Shane Barie in action vs. Glenville State.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-2) returns home to Hubert Jack Stadium this weekend to play host to Shippensburg University (0-2).

The Game:

Kickoff at Hubert Jack Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13 is set for 7 p.m. as both squads are still in search of their first win of the 2008 season. LHU is coming off a road loss to No. 23 West Chester, 37-6. The Bald Eagles lost their home opener 30-0 to Glenville State. Shippensburg is coming of 34-11 loss to Edinboro and dropped its season opener to No. 13 Shepherd 20-16. Saturday’s clash is a non-division game as SU has moved to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division for 2008 because of West additions Gannon and Mercyhurst.

The Series:

Shippensburg leads the all-time series 43-18-3 and won 2007’s meeting 56-10 at home.

Listen/Watch:

Matt Martucci and Tim Thompson will have the call from Hubert Jack Stadium. Listen live on WBPZ-AM 1230 (locally-Lock Haven) and live ESPN 1050/104.1 Williamsport Pa. Fans can also listen at www.espnwilliamsport.com. Fans can also watch the game live on HAVENcast, LHU’s home for internet video broadcasts. HAVENcast can be accessed through HavenSports.com or at the following link:

http://merlin.lhup.edu/mediasitedates/default.aspx

LHU notes:

In a rain-soaked loss at WCU, LHU posted its first touchdown of the year … Sophomore Ibrahim Smith scored on a six-yard run … Setting up the TD was a 48 yard interception return by DeMarr Dowell that put LHU at the West Chester seven-yard line.

Freshman quarterback Jarryd Burkett made the first start of this career at West Chester.

Luke Ellison, who missed last season because of injury leads the team in tackles with 11 (6 sold & 5 assists) from his linebacker spot.

DeMarr Dowell leads LHU in all-purpose yards with 136.

Despite a 30-0 loss in their opener the Bald Eagles defense looked solid … The Haven got off to a solid start as sophomore linebacker Wes Plummer (picked off Pioneer quarterback James McCants on the just the second play of Glenville’s opening drive. Plummer had a solid outing on defense for Lock Haven. Along with his interception he made five tackles … Shane Barie and Dustin Harsch each recorded a team-high six tackles. Five other Bald Eagles had four tackles on the night.

Last time out for Lock Haven:

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football team (0-2) dropped a rain-soaked gridiron clash to No. 23 West Chester University (1-1) 37-6 today on the road.

West Chester quickly opened the scoring, taking the opening drive 60 yards down the field. Joe Wright caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Mike Washington to put WCU up 7-0 with 12:10 on the clock.

The Bald Eagles found themselves trailing 14-0, before getting on the board with 5:52 left to play in the opening quarter.

Sophomore Ibrahim Smith (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) scored on a six-yard run, cutting into the Golden Ram lead.

Setting up the Haven touchdown was a 48 yard interception return by DeMarr Dowell (Buffalo, N.Y./Erie C.C.) that put LHU at the West Chester seven-yard line.

WCU would however respond again, scoring with 4:03 left in the first, leading 21-6 after 15 minutes of play. West Chester tacked on another 16 points in the second and took a 37-6 lead into the break.

That would mark all the scoring. Heavy rain in the second half forced both teams to go to the running game and both teams struggled to hang onto the ball at times in a sloppy affair.

Defensively the Bald Eagles were led by Luke Ellison (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville), who had seven tackles. He made five solo stops and one tackle for a loss, while also forcing one fumble.

Dowell and Dean Tortorice (Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional) both made five stops. Tortorice also added a 46-yard interception return.

Last time out for Shippensburg:

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team forced five turnovers and limited Edinboro quarterback Trevor Harris to his lowest passing total since the start of the 2007 season, but the Red Raiders could not overcome the elements or the Fighting Scots in a 34-11 loss on Saturday afternoon at Seth Grove Stadium.

The weather was an unavoidable coincidence that marred a spotlight matchup between two perennially strong teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) that was broadcast throughout the state. The crossover contest was played in horrid elements and featured a combined 15 fumbles due to the heavy rains and dreary field conditions.

Shippensburg (0-2) opened the scoring on its second drive of the game. Junior kicker Kyler Ford capped off a 10-play, 61-yard drive by converting a 27-yard field goal to become the first kicker other than Jamie Reder '08 to make a field goal for Shippensburg since Craig Lough during the 2002 season, a span of 58 games.

Unfortunately for the Red Raiders, that drive would end up being its longest of the game in both plays and yards gained. Of Shippensburg's 19 remaining drives, just three lasted five plays or more.

Edinboro (2-0) responded in large part to the leadership of Harris, a junior signal caller who accounted for all four of the team's offensive touchdowns. His 33-yard scamper in the first quarter on a third-and-inches sneak play gave the Fighting Scots a lead they would not relinquish for the duration of the game.

By halftime, Edinboro had raced out to a 21-3 lead following touchdown receptions from tight end Denayne Dixon and wide receiver Rich Cerro. A nine-play, 80-yard drive near the end of the third quarter ended in a touchdown to Jeremy Burr that made the contest a three-possession game.

The Fighting Scots were able to solidify their lead by controlling the clock in the second half. Edinboro maintained possession for 22:15 over the final two quarters while the Red Raiders only mustered 74 yards in the second half.

The main chunk of that yardage came on Shippensburg's lone touchdown of the game, a six-play, 44-yard drive that was capped off with an 18-yard reception by red-shirt sophomore Chase DiFebbo. It was the second consecutive week in which red-shirt junior quarterback Chad DiFebbo found his brother in the end zone.

Despite the conditions, Ford once again displayed an excellent defensive boot, as he was forced to make nine punts while averaging 41.4 yards per kick. His longest of the day was a 68-yarder from the back of his end zone, a feat that is just two yards short of his career-long punt of 70 yards set last year at Liberty. The junior punter has averaged 42.1 yards through a conference-leading 19 punts this season.

Defensively. red-shirt senior linebacker Josh Oswalt continued his strong play with a game-high 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Through two games this season, Oswalt is tied atop the conference with two sacks while ranking third in the conference with 22 total tackles.

In his second start at quarterback, DiFebbo finished 10-of-26 for 114 yards to go along with the touchdown. Red-shirt freshman Dave Chervansky earned his first action of the season and completed 2-of-3 pass attempts for 22 yards.

On the ground, red-shirt sophomore fullback Chris Infante ran for 78 yards on 12 carries. Senior Brad Catherman totaled 26 yards on three carries.

Harris threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns while completing 20-of-36 passes for Edinboro. Junior tailback Houston Brown carried the ball 24 times for 123 yards.