Lock Haven
University Football
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Lock Haven University Bald Eagle Football
The 1997 season will be year number two of the rebuilding process for
the Lock Haven University football program under head coach Nick Polk.
Despite a 1-10 record in 1996, the Bald Eagles continued to show improvement
over the course of the year, and by season’s end, the Bald Eagles had matured
into a better football team.
The mission for this season is to capitalize on that improvement. With
a good mix of youth and experience to lead them into the upcoming year,
Polk’s squad should be poised to do just that. Ready and willing to help
the cause in 1997 are a total of 35 returning lettermen, 19 of whom saw
duty as starters last year. "We are in a situation right now where
we’re bringing 100 guys into camp and were going to have 90 on our football
team," said Polk. "There’s going to be competition at each position
so guys can’t take days off of practice and not expect to get beat out.
I think improvement is inevitable when you have competition taking place,
and that’s one of our major goals for our football team."
The Schedule
This year’s squad will face many challenges in the effort to change the fortune of the 1996 squad, including another rugged schedule. The Bald Eagles start the season at the University at Buffalo, a Division I-AA program that posted an 8-3 mark last year, before beginning one of the toughest Division II schedules in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Haven’s 1997 opponents include always difficult road contests against Kutztown, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and Edinboro, as well as a trip to arch-rival Mansfield. At home, the Bald Eagles will face three teams which qualified for the NCAA-II playoffs last year as Bloomsburg, Clarion and Indiana (PA) are all slated to visit Hubert Jack Stadium this season. In addition, The Haven will face tough home games against talented Millersville and California (PA) squads.
Position-by-Position Breakdown
The Offense
The Bald Eagle offense will look to continue its improvement displayed near the end of the 1997 season. After scoring 19 points in the season opener against Delaware State, the LHU offense hit a dry spell, scoring just six points in the next four games. In the second half against Millersville, however, things started to come together for the Bald Eagles. LHU scored two touchdowns against the Marauders and tallied 237 yards of total offense. Throughout the season, the Bald Eagles continued to build on the progress, culminating in a 21-14 win over California two weeks later, and then played extremely well against a rugged Indiana (PA) squad late in the year. "My desire is for our offense to be a little more multiple, said Polk. "It is important for us to be able to run the football better than we did last year. I thought our passing came along fairly well as the season progressed, and if that trend continues, that will help our running game open up a little more." With eight starters returning from last year’s offensive foundation, the Bald Eagles hope to start right where they left off in 1996.
Quarterback
Carlos Cleckley (Beaver Falls, PA/Beaver Falls) returns as The Haven’s signal caller for his senior season. Cleckley completed 164-of-317 passes for 1,566 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He ended the season with a 96.07 quarterback efficiency, a rating that steadily increased during his first season as a starter. After grasping LHU’s new Multiple-I offense, Cleckley threw for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns, while completing 53.6% of his passes during the final six games. Last year’s back up, Nathan Erdman (Annville, PA/Northern Lebanon) has been moved to defensive back, leaving the battle for second-team duties to redshirt freshmen Ed Galiczynski (Barnesboro, PA/Northern Cambria) and Nick Felus (Lilly, PA/Penn Cambria), as well as true freshman Vic Kornaski (Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel).
Running Backs
The Bald Eagles should be secure at fullback, as two-year starter Willie Kitt (Roaring Springs/Central) returns for the upcoming season. Kitt, a junior, led LHU’s ground attack last season, carrying the ball 110 times for 389 yards and one touchdown. He will be spelled by Scott Fisher (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle), an experienced veteran who enters his senior year. At tailback, sophomore A.J. Anderson (Rankin, PA/Woodland Hills) gained valuable playing time as a freshman in ’96, carrying the ball 69 times for 157 yards. He also added 14 catches for 95 yards. With his good size, Anderson could be moved to the fullback slot. Other candidates for the tailback position include red-shirt freshman Tom Gordy (Media, PA/Strath Haven) and talented newcomer Sean Fisher (Peckville, PA/Valley View), who gained over 2,000 yards rushing last year as a high school senior.
Wide Receivers
The LHU passing game will be without one of its main weapons from 1996, losing Bryan McGinty, the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards to graduation. Despite the loss, the Bald Eagles’ return the team’s next two leading wide receivers from last year’s squad. Senior Art Harris (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) converted from the tailback position last season to snare 26 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Jeremy Burkett (Portage, PA/Portage), a junior, caught 17 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns in 1996. Also returning is sophomore Darren Morgan (Troy, PA/Troy), who grabbed six passes for 73 yards in his first season, senior Rick Rockey (Trout Run, PA/Milton Hershey), and red-shirt freshman Brett Umbenhower (Sinking Spring/Wilson), who will make the conversion from defensive back.
Tight End
LHU’s coaches enjoyed a pleasant surprise last season with the emergence of Jason Kundtz (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff) at the tight end position. The talented sophomore converted from a red-shirt linebacker as a freshman in 1995 to catch 29 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. He should have the starting tight end spot stabilized for the upcoming year. Sophomore Erik Benjamin (Bradford, PA/Bradford) and fullback Willie Kitt could also see action at this position. Several freshmen including DePhillip Jackson (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township) and Michael Schwab (Allentown, PA/Dieruff) will also battle for playing time.
Offensive Line
The Bald Eagles will need to replace two key starters on the offensive line as second-team All-PSAC right guard Jeff Rembold and right tackle Jerome Smith have departed. However, three of five starters return on the offensive line with a year’s experience in the Multiple-I offense behind them. Both starters from the left side return, with 6-5, 300-pound junior Josh Mull (Kaska, PA/Pottsville) at tackle and 6-3, 280-pound classmate Harry Devery (Delta, PA/Kennard Dale) at guard. Michael Bolin (Emporium, PA/Cameron County), a 6-3, 255-pound sophomore, will return at center. Competing for the vacated spots on the right side of the line will be junior Chris McPhee (East York, ONT/East York), and sophomores Michael Birnbaum (Lehighton, PA/Lehighton) and John Jackson (Port Matilda, PA/Bald Eagle Area), as well as a host of talented freshmen.
The Defense
The strength of this year’s Bald Eagle squad looks to be a defensive unit which returns 10 starters. Only four of those 10 will be seniors in ‘97, and The Haven returns their entire front seven. "We have a lot of returning starters back on defense and I would expect them to show some leadership," said Polk. "I think our defense against the run has to be a little better this year. With the maturity of another year under their belt, and with the front seven returning in tact, I believe that we are going to show some improvement. I feel that our players now have the confidence and the belief in our system to be a better defensive team."
Defensive Line
Junior defensive tackle Matt Hendricks (Rockton, PA Dubois) will be called upon anchor a strong defensive line unit. A PSAC second team performer last season, Hendricks was fourth on the team with 68 tackles. He will play alongside fellow tackle Jason Grassi (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria) who added 29 stops during his freshman campaign. On the outside of the line, defensive ends John Gerst (Danville, PA/Danville), Albert Jones (West Chester, PA/Henderson) and Mark Williams (Plainfield, PA/Plainfield) will pose a serious threat to opposing offenses. Gerst enters his final year after collecting 48 tackles and a team-high seven and a half sacks in 1996. Jones, a junior, posted 39 hits in his first season as a starter, while Williams, a fellow classmate recorded 30 tackles. Also look for sophomore Brad Lechleitner (Hershey, PA/Lower Dauphin), junior Robert Sidbury (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie) and former offensive lineman Harry Derr (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg), a junior, to see action on the defensive line.
Linebackers
The linebacking corps are all experienced veterans and anxious to excel this season at The Haven. They will be led by senior outside backer Brad Caldwell (Medford, NJ/Shawnee), who was second on the team with 82 stops last year. Caldwell will be joined by junior Jeremy Crills (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) and senior Corey Jacobs (Lock Haven, PA/Lock Haven). Crills recorded 55 tackles while patrolling the inside, and Jacobs added 44 more from the outside position. Senior Demetrius Shelly (Irvington, NJ/Dean JC) had 22 tackles as an outside linebacker and will be counted on to provide quality minutes again this season. On the inside, junior Jon McFarland (Fairless Hills, PA/Pennsbury) returns after collecting 14 tackles a year ago.
Secondary
With three out of four returning starters back, the secondary should be strong as well. They will count on the leadership of senior free safety Ben Steinbacher (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville), to guide them in 1997. Steinbacher, a three-year starter, has recorded 209 tackles and eight interceptions throughout his brilliant career. He led all teammates in tackles last season with 93. On the corners, sophomore Angelo Moultair (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln) and junior Smith Vatel (Brooklyn, NY/Erasmus) solidify the defensive backfield. Moultair recorded a team-high four interceptions and added 52 tackles last season, while Vatel posted 35 stops. Yusef Benton (Reading, PA/Reading), a starting corner who led the team with 10 pass break-ups in 1995, returns after sitting out last year. The Bald Eagles will need to replace the services of second-team All-PSAC safety Rashid Rogers (80 tackles). Candidates to replace Rogers include sophomore Marc Curwood (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) and senior Tim Bryan (East Greenville, PA/Wissahickon), both of whom played well in spot duty in 1996. Sophomore Ben Ibach (Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley) a converted quarterback, will also vie for playing time in the secondary.
Special Teams
Special teams will be a question mark, as LHU’s all-time leader in field
goals, Charles Traber, is gone. With no veteran kickers returning, the
Bald Eagles will need to look to a newcomer to fill Traber’s shoes. Like
the kicking game, LHU’s punting position will be up for grabs when camp
opens at the end of summer. Ben Steinbacher handled much of LHU’s return
duties (16 punt returns, 5.2 yards; 23 kick returns, 17.2 yards), along
with Rashid Rogers. Wide receivers Brett Umbenhower and Art Harris are
other threats on the return teams.
1997 Lock Haven Football Superlatives
RUSHING Most Rushing Yards 197 - Fisher vs. Clarion Most Rushing Attempts 22 - Fisher vs. Millersville, Shippensburg Longest Rush 94t - Fisher vs. Clarion PASSING Most Passes Attempted 35 - Cleckley vs. Bloomsburg Most Passes Completed 19 - Cleckley vs. Kuztown Most Passing Yards 183 - Cleckley vs. Kutztown Longest Pass 84t - Cleckley vs. Clarion RECEIVING Most Receptions 6 - Kundtz vs. Shippensburg Most Receiving Yards 148 - Burkett vs. Clarion Longest Reception 84t - Burkett vs. Clarion RETURNS Longest Kickoff Return 53 - Umbenhouer vs. Clarion Longest Punt Return 13 - Steinbacher vs. Buffalo Longest Int. Return 34 - Steinbacher vs. Kutztown TEAM Most Rushing Yards 342 - vs. Mansfield Most Passing Yards 183 - vs. Kutztown Most First Downs 22 - vs. Mansfield Most Penalties 8 - vs. Mansfield Least Penalties 2 - vs. Shippensburg Most Total Offense 473 - vs. Mansfield Most Time of Possession 36:46 - vs. Mansfield Most Points Scored 34 - vs. Mansfield DEFENSE Fewest Rushing Yards 41 - vs. Mansfield Fewest Passing Yards 90 - vs. Kutztown Most Takeaways 4 - vs. Kutztown Fewest First Downs 12 - vs. Kutztown Fewest Total Offense 212 - vs. Kutztown Fewest Points 17 - vs. Bloomsburg
August 30 at SUNY-Buffalo L,7-30 September 6 OPEN 13 at Kutztown University L, 11-22 20 BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY L, 3-17 27 Mansfield University W, 34-19 October 4 CLARION UNIVERSITY*# W, 33-32 11 MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY L, 6-21 18 at Shippensburg University * L, 0-26 25 CALIFORNIA (PA) UNIVERSITY* W, 17-3 November 1 at Slippery Rock University* L, 6-38 8 INDIANA (PA) UNIVERSITY* L, 21-48 15 at Edinboro University* L, 23-29 (2ot) *-PSAC West Contest, #-Homecoming 1997, Home events in CAPS
1997 BALD EAGLE
NUMERICAL FOOTBALL ROSTER
No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School 1 Jason Kundtz TE So. 6-1 205 Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff 2 Jeremy Burkett WR Jr. 6-0 185 Portage, PA/Portage 3 Albert Jones DE Jr. 6-2 225 West Chester, PA/Henderson 4 Yusef Benton DB Jr. 5-9 180 Reading, PA/Reading 5 Nick Felus QB Fr.* 5-10 185 Lilly, PA/Penn Cambria 6 Jamie Patten WR Fr.* 5-10 185 Philadelphia, PA/Northeast 7 Garret Sidor WR So. 6-1 185 Johnstown, PA/Richland 8 Denny Garman WR So. 5-5 140 New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff 9 Ben Ibach DB So. 6-2 175 Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley 10 Nathan Erdman DB Jr. 6-2 180 Annville, PA/Northern Lebanon 11 Demetrius Shelley LB Sr. 6-1 215 Irvington, NJ/Dean JC 12 Ed Galiczynski QB Fr.* 6-0 180 Barnesboro, PA/Northern Cambria 13 Ted Egger DB Fr.* 5-8 160 Hornell, NY/Hornell 14 Edwin Wetzel QB Fr. 6-2 180 Coudersport, PA/Coudersport Area 15 Kyle Hubler DB Fr. 5-9 175 Morrisdale, PA/West Branch Area 16 Brett Umbenhower WR Fr.* 5-8 165 Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson 17 Charles Day WR Fr. 6-1 180 Williamsport, PA/Williamsport 19 Matthew Burke WR Fr.* 6-0 165 Exeter, PA/Wyoming 20 Ryan Saxon RB Fr.* 5-9 185 Kelayres, PA/Hazelton Area 21 Angelo Moultair DB So. 6-0 170 Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln 22 Carlos Cleckley QB Sr. 5-10 175 Beaver Falls, PA/Beaver Falls 24 Art Harris WR Sr. 5-10 175 Pottsville, PA/Pottsville 25 Smith Vatel CB Jr. 5-9 185 Brooklyn, NY/Erasmus 26 Tim Bryan DB Sr. 6-0 175 E.Greensville, PA/Wissahickon 27 David Papinchak RB Fr. 5-7 175 Windber, PA/Forest Hills 28 Sean Fisher RB Fr. 5-11 190 Peckville, PA/Valley View 29 Ben Steinbacher FS Sr. 6-1 175 Montoursville, PA/Montoursville 30 Barry Byrd SS Fr. 6-2 190 Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg 31 Roy Warlow DB Fr. 5-11 175 Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin 32 Tom Gordy RB Fr.* 5-10 175 Media, PA/Strath Haven 33 A.J. Anderson RB So. 6-0 215 Rankin, PA/Woodland Hills 34 Victor Kornaski QB Fr. 6-3 220 Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel 35 Wesley Wachter LB Fr. 6-1 220 Lebanon, PA/Lebanon Catholic 36 Ryan Matheson SS Fr. 6-0 200 Yardley, PA/Fork Union 37 Corey Jacobs LB Sr. 5-10 190 Lock Haven, PA/Lock Haven 38 Chad Koleno DB Fr. 6-0 195 Clarence, PA/Bald Eagle Area 39 Randy Tecza DB Jr. 5-11 190 McKean, PA/Cathedral Prep 40 Scott Fisher RB Sr. 5-7 200 Carlisle, PA/Carlisle 41 Ray Riley DB Fr. 5-10 190 Pittsburgh, PA/Central Catholic 42 Jon McFarland LB Jr. 6-1 230 Fairless Hills, PA/Pennsbury 43 Brad Caldwell LB Sr. 5-11 205 Medford, NJ/Shawnee 44 Aaron Lankford LB Fr.* 5-9 180 Susquehanna, PA/Susquehanna Comm. 45 Nick Keller FB Fr. 5-7 210 Emporium, PA/Cameron County 46 Willie Kitt RB Jr. 6-1 225 Roaring Springs, PA/Central 47 Michael Rendos DB Fr. 5-9 180 Lock Haven, PA/Lock Haven 48 Jeremy Crills LB Jr. 5-11 220 Ephrata, PA/Ephrata 49 Chris Payne FB Jr. 5-10 195 Sayre, PA/Sayre 50 Robert Sidbury DE Jr. 5-11 240 Brooklyn, NY/Clearfield 51 Luke Nadzadi LB So. 6-0 205 Homer City, PA/Homer Center 52 John Davis DE Fr. 6-3 215 Lock Haven, PA/Lock Haven 53 Chris Wainwright DE Fr. 6-2 225 New Oxford, PA/New Oxford 54 Patrick Nixon LB Fr. 6-1 225 State College, PA/State College 55 Sheldon Fletcher LB Fr. 5-11 240 Brampton, ONT/Brampton 56 Dan Katz LB Fr. 6-1 210 Sparta, NJ/Sparta 57 Chris McPhee OL Jr. 5-11 300 East York, Ontario, Canada 58 Chad Wolfe OL Fr. 6-5 280 Lock Haven, PA/Lock Haven 59 Patrick Vollman OL Fr. 6-1 245 Williamsport, PA/Williamsport 60 Brett Lechleitner OL Fr.* 6-2 235 Hershey, PA/Lower Dauphin 61 Steven Taylor OL Fr. 6-3 280 Richboro, PA/Council Rock 63 Andrew Nocera OL Fr. 6-1 240 Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin 64 Max Siu OL Fr.* 6-2 260 Bangor, PA/Pius X 65 John Jackson OL So. 6-1 245 Port Matilda, PA/Bald Eagle Area 66 Andrew Thiboldeaux OL Fr. 6-2 255 Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy 67 Joseph Toole OL Fr. 6-1 230 Wilkes-Barre, PA/Hanover Area 68 Craig Tefft OL Fr. 5-10 250 Oxford, NY/Oxford Academy 70 Michael Birnbaum OL Fr.* 6-2 260 Lehighton, PA/Lehighton 71 Josh Mull OL Jr. 6-5 300 Kaska, PA/Pottsville 72 Harry Devery OL Jr. 6-3 280 Delta, PA/Kennard Dale 73 John Gerst DE Sr. 6-5 225 Danville, PA/Danville 74 Mike Bolin OL So. 6-3 255 Emporium, PA/Cameron County 75 Brad Lechleitner OL So. 6-3 260 Hershey, PA/Lower Dauphin 76 Ryan Uricheck OL Fr. 6-4 265 Freeland, PA/Hazelton Area 77 Adam Allison OL Fr. 6-2 270 Williamsport, PA/Williamsport 78 Jeff Mayak DE Fr. 6-3 220 Stoystown, PA/North Star 79 Ken Polenik OL Fr. 6-2 250 Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop 80 John Miller K Fr. 5-10 160 Acme, PA/Meyersdale Area 81 Brandon Fedorko K/P Fr. 5-11 190 Oakdale, PA/West Allegheny 84 Erik Benjamin TE So. 6-3 195 Bradford, PA/Bradford 85 Harry Derr TE Jr. 6-0 225 Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg 86 DePhillip Jackson TE Fr. 6-3 245 Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Twp. 87 Rick Rockey WR Sr. 6-0 180 Trout Run, PA/Milton Hershey 88 Michael Schwab TE Fr. 6-3 245 Allentown, PA/Louis E. Dieruff 90 Lane Vogler DT Fr. 6-0 250 Williamsport, PA/Williamsport 91 Freddie Joye DE Fr. 6-3 230 Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area 92 Jason Grassi DL So. 6-2 245 Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria 94 Matt Hendricks DL Jr. 6-4 265 Rockton, PA/DuBois 95 Mike Landis DT Fr. 6-6 270 Quakertown, PA/Quakertown Comm. 99 Mark Williams DE Jr. 6-2 220 Plainfield, PA/Big Spring
HEAD COACH: NICK POLK (Lock Haven, 1986)
Assistant Coaches -
Terry Szucs: Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Mark Luther: Defensive Coordinator/Secondary/Administrative Assistant/Recruiting
Coordinator John Allen: Special Teams Coordinator/Receivers/Passing
Game Coordinator
Chris Sprague: Defensive Line
Part Time Assistants - Jude Boyle: Tackles/Tight Ends; Jack Fisher:
Quarterbacks
Volunteer Assistants - Dave Luther: Running Backs; Jim
Renninger: Linebackers
Student Assistant - Mike Grove: Safeties
