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September 10, 2002

Haven Gridders Host Kutztown Golden Bears in Home Opener
Game #2 -- vs. Kutztown University -- Hubert Jack Stadium -- Lock Haven, PA -- 4 p.m.

>>>Full Game Release (PDF) >>>2002 LHU Roster >>>Kutztown University Athletics Website

THE GAME
     The Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Bald Eagle football team opens its home season with a divisional cross-over contest versus the Golden Bears of Kutztown University (1-0). The game can be heard locally on WBPZ-1230 AM and online at http://www.redzonemedia.com.

THE SERIES
     The series record favors Lock Haven but the recent trend rests in Kutztown’s favor, as LHU holds a 13-8-1 all-time lead while KU has won five of the last six games including last year’s 28-6 final.
     Lock Haven won the first meeting back in 1930, 14-13. The last time a Bald Eagle squad defeated the Golden Bears was in 1993, a 52-30 victory under the guidance of Head Coach Dennis Therell at home in Hubert Jack Stadium.

THE LAST TIME VERSUS VERSUS KUTZTOWN
      Last season the Bald Eagles traveled to University Field in Kutztown, Pa., falling 28-6 to the 20th-ranked Golden Bears. Both teams cleared the field at the half in a scoreless tie, and Kutztown was up 7-0 after three periods. The Bears answered the challenge in the fourth quarter, however, coming alive for a 21-point run for the win.
      The Haven’s only points of the game came off a touchdown pass from Brian Genis to Marcus Burkley in the fourth quarter. Defensively, cornerback Rob Carey (10 TT) and linebacker Chad Koleno (9 TT) were Haven leaders.

SCOUTING KUTZTOWN
     After losing in the final two games of the 2001 season, the 2002 Kutztown University Golden Bears are looking to get things headed back in the right direction, a move which started with the 34-13 win over Elizabeth City State University on August 29. A 27-0 lead after one half of play gave KU enough of a cushion for the win.
     Nine returning offensive starters anchor the KU scoring drive. At quarterback is sophomore Rob Flowers, who threw for 172 yards on 17 completions versus ECSU. He has multiple targets this season, including starting wide receivers David Borden and Trevor Smith. Borden caught three passes for 37 yards including a 25-yard touchdown pass in the season opener. Smith also reeled in three passes, posting 35 yards. Others in the mix include Mike Conner (3 catches/55 yards), Paul Thomas (2 catches/7 yards), and tight end Doug Reynolds (2 catches/6 yards).
     The KU running game has received a boost from the play of freshman Stephen Gammage, who ran for three touchdowns (14 carries/38 yards) to help lead the Bears to the victory over ECSU. Gammage posted two touchdown runs in the first half on short-yardage gains, then hit paydirt again in the third period on a 10-yard jaunt into the endzone. Sophomore running back Atiba Kenyatta contributed some of the leg work to get KU into scoring position, rushing for 62 yards on 11 carries during the game.
     Up front, the Golden Bears have a full staff of returning starters and letterwinners. At center is senior Will Luca flanked by a pair of junior guards in Steven Schafer and Trevor Miller. Starting at the two tackle spots will be sophomore Trent Daley and senior Jasen Esposito.

LHU offense versus Kutztown
during the 2001 season

THE COACHES

	Lock Haven Head Coach Mark Luther (Penn State, ‘92) enters his third season. Luther’s gridders compiled 3-8 overall and 1-5 PSAC West marks in both of his prior two seasons at the helm of the Bald Eagles.
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.

	Kutztown University's Dave Keeny (Kutztown, ‘83, ‘87) begins his fifth season at the helm of the Golden Bear football team. Keeny led last year’s squad to a 6-4 record, and has gone 22-19 over his four years as head coach.
Prior to taking the head coaching position, he served as KU’s offensive coordinator for five seasons. Previous coaching jobs include a three-year stint at Thomas More College.

     Another nine starters return on the KU defense. Against Elizabeth City State, the Golden Bears totaled nine tackles for loss, picked off three passes, and posted four sacks. Leading KU was red-shirt freshman middle linebacker Greg Mitchell with six tackles and senior defensive end Corey Benson, also with six stops in addition to two tackles for loss and one sack. Junior corner Andre Davis intercepted two Viking passes and had two pass breakups in his 2002 debut.
     KU has new talent in its kicking lineup, going with freshman Matt Scartozzi. Scartozzi was four of five on PATs and 0-1 on field goal attempts against ECSU. The Kutztown return game is manned by Andre Davis with help from Trevor Smith on punt returns and Tyhiem Gaston and Atiba Kenyatta on kickoffs.

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE
     The restrictive Northeastern defense allowed just 109 total yards of offense in LHU’s season opener, 76 of those coming via the pass. The Haven’s starting quarterback Bill Witmer (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) suffered a shoulder injury in the second half of the Northeastern game, and is not expected to play this Saturday. In his place, junior Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) is the probable signal caller. Storino stepped in for Witmer in game one, throwing for 45 yards on four completions. Providing backup will be rookie Rob Kristiniak (Flourtown/Springfield Township).
     On the receiving end will be Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) and Scott Anderson (Cortland, Ohio/Lakeview). Burkley caught two passes for 20 yards against Northeastern, while Anderson reeled in two passes for 17 yards.
Taking the ball on the ground are tailbacks Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Melvin Kirby (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills). Kirby totaled 28 yards on five attempts while Walker covered 13 yards on 12 attempts versus Northeastern. Dave Mottin (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) and Josh Stadulis (Willow Grove/Academy of the New Church) will again split duties at fullback.
     Up front, center Jason Popp (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin) will receive support on his right from the Kisbaugh brothers Vinnie and Kris (Berwick/Berwick) and on his left from senior Josh Clair (Manheim/Manheim Central) and Bill Cook (York/Central York).

THE DEFENSE
     On the other side of the ball, one of the Bald Eagles’ spotlight players is outside linebacker Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central), who recorded a career-high 18 tackles including 13 solo stops against Northeastern. Metz, along with Dan Wissinger (Johnstown/Ferndale Area) and sophomore Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin Area) make up the starting linebacker contingent. Wissinger posted seven stops and Nalewak had six tackles in the season opener.
     The defensive line is maintained by tackles Warren Whitaker (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) and Jason Kasheta (Carbondale/Carbondale Area). Kasheta registered two stops while Whitaker had one in The Haven’s lidlifter. On the outsides are junior Nathan Eck (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore), who had one tackle against Northeastern, and sophomore Dustin Shaffer (Mayport/Redbank Valley), who tallied two stops in the game.
     In the secondary, strong safety Jim Hanzely (DuBois/DuBois Area) came up with eight stops against Northeastern. Free safety Kellen Bush (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) picked off a Huskie pass for LHU’s first interception of the season, while cornerbacks Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Ngoyi Mukusa (Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe) added three and four tackles, respectively.

SPECIAL TEAMS
     Rob Carey handled seven kickoff returns versus Northeastern, running the ball back for a total of 119 yards (17.0 ypr). Carey is joined deep by Ngoyi Mukusa, who took his first kickoff return of the season 11 yards. The Bald Eagles hand off kicking duties to freshman Greg Knauss (Laurys Station/Parkland), who is second in the conference in punting with a 51.0 yard average after sending five kicks for a total of 255 yards against Northeastern.

###LHU###