LHU HOME

September 17, 2002

LHU Football To Challenge No. 23-Ranked Bloomsburg Huskies
Game #3 -- at Bloomsburg University -- Redman Stadium -- Bloomsburg, PA -- 1 p.m.

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

THE GAME
     The Bald Eagles (1-1) will look to build on last week’s win with another this Saturday, September 21, when they take to the road to match-up against #23 Bloomsburg University (1-1). A 1 p.m. kickoff is scheduled for Bloomsburg’s Robert B. Redman Stadium. The game can be heard locally on WBPZ-1230 AM and online at http://www.redzonemedia.com.

THE SERIES
     Saturday’s contest will mark the 81st time the two squads have met on the gridiron. The Huskies hold a 40-37-3 lead in the series, including the last nine slong with 15 wins in the last 22 contests. Last season, Bloomsburg defeated LHU 34-24 in Hubert Jack Stadium.
    The last time Lock Haven captured a victory from Bloomsburg was in 1992 under Head Coach Dennis Therell, a 38-33 win on the road at BU’s Redman Stadium. The Bald Eagles also pocketed wins over Bloomsburg in the two seasons prior to the ‘92 road victory, 1991 (14-9) and 1990 (14-7).

THE LAST TIME VERSUS VERSUS BLOOMSBURG
      Bloomsburg’s Arrastene Henry and Tierell Johnson’s combined hundred-yard performances paced the Huskies as they escaped with the 34-24 victory from Hubert Jack Stadium last season.
     Lock Haven quarterback Bill Witmer went 10-for-21 with one passing touchdown, throwing for 149 yards. Witmer also added a one-yard rush for score. Leading the ground attack was then-freshman tailback Maurice Walker, who covered 84 yards on 23 carries. Receiver John Caldwell totaled 85 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. The Bald Eagle defense was led by strong safety Rob Glielmi, who recorded 9.0 tackles (6 solo) and an interception.
    Bloomsburg signal caller Chris Thompson finished with 196 yards on 11-of-23 passing and three touchdown passes. Johnson caught seven passes totaling 156 yards, including two scores. On the ground, it was Henry with 195 yards from 30 carries (two touchdowns), and Marques Glaze, who earned 99 yards on 17 rushes. Defensively, the Huskies were led by cornerback Rudy Garcia (7.5 total, 6 solo).

SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
     The Huskies of Bloomsburg University are 1-1 following a come-from-behind victory over Shippensburg University, 27-26, on the road last Saturday. Bloomsburg maintains a No. 23 national ranking in both the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll and the D2Football.com poll.
     On Saturday, Bloomsburg trailed Shippensburg 26-14 with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but came back to score two touchdowns to break a six-game losing streak for the Huskies at Shippensburg’s Seth Grove Stadium. Junior Huskie quarterback Andrew Herrmann finished with 173 yards on 9-for-22 passing with three touchdowns. Senior receiver Rocco Forgione caught three passes for 40 yards and one score and fellow senior Tierell Johnson grabbed two passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, linebackers Matt Keys and Shawn Butler both tallied team-bests of 14 tackles.
     The Bloomsburg offense rests on the shoulders of junior quarterback Andrew Herrmann. Herrmann has completed 22 of 51 attempts (43.1) for 311 yards and four touchdowns. His top two targets have been the senior duo of Rocco Forgione (7 rec./54.5 ypg/1 TD) and Tierell Johnson (5 rec./66.5 ypg/2 TD).
     Bloomsburg has averaged 98.0 yards per game on the rush. Sophomores Mike Ceroli and Julius Brown have accounted for most of that yardage, Ceroli netting 99 yards on 26 attempts and Brown tallying 86 yards on 24 attempts with two touchdowns, including the game-winning score versus Shippensburg on a one-yard run.
    The BU offensive line is experienced, consisting of four seniors and one junior anchored by 2001 All-PSAC senior center Brian Bingaman. To either side are seniors Charlie Fay and Chris Mullin. Senior tackles Jason Fluck is out to the right, while junior John Centak is out left.
    Defensively, senior end Dave Armstrong has powered his way to a conference leading 2.25 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss per game. Linebackers Matt Keys and Shawn Butler pace the Huskies with 25 and 23 total stops. The BU defensive line is as experienced as the offensive front line with three seniors and a sophomore.
    Senior defensive ends Dorian Thompson (4 TT, 2 TFL) and Jeremy Matrician (3 TT) are joined by senior Zach Miers (3 TT, 1 TFL) and sophomore Tony Milone (9 TT) on the starting line. Linebackers Butler and Keys are joined by middle linebacker Mike Gross in the starting lineup. The Bloomsburg secondary consists of corners Rudy Garcia (7 TT, INT) and Joe Scritchfield (7 TT) along with free safety Jason Noble (6 TT) and strong safety Charlie Lanier (5 TT).
    Sophomore kick returner Nick Kurtz averages 20.0 yards per return, while Rocco Forgione will handle punt returns. Bloomsburg utilizes sophomore Tim Oliver in its kicking game. Oliver is 4-for-5 on point after kicks and 1-for-2 on field goal attempts, converting on a 41 yard field goal against IUP.

Haven cornerback and kick
returner Rob Carey earned PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors after
helping lift the Bald Eagles over
Kutztown last Saturday.

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.

	Bloomsburg’s Danny Hale (West Chester, ‘68), the 2000 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coach of the Year, is now in his tenth season with the Huskies.
Hale has posted a win-loss mark of 73-29-1 and is currently seventh among active coaches on the all-time NCAA Division II winning percentage list with a career record of 113-42-1 (14 yrs; .728).

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE
     The LHU offense has relied heavily on the passing game in the past two outings, netting 253 yards passing versus 105 yards on the rush. Against Kutztown, 177 yards offense came via the pass while the remaining 72 were covered on the ground. Piloting the passing game is quarterback Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park), who earned his first start last Saturday. In that effort, Storino completed 12 of 22 attempts with three touchdowns. Providing backup will be freshman Rob Kristiniak (Flourtown/Springfield Township), a former honorable mention all-state quarterback.
     Several options are available as targets for the LHU signal callers, including Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills), who recorded an 80-yard touchdown reception against Kutztown to bring his season total to 110 yards. Scott Anderson (Cortland, Ohio/Lakeview) and John Caldwell (Va. Beach, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) have been doing their share of the work as well, as Anderson has caught five passes for 37 yards and Caldwell reeled in the game-winner last Saturday to bring his season total to 42 yards on four catches.
     The Bald Eagle running back duo of Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and Melvin Kirby (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) account for the majority of ground yardage. Walker has seen 26 attempts for 61 yards while Kirby has taken the ball 18 times for 83 yards. Also helping out will be starting fullbacks Dave Mottin (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) and Josh Stadulis (Willow Grove/Academy of the New Church).
     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
     The Haven defense kept the Golden Bears to 239 yards, a lower total than in any game from last season and much improved compared with the 438 total yards allowed to Kutztown in last year’s contest. PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) without question was a catalyst for the majority of the big plays that occurred last Saturday, coming up with a well-timed interception at the close of the game, a forced fumble, and seven total stops including one for loss. Joining Carey in the secondary was cornerback Ngoyi Mukusa (Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe), who had eight stops, strong safety Jim Hanzely (DuBois/DuBois), who tallied two tackles and two pass breakups, and free safety Kellen Bush (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) who had six tackles.
     The linebacker unit has also been up to task, as sophomore Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin Area) led Bald Eagle defenders with 10 stops including two for loss. Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) added nine tackles to the effort, and Charles Cannon (Braddock Hills/Woodland Hills) had a big game with five tackles including one for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception.
     The defensive line is maintained by tackles Warren Whitaker (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) and Jason Kasheta (Carbondale/Carbondale Area). Manning the defensive end positions are junior Nathan Eck (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore), who posted three tackles for loss, and sophomore Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) who tallied six tackles and one sack against Kutztown.

SPECIAL TEAMS
     Haven return specialist Rob Carey earned D2Football.com Special Teams Honorable Mention honors for his performance against Kutztown which included his aforementioned feats in addition to three kickoff and three punt returns for an average of 29.3 and 19 yards, respectively. Punter Chris Keefer (Reedsville/Indian Valley) averaged 40.6 yards per punt with one landing inside the 20-yard line. Placekicker Austin Kerstetter (Milton/Milton) went 1-for-2 in extra point attempts against Kutztown, missing a kick that was pushed back due to an LHU penalty following the touchdown. He was also short on a field goal attempt from 40 yards.

###LHU###