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THE GAME
The Bald Eagles return to Hubert Jack Stadium for week five action, bringing a
1-3 record into their first PSAC West confrontation against Slippery Rock
University, who enter today at 2-2 on the season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
It will be the Take a Kid to the Game Day, as promotions will center around the
younger of the Bald Eagle Fans during the course of the game.
Miller Brothers Auto Sales will again be sponsoring the $10,000 Nerf Football
Toss at halftime. Entry forms can be filled out for free at the local auto
dealer through Friday. A kid’s version of the football toss will also be held,
offering various prizes.
THE SERIES
The Rock holds a 35-12-1 advantage over the Bald Eagles in a series dating
back to 1931, when the Bald Eagles nabbed a 13-0 victory. Slippery Rock has
dominated the series as of late, winning the last 15 contests, including a
24-13 victory in 2003.
First Meeting 1931, LHU 13, Slippery Rock 0
The Last Time SRU Won 2003; 24-13
The Last Time LHU Won 1980; 29-7
The Last Time LHU Won at Hubert Jack Stadium NA
The Last Time SRU Won at Hubert Jack Stadium 2002; 14-7
THE LAST TIME VERSUS SLIPPERY ROCK
Slippery Rock grabbed the 24-13 win over the Bald Eagles in 2003 at N. Kerr
Thompson Stadium in Slippery Rock, Pa. The loss knocks Lock Haven to 3-6
overall and 1-3 in the PSAC West.
The Haven was the first and the last team to score and held numerous
statistical advantages, but the middle of the game belonged to Slippery Rock,
who put up 24 unanswered points stretching from the second through the fourth
quarters. Lock Haven owned a 20-11 advantage in first downs, put up 273 total
yards to SRU’s 229 and had a 35:27 to 24:33 advantage in time of possession.
Working against LHU were two fumbles and two interceptions, and the offense was
also pushed backwards after seven Rock sacks were recorded.
After a scoreless first period, the Bald Eagles were the
first to find the endzone on a drive initiated by a tackle for loss by Ngoyi
Mukusa. The Rock set up to kick a field goal on fourth-and-five, but the
holder Jason Frederick picked up the ball and attempted instead to try for the
first down with a rush. Mukusa was one step ahead, however, stopping Frederick
in his tracks to turn the ball over to the Haven on its own 15 yardline. Lock
Haven maintained possession for over seven minutes on the ensuing drive,
working the ball down the field to get inside ten yards. On second down from
six yards out, quarterback Troy Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) spotted
an opening through the middle and took it, scoring at 12:30 in the second half
to give Lock Haven the 7-0 lead.
Slippery Rock came back and progressed towards the Haven endzone and after two
broken up pass plays, settled for a 42-yard field goal by John Katsaouni with
9:41 remaining in the opening half.
A costly Lock Haven fumble by Rafael Smith
(Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) on the next drive led to a Slippery Rock
touchdown. Brandon Markus took the first ball 30 yards to the LHU 25-yard line,
then was stopped for no gain on his second attempt. On second down, Chad DeVore
hit Brandon Richardson open in the back of the endzone for the touchdown and
the 10-7 lead with 5:20 left in the half. Slippery Rock and Lock Haven
exchanged the ball on turnovers over the time remaining in the second period,
both teams ending opponent drives with interceptions. A Slippery Rock fumble
was recovered by Lock Haven’s Dustin Shaffer (Mayport/Redbank Valley)
with 12 seconds left, but the Bald Eagles were unable to do anything with it as
time expired. |
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Sophomore kicker
Dan Hagerman |
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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 13-32 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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| At 52, Dr.
George Mihalik (Slippery Rock ‘74) enters the 2004
season ranked No. 2 in career wins at SRU with a
111-61-4 record. He begins his 33rd season as a part of
The Rock football program and 17th season as head coach.
Mihalik is a member of an elite group of collegiate head
coaches in the nation to own a doctorate degree. |
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He received an Ed. D. in Safety Management from
West Virginia University in 1986. His bachelor’s and master’s
degrees are from SRU. Mihalik ranks fourth among active
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) head coaches in
career wins. He ranks 18th nationally in both career wins and
career winning percentage. |
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The Slippery Rock defense pinned the Bald Eagles deep within
their own territory near the end of the third quarter, ushering the punt at the
open of the fourth period. Danny Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) had
to kick the ball out of the Haven’s own endzone to the Rock 43-yard line, where
SRU returner Josh Kniess was waiting. Kniess cut to the right then sliced
through the oncoming defenders, breaking down the sideline and into the endzone
for the score with 14:47 left in the fourth period. The extra point kick was
good, increasing the Haven deficit to 17-7.
Momentum continued to elude the Bald Eagles later in the
quarter, the Slippery Rock defense taking down Wile as he tried to flick the
ball away. SRU’s Matt Mager plucked the ball out of the air, running back all
the way to within four yards. Josh Kniess scored from one yard out on the third
play from scrimmage, moving the lead to 24-7 with 8:12 remaining.
As time faded, Lock Haven picked up a first down on a
roughing-the-passer penalty that moved the Bald Eagles to the Rock 15-yard line
with 1:41 remaining. Wile took the ball on the next play for a small gain, then
opted for the pass with a 12-yard strike to Smith at 1:35 for six points. The
two-point conversion attempt failed, bringing the final tally to 24-13 in favor
of the Rock.
Despite dealing with intense pressure all game long, Wile
threw for 148 yards on 16 completions and would have covered 89 yards on 13
carries had it not been for the seven sacks against for minus 61 yards.
Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) took the ball for 91 yards on
20 carries, while Smith caught five passes for 45 yards and the Haven’s final
touchdown. Linebacker Dan Wissinger led the defense with eight stops,
while fellow linebacker Derrik Metz added seven tackles including two
behind the line of scrimmage.
SCOUTING SLIPPERY ROCK
The Rock, now 2-2 overall, are coming off a 49-14 victory over Fairmont State
College. SRU running back Josh Kniess powered that win, crossing the goal line
three times, including two scores in the first quarter.
The Slippery Rock backfield also included Corey Manfull, who rushed for 129
yards and added his own touchdown. Quarterback Nate Crookshank’s top target
Luke Wetzel grabbed three passes for 107 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown
strike.
Linebacker Greg Baker sparked the Rock defense, making six total tackles and
returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.
BALD EAGLE NOTES...
THE OFFENSE
The LHU offense will look to regroup after being outgained 498-65 by Bloomsburg
a week ago. Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) (32/69, 401 yds., 2 TD) will
get the nod under center for the second week in a row, his starting receivers
for this game will be Red-shirt freshman Adam Lawrence (Hanover/Delone
Catholic) (6 rec., 71 yds.) and Rafael Smith (Pttsburgh/Woodland Hills)
(10 rec., 136 yds., 3 TD).
In the starting backfield are senior Maurice Walker
(15 car., 356 yds., 3 TD) and Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois) (9
car., 61 yds.).
Probable starters up on the line include 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, while junior Kevin Scheidler (Millersburg/Millersburg
Area) is the probable starter at tight end.
THE DEFENSE
While the Bald Eagle defense gave 498 yards a week ago, including 431 yards on
the ground, the team can take solace in its three turovers it created.
Cornerback Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley)
grabbed his second and third picks of the year, and free safety Will Jones
(McKeesport/McKeesport) added his own interception to create havoc in the
passing game. Joining the two in the defensive backfield are red-shirt freshman
and strong safety David Show (Mill Run/Connellsville Area) (33 TT, 1 INT)
and cornerback Michael Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) (15 TT, 1 INT).
The linebacking corps are headed by Brian Lumpkin
(Rockville, Md./Bullis School) who is second on the team and 14th in the PSAC
with 30 total tackles. Joining him are Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin
Area) (28TT, 16 solo) and Michael Slatcoff (Sandy Lake/Cochranton) (29
TT, 13 solo).
The defensive ends shape up as Brad Sones
(Elysburg/Southern Columbia) who leads the team with four tackles for loss and
one sack (21 TT, 11 solo) and John Smeltzer (Red Lion/Red Lion) (8 TT,
3.5 TFL). The rest of the line will include Warren Whitaker
(Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) (14 TT, 2 TFL) and Jarrod Hendricks
(Rockton/DuBois Area) switches over from his starting offensive guard role to
help plug the inner line.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker and punter Dan Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) was on the
field 10 times to punt for the second straight week, dipping his average to
34.8 yards per punt. As a placekicker, he is 8-for-8 on point after kicks and
2-for4 in field goal attempts.
Maurice Walker ranks sixth in the conference in kick
return average, putting up 22.3 yards per return. Justin Marshall joins
Walker on kick return duty, averaging 20.2 yards per chance. Rafael Smith,
the starting punt returner, currently averages 8.0 yards per return.
###LHU###
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