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Oct. 22, 2004
Football Heads to #9 Indiana
Game #9 - Indiana University (Pa.) - Miller Stadium
Indiana, Pa. - Saturday, Oct. 23- 1 p.m.

>>>2004 LHU Roster >>>2004 LHU Statistics >>>IUP web site

THE GAME
The Bald Eagles hit the road this week after a successful homecoming, capped with a 16-13 overtime win against Clarion University. The overtime win was the second this season for the Haven, making them 2-1 all-time in extra frames. LHU travels to No. 9 Indiana University (Pa.) this week, a win over the Indians would push the Bald Eagles past them in the PSAC West standings.

THE SERIES
Indiana holds a commanding 47-17-3 advantage over the Bald Eagles in a series dating back to 1925 when the Bald Eagles mopped the field with IUP, to the tune of 60-0. Indiana has dominated the series as of late, winning the last 22 contests, LHU’s longest current losing streak to any team. The span has included seven shutouts. IUP took last year’s game, 45-20 at Hubert Jack Stadium.

First Meeting                                                            1925, LHU 60, IUP 0
The Last Time IUP Won                                                         2003; 45-20
The Last Time LHU Won                                                       1981; 41-14
The Last Time LHU Won at Miller Stadium                                     na
The Last Time IUP Won at Miller Stadium                       2002; 31-14

THE LAST TIME VERSUS INDIANA
Indiana (Pa.) University’s hold over the Bald Eagles continued as the Indians extended their win streak to 22 games a 45-20 win at Hubert Jack Stadium. The lone bright spot for Lock Haven was provided by wide receiver Marcus Burkley, who set the school mark for career touchdown receptions after hauling in two today to bring his career total to 19 touchdowns.

Indiana outweighed the Bald Eagles by almost 200 yards of offense, putting up 426 yards to LHU’s 240 yards. Also key to the Indian output was a 14-of-19 ratio on third down conversions, scoring on their first seven drives to tuck away the win.

The Bald Eagles’ punted away their first possession and Indiana took over from the LHU 48-yardline to start its initial drive. Lock Haven held Indiana to a fourth and nine situation, but kicker Josh Telenko came in and hit a 37-yard field goal for the first points of the game.

Lock Haven’s answer came from Burkley, who caught a 13-yard toss in the middle of the drive to pick up a first down and bring the ball into IUP territory. Burkley reeled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) two plays later with 6:31 left in the first quarter, giving Lock Haven the brief lead, 7-3.

A 39-yard kickoff return by LeRon McCoy and a Lock Haven penalty situated Indiana just 33 yards from the endzone at the open of their following drive. Six plays later, Kevin Weidl found Derrick Smith in the endzone for the first of two touchdowns, this one a 15-yard strike, giving IUP the 10-7 lead.

Mike Jemison, who totaled 172 yards rushing for Indiana, scored on their next drive, pounding the ball into the endzone from 28-yards out for the 17-7 lead as time expired in the first quarter. Smith recorded his second touchdown in the second quarter, catching a four-yard throw from Weidl at 5:56 remaining to boost the lead to 24-7. As time wore off the clock, Indiana pushed the ball back down the field and handed off to Jemison at the three-yardline. Jemison skirted to within one yard of paydirt but fumbled. IUP’s Marc Williams fell on the loose ball in the endzone, however, increasing the lead to 31-7 just before the half.

Senior running back Maurice Walker

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 15-34 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.

IUP head coach
Frank Cignetti

Things did not improve for LHU in the second half, as Indiana scored on their first possession out of the lockerroom to move out into a 38-7 lead. Jemison added a 50-yard carry in the middle of the drive, then capped it off with a five-yard touchdown jaunt.

The Indians’ next drive carried over into the fourth quarter, lasting 11 plays and just over 10 minutes, as Kevin Weidl found Joe Slappy in the endzone for a five-yard touchdown reception with 10:04 left in the game.

The Haven offense was finally able to move the ball on its next possession, going 70 yards on eight plays including two big gains, a 24-yard catch by Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) from back-up quarterback Troy Wile (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg) and a 32-yard run by Chelstan Anderson (Halifax, Pa./Halifax). Stalled at the IUP 13-yard line on a fourth-and-eight count, Wile found Scott Anderson for the 13-yard touchdown connection to move the score to 45-14 in favor of the visitors.

Lock Haven finally forced the Indiana punt on the ensuing drive, regaining possession at its own 37-yard line. The Bald Eagles ran a total of 11 plays, cashing in on third-and-goal when Wile’s pass hit Burkley who squeezed his way into the corner of the endzone from seven yards out for his record-making score. A missed extra point brought the score to 45-20, where it would remain as the final.

Indiana’s Mike Jemison posted 172 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns. Quarterback Kevin Weidl threw for three scores and 143 yards on 14-of-20 passing, while receiver Derrick Smith posted 82 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, IUP’s Brad Potts led all tacklers with nine stops.

Lock Haven’s Burkley totaled 96 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns to bring his career touchdown receptions record to 19 scores over his four seasons. Quarterbacks Storino (4-of-8, 82 yards) and Wile (8-of-16, 87 yards) split time, Wile throwing for two scores and Storino adding one touchdown throw. Lineman Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton, Pa./DuBois Area) led the defense with eight tackles, while Ngoyi Mukusa (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe), Rob Carey and Derrik Metz all added seven stops each.

SCOUTING IUP
Indiana, now 4-3 overall, have had their ups and downs this season, winning two, losing two, winning two more and then falling 38-14 a week ago at Edinboro University. Pat Leibert was a highlight for IUP against Edinboro, grabbing six passes for 110 yards.

The Indian ground attack is split between Mike Jemison and Chris Morgan, at 456 and 454 yards, respectively. Quarterback Kevin Weindl has been sharp through the air, going 86-of-158 for 1299 yards and 13 touchdowns. Weindl is third in the PSAC with 185.6 passing yards per game.

Weindl’s favorite targets have been LeRon McCoy (28 rec., 516 yds., 7 TD) and Joe Slappy (27 rec., 414 ds., 4 TD).

Junior defensive back Mike Chiappetta is second in the conference with five interceptions, chipping in 40 tackles. He is joined on defense by freshman lineman Kirby Griffin, who has recorded team-highs with 50 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks and Y’Hoshua Murray, who has made 42 stops in 2004.

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE
The LHU offense got back on track in the overtime game, and while points weren’t abundant (16) individual performances were. Senior Maurice Walker (N. Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) covered 103 yards on the ground and crossed the goalline for his 16th career touchdown, tying him for fifth on the school list. Tim Storino threw for 215 yards on 12 completions, making the big plays when the Haven needed them. Adam Lawrence (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) caught five passes for a career-high 102 yards, the best individual total for a Bald Eagle this season.

In the starting backfield is Walker (167 car., 666 yds., 5 TD), who is just 25 carries out of first place in LHU's career record books. Joining Walker is fullback Travis Diehl (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) (5 car., 16 yds., 1 TD) who had the game-winning one-yard plunge in overtime against Clarion a week ago.

At the wideouts are sophomore Rafael Smith (26 rec. 359 yds., 5 TD) who ranks tenth in school history with 10 receiving touchdowns in just two years. Smith caught a 24-yard pass to set up Diehl’s touchdown run. Holding the other wide-receiver spot is freshman Lawrence who has 14 receptions for 234 yards and one touchdown.

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 six passes for 82 yards after grabbing a 29-yard Storino toss a week ago.

THE DEFENSE
A much-maligned defensive front played to their potential last week, holding the typically-strong Golden Eagle rushing attack to just nine first-half yards. Clarion running back Marcus Lowe finished with just 40 yards, nearly half his average.

The linebacking corps were the highlight of the Clarion game, headed by Brian Lumpkin (Rockville, Md./Bullis School) who made a team-season-high 14 tackles to give him 51 total tackles with 2.5 for loss on the year. At the other linebacker spots are Dan Jones (Philipsburg,Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) (14 TT, 9 solo) and Derek Harsch (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) (30 TT, 2.5 TFL). The normally-deep linebacker spots will be a bit thin this week, as starter Jon Nalewak (Shamokin, Pa./Shamokin Area) and Charles Cannon (Braddock Hills, Pa./Woodland Hills) will serve one-game suspensions for their ejections from the Clarion game.

The defensive ends shape up as Brad Sones (Elysburg/Southern Columbia) who leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss (36 TT, 18 solo) and Ryan Bickel (Morrisdale/West Branch Area) (14 TT, 1 TFL). The rest of the line will include Warren Whitaker (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) (26 TT, 2 TFL) and Jarrod Hendricks (11 TT, 8 solo) at the tackle spots.

Strong safety David Show (Mill Run/Connellsville Area) is always ready to deliver the big hit, as he ranks first on the team with 63 tackles. Joining Show will be Corey Gildea (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) at free safety (18 TT, 11 solo). Getting his first start of the year at right corner will be redshirt-freshman Adam Frazier (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) (8 TT, 5 solo). On the other corner is Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley) with 17 tackles and a team-high two interceptions.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The special teams will need to recover from a sub-par week, surrendering two blocked kicks (one overturned by penalty) to the Golden Eagles.

In just two years, sophomore Dan Hagerman has become one of the top kickers in LHU history. He has 14 field goals in his two-year career, good for fourth in the school record books. Hagerman is also a perfect 13-for-13 on extra-point kicks and averages 35.6 yards per punt including dropping nine of his 48 kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Walker and Michael Nesby are slated for kickoff returns, averaging 20.6 and 18.9, respectively. Walker’s 144.4 all-purpose yards per game ranks 26^th in the nation. He also handles punts and is currently averaging 1.5 yards per return.

###LHU###