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THE GAME
The Bald Eagle gridders open up the 2004 season at home, taking the field against Cheyney University on Saturday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m. in Hubert Jack Stadium. The game marks the first time the Haven is home to open the season under Head Coach Mark Luther, and it is also the first since the 1999 campaign.

THE SERIES
Lock Haven and Cheyney have matched up on 13 occasions, with the Bald Eagles claiming wins in each contest. Unique to this year’s game is that it will be the earliest meeting of the two teams in series history -- before coming together only as early as the fourth week of the season.

Pairing up against Cheyney in 2004 also marks the 25th anniversary of the Haven’s 1979 PSAC Championship, which the Bald Eagles captured with a 48-14 victory against the Wolves in November of that year.

First Meeting: 1953; LHU 13, Cheyney 0
The Last Time CU Won: na
The Last Time LHU Won: 2003; 42-7
The Last Time LHU Won at Hubert Jack Stadium: 2002; 34-0

THE LAST TIME VERSUS CHEYNEY
A 35-point second half was the difference needed to lift the Bald Eagle gridders past Cheyney by a score of 42-7 in week five of the 2003 season. The outcome brought both teams’ records to 2-3 overall.

The Bald Eagles recorded a season-best 302 yards rushing along with 210 yards through the air to outweigh the production of the Wolves, 512-277. Defensively, LHU allowed only 56 yards on the ground and the pass defense came up big with four interceptions, three leading to touchdowns.

Tied up at 7-7 after the first half, Lock Haven came out of the intermission to score 16 third-quarter points and another 19 in the final stanza to break open the game. Haven kicker Dan Hagerman logged three field goals, including a pair of 22-yarders, to assist in the scoring. Maurice Walker and Chelston Anderson combined for 164 yards rushing, Walker posting 87 on 16 carries and Anderson recording 77 and the touchdown on 11 attempts.

Quarterback Brian Camberg stepped into his first collegiate start to throw for 195 yards on 14-of-33 passing with three touchdowns, connecting with receiving leaders Marcus Burkley (6 catches, 88 yds) and Rafael Smith (3 catches, 61 yds, 2 TDs). Rob Carey was the defensive leader with eight stops while Ngoyi Mukusa added six stops.

Cheyney’s Errieck Stewart threw for 224 yards, including 98 to Charles Johnson and 94 yards and a touchdown with Ed Giddings. Defensively, Stephen Watson posted a game-high 12 tackles.
 

SCOUTING CHEYNEY
Cheyney enters the 2004 season with an expected total of 12 returning starters, splitting that figure up with four on offense, seven on the defense and one special teams veteran. Last season the Wolves went 2-9 overall and 0-6 among PSAC Eastern Division competition. While the Cheyney defenders ranked first in the PSAC in pass defense, giving up only 124.9 yards per game, the Wolves struggled against the run, coughing up 270.5 yards an outing on the ground. Their offense, likewise, ranked third in productivity in the air (193.8 ypg) while falling to last in rush offense (76.4 ypg).

Returning to the offense is sophomore second team All-PSAC performer and wide receiver Charles Johnson. Charles Johnson led Cheyney with 54 receptions, and also led the squad in scoring with five catches for touchdowns. Senior running back Ron Martin is the leading returner in the Wolves’ rush offense, averaging 16.1 yards per game along with three touchdowns last season. Martin could be handing off duties to sophomore Billy Mitchell and freshman Ronnie Thomas, however, who are both expected to aid in the ground game.

Not one upperclassman is currently on the depth chart on the offensive line, which is expected to be managed by a group of freshmen. Adding some experience up front, however, is returning starter and junior tight end Jason Harris, who caught ten passes for 94 yards in 2003.

Emerging as the starter at quarterback is freshman Derrick Murry. Another freshman, Brandon Garner, could also see time behind center.

Defensively, Cheyney returns at nearly full strength in the secondary. Five players with starting experience return including All-PSAC free safety Brandon Roberts (4 INT). Strong safeties Ernest Giddings (53 TT) and Robert Edwards (38 TT, 5 TFL) are each back, while corners Orlando Payton (26 TT, 10 PB), the PSAC Outdoor Track and Field 100 and 200 meter champion, and Lee Brown (28 TT) also return to the lineup.

Linebacker Cavanaugh Nweze, also a second team All-PSAC pick last season, was the Wolves top tackler a year ago with 83 hits. He will most likely be flanked by a pair of rookies in Brandon Hawkins and Justin Allen.

On the line, the Wolves will again go with an untested, youthful front. Sophomores Leon Miller (19 TT) and Jamar Johnson (7 TT) are the only two returning with any game experience.

Kicker John Riley returns after hitting two field goals last season, including a long of 33 yards. Riley was also good for 16-of-20 point after attempts.
 

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE 
The Bald Eagles return a total of seven players with starting experience on offense. That figure includes three starting members of the offensive line as well as one transplant from the defensive side of the ball -- a lineup that any team would be optimistic about. Junior Jason Scott (Linden/Williamsport) returns for his third year anchoring the line at center. To his left are two players with starting experience, sophomore Steve Szoboscan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) and junior Eric Scaife (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola), who will work to pave the way for the Haven ball carriers. To his right, senior Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) has to make the adjustment to the offense after two seasons on defense, but brings battle-tested experience after playing 10 games as a rookie on the offensive line. Red-shirt freshman Matt Coxford (Middlebury Center/Wellsboro) is the early candidate for the start at right tackle.

On-field direction is expected to come from sophomore quarterback Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona Area). Camberg played in only three games last season but threw for 433 yards and six touchdowns, including three versus Cheyney, in the process. Senior Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) is second on the depth chart and ready to step in if needed. Storino logged three touchdown passes in eight games played in 2003.

While the graduation of All-PSAC and four-year starting receiver Marcus Burkley requires some revision in the offensive plans, the Bald Eagles will have to start completely over. The Haven does return Second Team All-PSAC receiver Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) along with several others who have been in the program at least one season. Smith, now a sophomore, averaged 14.3 yards per catch and matched Burkley’s output with five touchdown receptions. Junior Danson Mwaura (Leola/Conestoga Valley) will look to pick up where he left off last season, earning more time on the field at receiver. Two red-shirt freshmen, Dwaine Berger (Normalville/Connellsville) and Adam Lawrence (Hanover/Delone Catholic), could also work their way onto the LHU passing game.

Tight ends Jason Walther (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) and Kevin Scheidler (Millersburg/Millersburg Area) are both back, bringing solid playing experience to the position for another season.

The charge of running the ball will fall onto the shoulders of the senior duo of tailback Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) and halfback Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois Area). Walker averaged 52.5 yards a game last season with four touchdowns while Marshall put up 18.2 yards per outing.

THE DEFENSE 
The Haven defense will have a mixture of experience and younger talent at work early. Four of last year’s starters are on the latest depth chart, including a pair in the secondary. Senior free safety Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport) and junior cornerback Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley) are the two returning to the starting lineup. Jones, who is the third leading defender returning to the fold, totaled 38 stops and one interception last season. Shealy owned a share of last year’s team lead with four pass break-ups along with an interception and a total of 34 tackles.

Sophomore Mike Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) was not a regular starter but had a big rookie season and has made strides to become the leading candidate for the start at the other cornerback slot. Nesby led LHU with three interceptions last season and shared the lead with Shealy with four break-ups. The early choice at strong safety is red-shirt frosh David Show (Mill Run/Connellsville Area).

The linebackers lost two mainstays but return a strong lineup nonetheless featuring expected starters Brian Lumpkin (Rockville, Md./Bullis School), Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin Area) and Michael Slatcoff (Sandy Lake/Cochranton). Lumpkin, who should take over at middle linebacker, totaled 31 total stops as a junior. Nalewak’s return after a year off due to injury is a welcome addition after he was second on the Haven’s defensive chart in 2002 with 89 hits and eight for loss. Slatcoff, a sophomore, saw action in 10 games last season with 12 tackles.

Up on the line, the Bald Eagles will front a senior, two juniors and one sophomore. In the middle will be senior Warren Whitaker (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) and junior Brian Johnson (St. Marys/St. Marys Area). Sophomore tackle Brad Sones (Elysburg/Southern Columbia) and junior tackle John Smeltzer (Red Lion/Red Lion) are the predicted starters on the outer line.


SPECIAL TEAMS 
The Bald Eagles return starting kicker and punter Dan Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) to handle all kicking duties. Hagerman was fourth among his PSAC counterparts with eight field goals last season, including a long of 37 yards. He went 13-for-17 on extra point attempts, and averaged 34.4 yards per punt during his inaugural season.

Justin Marshall and Maurice Walker are the two headlining candidates to return the kickoff, while Rafael Smith is likely to take over punt return duties.
 

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