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THE GAME
The Bald Eagle football squad
takes its 1-0 record on the road to Harrisonburg, Va., for this Saturday’s
match-up against the Dukes of James Madison University. It will be the
season-opener for the JMU club, following up a 2003 season where they went 6-6
overall.
The game can be
heard on the internet through the James Madison University Athletics website at
www.jmusports.com.
THE SERIES
James
Madison owns a 2-0 advantage in the series, winning games in 1993 and 2000. The
Bald Eagles dropped a 55-3 contest in 1993 while under Head Coach Dennis
Therell. In his first appearance as head coach, Mark Luther’s 2000 team opened
up the season at James Madison, suffering a 72-0 loss. Despite the early
struggle, the 2000 squad went on to win three games, including one over
perennial regional contender Edinboro University. That 2000 team also ended up
ranking among the Haven’s top 10 on the all-time passing/receiving yardage
chart (164.4 ypg).
First Meeting: 1993;
JMU 55, LHU 3
Last Meeting: 2000; JMU 72, LHU 0
THE LAST TIME VERSUS JAMES
MADISON
While it could arguably be
one of the more forgettable moments in Lock Haven football history, the last
meeting at James Madison’s Bridgeforth Stadium came during the 2000 campaign.
Resulting in a 72-0 defeat for the Bald Eagles, the Dukes went on to post a 6-5
season while Lock Haven recorded a 3-8 record.
The Dukes led
9-0 after one period then jumped out into a 30-0 lead at the half. Another 42
points were added in the second half, including 28 in the final quarter.
James Madison piled up 653 yards, split almost evenly among passing (318) and
rushing (335). The Haven suffered from turnovers, including five fumbles, and
one of the least memorable offensive outputs of just 69 total yards.
SCOUTING JAMES MADISON
After finishing 6-6 overall
and 4-5 in the Atlantic 10, the Dukes of James Madison University were the
fourth pick in the six-team southern division of the conference’s preseason
poll. With a total of 10 offense players who were starters at the end of last
season returning along with six defensive mainstays and three specialty
players, this year’s squad is poised for even better results.
Four Dukes were
on among the preseason All-Atlantic 10 list including first team pick Nick
Englehart, a junior punter. Earning second team honors were offensive guard
Matt Magerko, center Leon Steinfeld and safety Rodney McCarter.
The on-field
offensive game will be directed by senior quarterback Matt LeZotte, who threw
for 1,753 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2003. LeZotte is currently fourth on the
JMU career passing chart (4,228) and fifth on the all-time touchdowns thrown
(23) list.
LeZotte will be looking to get the ball into the hands of returning statistical
leaders Nic Tolley (35.0 ypg, 3 TD), Tahir Hinds (28.4 ypg, 3 TD) and D.D.
Boxley (26.6 ypg, 1 TD).
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Senior running back
Maurice Walker
posted 177 yards rushing in last week's game. |
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THE COACHES |
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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 13-31 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. |
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James Madison
Head Coach Mickey Matthews (West Texas State, ‘76) is in his
sixth season as the Dukes’ skipper. During his tenure, Matthews
was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1999) and the
Division I-AA National Coach of the Year (1999). Prior to arrival
in Harrisonburg, Va., Matthews served as an assistant coach at
Georgia from 1996-98 and defensive coordinator at Marshall
University (1990-95). |
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On the ground, the
Dukes will test the Haven defense with sophomore Alvin Banks. Banks led the
2003 squad’s running game with 895 yards and eight touchdowns. Another
sophomore, Maurice Fenner, will be just as dangerous, recording 633 yards and
nine touchdowns last year.
Complimenting the
skill players is an experienced offensive line, backed by preseason
all-conference picks Magerko and Steinfeld. The line could also include
returning starters tackle Corey Davis, Jamaal Crowder and Harry Dunn along with
returning guard George Burns.
The defense returns six starters headlined by all-conference safety and senior
Rodney McCarter. McCarter posted 94 tackles last season along with six passes
defended. He also ranks third in team history in blocked kicks with five
throughout his JMU career. McCarter is joined in the secondary by a duo of
returning corners in senior Cortez Thompson (43 TT, 7 PB) and junior Clint Kent
(79 TT, 4 INT, 6 PB).
Two returning starters dot the lineup at linebacker in senior Kwynn Walton (51
TT, 2 TFL) and junior Isai Bradshaw, who is tied with McCarter as the top
returning defender with 94 stops in 2003. Senior linebacker Trey Townsend (70
TT, 5 PB) could also mix into the playing rotation.
The defensive line sports one returning starter in end Sid Evans (54 TT, 8 TFL).
Only two others on the two-deep chart, sophomore end Kevin Winston(8 TT) and
junior tackle Frank Cobbs (33 TT, 3.5 TFL), played more than three games last
season.
Sophomore placekicker David Rabil was 10-for-11 on field goals last season,
booting one for a longest distance of 48 yards. Punter Nick Englehart was the
only first team pick for the Dukes on the preseason All-Atlantic 10 list after
averaging 41.5 yards per punt and pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard
line on 15 occasions.
BALD EAGLE NOTES...
THE OFFENSE
The Bald Eagles were solid in
their first outing, leading the PSAC in rushing output over the initial week
of competition with a total of 327 yards. Of that total, 177 yards belonged to
Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills). The senior running back
churned out the 11th best single-game rushing total in school history and also
crossed into the endzone twice to help in the Haven victory. The Marshalls,
Justin and Derek (Luthersburg/DuBois Area), each added to the team total,
Justin totaling 48 yards while Derek had 14 yards.
Quarterback
Troy Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) was actually the Bald Eagles’ second
leading rusher against Cheyney, covering 73 net yards including a 64-yard
touchdown run. Wile also connected on two-of-three passes for 25 yards and a
touchdown. Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) was 3-for-4 for 46 yards and
Rob Kristiniak (Flourtown/Springfield Township) went 2-for-5 with 43
yards and one score.
Sophomore wideout Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) caught two
passes, both for touchdowns, against the Wolves last Saturday. Several other
players recorded catches, including Justin Marshall (2/20 yds), Chelstan
Anderson (Halifax/Halifax) (1/26 yds), Kellen Bush (Pittsburgh/Penn
Hills) (1/17 yds) and tight end Jason Walther
(Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) (1/11 yds).
Doing the work up front is a mix of experience and talent that helped clear the
way for the 327 yard ground total in last week’s action. On the ends, LHU posts
tackles junior Eric Scaife (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) and
red-shirt freshman Matt Coxford (Middlebury Center/Wellsboro). Senior
guard Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) and sophomore guard
Steve Szoboscan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) combine forces with center
Jason Scott (Linden/Williamsport) to secure the middle of the line.
THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Bald Eagles
gave up yardage to Cheyney close to the team’s 2003 averages, but the
relatively new lineup made the plays when it counted including one interception
by leading tackler Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport) that quieted a
potential rally by the Wolves in the third quarter.
Jones paced the
team with 10 tackles, and fellow secondary teammate David Show (Mill
Run/Connellsville Area) was right behind with nine hits. Bald Eagle
corners Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley) (1 TT) and Mike
Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) (3 TT) are also expected to take the field as
part of the starting lineup again this weekend.
Moving up, the
linebacker trio of Brian Lumpkin (Rockville, Md./Bullis School) (6 TT),
Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin Area) (3 TT) and Michael Slatcoff
(Sandy Lake/Cochranton) (5 TT) is again expected to be the first ones out
on the field. Seniors Dan Jones (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) (2 TT)
and Charles Cannon (Braddock Hills/Woodland Hills) (2 TT) will also work
into the rotation.
Defensive ends Brad Sones (Elysburg/Southern Columbia) (3 TT, 1 TFL)
and John Smeltzer (Red Lion/Red Lion) (1 TT, 1 sack) will line up in
the trenches, setting up outside of tackles Warren Whitaker
(Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) (4 TT, 1.5 TFL) and Brian Johnson (St.
Marys/St. Marys Area)(4 TT, 0.5 TFL).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Dan
Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) confidently converted all five
extra-point kicks versus Cheyney. Entering the season with a longest field
goal kick of 37 yards, he came up just short on a 47-yard field goal and was
off the mark on a 37-yard attempt. In the punting category, Hagerman got only
one chance, sending it 43 yards -- a total that would put him near the top of
the conference if he can repeat that distance in future attempts.
Maurice Walker
and Justin Marshall drop back to receive the kickoffs. Walker took all four
last weekend, averaging 20.5 yards per return. Rafael Smith will be sent deep
to run back punts.
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