Box Score LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team scored 28 third-quarter points and the Bald Eagles picked up their first season-opening win since 2005, as LHU dropped West Virginia State, 31-13 today at a packed Hubert Jack Stadium.

Brandon Brader (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Dillon Mazzoni (Melbourne, Fla./Shippensburg Univ.) passed for two more, all in the third-quarter, as LHU (1-0) downed the visiting Yellow Jackets (0-1).

Not to be over shadowed by the offensive burst was a tremendous defensive effort throughout the game.

Leading the charge was George Christas (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown) and Tony Ballon (Jersey City, N.J./Harrisburg), who combined for 23 tackles.

Alex Boumerhi (Phillipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) put LHU up 3-0 late in the first quarter on a 28-yard field goal. LHU took advantage of a short field after Lock Haven's special teams came up big, which they did for much of the game.

West Virginia State kicker Josh Reuber tied the game early in the second quarter and he put WVSU up, 6-3 with 2:20 left in the half on a 22-yard field goal. The Yellow Jackets took the 6-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Lock Haven took over the game in the third quarter however, and the Bald Eagles never looked back.

Just 2:33 into the second half, Mazzoni connected with receiver Jesse Hoover (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville) for a 32-yard strike. It was the first touchdown pass of Mazzoni's LHU career and gave the Bald Eagles the 10-6 lead.

A little more than a minute later, Brader jolted into the endzone on a three-yard run to make it 17-6 and less than four minutes later, another three-yard run by Brader put LHU in control at 24-6.

Brader finished with 66 yards on 19 carries. He now has 1,893 yards, which moved him into seventh on Lock Haven's all-time list. Brader is just 19 yards away from the sixth spot and only 107 away from 2,000 yards for his career.

Mazzoni passed for his second TD with just 1:36 left in the third quarter. He hit James Wilbern (Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire) on a 51-yard pass play for the score, which put LHU up 31-6.

With 2:28 left in the game, the Yellow Jackets scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 31-13, which proved to be the final.

Mazzoni was 9-of-18 passing for 142 yards. Hoover led all receives with six catches for 73 yards.

Christas was sensational for LHU and finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops. He had one tackle for a loss and two pass breakups as he was all over the field for The Haven.

Ballon made 11 tackles, including seven solo stops.

Tashawn Bunch (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley) chipped in with eight tackles and he blocked a field goal attempt in the first quarter.

Lock Haven travels to former PSAC-West rival Clarion next Saturday, September 14 for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

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Game Notes:
- Dating back to last season's 2012 finale, LHU has now won two straight games.
- Today marked the first time LHU won a season-opener since 2005 when they beat Cheyney on the road 17-16 on August 27, 2005.
- The last time LHU won a season-opener at home was August 28, 2004 vs. Cheyney (W, 35-19).
- On October 2, 2004 was the last time Lock Haven scored 31 or more points. LHU beat Mansfield, 33-30.
- The last time LHU scored 28 points in a quarter was September 25, 1999 when Lock Haven posted a 28-point second quarter vs. Cheyney. LHU won 53-26.
- Today marked Brandon Brader's second career two-TD game.