| |
(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Every
year there are gaps to fill, and the process of determining which talent can
best occupy those gaps for the upcoming 2002 Lock Haven football season is in
full swing. The Bald Eagle
football squad reconvened for spring practice last month, giving all returning
players the equal chance to prove themselves and begin the process of climbing
up the depth chart. The spring
season culminates on April 20 at 1 p.m. with the Crimson and White Scrimmage
being held at Hubert Jack Stadium. This
year, the Bald Eagles will scrimmage against a team of LHU football alumni
coached by former head coach Jack Fisher.
A total of 41
letter winners return to action along with 18 starters from last year’s 3-8
team. A quick glance at last
year’s depth chart sees eight starters returning to the Bald Eagle offense,
while the biggest gap is left in the Bald Eagle defense, which returns only six
players with consistent starting experience.
The LHU kicking game will need to be rebuilt but the return game remains
fairly intact, with four specialty players rejoining the roster.
The
2001 campaign ended with a 3-8 overall mark and a 1-5 ledger in the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West, scoring a 44-20 Homecoming victory
over Cheyney University, a 24-21 win over California (Pa.) University, and a
22-13 victory against Mansfield University in the final game of the season. A
total of seven Bald Eagle gridders were honored as All-PSAC West players,
including the second straight Rookie of the Year award for a Lock Haven athlete
– this past season going to running back Maurice Walker.
A pair of sophomores, Marcus Burkley and the 2000 PSAC West Rookie of
the Year Rob Carey, earned additional honors as ECAC Division II South
All-Stars.
|
Crimson & White/Alumni Scrimmage
1 p.m. - Hubert Jack Stadium
Over 70 LHU Football alums will be attendance, and several will test
their skills by making an appearance on
the gridiron to battle the
2002 Bald Eagles.
>>>2002
LHU Football Schedule
|
| |
OFFENSE
There
is still a major battle raging to fill the starting position at quarterback as
the coaching staff determines who will best fit in with the 2002 offense.
Sophomore Bill Witmer took the majority of the snaps from center last
year, connecting on 67 of 156 attempts for 799 yards and four touchdowns. Senior John Stahl (225 yds, 2 TDs) was also a frequent flyer
in the Bald Eagle offense over the course of the 2001 season returns to the
fold again this year. Another
potential candidate to direct the on-field offense is Tim Storino, a junior
transfer from WVIAC power Fairmont State College.
The bulk of the scoring done
last season (eight of 11 touchdowns) came from The Haven’s receiving corps,
which enjoyed greater depth than in years prior.
The Bald Eagles should expect another productive outing in 2002 with two
returning all-conference wide receivers in the lineup in junior Marcus Burkley
and senior John Caldwell. Burkley
was a first team All-PSAC West selection, leading LHU’s receiving charts with
a season total of 417 yards and four touchdowns.
Caldwell made his inaugural appearance on the all-conference list with a
second team selection after he collected 394 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior Adam Angelici along with senior Scott Anderson compliment the
starting duo with plenty of experience to add to the coaching staff’s options
at wide receiver. A handful of
untested but hungry players give LHU even more depth -- red-shirt freshmen
Bobby Drake and Danson Mwaura, along with newcomers Erik Anderson and Matt
Shealy.
A
trio of tight ends have been working in the Bald Eagle offense, seniors Ryan
Lightner and Brian Genis along with red-shirt freshman Kevin Scheidler.
Lightner saw action in seven games last season, while Genis will
transfer his size and athletic ability to tight end after playing his first
three seasons at quarterback. Scheidler
has been with The Haven for one season and is expected to be another
contributor at this position.
The youthfulness of the
Bald Eagle backfield is a factor that recent LHU teams have learned to deal
with, and several young players have stepped up with unabashed determination to
prove that experience is not the only deciding factor in a successful offense.
PSAC West Rookie of the Year Maurice Walker will highlight the list of
projected starters, netting 744 yards last season.
Walker posted three 100-yard rushing games with a season-best of 194
yards against Cheyney University. Walker’s
speed and dexterity should be enhanced this upcoming season after also
competing as a sprinter for LHU’s PSAC championship indoor track and field
team. Melvin Kirby also returns
for his second season in the mix after posting 529 yards in 2001.
The addition of red-shirt freshmen Chelstan Anderson, also a sprinter on
the LHU track and field team, and Eddie Dove will bolster the Haven’s ground
game and help keep the two returning starters sharp as he challenges for time
on the field. Returning
fullbacks Josh Stadulis and Dave Mottin both have two years of experience
behind them, and are expected to play a larger role in LHU’s offensive
production this time around. They
will have to compete with red-shirt frosh Travis Diehl, who is ready to earn a
spot on the field.
Looking to pave the way
to higher scoring potential is a Lock Haven offensive line that consists of
good numbers and a mixed bag of veteran players and incoming talent.
Two starters return in senior Jason Popp at center and junior Bill Cook
at left guard. Key reserves from
last season who return include red-shirt freshman Keith Boyer along with
Michael Lopata, who will challenge Popp for the start at center.
There is a handful of players ready to step in as soon as they get the
starting nod, including tackles Brian Speth, Caleb Smith, and Greg Mittleider
along with guards Dom DiGregory, Kris Kisbaugh, Vinnie Kisbaugh, Bob Koger, and
Broc Wenrich.
DEFENSE
The
departure of four starting seniors, including two All-PSAC awardees, has left
the Lock Haven defensive line depleted. Four
players who served as their key back-ups remain, however, and will look to make
up the difference. Protecting the
middle are junior Warren Whitaker and sophomore Jason Kasheta, while sophomore
Dustin Shaffer and junior Nate Eck have experience at both end positions. Other tackles vying for field time include red-shirt freshmen
Brian Johnson and Howard Randolph, while John Smeltzer will be in line for
playing time at defensive end. Sophomores
Jarrod Hendricks and Patrick Sweeney will also be big additions at defensive
end -- both earned substantial time last year on the offensive line and have
made the transition to help out the defense for the upcoming season.
Lock Haven’s leading tackler
from a year ago returns at linebacker, junior Derrik Metz, along with several
other young, but experienced defensive players.
Metz worked for a share of the team-high of 91 total stops last season,
including four tackles for loss and four pass break-ups.
A pair of sophomores, Charles Cannon (42 tkl) and Brian Lumpkin (17 tkl),
both saw quality time on the field in 2001 and are ready to make even bigger
contributions in 2002. Returning
to the lineup is senior Dan Wissinger, who suffered a season ending injury
early on in the year. Wissinger
was LHU’s leading tackler in 2000, registering 76 stops during that campaign.
The Bald Eagle linebacker crew also includes juniors Devin O’Rourke
and Brent Emel along with freshmen Steve Coley, Lou Grosely, and Ken Shaffer.
The Bald Eagle secondary returns in near
full strength for the 2002 season. The
Lock Haven pass defense was rated sixth in the PSAC last season, allowing an
average of 153.9 yards per game. Two-time
all-conference cornerback Rob Carey is back for his junior season after a
stellar sophomore campaign where he recorded 89 tackles (6 TFL), a team-leading
seven pass break-ups, and was among PSAC leaders with five interceptions for a
total 113 yards. Carey is joined
by fellow returning starter Sheldon Gray (41 tkl, 2 INT) along with Jamie
Thomas (35 tkl). Robia
Thomas will step in as a cornerback after working spot duty on special teams
last season, while red-shirt freshman Ngoyi Mukusa will also be fighting for a
starting role at corner. Others
with potential for playing time include newcomers Chris Gilman and Mike Creasey.
Returning to assume his starting
role at strong safety is senior Jim Hanzely, and spot starter Kellen Bush will
be challenging for either strong or free safety positions.
Hanzely played in only six games last season due to a broken collarbone,
but managed 30 tackles, while Bush posted 38 tackles along with five pass
break-ups in ten games. Also look
for Renaldo Nichols and Chris Nagle to pester opponent offenses at the strong
safety position, and John Scullin, Dechaune Roane, and Mark Barns to contribute
at free safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Rob
Carey is also a two-time All-PSAC West return specialist, dominating the Bald
Eagles’ return game for the past two seasons.
Last season, Carey finished as the conference leader in punt returns,
averaging 11.8 yards per return. He
was third in the PSAC in kickoff returns (26.3 ypr) and tallied two returns for
touchdown, including a long of 83 yards versus Bloomsburg University.
The Haven kicking game lost both starters, but the Bald Eagles will
still have two kickers who have been with the team for two seasons at their
disposal, sophomores Ryan Burd and Chris Keefer.
|
