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Oct. 7, 2004
Ship Shape -- Football to Battle #19 Shippensburg
Game #7 - #19 Shippensburg University - Seth Grove Stadium
Shippensburg, Pa. - Saturday, Oct. 9 - 1p.m.

>>>2004 LHU Roster >>>2004 LHU Statistics >>>Shippensburg web site

Click here to listen live to the Bald Eagles vs. the Red Raiders

THE GAME
The Bald Eagles travel to Seth Grove Stadium for week-seven action, bringing a 2-4 overall and 0-1 PSAC West record into a divisional showdown against No. 19 Shippensburg University who enters the game with 5-1 overall and a 1-1 PSAC West record.

THE SERIES
The Red Raiders hold a 40-28-3 advantage over the Bald Eagles in a series dating back to 1929 when the Red Raiders shut the Haven out 26-0..

First Meeting...........................................................1929, LHU 0, Ship 26

The Last Time Ship Won........................................................2003; 49-13

The Last Time LHU Won..................................................2002; W 26-13

The Last Time LHU Won at Seth Grove Stadium..........1989; W 10-3

The Last Time Ship Won at Seth Grove Stadium................2000; 55-0

THE LAST TIME VERSUS SHIPPENSBURG
The Lock Haven University football team suffered a 49-13 loss at Shippensburg University on Oct. 18, 2003. The Bald Eagles gave up 49 unanswered points within the first three quarters.

The game began on a positive note, as the Bald Eagles opened up in command with Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) splitting the defenders for a 49-yard burst off the first play following the kickoff return. Walker took the handoff and broke left on the very next play, sweeping around the defense and escorting the ball into the endzone from 18 yards out to put LHU on the scoreboard, 6-0, after a failed extra point kick.

Lock Haven’s Marcus Burkley continued the momentum on the next drive, pulling down a five-yard pass from Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) to go ahead, 13-0, with 11:43 left in the first quarter.

Shippensburg’s reply came quickly and harshly, taking the form of 49 unanswered points with touchdowns in seven of the next eight possessions to take over the lead. The Raiders broke open the game by the end of the half, crossing into the endzone twice in the remainder of the first and twice in the second quarter to take a 28-13 halftime lead. Shippensburg quarterback Rick Henshaw snuck into the endzone at 8:59 from two yards out to start the Raider push, and was followed up by John Kuhn’s first of three scores at 1:41, capping off a 69-yard drive with the one-yard touchdown run.

Patrick Ferguson scored on two of his five catches in the second quarter, catching a 10-yard pass from Henshaw for a touchdown at 10:01 then hauling in a 60-yard throw for his second score with 2:38 remaining for the 28-13 lead.

The Raiders came out in the third quarter and handed off to Kuhn for a 16-yard touchdown run at 12:13 for the 35-13 advantage. Kuhn added his third touchdown at 7:00, plowing through the middle of the line for a five-yard scoring rush. Shippensburg added seven more points, capping off its final drive of the third quarter on a 38-yard touchdown reception from Henshaw to McLaurin with 1:28 remaining.

The Haven got a break midway through the fourth when one of Danny Hagerman’s (Scottdale/Southmoreland) punts was touched by a Shippensburg player but remained up for grabs until LHU’s Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) gained possession at the SU 40-yard line. The offense stalled, however, falling short of a first down after two sacks and a penalty pushed the Bald Eagles back into Lock Haven territory.

Senior quarterback Tim Storino

THE COACHES

Lock Haven Head Coach Mark Luther (Penn State, ‘92) is in his fifth season with the Bald Eagle program. The 2002 PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year, Luther continues to create a more competitive product with his teams challenging the top conference and regional programs on a regular basis.

Just last season, the Bald Eagles’ wins included one over Bloomsburg University, the 2003 runner-up and 2004 pre-season favorite in the Eastern Division. He currently owns a 14-33 overall mark at Lock Haven. Luther assumed the head role at LHU following five years as an assistant with the Bald Eagles from 1994-1998, acting as defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant to former head coach Nick Polk.

Shippensburg head coach Rocky Rees (West Chester ‘71) enters his 15th season at the helm of the Red Raiders. Coming into the 2004 campaign Rees has compiled a 83-71-1 record at Shippensburg. Rees was named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year in 2001, ten years after winning the title the first time.

In 20 years of coaching, Rees has compiled a 119-86-2. In 2003 Rees guided the Red Raiders to their sixth winning season in seven years. Ress turned the program around and guided the team to the NCAA playoffs in his first two seasons.

Walker totaled 72 yards on seven carries but the Haven rushing game totaled only 51 yards over the contest. Storino went 12-for-21 with 176 yards, with Burkley posting 64 yards on six catches. Free safety Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport) and strong safety Rob Carey paired up to lead the LHU defense, both registering 10 tackles.

SCOUTING SHIPPENSBURG
Shippensburg enters this PSAC West contest looking to rebound from their first loss of the season after being shutout at Indiana University of Pa. 17-0. The loss marks the first time in 83 games that the Red Raiders have been shutout. Senior fullback John Kuhn rushed for 85 yards on 20 carries. He has 3,946 rushing yards in his career.

Tony Gomez has been a force as signal-caller, going 36-of-76 for 770 yards. His best stat is throwing eight touchdown passes without a single giveaway. While Andre McLaurin leads the team with 10 catches, Pat Ferguson has developed as a deep threat, averaging 35.7 yards-per-catch and grabbing five touchdowns.

IUP seems to have the Red Raiders’ number, as the Indians have knocked off Shippensburg in their last 17 meetings.

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE
The LHU offense had their best performance of recent memory, breaking their four-game winning streak in an overtime victory at Mansfield University, 33-30. Maurice Walker ran for 149 yards and Tim Storino threw for 318, marking the first time in over five years that LHU individuals ran for 100 and passed for 300 in the same game. Storino has become increasingly comfortable in the field-general role, as his yardage has increased (124-318) in his two starts.

In the starting backfield is Walker (122 car., 597 yds, 4 TD), who moved into second place in career rushing attempts with 571. Joining Walker is fullback Travis Diehl (Williamsport/Williamsport) who has two carries for nine yards in limited duty.

Usual suspects appear on the starting line including junior center Jason Scott (Linden/Williamsport) along with guards Steve Szobocsan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) and Adam Lanzendorfer (Martinsburg/Central). Eric Scaife (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) and Matt Coxford (Middlebury Center/Wellsboro) claim the pair of offensive tackle positions. Jason Walther (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) is the probable starter at tight end and has hauled in four passes for 41 yards.

THE DEFENSE
Strong safety David Show (Mill Run/Connellsville Area) is always ready to deliver the big hit, as he ranks seventh in the PSAC with 47 tackles. Joining Show will be Corey Gildea (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) at free safety (14 TT, 10 solo). On the corners will be Michael Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) (21 TT, 1 INT) and Sheldon Gray (Norristown/Norristown) (16 TT, 13 solo).

The linebacking corps are headed by Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin Area). The 6-3, 220-pound back nabbed his first interception a week ago and has 43 total tackles, good for 15the place in the PSAC. At the other linebacker spots are Michael Slatcoff (Sandy Lake/Cochranton) (36 TT, 2.5 TFL) and Derek Harsch (Wellsboro/Wellsboro Area) (18 TT, 1.5 TFL).

The defensive ends shape up as Brad Sones (Elysburg/Southern Columbia) who leads the team with five tackles for loss and one sack (26 TT, 13 solo) and Ryan Bickel (Morrisdale/West Branch Area) (24 TT, 2 TFL). The rest of the line will include Warren Whitaker (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) (14 TT, 2 TFL) and Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) (7 TT, 5 solo).

SPECIAL TEAMS
While the kickoff-coverage team did give up the longest return in Mansfield history (100 yards) a week ago, there were highlights from the special teams as well. Sheldon Gray’s blocked punt set up a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and Dan Hagerman hit two field goals, giving him 12 in his two-year career, good for fifth in the school record books. Hagerman also averages 35.3 yards per punt including dropping six of his 35 kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Maurice Walker and Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/Dubois Area) are slated for kickoff returns, averaging 21.4 and 19.0, respectively. Rafael Smith handles punts and is currently averaging 8.2 yards per return, good for fifth in the PSAC.

###LHU###