, the Gators were unable to capitalize, turning the ball over on downs after kicker Leo Katz was stopped less than two yards short on a run following a botched snap on a fourth down field goal attempt.  Denison's offense went back to work, and used a lengthy drive to set up first-and-goal inside the Allegheny nine, with the big play a 27-yard screen pass from Sklenar to John Wilson.  On third down, another pass from Sklenar to Wilson put the ball inside the Allegheny one, and the Big Red elected to go for it on fourth and goal.  The Gator defense came up with arguably its biggest stop of the season, as Wilson fumbled after being stood up on the goal line, with Allegheny safety Cody Stolar coming up with the recovery to keep Denison off of the scoreboard.

Allegheny was unable to advance out of its own territory, and after receiving the punt, Denison went to the air to take its first lead, with Sklenar completing four passes for 47 yards, capped off with a 10-yard toss to tight end Cam Layer to go in front 7-0 with 11:12 left in the second quarter.

The two teams then shared scoreless possessions before the Gators saw their best chance of the half to crack the scoreboard.  Taking over at their own 27 following a punt, the hosts took advantage of a pass interference penalty to set up first down on their own 45.  Derrick Emigh then took an end around and scampered down the near sideline to the Denison four yard line, with the 50-yard run setting up first and goal.  However, the Denison defense used a goal line stand of its own to hold on fourth-and-goal.

Taking over on their own one, Sklenar led the Big Red on another lengthy drive, completing seven passes for 85 yards before running back Colin Morris capped off the 99-yard drive with a two-yard scamper up the middle to put the visitors in front 14-0 with 30 seconds left in the half.

Allegheny then countered with its biggest play of the season to seize the momentum heading into the intermission.  Denison attempted to squib the ensuing kickoff, with Gator return man Johnathon Opet picking up the bouncing ball on the run on his own 15.  He then found a seam up the middle, and dashed 85 yards untouched into the end zone for the Gator touchdown.  Ryan Mong's extra point was good, and the Gators entered halftime down 14-7.  It was the first touchdown return for Allegheny since an 85-yarder by Terry Hartford on Nov. 1, 2008 vs. Wooster.

The Gators kept the momentum to open the second half.   On its first possession of the second stanza, Denison brought out the punt team on fourth-and-two on its own 42.  The Big Red went for a fake punt, but Gator senior Pat Jameson read it from the start, and threw Denison punter Andy Shaw for a nine-yard loss.

Led by Nick Deichler, Allegheny took advantage of the defensive stand, as the sophomore running back ran five times for 33 yards, capped off with a two-yard touchdown plunge.  The extra point attempt was blocked, making the score 14-13 Denison with 5:22 left in the third quarter.

Denison answered right back, with Morris scoring his second rushing touchdown of the day on a two-yard run with 1:06 left in the third quarter to cap off a nine-play, 65-yard drive to put the Big Red in front 21-13.   After the Gators were forced to punt on their ensuing possession, Denison went right back to work, using eight plays to set up first-and-goal on the Allegheny four.  The Gator defense again rose to the task, ceding just two yards on three plays to force Denison to settle for a field goal that made the score 24-13 with 6:55 remaining in regulation.

The Gators wasted little time to again make it a one-score game.  After quarterback Jon Nigro completed a trio of passes, including a 20-yard strike to Andrew Niklaus to set up first down on the Denison 44, the freshman signal caller hit Lucas Morton on a short toss over the middle.  The sophomore receiver then broke a pair of tackles and ran into the end zone untouched to make the score 24-19.  Nigro then found Emigh in the back of the end zone for the successful two-point conversion to pull the Gators to within a field goal with just under five minutes remaining.

It was as close as Allegheny would get, however, as Denison picked up a trio of first downs on its final possession of the afternoon to run out the clock and hold off the Gator comeback.

Deichler ran 17 times for 69 yards to lead the Gator ground game, while Nigro completed 13 of 20 passes for 101 yards and Niklaus making seven receptions for 38 yards.  Defensively, Raysean Glenn posted a team-high 11 tackles, while Jameson made 10, including 2.0 for loss.  Senior Brad Burkley added seven tackles, including a sack.

Sklenar completed 27 of 33 passes for the Big Red for 335 yards, with Wilson making a game-high 12 grabs for 123 yards.  Morris ran for 123 yards on 27 carries, while defensively, Andrew Baird made nine tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage.   Denison out-gained the Gators 458-223 on the day, while holding the ball for 37:58.

The Gators will close out the 2013 season next Saturday, traveling to NCAC leader Wittenberg for a 1 p.m. contest.