FULL GAME NOTES

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football is set to return home after two weeks on the road and play host to winless Clarion University.

The Game:

Kickoff on Saturday (Oct. 9) at Hubert Jack Stadium (3,500) is set for 7 p.m. in what might be one of the most important Lock Haven – Clarion games in recent history.

Both teams are looking for their first win of the year and Lock Haven is hoping to snap a 26-game losing skid and hasn't won since beating the Golden Eagles in the 2007 season finale at Clarion.

The Bald Eagles will look to rebound from a tough 58-0 loss to No. 4 California (Pa.) University.

Lock Haven and Clarion both enter the game winless overall posting 0-5 records. Each team is 0-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

The game marks the second home game of the year for the Haven.

Lock Haven is 0-1 at home, losing 38-13 against Kutztown University back on September 18 in The Haven's 2010 home-opener.

Watch/Listen/Live Stats

HAVENc@st will offer a free video stream of the game at the link listed HERE.

The Series:

The Golden Eagles lead the 84 year old series 41-16-1.

Lock Haven's most memorable win was in the 2007, marking The Haven's only win in the last four seasons. Over the past four seasons LHU has gone 1-36.

Lock Haven won the first meeting in 1928 12-0 and will look to get even after a 24-0 setback last season at Clarion.

Bald Eagles at a glance:

Lock Haven is back at home and are 0-5 on the year and 0-2 in PSAC West play.

The Haven will look to snap a 26-game losing skid as the Bald Eagles haven't had a winning season since 1981.

Last week 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.

Two 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.

Three 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.

Clarion at a glance:

Clarion is back on the road for only the second time this season and their first road game since week two.

In the season-opener, the Golden Eagles lost to Fairmont State 27-16. Clarion's other two non-division losses were against Bloomsburg (41-13) and Shippensburg (28-24).

Last weekend, Clarion lost a tough one 16-13 at home against Slippery Rock.

Clarion enters the game with the No. 3 pass defense allowing just 161.8 yards through the air.

Lock Haven's last time out:

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-5, 0-2 PSAC West) fell to No. 4 California (Pa.) University (5-0, 2-0 PSAC West) 58-0 today at Cal's Adamson Stadium in front of nearly 4,000 fans.

Cal put 14 points on the board in the first quarter to jump out to an early 14-0 advantage over the Bald Eagles with 7:58 to play in the opening frame.

Lock Haven looked like they were going to answer when a 61-yard strike from quarterback Robert Meade (Edison, N.J./Bishop AHR) to Jesse Hoover (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville) put the Bald Eagles inside the Vulcans red zone at the 16-yard line.

LHU barreled to the Vulcan 11 before a fourth down stop by Cal forced a turnover on downs.

Cal answered with an extended drive to put the Lock Haven deficit at 21 points before scoring twice more before the end of the opening half to put The Haven behind by a 31-0 tally at the intermission.

Out of the halftime break, Cal struck out of the gate in the third quarter to put The Haven behind by a 38-0 score.

Following a fourth down stop of the Vulcans on their next drive, the Bald Eagles used another solid drive to again march into the Cal redzone with under five minutes left in the third quarter.

Meade connected with sophomore Jay Hartman (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) on a 36-yard pitch and catch to move The Haven into California territory. After a Cal penalty breathed new life into the Bald Eagle offense, The Haven got to the Vulcan 11-yard line yet again before another promising drive stalled out for LHU. The 10-play, 72 yard drive was the longest of the day for The Haven's offense.

Cal responded with 21 fourth-quarter points as they defeated the Eagles by a 58-0 tally in PSAC West action.

Meade led the Lock Haven offense with an 11-of-17 performance for 135 yards.

On the ground, Brandon Brader (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) rushed for a team-high 18 yards against a stout Vulcan front.

Hartman led the Bald Eagles on the receiving end with two grabs for 37 yards.

Senior linebacker Wes Plummer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) led the Lock Haven defense with a game-high nine tackles on the day, including five solo stops.

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 18 stops.

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. Clarion (9/19/09):

Football drops PSAC West opener at Clarion

The Lock University football team (0-3, 0-1 PSAC West) was shutout 24-0 on the road tonight at Clarion University (2-2, 1-0 PSAC West) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West opener for both teams.

Clarion's 17-point first quarter paved the way to the win for the Golden Eagles.

Clarion took that 17-0 lead into hal

ftime and tacked on a third quarter touchdown to beat LHU, who dropped to 0-3 on the young season.

2008 All-American Alfonso Hoggard led the way for Clarion with 114 yards on the ground. Hoggard rushed for two touchdowns including one in game's opening minutes.

Hoggard took the game's opening kick back 78 yards to the LHU two-yard line, setting up his first score.

Lock Haven quarterback Jarrett Kratzer (Reedsville, Pa./Indian Valley) was 22-for-38 passing.

Defensively, Lock Haven got sensational performances from Nick Gounaris (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) and Ben Snyder (Ichasburg, Pa./West Perry) as both made a game-high 11 tackles.

Nine of Snyder's 11 stops were solo tackles and Gounaris made eight solo stops.

Snyder also forced a fumble.

Tyree Pompey (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) made seven tackles.

Ian Smith (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) made a team-high six catches.

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 returns home again to take on Gannon University on Saturday (Oct. 16) at noon for the Bald Eagles 2010 Homecoming game.