BALD EAGLES EXTEND STREAK OVER CHEYNEY IN 35-19 WIN;
Grab First Season Opener Victory Since 1992

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – Three in a row. That’s the current streak of Bald Eagle football wins in home openers. With tonight’s 35-19 win over Cheyney University (0-1), the Lock Haven University gridders have won three straight lidlifters in Hubert Jack Stadium. Adding to the list of accomplishments, LHU also picks up its first season-opening victory since the 1992 season and extends its series record over the Wolves to 14-0.
         Senior running back Maurice Walker (N. Braddock/Woodland Hills) started things off quickly, scoring the first two touchdowns of the game before arriving at a final tally of 177 yards – the 12^th best single-game performance in Haven history. Walker took every handoff in the opening drive, taking the ball 70 yards including a 57-yard jaunt for the score at 13:15 in the first quarter.  Walker would cap off the next drive with a touchdown as well, this time needing just a four-yard scamper to tack on the six points.
        Cheyney answered, rallying for 12 unanswered points in the final 3:25 of the quarter. Jamal Clark reeled in a 27-yard strike from quarterback Derrick Murry for the first followed by another touchdown pass to Charles Johnson from 18-yards out. The two-point conversions on the pair of scores both failed, the Bald Eagles holding on to the slight 14-12 margin entering the half.
       Late in the second half, a fumble by Cheyney was picked up by Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin) at the Haven’s 29-yard line. A 14-yard rush by Walker and a 17-yard reception by Kellen Bush (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) got the Haven downfield quickly, bringing the Bald Eagles to within 26 yards of paydirt. Two plays later, Rob Kristiniak (Flourtown/Springfield Township) hit Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills), who wrapped around the defense and glided into the right corner of the endzone for the score with just 51 seconds left in the half.

      Smith added another touchdown reception in the third quarter, this one for 14 yards, completing a drive that started with an interception by Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport).
      The Wolves scored on their first drive of the fourth period, stringing together a series of passes to Jamal Clark that ended with a 14-yard connection for his second touchdown of the evening.
      Lock Haven took over possession with just over five minutes remaining in the half. After an initial rush for a loss, quarterback Troy Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) opted to take the ball himself, finding a gap then wide open field for the 64-yard touchdown run for the game’s final points.
      LHU out-performed Cheyney by a margin of 441-341 in total yards. The Haven put up 327 yards on the ground while Cheyney actually held the advantage in the air, 158-114.
      The Haven’s Walker led all rushers with 177 yards and two touchdowns. Rafael Smith added touchdowns on both of his receptions, totaling 40 yards in all. The Bald Eagles used three quarterbacks, with Kristiniak throwing for 43 yards on two completions with one score, Camberg completing 3-of-4 for 4 yards and Wile connecting on 2-of-3 for 25 yards, one touchdown and one score via the rush.  Defensively, Lock Haven’s free safety Will Jones led the way with 10 stops followed by strong safety David Show (Mill Run/Connellsville Area) with nine tackles.
      Cheyney’s Tyrone Bryant was close behind Walker in rushing yardage, recording 153 yards on 23 carries. Freshman signal caller Derrick Murry completed 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scoring passes went to Jamal Clark, who tallied 73 yards on six catches. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Cavanaugh Nweze led all tacklers with 12 stops. Mark Wilkins had 11 total, including four tackles for loss and two sacks.
      Lock Haven (1-0) will travel to James Madison University next Sat., Sept. 4, for a 6 p.m. kickoff.