LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University football returns home for its third of five 2009 home games, as the Bald Eagles play host to perennial power California (Pa.) University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) gridiron clash.

The Game:

The Bald Eagles (0-5, 0-3 PSAC West) return home this weekend for their third of five scheduled home games in 2009. LHU plays host to perennial power California (Pa.) University (4-2, 3-0 PSAC West). Kickoff at Hubert Jack Stadium (3,500) on Saturday, October 10 is set for 6 p.m. Lock Haven is coming off a 41-6 loss at No. 19 Edinboro and Cal enters the game coming off a 41-28 win over IUP in the first-ever Coal Bowl.

The Series:

California leads the all-time series with LHU 36-26-1 since the two teams’ first meeting back in 1926, which was won by the Vulcans 28-0. Cal won at home in 2008, 56-3 and has won five straight against the Bald Eagles. Lock Haven’s last win over Cal came in 2003, when the Bald Eagles won 30-25 at Hubert Jack Stadium.

Listen/Watch/Live Stats:

The game can be heard live on Haven Sports Radio, only at HavenSports.com. The link for the broadcast is listed below.

http://www.lhup.edu/sports/embed.htm

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.

Keep an eye on:

The Bald Eagles defense – The Haven’s defensive unit has put up solid numbers all season and played well enough to keep Lock Haven in several ball games. Five different Bald Eagles are leading the way for LHU.

Four of them, including Nick Gounaris, Ben Snyder, Shane Barie and Wes Plummer all have a team-high 26 tackles.

Dean Tortorice has 25 stops on the year.

Gournais and Plummer each have on sack on the season and Snyder leads the way with two forced fumbles.

In Lock Haven’s last home game, two weeks ago on Homecoming, Plummer turned in a monster outing.

He finished the game with a game-high 10 tackles.

Plummer made seven solo stops and two tackles for a loss. Plummer also had a 59-yard interception return in the opening quarter.

LHU at a glance:

Lock Haven is 0-5 overall and 0-3 in PSAC West play, the Bald Eagles are coming off a 41-6 loss on the road at No. 19 Edinboro.

The loss marked the second of the season to nationally-ranked opponent.

Lock Haven’s lone TD was caught by Devin Sims. Sims 21-yard touchdown reception capped off an eight-play, 62 yard drive.

Clarion was the site of LHU’s last win (2007 season finale) as the Bald Eagles have now lost 16 straight games.

Lock Haven last win at home came on October 28, 2006 against Clarion (W, 14-7).

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.

Cal at a glance:

Cal received 19 votes in this week’s American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Poll poll, but is still out of the Top-25.

The Vulcans are riding a four-game win streak after starting the season 0-2.

This week Cal, was ranked No. 7 in the initial NCAA Division II Super Regional rankings.

Last weekend, the Vulcans topped rival IUP in the first ever Coal Bowl, 41-28. Cal was led by quarterback Josh Portis, who threw for 192 yards and four touchdowns.

On the year Josh Portis has passed for 1,151 yards. He’s 78-for-156 with only four interceptions. Portis has 15 TD passes and a 138.58 QB rating.

His primary target all year has been AJ Johnson, who has nine TD receptions … He has 34 catches for 471 yards.

Cal has a big-time hreat to its running game. Leading the way is Freddi Bacco, who has 376 total yards on the year and averages 62.7/game … He has four touchdowns.

Defensively, the Vulcans have 16 players who’ve made 10 or more tackles on the year … Leading the way is Dontey Brown, who has a team-high 40, including 25 solo stops.

Lock Haven’s last time out:

Football falls to #19 Edinboro in Western Division action

EDINBORO, Pa. – (10/3/09) The Lock Haven University football team (0-5, 0-3 PSAC West) lost to No. 19 Edinboro University (5-1, 3-0 PSAC West) 41-6 today on the road in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

The Fighting Scots jumped out to a 20-0 halftime-lead and they tacked on two third-quarter touchdowns to pave the way for the big win on their Homecoming.

Lock Haven trailed 34-0 in the fourth quarter when Devin Sims (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) caught a touchdown pass from Jarret Kratzer (Reedsville, Pa./Indian Valley).

Sims 21-yard touchdown reception capped off an eight-play, 62 yard drive.

Kratzer went 19-for-29 for 177 yards passing, as he saw the majority of time under center today for the Bald Eagles.

Defensively the Bald Eagles got solid outings from Shane Barie (Export, Pa/ Franklin Regional) and Nick Gounaris (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury), as each player made eight tackles.

Five of Barie’s eight stops were solo efforts.

Edinboro was led by quarterback Trevor Harris, who passed for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

Harris’s 181 yards helped become just the fourth player in PSAC history to pass for 10,000 yards (10,136).

The last time vs. California:

Bald Eagles fall to #8 Cal 56-3

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – (10/11/08) The Lock Haven University football team (0-7, 0-4 PSAC West) fell to No. 8 California (Pa.) University (6-1, 4-0 PSAC West) 56-3 today on the road in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division action.

With the win California, ranked No. 8 nationally improved to 4-0 in PSAC West play while the Bald Eagles fall to 0-4.

Lock Haven’s lone three points came off the foot of kicker Brendon Pickel (Easton, Pa./Easton), who connected on this first field goal attempt of the year. Pickel’s kick from 23 yards was good with just 40 seconds to play in the opening half, cutting the Cal lead to 19-3.

With no time left in the opening half however California tacked on a field goal to take a 22-3 lead into the locker room.

Rookie quarterback Jarryd Burkett (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) was 15-for-31 passing for 109 yards and he threw one pick.

Colden Carroll (Philadelphia/Calhoun County) led The Haven in rushing on the day as he ran for 38 yards on seven carries. Reggie Mencer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) added 30 yards on the ground.

DeMarr Dowell (Buffalo, N.Y./Erie C.C.) made four catches for 41 yards and Cameron Turner (Chicora, Pa./Karns City) had 32 yards on four grabs.

Defensively LHU was led by senior Shawn Crebs (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg), who recorded a game-high eight tackles. He made five solo stops on the afternoon.

Shane Barie (Export, Pa./Franklin Regional) made six stops (3 solo & 3 assisted).

Back in action:

Lock Haven returns to action on Saturday, October 17 at 1 p.m. when they host IUP in Division action.

Full Notes (PDF) are linked below in yellow.