LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven football team saved some of its best football of the season until the final stages of today's game and the late-game heroics helped the Bald Eagles celebrate Homecoming 2025 in style behind a historic 28-21 win over West Chester (3-4, 2-3 PSAC East) today (Saturday, Oct. 18) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action.
The win was the first for Lock Haven over West Chester in 34 years (Oct. 26, 1991) and snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Golden Rams, a longtime PSAC East perennial power.
With the win, the Bald Eagles moved to 3-4 overall and leveled their PSAC East record at 2-2. Lock Haven has won two of the last three games and The Haven is 2-2 at home this season.
Jake Roberts' 88-yard kickoff return touchdown and a tremendous defensive effort from the Bald Eagles headlined the victory. The Haven defense recorded a pair of interceptions and Lock Haven blocked a field goal attempt.
On offense, it was the magic of quarterback
Jackson Ostrowsky and a long TD-run late in the game from running back
Damir Green that powered the way to victory.
Ostrowsky was 22 of 36 (1 INT) for 257 yards and one touchdown. Green finished with 62 yards on 15 carries, but it was his 29-yard touchdown-run with 59 second left in the game that helped fuel Lock Haven's comeback.
Justin Popovich hauled in nine catches for 136 yards.
Jaeion Perry finished with nine tackles to match a game-high. He also had one interception and two pass breakups to highlight a defensive unit that was nothing short of remarkable all game long.
Rocco Daugherty recorded seven tackles and
Markel Morgan's late-game interception cemented the win for The Haven.
After a scoreless opening quarter, visiting West Chester led 14-0 late in the first half.
West Chester's Matthew Iuvara hauled in a nine-yard TD pass from Colin O'Sullivan and WCU led 14-0 with 6:27 left in the second quarter. With West Chester leading 14-0 and controlling the first half, Lock Haven scored on the ensuing kick as Roberts electrified the home crowd with a thrilling 88-yard kickoff return. Roberts' notable individual effort cut the West Chester lead to 14-7 at the half.
The Golden Rams struck early in the second half and led 21-7 with 13:46 left in the third quarter.
Lock Haven's
Cureem Hathcock darted into the end zone from four yards out with 3:13 left in the third. The score capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive and West Chester led 21-14.
In the fourth quarter, the Lock Haven defense provided a huge stand with West Chester on the one-yard line. The Bald Eagles stopped the Golden Rams from the one on both third and fourth down with 8:57 left in the game.
The important defensive stop sent the Bald Eagles on a clinical offensive drive on their next possession.
Mekhi Watson scored with 4:54 to go in the game as he held on to an Ostrowsky pass from the two-yard line, and jumped into the end zone uncovered and untouched. The TD capped the 99-yard drive and tied the game at 21-21.
Again, the Lock Haven defense forced West Chester to turn over the ball on downs, and again - Lock Haven made them pay on the ensuing offensive drive.
With just 59 seconds left in the game, Green bolted his way through the West Chester defense and into the end form 29 yards out.
Behind Green's late-game heroics on offense, the Bald Eagles led for the first time all day at 28-21 and it proved to the be the final score thanks to one more remarkable play on defense.
Much to the delight of a packed and frenzied Homecoming crowd at Hubert Jack Stadium, the last-minute surge continued and the victory was locked in by Markel's interception with 37 seconds left to play.
Up Next for Lock Haven:
The Bald Eagles head to Shippensburg next week (Saturday, Oct. 25) for the first of two straight PSAC East games on the road. Next week's (Week 8) clash at Shippensburg will kick off at 1 p.m.
