BALD EAGLES UPEND CALIFORNIA, 30-25, ON HOMECOMING

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The last minute, goal line stand of the Lock Haven (3-3, 1-0 PSAC West) defense was the final piece of the puzzle needed to put together a 30-25 victory over California (Pa.) University (3-3, 1-1 PSAC West) in the Bald Eagles’ PSAC Western Division opener and Homecoming game this afternoon at Hubert Jack Stadium.  
                Deep into the fourth quarter at 3:44 , Lock Haven opened up a drive at its own 24-yard line.  The Vulcans pushed LHU back for two successive runs for a loss to bring up third down-and-16 yards.  On the next play, California’s TJ Carden intercepted the ball and was headed for the endzone but LHU’s Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) knocked the ball out of his hands.  The ball ended up out of bounds with California regaining possession at the Haven seven-yard line at 2:02 on the clock.  Two of backup quarterback John Aitken’s attempted passes into the endzone were broken up by Bald Eagle defenders. At third down and seven to go, Haven linebacker Dan Wissinger (Johnstown/Ferndale Area) broke through the line and took Aitken down 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage.  Needing another big play to end the California drive and seal the win, Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) stopped Aitken on the run to turn the ball over to LHU.    

#21 Rob Carey blocks a Cal field goal 
in the 4th quarter; 
#1 Marcus Burkley scored 
three touchdowns

               The theatrics of the nail-biting ending were contested by the myriad of quarky plays in the game.  It all started out normal, with The Haven opening up a three point lead after a 35-yard field goal by Danny Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) at the 9:00 mark of the first quarter.  On California's next drive, LHU forced the Vulcans to punt from their own 12-yard line.  The Haven’s Dustin Shaffer (Mayport/Redbank Valley) blocked Rusty Springer’s punt, and the Bald Eagles regained the ball at the six-yard line.  
                Three plays into the possession, Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) found Adam Angelici (Bethel Park/Bethel Park) in the back of the endzone for the score. With the successful Hagerman point after kick, LHU moved into a 10-0 lead.  
                California answered, driving 80 yards on the ensuing possession completed by a four-yard pass from Greg Dapper to Tommy Byrd for the touchdown to inch closer, 10-7, at 3:32 in the first quarter.  California gained more momentum on the next series after Brian Oddi blocked and then recovered Hagerman’s punt at the LHU four-yard line.  This time the Vulcans handed off to Tayon Mitchell for the four-yard scamper to take over the lead, 14-10.
                Into the second quarter, the Bald Eagles regained the lead on a 52-yard reception by Burkley, who caught a short range pass over the middle from Camberg but shook off the defenders and sprinted into the right corner of the endzone to give LHU the 16-14 lead at 14:44 in the second quarter.
                LHU defensive lineman Dustin Shaffer blocked his second punt of the day on Cal’s next drive to put the Bald Eagles on the California 48-yard line to open their drive. On fourth-and-11 from the visitor’s 29-yard line, Camberg located Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) across the middle. Smith took the ball up to the 16 yards before being taken down.  As Smith was falling, Cal’s Oddi forced the ball out of his hands, popping the ball into the air.  LHU’s Marcus Burkley snagged the ball out of the air and kept on running, crossing into the endzone for the touchdown and the 23-14 lead.  
                The Vulcans’ Gary Amos hit a 49-yard field goal to bring California closer, 23-17, with 37 seconds left in the half. On the following kickoff, however, Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois) took the kick and ran up the middle but was met by a host of defenders.  As he was being tackled, he tossed a lateral pass to a breaking Marcus Burkley, who ran it back 60 yards for the touchdown and the 30-17 Haven lead at the half.
                California added eight points in the third quarter to creep closer, tacking on two with a safety at 8:52 after Bejey Thomas tackled the Haven rusher in the endzone.  Another six came off a 51-yard drive on their possession after the safety as Brandon Jackson caught a three-yard pass from John Aitken.  The pass attempt failed on the two-point conversion to make the score 30-25.  
              The Haven was stalled three times in its own territory in the fourth quarter. California threatened with a 21-yard field goal attempt at 10:18 in the fourth, but Rob Carey (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) blocked his second field goal in as many games and the Haven came up with the ball and the eventual win. 
                The Haven’s Marcus Burkley came through with a key performance, catching four passes for 110 yards and one receiving touchdown, but also added a touchdown after a fumble recovery along with the 60-yard pickup for score after the lateral on a kickoff.  Brian Camberg threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns on a 7-for-15 evening.  Defensively, Derrik Metz led all tacklers with 13 stops and 3.5 tackles for loss.  Devin O’Rourke (Montgomery/Montgomery) had two sacks and six tackles overall, while Rob Carey added seven stops and the blocked field goal. 
              Despite the loss, California had outgained LHU, 243-192, and held the Haven running game to just 31 yards.  Wesley Clemons totaled 76 yards on the run, while Brandon Jackson had five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.  Brian Oddi led Cal defenders with 11 stops. 
              The Bald Eagles, now 3-3 overall and 1-0 in divisional play, will travel to PSAC Western Division opponent Shippensburg University on Sat., Oct. 18, for a 1 p.m. contest.  

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