LHU HOME

September 18, 2001
LHU Gridders Travel To #9 Indiana (Pa.) For PSAC West Opener
Game#4 -- September 22, 2001 -- George P. Miller Stadium -- Indiana, PA -- 7 p.m.

THE GAME
Lock Haven football (0-3) kicks off PSAC Western Division competition this Saturday, Sept. 22, against #9 Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1-0). Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Indiana’s Miller Stadium.

THE SERIES
Indiana has maintained a firm lead in the gridiron series between the two PSAC West squads, piling up a 44-15-3 advantage in 62 meetings since the first in 1927. The last time the Bald Eagles were able to defeat Indiana was in 1981, a commanding 41-14 victory.

THE LAST TIME VERSUS INDIANA
The No. 5-ranked Indiana (Pa.) football squad scored a 35-0 shutout victory over Lock Haven in week four of the 2000 season, defeating the Bald Eagles during their Homecoming weekend at Hubert Jack Stadium.

Leading the way for the Indians' offense was quarterback Brian Eyerman, who completed 11-of-16 passes for 148 yards with a touchdown passing and one rushing. Tailback Henry Lane collected 90 yards on 27 attempts with a score, and fellow tailback Aamir Dew posted 76 yards on 14 rushes with two touchdowns. Carmelo Ocasio led the receivers with three receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, IUP hampered the LHU running game, allowing only 32 yards rushing. Safety Dave Deneen led the way with seven tackles, Mike Borisenko posted six tackles with three for loss and a sack, and Jeff Jackson recorded six stops, including one for loss, and an interception with an 11-yard return.

Lock Haven was led by senior quarterback Ed Galiczynski, who completed 17-of-25 passes for 111 total yards. Receiver Scott Anderson and tight end Ryan Lightner both tallied four receptions, with Anderson covering 42 yards and Lightner adding 31 yards. On the ground, LHU was led by tailback Louis Mims, who carried the ball 12 times for a total 34 yards. The LHU defense held Indiana in check, giving up 313 yards to a team that had averaged 544 yards over its past two contests. Free safety Ryan Matheson led the LHU defensive forces with eight tackles. Linebacker Dan Wissinger added seven, and corner Robert Carey contributed six, including one for loss and a pass breakup.

SCOUTING INDIANA (PA)
The Indiana football team is ranked #9 in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, and sports a 1-0 record after last weekend’s game against the University of New Haven was cancelled.

IUP returns 16 starters to the fold for the 2001 season, and used that experience to its benefit to roll to the 31-10 victory over the University of Findlay on September 1. Piloted by junior quarterback Brian Eyerman, the Indiana offense generated 401 yards, 243 of those of the passing variety. Eyerman connected on three touchdown strikes, and went 16-28 with one interception in his first appearance of the season.

Carmelo Ocasio and J.R. Thomas fill the starting receiver positions. Ocasio caught four passes for 99 yards against Findlay, including one touchdown. Thomas was the recipient of three aerials totaling 11 yards.

Two-time First Team All-PSAC selection Aamir Dew returns to man the running game, and rushed for 139 yards (19 carries) against Findlay with one touchdown. Others dangerous on the ground include tailback and Temple transfer Marko Jackson (5 carries, 17 yds), and starting fullback Tom Rebholz.

Linebacker Sondiata McKeithan and safety Dave Deneen led the Indiana defensive unit aganst Findlay. McKeithan posted 6.0 tackles (4 solo), and Deneen added 6.5 stops (5 solo), including two for loss (-16 yds) and a pass breakup. All-American and 2000 PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year Mike Borisenko returns at inside linebacker, and tallied 6.0 tackles in IUP’s season opener. Tackle Jim Buffone is another all-conference defender returning to the IUP line. Buffone registered 4.0 tackles versus Findlay.

The IUP return game is handled by J.R. Thomas and Joey Flora. Thomas ran back a Findlay kickoff for 88 yards two weeks ago, and Flora recorded three punt returns for 27 yards. Sophomore kicker Josh Telenko returns, and enters Saturday’s contest with a 4-for-4 mark on PATs and is 1-1 on field goal attempts, hitting a 21-yarder versus Findlay.

LHU quarterback Bill Witmer (#9 above) accounted for two touchdowns against Bloomsburg, a one-yard scamper and a 43-yard pass to John Caldwell.
(photo courtesy of CoachesIllustrated)

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.

	At the helm of Indiana (Pa.) football is 16th-year Head Coach Frank Cignetti (IUP, '60, ‘65). While at Indiana, Cignetti has accumulated a 141-37-1 record along with 11 NCAA Division II playoff appearances.
Before coming to IUP, he served as head coach at West Virginia University from 1976-79 before moving on to direct the Indians in 1986.

BALD EAGLE NOTES

THE OFFENSE
Though the Bald Eagles’ total offensive yield (240 yards) against Bloomsburg was similar to that posted against Kutztown, the scoring total was drastically improved, as LHU put up 24 points in the 34-24 loss to the #7 Huskies.

Rookie quarterback Bill Witmer (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) continues to become more comfortable in his starting role, throwing for 149 yards and a touchdown on 10-for-21 passing last Saturday. For the season, Witmer posts a completion percentage of 40.0 (22-55-0), and has 260 yards and a touchdown pass.

Complimenting Witmer are receivers Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) and John Caldwell (Virginia Beach, Va./Fork Union Military Academy). Burkley caught three passes for 55 yards versus Bloomsburg, and leads LHU receivers with 158 yards on 15 receptions for the season. Caldwell scored his first touchdown of the season against Bloomsburg off a 43-yard connection with Witmer. For the year, Caldwell has 12 catches for 141 yards.
Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Melvin Kirby (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) continue to man the running game. Walker tallied 23 carries for 84 yards in his last outing, and leads all Haven rushers with a net yardage of 158 on 48 attempts. Kirby added 30 yards on 11 carries against Bloomsburg, and has 131 yards on 29 rushes for the season.

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 Michael Lopata (Nesquehoning/Panther Valley).

THE DEFENSE
Strong safety Robert Glielmi (Athens/Athens Area) led the LHU defensive forces last week, posting 10.0 tackles (8 solo) and an interception with a 29-yard return. Cornerback Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) finished the game with 7.0 stops (6 solo), and currently leads all Haven defendders with 23.5 tackles (19 solo). Linebackers Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central)and Chad Koleno (Clarence/Bald Eagle Area) follow with 19.0 and 15.5 total tackles, respectively. End Christopher Hileman (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) leads the team with two sacks (-14 yds) and tackles for loss (2, -14 yds).

Anchored by Carey and Glielmi, the secondary boasts a strong lineup including Kellen Bush (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) (11.5 tkls) and Jamie Thomas (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore) (9.0 tkls). The defensive line will feature Hileman, along with DePhilip Jackson (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township) (9.5 tkls, 2 FR),Lloyd Brooks (Williamsport/Williamsport Area) (4.0 tkls, 1 INT, 1 TFL), and Barry Byrd (Harrisburg/Harrisburg) (7.0 tkls, 1 sack).

SPECIAL TEAMS
The LHU special teams unit had a notable outing against Bloomsburg, accounting for 10 of the squad's 24 points. Kick/punt return specialist Rob Carey returned a Bloom kickoff 83 yards for the score, the first time since 1995 that a Bald Eagle has run back a kick for touchdown. Kicker Jonathan Miller (Acme/Meyersdale) also added his name to the LHU records by making a 47-yard field goal to tie the distance record held by Matt Mapes (1999 vs. Clarion, Slippery Rock) and Charles Traber (1996 vs. Edinboro).

LOOKING AHEAD
Lock Haven football returns to Hubert Jack Stadium on Saturday, September 29, for a PSAC West contest against Shippensburg University. The game will be played under the lights, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

###LHU###