BALD EAGLES SURPRISE BLOOMSBURG FOR 
17-15 VICTORY IN HOME OPENER

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The Bloomsburg University (1-2) ten-game grip over the Lock Haven University football team (1-2) came to an end this evening as the Bald Eagles surprised the Huskies, 17-15, for a win in their home opener at Hubert Jack Stadium.  The win is the second-straight lidlifter victory for LHU and fourth-year head coach Mark Luther, and marked only the seventh time in the past 23 years that the program has won its home opener.  
                Following a scoreless first quarter of play, the Huskies put up the game’s first points on a 46-yard drive capped off with a 22 yard field goal by Garrett Bloom at the 6:39 mark.  Bloomsburg missed a 29-yard attempt on their next possession and the Bald Eagles were unable to move the ball up the field on the ensuing drive as the clock ran down to halftime with BU in the 3-0 lead.
                Into the third quarter, the Huskies were able to work the ball into Haven territory but the LHU defense was able to minimize the damage by forcing them to settle for a pair of field goals. Bloom made good on 23- and 39-yard attempts, to give the visitors the 9-0 advantage. 

Haven quarterback Troy Wile 
takes the ball himself. 

The Bald Eagles make their entrance.

                As the end of the third quarter drew closer, the Bald Eagles began to pick up momentum which resulted in the first touchdown of the game on a one-yard run by Chelstan Anderson (Halifax/Halifax).  The Haven opened its scoring drive at its own 28-yard line and assembled nine plays, including a 26 yard pass from Troy Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) to Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills), which culminated in Anderson’s taking the ball into paydirt from one-yard out.
                Haven linebacker Brian Lumpkin ( Rockville , Md. /Bullis School) intercepted Bloomsburg quarterback Jack Lydic’s pass at the visitor 40-yard line on the Huskies’ next drive, giving the Bald Eagles good field position for the chance to take the lead.  All it took was two plays finalized by a 30-yard pass from Wile to Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) up the middle of the field into the endzone and the Haven had its first lead of the game, 14-9, with 14:55 remaining in the game.              
               Lock Haven was forced to punt in its next possession, but Bloomsburg mishandled the kick and the Bald Eagles’s Mike Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) recovered the ball.  The Bald Eagles drove down to the three-yard line, but Bloomsburg’s Paul Linn intercepted a potential touchdown pass from Wile at the one yard line and returned it into LHU territory but was brought back to the other side of the field following a call for an illegal block in the back. 
                Possession continued to bounce back and forth, as LHU’s John Scullin (Boiling Springs/Boiling Springs) intercepted another Bloomsburg pass on just the second play of the new drive. The Haven’s Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) silenced the following BU drive, picking off the pass at the visitor’s 46-yard line and running it down to within ten yards of the endzone.  A few short gains made it fourth and goal for the Bald Eagles, who instead opted for the 22-yard field goal from Danny Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) to move out into a 17-9 lead.
                That field goal would prove the deciding points, as Bloomsburg’s Nick Kurtz cruised into the endzone on a 62-yard touchdown strike from Lydic to creep closer, 17-15.  Going for the two-point conversion, the pass attempt was picked off in the endzone to keep the Haven cushion to two points.
                With only 1:13 remaining on the game clock, Lock Haven was able to run it down and hold for the 17-15 victory.
                Bloomsburg’s Mike Ceroli rushed for 129 yards on eight carries.  Quarterback Jack Lydic added 154 yards on 6-of-19 passing with the one touchdown.  Defensively, linebacker Paul Linn paced the Huskies with 11 stops and one interception. 
                LHU quarterback Troy Wile was 11-for-18, throwing for 120 yards and a touchdown.  Chelstan Anderson had 64 yards on 17 carries while Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) added 48 yards on 15 takes.  In the air, Marcus Burkley came down with five catches for 43 yards, while Rafael Smith had two receptions and the touchdown for a total of 48 yards. Linebacker Derrik Metz had a game high 13 tackles, including 11 solo stuffs, and an interception. 
                The Lock Haven football team will host Mansfield University on Sat., Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. in Hubert Jack Stadium.