LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football is heading back on the road for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division clash with the No. 19 Edinboro University Fighting Scots.

The Game:

The Bald Eagles (0-4, 0-2 PSAC West) head to Northwest Pennsylvania this Saturday, October 3 for division clash with No. 19 Edinboro University (4-1, 2-0 PSAC West). Kickoff Saturday at Edinboro’s Sox Harrison Stadium (6,000) is set for 2 p.m.

The Series:

Edinboro leads the all-time series against Lock Haven 35-14-1. The Fighting Scots won 31-0 last year in Lock Haven. Edinboro has won eight straight games, with Lock Haven’s last win coming in 2000. The Bald Eagles won at home 20-16.

Listen/Watch/Live Stats:

The game will be televised live on the Pennsylvania Sports Fever Television Network. This is the third consecutive season that Pa. Sports Fever has televised PSAC Football. Check local listings for details.

How they got here:

The Haven is coming off a 19-7 loss to Mercyhurst College on the Bald Eagles Homecoming. The defensive battle came down the final quarter as MC led just 6-0 heading into the final 15:00 minutes of play. Edinboro edged local-rival 22-20 with late field goal by Alex Romanias. With the loss Lock Haven fell to 0-4, dropping its 15th straight game. Edinboro improved to 4-1 overall and a perfect 2-0 in the Western Division. The Fighting Scots only loss came to Shippensburg, who downed LHU 49-7 in Week 3.

2009 marks the 30th Anniversary 1979 PSAC Championship:

The 2009 season marks the 30th anniversary of Lock Haven’s 1979 PSAC Championship team. Under the direction of head coach Jack Fisher, The Haven went 9-2 overall and a perfect 9-0 in conference play. The ’79-championship was the last time LHU won the conference and it marked the Bald Eagles eighth PSAC title.

Homecoming in more ways than one:

Lock Haven’s Homecoming game last weekend was more special for the Bald Eagles as it marked just their second home game of ’09 season. Lock Haven is back on the road this weekend for third time this year. The Bald Eagles enjoyed a rare bye-week in Week 2 before back-to-back road games. The Bald Eagles are 0-2 on the road and winless at home in 2009 (0-2). Lock Haven opened the ’09 season at home on Thursday, August 27 against nationally-ranked West Chester.

D-Fence:

The Bald Eagles defense has played well enough for LHU to win all four games, as it is getting solid contributions from a number of players. Junior linebacker Wes Plummer is leading Lock Haven in tackles on the year with 20 (12 solo, 8 ast., 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT & 1 fumble recover). Last week against Mercyhurst, Plummer turned in all-star performance to keep The Haven in the game. He had a game-high 10 tackles including seven solo stops and two tackles for a loss. Plummer also had a 59-yard interception return. The trio of Ben Snyder, Luke Ellison and Dean Tortorice all have 19 tackles on the year, giving the Bald Eagles more depth on the defensive side of the ball. Lock Haven’s defense has been solid in creating turnovers as the Bald Eagles have recorded nine fumble recoveries and five interceptions.

Eyes on the record books:

Junior Ibrahim Smith needs only eight carries to move onto LHU’s all-time top-10 list for rushing attempts … He needs 188 yards to become 10th on the all-time rushing yards list … He also needs just one more rushing TD to move into Lock Haven’s top-10.

Aaron Pryer is now third all-time on the Lock Haven career return-yard list (1,322 yards) … With 174 more he’d move into second-place all-time.

LHU at a glance:

Lock Haven is 0-4 and 0-2 in PSAC West action … Lock Haven has lost 15 straight games dating back to the 2007 season finale (W, 17-14 at Clarion) … LHU’s last win at home came on 10/28/06 against Clarion (W, 14-7).

Lock Haven is coming off a 19-7 loss to Mercyhurst … LHU stopped Mercyhurst on its opening drive after the Lakers set up first-and-goal from the LHU four-yard line, but LHU’s defense was up for the task … MC only led 3-0 at halftime as both offense struggled to move the ball in game accompanied by a constant rain, heavy at times … With just 27 seconds left in the game, Lock Haven finally got on the board, as Jarryd Burkett completed his first pass of the game to Ibrahim Smith for a 30-yard TD reception … Burkett came in on Lock Haven’s final possession of the game after Jarret Kratzer started under center and went 18-for-40 passing.

Lock Haven dropped to 0-3 after falling in its PSAC West opener (9/19) 24-0 at Clarion.

After using four different quarterbacks in the season-opening loss to WCU, redshirt-freshman Jarret Kratzer saw the majority of time under center in the Ship game. Krazter was 15-for-29 for 111 yards passing.

Junior running back Ibrahim Smith rushed for 37 yards in the loss. Smith had one touchdown, Lock Haven’s first of the 2009 season. Smith’s long run of 11 yards was the TD.

Austin Knighton led Lock Haven’s defensive effort against Shippensburg with a seven-tackle game. Four of his seven stops were solo efforts. Dean Tortorice Shane Barie and Wes Plummer all made six tackles in the game. Tortorice also had one interception, while Plummer made 1.5 tackles for a loss and recorded one sack.

In the 2009 season opener, Lock Haven was shutout 43-0 by nationally-ranked West Chester as the Bald Eagles struggled to get the offense going. LHU used four different quarterbacks, but only managed to rack up 52 total yards.

Edinboro at a glance:

Edinboro ranked No. 19 nationally moved up five spots in this week’s American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll after edging local-rival Gannon 22-20 thanks to late field goal by kicker Alex Romanias.

After opening the season with a win over West Liberty State, Edinboro fell at home to Shippensburg. Since that loss in Week 2, the Fighting Scots have won three straight games.

Fighting Scot QB Trevor Harris is the reigning PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week.

Lock Haven’s last time out:

Football drops ’09 Homecoming clash with Mercyhurst 19-7

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – (9/26/09) The Bald Eagles started the game with a tremendous defensive effort on a goal-line stand and for three quarters it was a grudge fest, but the Lock Haven University football team (0-4, 0-2 PSAC West) dropped its Homecoming game to Mercyhurst College (3-2, 2-0 PSAC West) 19-7.

Much like it had in the previous three games this season the Bald Eagles defense kept LHU in game early.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in a game that was accompanied a steady drizzle throughout.

The Lakers quickly moved in Lock Haven territory on their opening drive and set up first and goal opportunity from LHU’s four-yard line.

In the Bald Eagles first big test of the day, they showed they came to play on Homecoming and the defense steadied, as MC turned over the ball on downs.

With 1:46 on the clock in the opening quarter, Meryhurst went up 3-0 after a 37-yard field goal by Robert Giambra. Giambra’s kick capped off a six-play, 15 yard drive that took 3:25.

On the Lakers fourth possession, Mercyhurst was driving in Haven territory, but Wes Plummer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) picked off MC’s Joe Laffey and returned it 59 yards into the redzone, looking to help set up Lock Haven’s offensive attack.

Plummer was sensational for Lock Haven on the defensive side of the ball. He finished the game with the 59-yard interception return and a game-high 10 tackles. Plummer made seven solo stops and two tackles for a loss.

Despite the good field position, LHU couldn’t muster up any points and Mercyhurst held a 3-0 lead after the first half.

The second half continued to be a defensive battle with the Lakers up 6-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

Mercyhurt’s offense finally got it together and tacked two fourth-quarter touchdowns to take a 19-0 lead.

With just 27 seconds left in the game, Lock Haven finally got on the board, as Jarryd Burkett (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) completed his first pass of the game to Ibrahim Smith (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) for a 30-yard TD reception.

Burkett came in on Lock Haven’s final possession of the game after Jarret Kratzer (Reedsville, Pa./Indian Valley) started under center and went 18-for-40 passing.

Along with Plummer, The Haven got a number of notable performances on defense.

Luke Ellison (McElhattan, Pa./Montoursville) and Shane Barie (Export, Pa/ Franklin Regional) were all over the field for Lock Haven and made nine and eight tackles, respectively.

With the loss The Haven falls to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action. MC improves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in West action.

The Laker offense out gained LHU 327-187 and held a 16-12 advantage in first downs

The Last time vs. Edinboro:

Bald Eagles drop PSAC West contest with #24 Edinboro

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – (9/27/09) The Lock Haven University football team (0-5, 0-2) dropped a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest to No. 24 Edinboro University (4-1, 1-1) tonight.

Playing their second Top-25 team in as many weeks, the Bald Eagles were shut out at home 31-0.

Edinboro led 21-0 at the break, as LHU did everything they could to cut into the lead with its most productive offensive outing of the year.

Sophomore running back Ibrahim Smith (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) led the way on the ground for LHU, rushing for a season-high 65 yards on 10 carries.

Freshman Cameron Turner (Chicora, Pa./Karns City) made four catches for a team-high 45 yards.

Offensively LHU moved the ball well at times, but just couldn’t find the back of the end zone.

Freshman quarterback Jarryd Burkett (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) was 14-for-22. Burkett threw for 111 yards, as he looked to spark the Bald Eagles air attack in his fourth start.

Senior DeMarr Dowell (Buffalo, N.Y./Erie C.C.) turned in an all-around solid outing, playing on both sides of the ball for The Haven. He made one catch for 17 yards and recorded five tackles, including three solo stops.

Wes Plummer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) made a game-high seven tackles for LHU and Shawn Crebs (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) turned in a five-tackle effort to help pace Lock Haven’s defensive unit.

Back in action:

Lock Haven returns home on Saturday, October 10 at 6 p.m. when the Bald Eagles host PSAC West power California (Pa.).

Click on the link listed below for full game notes (PDF):