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(Lock
Haven, Pa.) - The change of seasons and melting piles of
snow around the campus of Lock Haven University have signaled the start of the
Bald Eagle football team’s annual spring drills.
The LHU gridders return to the turf at Hubert Jack Stadium this evening
to kick off a three-week spring season which will culminate in the third annual
Alumni Spring Football Game on Sat., April 17.
“As
we head into the spring practices, a big key for us is to continue to grow and
mature,” said fifth-year head coach Mark Luther. “We continue to work on
getting physically stronger as well as mentally. A key is to be able to think
on our feet, eliminate mistakes and become more aggressive – it’s all a
mind game.”
The
Bald Eagles will no doubt feel the noticeable void left by the graduation of
several integral members, including All-American defensive back and return
specialist Rob Carey, school record holder and wide receiver Marcus Burkley
along with all-conference linebacker Derrik Metz.
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Coach Luther and the Bald Eagle football team officially open
spring practice on Thursday.
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“We are
going to look to the new seniors to step things up,” said Luther. “We lost
some key guys who’ve been with the program for a good number of years. Right
now, we’ve talked with all the seniors and told them that the time is now for
them to step up and take ownership of this team.”
Looking
to build on last season’s 3-8 overall ledger, seven offensive starters return
ready to mix things up while the defense retains six first-string veterans. A
total of 37 letterwinners from 2003 return along with three others who sat out
last season due to injuries but were members of the 2002 on-field squad.
OFFENSE
Injuries
derailed the hopes for any kind of continuity regarding the Haven quarterback
situation last season, but this spring the Bald Eages have four signal callers
back to compete for prominence on the depth chart. Tim
Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) was granted another year of eligibility
and so the senior will be back in action after making appearances in eight
games (54-25-3, 366 yds, 3 TDs) last season. Troy
Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg), who will be a sophomore come fall, along
with fellow sophomores Brian Camberg
(Altoona/Altoona) and Rob Kristiniak
(Flourtown/Springfield Township), are also challenging for the starting
nod. Wile made a team high of nine
appearances in 2003, leading the team with 1025 yards and seven touchdown
passes. Camberg threw six touchdown passes in only three games last season.
Kristiniak, who served as the primary backup in 2002, sat out 2003 due to a leg
injury but returns healthy this time around.
Bald
Eagle receivers will have to reload after losing three top contributors to
graduation. Despite the gaps exposed in the lineup, Lock Haven does have All-PSAC
Second Team receiver Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills), who will enter his
sophomore season, back to provide a bit of experience to the position. Danson
Mwaura (Leola/Conestoga Valley) served as a backup last season while rising
senior Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois) will work out at receiver
during the spring season following three seasons as a prominent player at
tailback.
The
Haven running backs will undergo a major reconstruction after Marshall’s move
to wide receiver and three-year starter Maurice
Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) transitioning to the defense to help
out at cornerback. Their absence leaves the Bald Eagles with one returner in Chelstan Anderson (Halifax/Halifax), who was second on the rushing
list in 2003 after turning in 308 yards and three touchdowns.
Another returning player with experience carrying the ball includes Derek
Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois), who saw action in five games with one
touchdown. Travis Diehl (Williamsport/Williamsport) also returns after serving
as a back-up fullback last season.
Both
Jason Walther
(Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) and Kevin
Scheidler (Millersburg/Millersburg Area) are expected to again secure the
tight end position. Walther was the
starter last season and Scheidler returns from a starting role at right tackle
after playing the spot in 2002.
Down
in the trenches, the Bald Eagles have seen some movement but still return three
starting members from last year’s alignment. Eric
Scaife (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) remains the leading candidate to
handle left tackle while two-year starting center Jason
Scott (Linden/Williamsport) will also fight to maintain his spot on the top
of the depth chart. Steve
Szobocsan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) is expected to continue working
alongside Scott at right guard after starting as a red-shirt freshman in 2003. The
offensive line will receive a boost of experience and talent from Jarrod
Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois), who moves over after starting at left defensive
tackle last season.
DEFENSE
On
the other side of the ball, the Bald Eagles have three starting defensive backs
returning along with two linemen and one linebacker.
The secondary loses standout All-American Rob Carey to graduation, but
three of last year’s starters are back. Will
Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport) (38 TT), who will be a senior, should hold
down the spot at free safety while Ngoyi
Mukusa (Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe) (46 TT, 3 PB) will most likely move from
playing at cornerback to strong safety. Junior
Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Redbank
Valley) (34 TT, 4 PB) will give up his starting role at strong safety to
shift over to one of the corner positions. LHU also brings over Maurice Walker from the offense to assume a role at
cornerback.
Charles
Cannon (Braddock Hills/Woodland Hills) will guide a crew of both seasoned
and youthful talent at linebacker. Cannon, who will be a senior, rated fifth on
LHU’s 2003 defensive chart with 43 total stops including 6.5 for loss.
A handful of players return at linebacker who, though not starters,
spent a significant amount of time on the field last season. Rising seniors Brian
Lumpkin (
Rockville
,
Md.
/
Bullis
School
) (31 TT, 3 sacks) and Dan Jones (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) (23 TT, 2.5 TFL) return
as do sophomores Jon Nalewak
(Shamokin/Shamokin) (89 TT in 2002), Mike
Slatcoff (Sandy Lake/Cochranton) (12 TT) and Derek Harsch (Wellsboro/Wellsboro) (10 TT).
The
defensive line returns near full strength with two starters in Dustin
Shaffer (Mayport/Redbank Valley) (37 TT, 8.5 TFL) and Jason
Kasheta (Carbondale/Carbondale Area) (14 TT, 3.5 TFL). Shaffer, at left
end, and Kasheta, at right tackle, could also be joined by defensive end Nate Eck (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore). Eck, who started and played in
just three games before his season was cut short due to medical reasons, is
expected to return to help anchor the line.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Dan Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) is back to handle the kicking
and punting duties. Hagerman averaged 34.4 yards per punt, was 8-for-12 on
field goal attempts with a long of 37 yards and made 13-of-17 point after
attempts as a true freshman for the Haven.
Chelstan Anderson
and Maurice Walker will be the top candidates for a spot in the return game
after settling into lineup there last season.
The Lock Haven
football team’s spring drills conclude on Sat., April 17, the date of the
annual Alumni Spring Game set to kickoff at
12 p.m.
at Hubert Jack Stadium.
###LHU###
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