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THE GAME - HOMECOMING 2001
Bald Eagle football (0-6, 0-3 PSAC West) hosts a cross-divisional contest against Cheyney University (0-4, 0-3 PSAC East) for its annual Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 13. Kickoff in Hubert Jack Stadium is at 2 p.m.
THE SERIES
Saturday’s game marks the 11th time and the fourth consecutive season that Lock Haven and Cheyney have met on the gridiron. LHU currently holds a 10-0 advantage in the series. Lock Haven has beaten Cheyney in Hubert Jack Stadium three times in the past 24 years, dating back to the 1979, 48-14, victory to clinch the Pennsylvania Conference Championship. Last season LHU scored the road win, bringing home the 24-20 victory over the Wolves.
THE LAST TIME VERSUS CHEYNEY
The Bald Eagles captured a 24-20 victory over Cheyney University in the 2000 season. After beating Edinboro in the previous game, the win gave Lock Haven back-to-back victories for the first time since the 1997 season.
A strong third quarter backed by big defensive plays in the fourth spelled the victory for Lock Haven. Down 12-7 at the half, LHU fought back in the third period with two touchdowns by running back Justin Marshall, including one 80-yard run for the score. Kicker Matt Mapes hit a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, giving Lock Haven the 24-12 lead and Mapes the all-time record for field goals made at The Haven.
With just under six minutes remaining in the game, the Wolves tacked on another touchdown. With a successful two-point conversion, they inched closer, 24-20. Cheyney drove deep into Bald Eagle territory on its next possession as the clock wound down, but the LHU defense held strong. Crimson and White defenders thwarted two pass attempts into the endzone, and on fourth and goal, lineman Chris Hileman sacked the Cheyney quarterback to end the drive and secure the LHU victory.
Haven running back Justin Marshall totaled 210 yards on 24 carries, the most yards in a single game by a Bald Eagle since Mike Kresovich in 1981. Marcus Burkley led LHU receivers with 47 yards on two catches. Defensively, Chris Hileman registered seven tackles, including a team-best five for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Cheyney's Keynard Edouard put up 125 yards and a touchdown on 22 rush attempts, and quarterback Colin Smith added 158 yards on 8-for-16 passing. The CU defense was led by Wes Setles, who recorded 11 stops, including four for loss and one sack.
SCOUTING CHEYNEY
The Cheyney Wolves are 0-4 overall and sport an 0-3 mark in the PSAC Eastern Division. The only other team in the PSAC besides Lock Haven to remain winless, CU most recently suffered a 60-26 loss at the hands of Millersville University.
The majority of Cheyney’s points against Millersville came off of big plays, including a 75-yard rushing touchdown by Anthony Robinson. Rounding out CU scoring was a 75-yard reception by John Chestnut from Antowine Graham and a 95-yard kickoff return, also by Chestnut.
For the season, Chestnut leads the PSAC and the Wolves averaging 93.5 yards receiving per game. Other receivers include Rusty Sanders (14.0 ypg) and Kenny Brown (20.0 ypg).
Quarterback Antowine Graham has thrown for three touchdowns this season, and has 475 yards on 31-for-86 passing entering into this weekend. Graham is not afraid to run the ball either, putting up 118 yards on the rush in four games played.
On the ground, Anthony Robinson paces Cheyney with an average of 49.8 yards per game. Robinson has two touchdowns so far this season, both coming against Millersville University last Saturday.
Defensively, free safety Allen Parker leads the Wolves and is third in the conference with 40.5 tackles (31 solo). Others contributing include linebacker Mark Jones (28.5 tkls, 4 TFL) and defensive end Robert Moore (22.0 tkls, 3 TFL, 2.0 sacks). Defensive end Kip Patton (20.0 tkls) is tied for the top spot in the conference in tackles for loss with eight.
Back deep for the Wolves on kickoffs are John Chestnut (22.0 ypr), Eric Washington (13.8 ypr), and Jon Watson (9.2 ypr). The Wolves have not attempted a field goal this season, and have opted for the two-point conversion after 8-of-9 touchdowns, successfully running the ball into the endzone on four occasions.
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The Bald Eagle defense (above) limited Edinboro to just 44
yards passing 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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Cheyney is led by fourth-year mentor John Parker. Parker is now 4-28-0 at Cheyney and 9-43-0 overall.
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| Prior to his appointment at
Cheyney, Parker served as head coach at the University of Minnesota at Morris. There, he guided the UMM squad to a 1-9 record his inaugural season, breaking a 27-game non-winning streak, and then to a 4-6 record in his second year.
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BALD EAGLE NOTES
THE OFFENSE
The Bald Eagle offense generated more yards against Edinboro (279 yards) than in any of its previous games, but stifled attempts to cross into the endzone along with turnovers left LHU on the short end of the final 23-3 score. Rookie tailback Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) posted Lock Haven’s first 100-yard game on the ground this season, covering 110 yards on 21 carries. For the season, Walker averages 55.5 yards per game. Fellow running back Melvin Kirby (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) had 76 yards on 11 rush attempts, and averages 49.2 yards per contest.
Red-shirt freshman signal caller Bill Witmer (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) returned to the field for the Edinboro game after sitting out the Shippensburg contest due to a knee injury. Witmer connected on 16 of 37 passes for 213 yards, but threw three interceptions, his first of the season. Overall, Witmer owns a 42.7-percent completion rate, and has thrown for 492 yards in five games.
Bald Eagle receivers were led by Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills), who recorded 93 yards on seven receptions against the Fighting Scots. Burkley is fourth in the PSAC averaging 4.67 catches per game, and has posted 306 yards and two touchdowns. John Caldwell (Virginia Beach, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) has also become a key player in The Haven’s passing game, tallying a season total of 279 yards on 22 catches along with two scores.
Mannng the offensive line are tackles senior Mike Landis (Quakertown/Quakertown) and freshman Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area), guards sophomore Bill Cook (York/Central York) and junior Josh Clair (Manheim/Manheim Central), and junior center Jason Popp (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin).
THE DEFENSE
Bald Eagle defenders allowed Edinboro just 44 yards passing backed by the strong secondary performance of cornerback Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills). Carey leads LHU and is eighth in the PSAC with 40.0 total tackles, including two interceptions and two pass breakups.
Linebackers Chad Koleno (Clarence/Bald Eagle Area) and Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) are also among team defensive leaders. Koleno has 33.5 total stops, including a team best 5.0 tackles for loss. Metz also has 33.5 tackles on the season. Safeties Robert Glielmi (Athens/Athens Area) (24.0 tackles) and Kellen Bush (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) (17.5 tackles) and linebacker Corey Shaner (Knox/Keystone) (17.0 tackles) round out the top of The Haven’s defensive charts.
Holding down the defensive line are four seniors, Christopher Hileman (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) (10.5 tkls, 3 sacks, 2 TFL), DePhilip Jackson (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township) (16.5 tkls, 2 TFL), Lloyd Brooks (Williamsport/Williamsport Area) (8.5 tkls, 1 INT, 2 TFL), and Barry Byrd (Harrisburg/Harrisburg) (13.5 tkls, 1 sack, TFL).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick returner Rob Carey rates fourth in the conference in both kickoff and punt returns, averaging 24.6 yards on kick returns and 11.8 yards per punt return. Bald Eagle kicker Jonathan Miller (Acme/Meyersdale) recorded LHU’s only points of the game last Saturday, hitting a 27-yard field goal. For the season, Miller is 3-of-7 on field goal attempts, and has made 5-of-6 point after kicks.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bald Eagle gridders remain at home in the friendly confines of Hubert Jack Stadium to take on California (Pa.) University on Saturday, October 20. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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