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THE GAME
The Lock Haven Bald Eagles (0-5 0-2 PSAC West) will take to the road to face-off against the Edinboro University Fighting Scots (2-2, 1-1 PSAC West) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division competition. Game time at Edinboro’s Sox Harrison Stadium is 1 p.m.
THE SERIES
The Bald Eagles and the Fighting Scots have met on the gridiron every year since their first meeting in 1958, a contest Lock Haven won, 14-13. Edinboro currently leads the series with a 28-14-1 advantage. Lock Haven, however, won the last contest between the two last season (20-16), breaking an 18-game streak by the Fighting Scots that dated back to 1981.
In games played at Edinboro, EUP has won the last nine contests. Lock Haven’s most recent road win over the Fighting Scots was the 1981, 14-13, victory.
THE LAST TIME VERSUS EDINBORO
Lock Haven and then first-year Head Coach Mark Luther recorded their first victory of the season with a 20-16 win over Edinboro at home in Hubert Jack Stadium.
LHU freshman tailback Justin Marshall found the endzone three times, scoring his first collegiate points to lead the Bald Eagles to their first victory. Marshall totaled 15 carries for 71 yards, and also contributed to the air attack, tallying five receptions for 51 yards.
Lock Haven jumped ahead, 14-0, by the half after a rushing touchdown by Marshall and a touchdown reception by Derrick Shields. In the third quarter, Edinboro tailback John Williams worked the ball up field, rushing for five consecutive plays from the LHU 32-yardline capped off by a 12-yard touchdown scamper to put the Fighting Scots on the board.
Edinboro opened up the fourth quarter with the ball just inches away from the endzone, and quarterback Steve Tryon kept for the score from one-yard out. McNicholas' kick was good to knot the contest at 14-14.
A nine-yard scamper into the endzone by Marshall in the fourth again gave LHU the advantage, but Edinboro blocked the PAT and ran it back for the extra two points, bringing the score to 20-16. As the clock wound down, Edinboro worked for prime field position, advancing to the LHU 25 yardline. The Bald Eagles’ Ryan Matheson provided the heroics to preserve the LHU lead, intercepting Edinboro’s next pass attempt to end any hopes of a come-from-behind win.
SCOUTING EDINBORO
The Fighting Scots are 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC West. Edinboro split games with its first two non-conference opponents, falling 27-9 to Ashland University before defeating Gannon University, 37-21. In conference action, EUP surprised then-17th ranked Slippery Rock University with a 14-7 upset, before falling to California (Pa.) University last weekend, 24-34.
Edinboro’s ground (667 yards) and passing (670 yards) games have been equally productive. Last week against California, the passing game proved to be more effective, as quarterback Steve Tryon led the squad with 255 yards and three touchdowns on 20-for-40 passing. For the season, Tryon has completed 56 passes out of 103 attempts for 670 yards and five touchdowns.
All-purpose yardage leader John Williams rates as the Fighting Scots leading rusher, averaging 84.2 yards per game with two touchdowns. He is aided by tailback Alonzo Roebuck (41 carries, 197 yds, 2 TDs). The EUP receiving corps is piloted by Michael Lowe, who has posted 10 catches for 132 yards and one score. Williams also has 10 receptions, totalling 100 yards with a touchdown, and Chris Buehner has recorded eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Inside linebacker Jermaine Hughley (23.0 TT, 8 solo, 6 TFL, 2 sacks) and strong safety Jeff Richardson (26.0 TT, 19 solo, 7 TFL, 1 sack) currently lead the EUP defense.
Kicker Sean McNicholas is 3-for-6 on field goal attempts this season, and has hit 9-of-10 PATs. Josh Geis (9 pr, 40 yards) and Lincoln Bufalino (5 pr, 80 yards) handle the majority of the punt returns, while Anthony Williams (4 kr, 39 yards) and Bufalino (3 kr, 74 yards) are key players on kickoff returns.
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QB #5 Johnathan Stahl stepped up
to run the Bald Eagle offense
against Shippensburg last weekend.
THE COACHES
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Second-year Head Coach Mark Luther (Penn State, ‘92) leads the 2001 Bald Eagles into battle. Luther’s gridders compiled a 3-8 overall and 1-5 PSAC West mark in his first season at the helm.
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| He assumed the lead role following five years of service as a Bald Eagle assistant coach from 1994-98, acting as defensive coordinator in the 1997 and ‘98 seasons, recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant to former head coach Nick Polk.
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Edinboro’s second-year Head Coach Lou Tepper (Rutgers, '67) has 30 years experience at the Division I level, including a five-year stint as head coach at the University of Illinois.
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Tepper joined the Edinboro staff in 2000 after previously serving as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana State University. He has had coaching stints at Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and Colorado in addition to his time at Illinois and
LSU.
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BALD EAGLE NOTES
THE OFFENSE
The Bald Eagle offense suffered from a shaky start against Shippensburg in the absence due to injury of its first and second-string quarterbacks Bill Witmer (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) and Brian Genis (Pittsburgh/Keystone Oaks). Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) filled in to start, but took a hard hit in the first quarter and was forced to leave the game, later returning in his original role as a wide out. LHU next opted for Johnathan Stahl (Elizabethtown/Lower Dauphin), who came off the bench to guide the Bald Eagles’ offense, completing 12-of-23 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Despite a talented and hard working cast, Lock Haven has yet to surpass the 100-yards rushing mark in a game this season. Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Melvin Kirby (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) have been the main players in the battle on the ground. Walker took the ball 10 times for 25 yards against Shippensburg, and currently averages 44.6 yards per game. Kirby had 18 carries for 52 yards, and totals an average of 43.8 yards each time out.
When he is not assisting at quarterback, Marcus Burkley doubles as Lock Haven’s leading receiver. Burkley has caught 21 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Another player elevating his level of play is junior receiver John Caldwell (Virginia Beach, Va./Fork Union Military Academy), who has 219 yards and two touchdowns from 19 receptions.
Protecting them up front are tackles senior Mike Landis (Quakertown/Quakertown) and freshman Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) along with Bill Cook (York/Central York), Josh Clair (Manheim/Manheim Central), and Jason Popp (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin).
THE DEFENSE
Cornerback Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and linebacker Chad Koleno (Clarence/Bald Eagle Area) currently lead Bald Eagle defenders. Carey has recorded 33.5 total stops, including 28 solo tackles and two for loss. Koleno posted a season-high of 2.5 tackles for loss against Shippensburg, and has 28.0 total tackles (21 solo), along with a team-high of 3.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) (25.5 tkls, 2 TFL) and strong safety Robert Glielmi (Athens/Athens Area)(20.5 tkls) have also played a major role in the defensive efforts.
The defensive line features four seniors, Christopher Hileman (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) (10.0 tkls, 3 sacks), DePhilip Jackson (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township) (13.0 tkls, 2.5 TFL), Lloyd Brooks (Williamsport/Williamsport Area) (7.5 tkls, 1 INT, 1 TFL), and Barry Byrd (Harrisburg/Harrisburg) (13.0 tkls, 1 sack).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick returner Rob Carey is third in the conference in both kickoff and punt returns, averaging 25.4 yards on kick returns and 11.8 per punt return. Bald Eagle kicker Jonathan Miller (Acme/Meyersdale) cleared a 28-yard field goal last Saturday against Shippensburg. Miller is 2-for-4 on field goal attempts, and has split the uprights on 5-of-6 point after attempts.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bald Eagle gridders return home to Hubert Jack Stadium for their Homecoming game against Cheyney University on Saturday, October 13. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
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