LHU HOME

October 17, 2001
LHU Gridders Host California (Pa.) in Week Eight Action
Game #8 -- October 20, 2001 -- Hubert Jack Stadium -- Lock Haven, PA -- 7 p.m.

THE GAME
The Lock Haven football team (1-6, 0-3 PSAC West) hosts the California (Pa.) University Vulcans (4-2, 1-2 PSAC West) in a conference match-up under the lights at Hubert Jack Stadium on Saturday, October 20, at 7 p.m.

THE SERIES
Since 1971, the Vulcans of California hold a 17-12-1 advantage in the series between the two squads. California won the last two meetings, including last year’s 27-7 game. The last time LHU went away the winner was also the last time the game was set in Hubert Jack Stadium, three years ago in 1998, 28-14.

THE LAST TIME VERSUS CALIFORNIA
California defeated the Bald Eagles, 27-7, in a PSAC Western Division match-up last season. Cal running back Wesley Cates scored three touchdowns and covered 224 yards on 25 carries to lead the Vulcans to their fourth victory of the season. California recorded 302 yards and four touchdowns with the rush, while holding the LHU running game to just 81 yards.

LHU got on the scoreboard first and the teams went into halftime intermission in a 7-7 tie. Lock Haven scored first on a drive resulting from the defensive efforts of Bald Eagle safety Joe Rose. Rose intercepted a pass on LHU's 25-yardline to end California's first possession. The Haven then drove 75 yards on six plays, with a 31-yard touchdown reception from Ed Galiczynski to Marcus Burkley to cap off the drive. With the good point after attempt by Matt Mapes, The Haven took the early 7-0 advantage. California’s Cates scored late in the first quarter, however, to knot the score at 7-7.

California broke the tie on the first drive of the third quarter, as Cates took the ball from 36 yards out and crossed into the endzone. The Vulcans scored on their two possessions in the fourth quarter as well (Cates- 37 yard run; Brandon LeDonne - 4 yard run), buidling up a comfortable 27-7 lead.

The Bald Eagles' last minute drive brought them all the way to the California 3-yardline, but time would run out before LHU could cross over into the endzone.

LHU quarterback Ed Galiczynski threw for 136 yards on 14-for-23 passing with one touchdown. The recipient of that touchdown pass, Marcus Burkley, covered 101 yards on seven receptions. Defensively, linebacker Dan Wissinger tallied 11 tackles to lead the Bald Eagles. Cornerback Rob Carey and defensive tackle Lloyd Brooks both contributed six stops apiece.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA
The Vulcans enter Hubert Jack Stadium with a 4-2 overall ledger and a 1-2 PSAC Western Division mark. California captured wins in its first four games, but has lost its last two, including last Saturday’s 37-27 loss to Slippery Rock University.

The California rush offense sports a conference leading average of 264.8 yards per contest, and the Vulcans are also third in the PSAC in scoring with 30.0 points scored per game.

Cal’s headlining offensive threat is senior tailback Wesley Cates. After last week’s performance, Cates broke the PSAC career rushing touchdown record with 56 and the PSAC career points record with 338 points. For the season, Cates leads the conference with 156 yards per game and 14 rushing touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Brandon LeDonne has completed 41-of-91 passes in six games with one touchdown. LeDonne is also second on California’s rushing chart, averaging 58.2 yards per game on the ground. Favorite targets in the passing game include receivers Clinton Alexander (13 catches, 223 yds, 1 TD) and Antown Allen (9 catches, 85 yds) along with tight end Robin Brown (9 catches, 149 yds).

Defensively, the Vulcans are captained by senior linebacker Jim Lukacs. Lukacs leads California and is second in the PSAC with 63 tackles (26 solo). Free safety Jamal Colbert (50 tkls), lineman Matt Onyshko (40 tkls, 6 TFL, 3 sacks) and linebacker Kevan Scott (40 tkls, 5 TFL) are also key players. Strong safety Yadin Collins shares the team lead with Onyshko for tackles for loss with 6.0, and cornerback Jon Arnold paces the Cal defense with nine pass break ups.

R.J. Abercrombie handles kick returns, averaging 20.8 yards per return after 12 attempts (250 yards). Antown Allen has assumed punt return duties and averages 6.8 yards per return. Cal placekicker Jason Gross has hit 22-of-24 PATs, and is 2-for-5 in field goal attempts.

(above) A full house showed up to cheer on the
Bald Eagles to their 44-20 Homecoming victory over Cheyney last Saturday.

(below) The Bald Eagle defense

THE COACHES

	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.
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.

	California is under the tutelege of fifth year Head Coach Mike Kolakowski (Ohio Northern, ‘86).
Kolakowski has built a 21-33 record while at the helm of the Vulcan program. Before coming to California in 1997, he spent five years as the secondary coach and special teams coordinator at Ohio University.

BALD EAGLE NOTES

THE OFFENSE
The Bald Eagle offense posted its best game yet against Cheyney last week, doubling its rushing yardage from the previous high of 155 yards (against Edinboro on 10/6) to 312 yards. Leading the way was LHU’s first pair of 100-yard rushers in a game since the 1985 season, Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Melvin Kirby (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills). Walker has posted back-to-back games reaching the century mark, recording 110 vs. Edinboro before rushing for 194 yards against Cheyney. Kirby hit the mark for the first time this season, covering 132 yards and crossing into the endzone twice.

Quarterbacks Johnathan Stahl (Elizabethtown/Lower Dauphin) and Bill Witmer (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) split duties last weekend. Stahl threw for 49 yards and a touchdown against Cheyney, and to date, has connected on 18-of-41 attempts for a total of 557 yards. Witmer posted 65 yards and a score last Saturday, and has completed 46-of-104 passes this season for 557 yards.

Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) and John Caldwell (Virginia Beach, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) pace all Haven receivers. Burkley has made 31 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Caldwell is close behind, posting 25 catches for 308 yards with three touchdowns.

Guarding them up front will be 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
Headlining the Bald Eagle defense is cornerback Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and linebackers Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) and Chad Koleno (Clarence/Bald Eagle Area). Carey is among the top ten in the PSAC in tackles, posting 45 stops, including 37 unassisted. He also leads LHU in pass breakups with four. Metz led Lock Haven with 6.5 tackles against Cheyney, and is second on the team with 40.0 total tackles. Koleno has registered 38.0 total stops, and owns a team-best six tackles for loss.

Safeties Robert Glielmi (Athens/Athens Area) (25.0 tackles) and Renaldo Nichols (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) (15.0 tackles) and linebacker Corey Shaner (Knox/Keystone) (20.5 tackles) round out The Haven’s defensive starters in the secondary and at linebacker.

Holding down the defensive line is the senior quartet of Christopher Hileman (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) (13.5 tkls, 4 sacks, 5 TFL), DePhilip Jackson (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township) (18.5 tkls, 2 TFL), Lloyd Brooks (Williamsport/Williamsport Area) (11.5 tkls, 1 INT, 3 TFL), and Barry Byrd (Harrisburg/Harrisburg) (16.0 tkls, 1 sack, TFL).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Rob Carey is currently the top punt returner in the PSAC, averaging 16.0 yards per return. Carey is also fourth in the conference in kick returns with a 22.9 yards average. Bald Eagle kicker Jonathan Miller (Acme/Meyersdale) split the uprights on three field goals and five point after attempts against Cheyney, improving his season total to 10-of-11 on PATs and 6-of-13 on field goal attempts.

LOOKING AHEAD
Lock Haven football will take to the road to match-up against Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 27. Kickoff in SRU’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium is 1 p.m.

###LHU###