FULL GAME NOTES
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team will travel to Slippery Rock University on Saturday (Oct. 23) for a 2 p.m. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West contest.
The Game:
Kickoff on Saturday (Oct. 23) at Thompson Stadium (10,000) is set for 2 p.m. as Slippery Rock will be celebrating their 2010 Homecoming. Slippery Rock is unbeaten at home this season and has posted a 2-2 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division (PSAC West).
The Bald Eagles will look to rebound from a tough 42-7 homecoming loss to Gannon University.
The game marks the fifth road game of the year for the Haven, who has posted a 0-4 record on the road. The Bald Eagles started the season traveling four times in the first five weeks
Watch/Listen/Live Stats:
Slippery Rock will provide live stats, audio and video for Saturday's game.
Follow this link to access more information.
The Series:
Slippery Rock leads the series 40-12-1.
The last time the Haven bested Slippery Rock was in 1980, with the Bald Eagles winning 29-7. In 1988 Lock Haven manage a tie ending the game with a 21-21 score. Slippery Rocks has been very successful against the Haven in the past 42 years, with the Bald Eagles only posting two wins since 1968.
Lock Haven won the first meeting, 13-0 in 1931.
Bald Eagles at a glance:
Lock Haven's offense has struggled all season but has been brought to a screeching halt in the last couple of weeks posting only 13 points in the last 18 quarters.
The Haven will look to snap a 28-game losing skid, as the Bald Eagles haven't had a winning season since 1981.
Last week Lock Haven lost their 2010 homecoming game 42-7 to Gannon. It was the first time that Lock Haven put points on the board in this young series with Lock Haven losing 27-0 last season and 26-0 in 2008.
Two weeks ago, in a battle of the winless, Clarion started out fast scoring on the first play from scrimmage and kept it going from there taking a 42-0 lead into the half.
Three weeks ago, No. 4 California (Pa.) came out swinging and put 31 points on the board in the first half on the way to a 58-0 PSAC West victory.
Four weeks ago the Lock Haven defense held their own in the first half, holding Mercyhurst to just seven points. Mercyhurst came out with their halftime adjustments and put up 28 points in the third quarter. The Lakers added six more in the fourth quarter to win their homecoming game 41-0.
The Haven's last win came in the 2007 season finale, where LHU outlasted Clarion 17-14 on an overtime field goal.
Five weeks ago the Bald Eagles played Kutztown and was in the game going into the locker room at the half but once again Lock Haven struggled in the second half and loss the Golden Bears 38-13.
In week two, LHU fell to Millersville 35-21 in their second of two road games to start the new season.
In their season-opener at VMI, Bald Eagles fell to the Keydets 48-6 in front of 6,865 fans.
Lock Haven and VMI had met just once prior to this game. In the 2007 season-opener the Bald Eagles lost to their Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent 20-0.
SRU at a glance:
Slippery Rock is hosting Lock Haven for their 2010 homecoming and haven't been defeated all season at home.
Slippery Rock is in the middle of a very competitive PSAC West with a 2-2 record.
The Rock has played tough all season starting the 2010 campaign with a 5-1 overall record before dropping to #4 California (Pa.) last week, 28-3.
Lock Haven's last time out:
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-7, 0-4 PSAC West) fell to Gannon University (4-3, 2-2 PSAC West) 42-7 today at Hubert Jack Stadium, spoiling The Haven's 2010 Homecoming celebration.
After a scoreless first quarter, Gannon led the defensive struggle 7-0 at halftime.
Gannon pulled away with 21 points in the third quarter.
The Bald Eagles prevented the shutout with a touchdown with 1:10 left in the third quarter of play.
Lock Haven quarterback Jarryd Burkett (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) scored on a 15-yard run.
Burkett was 5-for-11 passing for 67 yards.
Brandon Brader (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries.
Jesse Hoover (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville) and Jay Hartman (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) each got three passes for 57 and 25 yards, respectively.
Skyler Wool (Waterville, Pa./Jersey Shore) made six tackles including two for a loss and one sack.
Ian Smith (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) recorded six tackles.
Wes Plummer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) and Zsone Olds (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley) both made five tackles.
Gounaris leads the defense:
Senior Nick Gounaris (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury), the Bald Eagles lone captain on this year's squad, is the leader for LHU on the defensive side of the ball.
Last year he earned a spot on the PSAC West Second Team Defense, nabbing a spot on the defensive line. Gounaris finished with 47 total tackles, which was fifth-best on the team. Gounaris made 25 solo stops and six tackles for a loss, which ranked as second-best on the team in 2009. He also added two sacks.
Two of Gounaris's best performances came against PSAC West opponents, as he racked up a game-high 11 and eight tackles against Clarion and Edinboro, respectively.
So far this season, he's made 27 tackles.
Gibble returns:
A huge key for Lock Haven is the return of senior Ryan Gibble (Millville, Pa./Central Columbia) to the O-line. Gibble a two-time All-PSAC selection yet missed the majority of last year with an injury.
Last time vs. SRU (10/31/09):
Football falls to The Rock 47-6 at home
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-9, 0-7 PSAC West)) fell to visiting Slippery Rock University (6-4, 3-4 PSAC West) 47-6 today at Hubert Jack Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.
Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 17-0 lead after the opening quarter and SRU's 38-0 lead at halftime paved the way to the win as The Rock snapped a three-game losing skid.
SRU set the tone early after Scott Mitchell took the game's opening play from scrimmage 44 yards for a touchdown, just 22 seconds into the game.
Trailing 38-0 in the third quarter, the Bald Eagles finally got the board with 9:02 to play in the third period.
Jay Hartman (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) caught a pass from senior quarterback Josh Watters (Olyphant, Pa./Bishop O'Hara).
Lock Haven's touchdown capped off a seven-play, 45-yard drive that used 2:05 of the game clock.
The Haven went for two, but didn't convert.
Lock Haven got a tremendous effort from senior Dean Tortorice (Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional), who made a game-high nine stops.
Tortorice made is final game at home a memorable one and finished with eight solo stops, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble, as he did everything he could to help Lock Haven's effort today.
Wes Plummer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) was solid for LHU and made seven tackles, including six solo stops and one tackle for a loss.
Lock Haven's last win (11/10/2007):
Bald Eagles Avoid Winless Season With Overtime Victory Over Clarion 17-14
CLARION, Pa. – The Lock Haven University Football team avoided its first winless season in 56 years as they defeated the Clarion University Golden Eagles in overtime by a 17-14 margin.
The win for LHU was their first since they defeated Clarion last season at Hubert Jack Stadium.
Clarion looked to get on the board early as they marched down field easily only to have a 30 yard field goal attempt fall short and keep the game scoreless.
Both teams would trade possessions until Clarion would find pay dirt early in the second frame.
Clarion scored in the second quarter as quarterback Tyler Huether powered in from the goal line on a one yard QB keeper to give the Golden Eagles the lead. Kicker Nick Sipes boot cleared the uprights to make the score 7-0.
Following a possession by each team LHU would get the ball back with great field position and would capitalize on it as five plays later running back Ibrahim Smith (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) crossed the plane of the endzone. Haven kicker Marc Domonkos' (Windber, Pa./Bishop McCort) PAT would be good to tie the game up at 7-7.
Things would remain the same as both teams headed to the locker room.
As the two teams came from the locker room it became a defensive struggle in the third quarter as both teams were unable to put on points on the scoreboard.
LHU had a great opportunity to take the lead as following a muffed Brendon Pickel (Easton, Pa./Easton) punt the Bald Eagles had great field position at the Golden Eagle 25, but they were unable to do much with it as they had to settle for a field goal attempt from Domonkos. Domonkos' kick would sail wide left keeping the score at a 7-7 deadlock.
Lock Haven would waste no time scoring in the fourth quarter as 11 seconds into the frame Smith would scamper 64 yards to the end zone to give The Haven the 14-7 lead following Domonkos' PAT.
Each team would trade possessions until with 8:30 to go quarter number four Clarion would get possession and march downfield on an ten play 89 yard drive which resulted in a touchdown. Running Back Eddie Emmanuel barreled one yard up the middle for the score which became tied again following Sipes second extra point of the day.
Lock Haven would have one last ditch effort to win the game in regulation as quarterback Ilio DiPaolo (Orchard Park, N.Y./St. Francis) would find Chris Hawkins (Glenside, Pa./Cheltenham) 39 yards downfield but time would expire before the LHU coaches could get the timeout in sending the game to overtime.
Clarion would the toss and chose to take the ball for the first possession of the overtime frame. The Bald Eagle defense pushed Clarion backwards and the Golden Eagles had to settle for a field goal attempt. Sipes' 47 yard attempt would be short of the mark for the second time of the day setting Lock Haven up for the win.
LHU's possession would start at the Clarion 25 and four plays later culminate with a 35 yard boot from the nearside hash. Third time would be a charm for Domonkos as his field goal would clear the uprights to give Lock Haven their first victory of the year.
Leading the way on the ground for Lock Haven was Smith who carried the ball 22 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns. His 139 yards and two touchdowns are the best of his young career.
Through the air DiPaolo and Tyler Golden (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone) combined to be 15 of 22 for 184 yards. DiPaolo had a stellar performance going 10-15 for 97 yards and Golden also put up strong numbers as he went 5-7 for 87 yards in only one quarter of work.
On the receiving end junior Damar Dowell (Buffalo, N.Y./Erie Community College) had four catches for 60 yards.
Defensively LHU was led by Mike Nesby's (Pittsburgh/Rankin) eight tackles and Corey Gildea's (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Holliddaysburg) five tackles on the day gave him 100 on the season.
Lock Haven wraps up their season with a 1-11 mark and for the second time in a row Head Coach John Klacik won a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West game defeating Clarion both times.
Next time out:
Lock Haven is back at home hosting the Fighting Scots of Edinboro, with a 7 p.m. start scheduled.
