FULL GAME NOTES
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-3) travels to Mercyhurst College this weekend to begin Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division play.
The Game:
Kickoff on Saturday (Sept. 25) at Louis J. Tullio Stadium (2,300) is set for 1 p.m. The Bald Eagles will look spoil Mercyhurst's 2010 homecoming game.
Mercyhurst is 2-1 coming into the PSAC West opener for both teams.
Today begins PSAC West play for the conference as there are three other division matchups.
The game marks the first home game of the year for the Lakers.
Lock Haven is 0-2 on the road.
Live Stats:
Bald Eagle fans who can't make it to Erie, Pa. can still track all the action by following the
live stats by following this link.
The Series:
Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 2-0 in a relatively new tilt that dates back to 2008 when MC joined the PSAC.
Last year, Mercyhurst took down LHU 19-7 at Hubert Jack Stadium.
The series began in 2009 in Erie with the Lakers winning a lopsided one, 49-14.
Bald Eagles at a glance:
Lock Haven is back on the road and 0-3 on the year.
The Haven will look to snap a 24-game losing skid as the Bald Eagles haven't had a winning season since 1981.
The Bald Eagles came out strong in the first half last week against Kutztown, but were unable to keep the momentum going in the second half as they fell 38-13.
LHU jumped out to an early 6-0 first quarter lead and led after one period. It marked the first time that LHU led after one quarter since October 14, 2006. Lock Haven eventually led 13-0, but the Golden Bears scored 38 unanswered points to improve to 3-0.
The Haven's last win came in the 2007 season finale, where LHU outlasted Clarion 17-14 on an overtime field goal.
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.
Mercyhurst at a glance:
The Lakers are hosting the Bald Eagles and are 2-1 on the young season as the kickoff PSAC West play. The game marks MC's first at home this season.
In the season-opener, Mercyhurst shutout Norte Dame College (Ohio) 23-0, before falling to Kutztown on the road in week two, 35-14.
Last weekend, MC downed C.W. Post 28-20 on the road.
Special teams and defense are two huge keys for the Lakers.
MC is ranked No. 1 in the PSAC in interceptions with 10. Leading the way is Julius McCormick, who is tied for the lead in the league with three interceptions.
The Lakers are ranked No. 1 in the conference in kick returns and are averaging 29.5 yards/game.
Lock Haven's last time out:
The Lock Haven University football team (0-3) lost to Kutztown University (3-0) 38-13 tonight in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action.
Kutztown, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2006 spoiled The Haven's home-opener with 38 unanswered points.
LHU jumped to an early 6-0 lead after a sensational drive to open the game.
With 3:48 left in the opening quarter, Jarryd Burkett (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) hit Ian Smith (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) for a 10-yard TD reception.
The touchdown capped off a 19 play, 80-yard drive that took 11:12.
Burkett was at it again in the second quarter when he scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to make it 13-0.
Burkett finished 21-for-28 passing for 185 yards.
Defensively, The Haven got a tremendous effort from Ryan Good (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley), who made a team-high eight tackles.
Mercyhurst's last time out:
Mercyhurst took down C.W. Post 28-20, thanks in large part to Gerald Anderson, who rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Garrett Kensy threw and rushed for a touchdown for the Lakers.
D-FENCE is the game for The Haven:
Through three games, The Haven's defense has been tough and is ranked No. 4 in the PSAC in rush defense, while only allowing 105 yards per game.
Leading the way for LHU is sophomore Ryan Good (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley), who has a team-high 20 tackles on the year. Fourteen of his 20 stops have been 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.
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. Mercyhurst (9/26/09)
Football drops '09 Homecoming clash with Mercyhurst 19-7
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Bald Eagles started the game with a tremendous defensive effort on a goal-line stand and for three quarters it was a grudge fest, but the Lock Haven University football team (0-4, 0-2 PSAC West) dropped its Homecoming game to Mercyhurst College (3-2, 2-0 PSAC West) 19-7.
Much like it had in the previous three games this season the Bald Eagles defense kept LHU in game early.
Both teams struggled to move the ball in a game that was accompanied a steady drizzle throughout.
The Lakers quickly moved in Lock Haven territory on their opening drive and set up first and goal opportunity from LHU's four-yard line.
In the Bald Eagles first big test of the day, they showed they came to play on Homecoming and the defense steadied, as MC turned over the ball on downs.
With 1:46 on the clock in the opening quarter, Meryhurst went up 3-0 after a 37-yard field goal by Robert Giambra. Giambra's kick capped off a six-play, 15 yard drive that took 3:25.
On the Lakers fourth possession, Mercyhurst was driving in Haven territory, but Wes Plummer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) picked off MC's Joe Laffey and returned it 59 yards into the redzone, looking to help set up Lock Haven's offensive attack.
Plummer was sensational for Lock Haven on the defensive side of the ball. He finished the game with the 59-yard interception return and a game-high 10 tackles. Plummer made seven solo stops and two tackles for a loss.
Despite the good field position, LHU couldn't mus
ter up any points and Mercyhurst held a 3-0 lead after the first half.
The second half continued to be a defensive battle with the Lakers up 6-0 heading into the fourth quarter.
Mercyhurt's offense finally got it together and tacked two fourth-quarter touchdowns to take a 19-0 lead.
With just 27 seconds left in the game, Lock Haven finally got on the board, as Jarryd Burkett (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) completed his first pass of the game to Ibrahim Smith (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) for a 30-yard TD reception.
Burkett came in on Lock Haven's final possession of the game after Jarret Kratzer (Reedsville, Pa./Indian Valley) started under center and went 18-for-40 passing.
Along with Plummer, The Haven got a number of notable performances on defense.
Luke Ellison (McElhattan, Pa./Montoursville) and Shane Barie (Export, Pa/ Franklin Regional) were all over the field for Lock Haven and made nine and eight tackles, respectively.
With the loss The Haven falls to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.
MC improves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in West action.
The Laker offense out gained LHU 327-187 and held a 16-12 advantage in first downs.
Next time out:
The Bald Eagles hit the road again for the second of two straight. Next weekend they travel to No. 4 California (Pa.) University. Then LHU is home for two straight hosting Clarion on October 9 and Gannon on Oct. 16 for Homecoming.
