STRONG SECOND HALF CARRIES LHU PAST CHEYNEY, 42-7

(Cheyney, Pa.) – A 35-point second half  boosted the Bald Eagle gridders (2-3) past Cheyney University (2-3), 42-7, this afternoon at O’Shields-Stevenson Stadium in Cheyney,Pa. The win ensured the safety of Lock Haven’s unblemished record against the Wolves for another year, making it the 13^th straight time the Bald Eagles have pocketed the win.
                The Bald Eagles posted a season-best 302 yards rushing along with 210 yards through the air to outweigh the production of the Wolves, 512-277.  Defensively, LHU allowed only 56 yards on the ground and the pass defense came up big with four interceptions, three which led to touchdowns.
                A slow start yielded only seven first-half points for the Bald Eagles, who turned over the ball on a fumbled punt return on their second possession then suffered another turnover after a missed field goal following a stalled offense drive at the Cheyney three-yard line.  On their fourth possession, LHU received the ball at the home 29 yard line and made good on the field position on the third play from scrimmage with a 16-yard connection from Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) to Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills). The Danny Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) kick was good to give the Haven the 7-0 lead.  

Freshman kicker Danny Hagerman made three field goals to help lead LHU past Cheyney, 42-7

               Cheyney’s first scoring opportunity came in the second quarter as they set up for the 43-yard field goal attempt, but Lock Haven’s Rob Carey (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) blocked the kick and LHU regained the ball.  The Haven’s Hagerman would attempt a 31-yard field goal on the following drive but missed to the left.  Bouncing back on offense, the Wolves assembled an 80-yard push down the field capped off with a pass from Errieck Stewart to Ed Giddings from 15 yards to tie up the game at 7-7 before the close of the first half.
               Once the second half opened memories of the first 30 minutes of action were discarded as the Bald Eagles took their opening drive and came out with a 22-yard field goal by Hagerman just over four minutes into the quarter. Lock Haven’s next possession was halted at the Cheyney 22-yard line, but on the Wolves’ first attempt from scrimmage, LHU’s Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport) picked off Stewart’s pass. A penalty moved the ball back another 10 yards but four plays later an 18-yard Camberg pass ended up in the hands of tight end Jason Walther (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) in the endzone for his first touchdown of the season and the 17-7 Lock Haven lead.  Rafael Smith and Camberg paired up for Smith’s second score of the game late in the third quarter, Smith carting a 28-yard reception into the endzone to bring Lock Haven to a 23-7 advantage.
               Hagerman split the uprights for two of his three field goals in the fourth quarter, hitting a 22-yarder with 12:16 on the clock and an 18-yard kick with 4:01 remaining.  Following Hagerman’s 22-yard field goal, Rob Carey ended the ensuing Cheyney drive with his first interception of the season and returned it 17 yards into CU territory to set up another Haven score.  Red-shirt freshman running back Derek Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois) took the handoff on three of LHU’s four plays and completed the drive with an eight yard dash into paydirt for his first collegiate touchdown and the 33-7 lead at the 9:01 mark.
              Marshall picked up 19 yards on three successive carries in LHU’s next possession before the Haven turned to Hagerman again, the freshman making good this time on the 18-yard kick for the 36-7 advantage. 
               The LHU defense continued to haunt the Wolves’ offense even into the latter minutes of the game as Mike Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) came down with LHU’s fourth interception of the game in Cheyney territory with time running off the clock. As time faded, the Haven found itself in a third down-and-one situation from the 31-yard line.  This time back-up quarterback Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) handed off to Chelstan Anderson (Halifax/Halifax) who powered his way through the maze of defenders and broke into the endzone on a 31-yard run to bring the final score to 42-7 after the extra point kick was not attempted.
             Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Anderson combined for 164 yards rushing, Walker posting 87 on 16 carries and Anderson recording 77 and the touchdown on 11 attempts.   Brian Camberg stepped into his first collegiate start to throw for 195 yards on 14-of-33 passing with three touchdowns, connecting with receiving leaders Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) (6 catches, 88 yds) and Rafael Smith (3 catches, 61 yds, 2 TDs).  Rob Carey was the defensive leader with eight stops, including six solos, a forced fumble and an interception.  Ngoyi Mukusa (Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe) added six stops.
              Cheyney’s Errieck Stewart threw for 224 yards, including 98 to Charles Johnson and 94 yards and a touchdown with Ed Giddings. Defensively, Stephen Watson posted a game-high 12 tackles.
              Lock Haven, now 2-3, returns to Hubert Jack Stadium for its Homecoming contest and first PSAC West game against California (Pa.) University on Sat., Oct. 11, at 2 p.m.

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