LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Running back
Chris Collier (Lawrence, N.Y./Lawrence (Wagner College) and kicker
Brett Zachman (Leesburg, Fla./Eustis (Dordt)) turned in career milestone outings today (Saturday, Oct. 28) for the Lock Haven football team, but visiting West Chester pulled away late and secured a 42-27 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division victory at Hubert Jack Stadium.
Highlighting the first half today was Zachman's 57-yard field goal, which shattered the all-time Lock Haven school record and also broke the all-time conference record. The previous PSAC record was a 56-yard field goal back in 2019.
Collier carried the ball 22 times for 209 yards and one touchdown. Collier's second 200-yard plus game this season pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, which helped him become Lock Haven's first 1,000-yard rusher in a single season since 1981.
With, the loss, Lock Haven moved to 4-5 overall and the Bald Eagles are now 2-4 in PSAC East play. The Golden Rams pushed their overall record to 5-4 and West Chester moved to 3-3 in PSAC East action.
Through nine games, Collier leads the PSAC in rushing with 122.6 yards-per-game, nearly 30 more yards than the second-best mark in the league.
On the season, Collier now has 1,103 yards, which currently sits as the sixth-best single-season effort in Lock Haven history.
Haven quarterback
Danny Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman (Stony Brook) threw for two touchdowns. Sanchez was 12-for-21 for 177 yards.
T'iar Young (Philadelphia/Northeast (Millersville) hauled in five catches for 101 yards, and both
Chase Holmes (Easton, Pa./Easton) and
Chandler Baker (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia (Buffalo)) recorded touchdown catches.
Lock Haven's
Jaderian Johnson (Pensacola, Fla./Take (North Dakota)) led the defensive effort with a game-high nine tackles.
Davien Vernon (Florence, N.J./Bergen Catholic) and
Izzy Ramos (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) both finished with seven tackles.
Kasir Henry (Philadelphia, Pa./Anna Marie College) recorded six tackles and an interception.
Justin Anderson (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) recorded two sacks and
Cody Romano (Newton, N.J./Blair Academy (Penn State)) added five tackles.
Trailing 7-0, Collier darted into the end zone from three yards out and tied the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
Zachman's record-breaking 57-yard field goal that looked as if it might be good from 60 yards put Lock Haven up 10-7 with 1:15 left in the first period.
With The Haven trailing, Sanchez and Holmes connected on a 42-yard catch-and-run pass play, and the Bald Eagles led 17-14.
West Chester scored late in the first half and led 21-17 at halftime.
Highlighting the second-half scoring for Lock Haven was Baker's five-yard TD-catch where he surged and stretched for the hard-earned score.
Zachman added a late field goal, connecting from 36 yards to cap the Bald Eagles scoring.
West Chester's 14 fourth-quarter points and 21 second-half points helped the visitors pull away late and earn the win.
Up Next:
The Bald Eagles will hit the road for the final time this season next weekend when they travel to Shippensburg for a 1 p.m. Week 10 PSAC East clash on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Looking ahead, Lock Haven will close the 2023 regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at home vs. Edinboro (1 p.m.).
