COMMERCE, Texas. – Playing in the state of Texas for the first time in school history, the Lock Haven University football team (1-4) fell to No. 9 Texas A&M Commerce (4-1), 68-6, tonight in non-conference action.
The host-Lions, the 2017 NCAA Division II national champions, raced out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, before scoring 24 second-quarter points on the way to a 38-0 halftime lead.
Leading the way for the A&M Commerce offense was wide receiver Ryan Stokes who hauled in three touchdown catches. Lions' starting quarterback Kane Wilson threw for 373 yards and four TDs.
With just seconds left in the third quarter the Bald Eagles put points on the board. Trailing 52-0, and with six seconds left in third, running back
Chantz Swartz (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata H.S.) grabbed a pass from quarterback
Cameron Tobias (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) for a five-yard touchdown.
The Bald Eagles entered tonight's contest with the defending national champions on a high note as Lock Haven was coming off its first win of the season. Last weekend, LHU outlasted East Stroudsburg, 44-41, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener. Prior to this week, the ninth-ranked Lions had been ranked No. 1 all season, but A&M Commerce was downed, 23-13, last week by nationally-ranked Colorado State Pueblo.
Tonight marked the first ever meeting between LHU and Texas A&M Commerce. Last season, on the way to the Division II national title, the Lions went 14-1. A&M Commerce downed West Florida, 37-27, in the 2017 national title game.
Leading the LHU offense tonight was
Jalen Jackson (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport), who made nine catches for 81 yards, and
Bryan Greene (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) finished with eight receptions for 68 yards. Tobias threw for 205 yards on 22 of 42 passing, and he tossed one touchdown and no interceptions.
Javon Whitfield (Philadelphia/Simon Gratz) made eight tackles and
Shyheim Brown (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) registered seven.
Obadiah Asare (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) finished with six tackles including a sack and two tackles-for-loss.
UP NEXT:
After two straight road games, the Bald Eagles will return home to host Millersville University next Saturday, October 6 in Week 6 action. The PSAC East game is set for a 12 p.m. EST start at LHU's Hubert Jack Stadium.
