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SAEGERTOWN — People are always talking about the Mercyhurst Prep football team’s offense, and rightly so. However, Friday night against Saegertown, it was the Lakers’ defense that was making a name for itself as Prep downed the Panthers, 7-0, in a big Region 2 contest at Canon Memorial Field.

“Our defense is definitely one of our strengths,” said Lakers running back and defensive back Jayson Nickson. “Our offense might get all the credit, but our defense comes to play.”

The Lakers’ “D” pitched its second shutout of the season. And it was the first time Saegertown had been held scoreless since a 35-0 loss to Sharpsville in the 2004 District 10 playoffs.

Mercyhurst, which leads Region 2 with a 4-0 record and is 5-0 overall, held Saegertown to 165 yards of offense. And after the Panthers’ first two drives ended deep in Laker territory, Saegertown didn’t get past Mercyhurst’s 40 for the rest of the game. Bad field position and some costly penalties in the second half didn’t help.

“I think a lot of people forget about our defense,” said Mercyhurst coach Matt Morgan. “At halftime we told our kids that the defense was going to have to win this game for us ... Our defense rose to the occasion.”

Saegertown (3-2, 2-1 Region 2) had its best opportunity on its first drive, mounting a 10-play series that covered 56 yards and earned the Panthers a first down at Mercyhurst’s 15-yard-line.

Panthers’ quarterback Zach Beatty zipped a laser to receiver David Haskins in the end zone. But Nickson — who would guard Haskins closely all night — peeled the ball out of Haskins’ grip. Two plays later, Saegertown was faced with a 4th-and-7. Beatty tried for Ian Price downfield, but the ball was batted in the air three times before ending up in the arms of Prep cornerback Joe Jelinek.

“I really wished we would have poked one in on that first drive,” said Saegertown coach Ken Achenbach. “I thought we were on the right track. We had them a little off-balance, mixing it up with the pass and the run. We just didn’t get it done.”

On Mercyhurst’s first play of the following drive, Nickson broke an 80-yard touchdown run to give the Lakers the lead, and eventually the win.

“It was a counter-trap,” Nickson said about the touchdown run, his seventh of the year. “The line blocked well and I was basically untouched. The line blocked great. All I had to do was run.”

According to Achenbach, “That’s kind of been the story of our year. You go back to the Linesville game; one big run. This game; one big run. I don’t know if it’s youth or inexperience or what. But we have to find a way to make teams drive up the field and not give up the easy score.”

Nickson ended the game with 162 yards on 17 carries for Prep. He was followed by fullback Buddy O’Leary who had 91 yards on 19 carries.