LHU Week 1 Depth Chart (PDF) | 2016 Combined Stats (PDF) | 2016 Defensive Stats (PDF)

The Lock Haven University football team will open the 2017 season on Saturday, September 1 at Saint Francis (Pa.) University. The Bald Eagles and Red Flash will kick things off at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Degol Field in Loretto, Pa.
 
Setting the stage:
The Bald Eagles hope they can take the momentum of a strong 2016 campaign into Saturday. For LHU, it will be a mix of new and old, and third-year head coach Dave Taynor is optimistic Lock Haven has a winning formula. The Bald Eagles Week 1 opponent – Saint Francis – is coming off a historic 2016 season of its own. The Red Flash went 7-5 overall and won the Northeast Conference (NEC) title after going 5-1 in league action. Saint Francis earned a bid to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs for the first time in school history last season.
 
A quick look back at last season:
Last season, Lock Haven went 4-7 overall with all four wins coming against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East opponents, including Cheyney, Millersville, Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg. The Bald Eagles finished 4-3 in PSAC East play. The four wins last season were the most since Lock Haven won four games during the 2002 season. The four PSAC Divisional wins were the most since the 1979 season. As a team, LHU broke single-season records for total points (323 pts.), total offense (4,954 yds.) and team passing offense (3,158 yds.).
 
The series with Saint Francis:
LHU is 1-5 all-time vs. the Red Flash in a series that dates back to 1915. The Bald Eagles took on Saint Francis in their 1950 season-opener and came away with their only win in the series, a 26-13 win on the road.
 

• Saturday is the 7^th meeting all-time (first meeting since 1950)
• Saint Francis leads all-time series 5-1
• Streak: Lock Haven – W, 1 (1950)

 
History for NCAA Division I opponents:
Saturday's game marks Lock Haven's 12^th meeting with a Division I FCS opponent since 2000 and first since a season-opening loss at Fordham in 2012. Of those 12 games vs. FCS opponents since 2000, eight have been season-openers. LHU hasn't beaten a FCS opponent since 1971 when the Bald Eagles opened the season with a 14-7 victory over Delaware State.

Taynor's third season:
The 2017 season will mark head coach Dave Taynor's third at LHU. He is 6-16 (6-8 PSAC East) all-time at The Haven and for his career he is 43-56. Prior to Lock Haven, Taynor was the head coach at his alma mater Urbana for seven seasons.

*Notes on Taynor:
- Alma Mater, Urbana 1999
- 3^rd season at LHU
- 10^th season overall as head coach
- 2009 Urbana team beat Dayton (FCS), 13-10 (WK 3)

The Bald Eagles 2017 coaching staff
Dave Taynor – Head Coach/Quarterbacks (3rd season)
Randi Moore – Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker Coach (4th season)
Bill Nickell – Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line (3rd season)
Tyrone Young – Defensive Backs (1st season)
Phil Hallahan – Wide Receivers/Running Backs (1st season)
Ty Traister – Tight Ends/Full Backs (1st season)
Terry Szucs – Defensive Line (23rd season)
Jake Jones – Defensive Assistant (linebackers) (1st season)

New QB:
In 2017, redshirt-junior Cameron Tobias takes over at quarterback after the graduation of one of the school's all-time greats in Caleb Walton. Tobias attempted only 10 passes last season, but quickly showed in spring ball and during preseason camp that he can certainly air it out and help keep the Bald Eagles high-flying attack rolling like the previous two seasons.
 
Dennis leads the way at TE:
Tobias will certainly benefit from the return of All-American tight end Del'Vaughn Dennis. Last season, Dennis hauled in 36 catches, for 523 yards (58.1 yds./game) and three TDs.
 
Run the ball:
The run game will be a key for the Bald Eagles as they return four different players who ran for at least one 100-yard plus outing last season including the Bald Eagles 2016 rushing leader John Ford. Ralph Hyland, Corey Blakey and Malyk Harris all recorded at least one 100-yard plus game last season. Harris saw limited time last season, but he was a Second Team All-PSAC selection after the 2015 season where he rushed for 924 (84/game) yards and five TDs. Ford and Harris have combined to rush for three of Lock Haven's all-time top-10 individual game performances.
 
Single-game rushing records (*returners) -
#6: 224 yards - Malyk Harris 2015 vs. Kutztown
#9: 206 yards - John Ford 2016 vs. East Stroudsburg
#10: 200 yards - Malyk Harris 2015 vs. Millersville
 
2016 rushing stats (*returners) -
John Ford (11GP, 7GS, 156 carries, 841 yards, 5.4/carry, 7 TDs, 76.5/game, 4 100+ yd. games, 1 200+ yd. game)
Malyk Harris (8GP, 5GS, 77 carries, 268 yards, 3.4/carry, 2 TDs, 33.5/game, 1 100+ yd. game)
Ralph Hyland (9GP, 39 carries, 202 yards, 5.2/carry, 4 TDs, 22.4/game, 1 100+ yd. game)
Corey Blakey (9GP, 14 carries, 135 yards, 9.6/carry, 1 TD, 15/game, 1 100+ yd. game)
 
Opening on the road:
Saturday's opener marks the second straight season where Lock Haven will open the season on the road. The Bald Eagles opened the 2016 season at Clarion.
 
Preseason All-American:
Leading up to the 2017 season-opener, redshirt-senior Trent Fielding was named a 2017 Preseason All-American. Fielding (OL, center) earned a spot the 2017 D2Football.com Preseason All-American Second Team. Following the 2016 season, Fielding was an Honorable Mention All-American, and he was also an All-Region and All-Conference pick. After last season, Fielding was also nominated for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.
 
O-Line, a huge factor:
Led by All-American Trent Fielding, the Bald Eagles experienced offensive line will be a major key this season. Last season LHU ranked No. 1 in the PSAC and among the top-20 in Division II in sacks allowed. LHU ranked No. 1 in the PSAC and in the top-15 nationally in sacks allowed per pass attempt.
 
Projected o-line:
LT: Devante Oliver (started first 4 games last season)
LG: Austin Heinbaugh (11GP/10GS)
C: Trent Fielding (11GP/11GS)
RG: Chris Bonk (11GP/10GS)
RT: David Staton (11GP/11GS)
 
Picked sixth in the PSAC:
LHU was picked No. 6 in the PSAC Eastern Division Coaches' Poll. West Chester received all eight first-place votes in the East and was tabbed by the coaches as the preseason-favorite. Kutztown was voted second and Shippensburg rounded out the top-three. Bloomsburg checked in at No. 4 and East Stroudsburg at No. 5, just before LHU at No. 6. Millersville was picked seventh and Cheyney sits at No. 8.
 
Strawbridge returns as well:
2015 All-Conference defensive back Daniel Strawbridge returns after missing last season with an injury. After the 2015 season, Strawbrige was named to the All-PSAC First Team (DB) after recording 82 tackles in 10 games (1 INT, 8 pass break ups).
 
Flamer leads the way on D:
Isaiah Flamer, the Bald Eagles hard-hitting free safety returns on defense after being named to the All-PSAC Second Team last season. Flamer finished last season with 79 tackles (59 solo) and ranked third in the PSAC in tackles per game with 7.2. He had four interceptions, which led the team.
 
Experience on D-Line:
Tackle Brandon Clements (11GP/11GS) and David Lazo (8GP/7GS) return to anchor the defensive line.  
 
Renninger jumps from basketball court to football field:
After a sensational two-year career on the hardwood at LHU, Cole Renninger, a Lock Haven, Pennsylvania native joins the football team. Last season, Renninger averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Renninger played basketball for two seasons at Lehigh before transferring back to LHU. Now he returns to the football field for the first time since his standout career at Central Mountain High School.  
 
Kicking at The Haven a family tradition:
Nick Boumerhi, a Penn State transfer will take over the kicking duties for the Bald Eagles. The name should ring a bell as his brother Alex was a standout kicker for the Bald Eagles from 2012-2015. During his career A. Boumerhi recorded a school record 26 field goals.
 
Up next:
In Week 2 (Saturday, September 9), LHU will head to Edinboro (12 p.m.) for PSAC crossover action.