LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-2) and visiting Clarion University (1-1) battled steady rain and wet field conditions throughout, and in the end Clarion escaped a rain-soaked Hubert Jack Stadium with an exciting 30-21 victory.
The two teams combined for 13 turnovers and were deadlocked at 14-14 at halftime.
The loss spoiled LHU's 2018 home opener as Lock Haven fell to 0-2 on the season (0-1 road, 0-1 home). Clarion earned its first road win since 2016 and moved to 1-1 on the season.
Clarion raced out to a 14-0 lead after the opening quarter.
Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter,
Chantz Swartz (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata H.S.) darted into the end zone for the Bald Eagles' first touchdown of the 2018 season. The TD came with 9:32 left in the second quarter and capped a four-play, 80-yard drive. A key play on the drive was a 74-yard pass play from quarterback
Ethan Persa (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) to
Tavian Dorsey (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic).
With 5:51 left in the first half,
Nysir Minney-Gratz (Easton, Pa./Easton) stayed with a play and hauled in a deflected pass for a 34-yard TD-catch. The late first-half TD helped the Bald Eagles tie the game at 14-14, and despite a number of first-half turnovers by both teams, the game remained level.
The TD-pass was the first of Persa's career, as he made his Bald Eagle debut today at quarterback.
Clarion struck quickly in the second half and a 24-yard field goal with 10:46 to play in the third gave the Golden Eagles a 17-14 lead. Clarion looked to pull away and stretched the lead to 23-14 with 5:44 left in the third.
The Bald Eagles weren't ready to go away easy and Swartz was at it again as he dashed through the Clarion defense for a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 1:17 left in the third period. The long and thrilling run cut the Clarion lead to 23-21.
Early in the fourth quarter, Mylique McGriff scored on a 5-yard run for Clarion, which put the visitors up 30-21. The lead held as Clarion held off any further Lock Haven rally.
Persa threw for 213 yards and two TDs (7-for-19, 4 INTs). Swartz rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown, and he also hauled in the one TD-pass. Swartz finished with 86 receiving yards, while Minney-Gratz made three catches for 71 yards.
The Bald Eagles defensive unit kept Lock Haven in the game. They finished with four interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, seven tackles for loss and one sack.
Leading the way was
Obadiah Asare (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) who made a game-high 12 tackles. He had eight solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Shane Scott (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) made nine tackles and
Fernando Flores (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) recorded eight tackles and a sack.
Javon Whitfield (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz) had an interception and defensive back
Dontae Mason (Philadelphia/Bishop McDevitt) etched his name into the history books, as he tied the single-game school record with three interceptions in a game.
UP NEXT:
The Bald Eagles will remain at home during Week 3 action as they host perennial national power IUP next Saturday, September 15 at 12 p.m. This week, the Crimson Hawks held the No. 4 spot in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Top-25 poll.
Today at halftime, the LHU football team honored its 2018 Gridiron Greats.
Click Here for more. Pictured below are some of the honorees and their family along with
LHU President Robert Pignatello (far left) and
Dr. Tom Gioglio, LHU Director of Athletics (far right).
TOUCHDOWN BALD EAGLES!
Today marked the grand re-opening of the Hubert Jack Stadium turf. Last spring (
click here for more), LHU installed a new surface and today marked the first game on it. In honor of the event, new
LHU President Robert Pignatello scored the very first touchdown at 'new-look' Hubert Jack Stadium.
