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September 16, 2004
Battle at the 'Burg -- Football Heads to Bloomsburg
Game #4 - at Bloomsburg University - Redman Stadium
Bloomsburg, Pa. - Sat., Sept. 18 - 1:30 p.m.

>>>2004 LHU Roster >>>2004 LHU Statistics >>>BU website

THE GAME
The Bald Eagles head to Redman Stadium in Bloomsburg, Pa. for week four, toting a 1-2 record after a dissapointing loss to Kutztown University. This week, the LHU battles the Bloomsburg University Huskies (1-1). Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

THE SERIES
While Bloomsburg holds a slim 41-38-3 lead in the all-time series, LHU broke a nine-game winning streak with a 17-15 victory a season ago. Prior to that, the most recent Bald Eagle victory came in 1992 by a 38-33 tally.

First Meeting: 1908, BU 6, LHU 3
The Last Time BU Won: 2002; 47-23
The Last Time LHU Won: 2003; 17-15

THE LAST TIME VERSUS BLOOMSBURG
The Bald Eagles recorded a home-opening 17-15 victory over the Huskies on Sept. 20, 2003.

Haven linebacker Brian Lumpkin (Rockville, Md./Bullis School) nabbed a key interception on the Huskie 40-yard line, setting up a 30-yard strike from Troy Wile (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) to Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) for the 14-9 lead with 14:55 left in the game.

Kicker Danny Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) later added afield goal to provide the final difference of 17-15.

SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
The Huskies (1-1) feature a balanced attack, gaining 207 yards on the ground and 191 through the air in their two games. Bloomsburg started off on the right note, downing Slippery Rock University, 20-17 at Slippery Rock. BU then stumbled at Shippensburg University, 48-10.

Senior Mike Ceroli leads the Huskie pack in rushing, tallying 165 yards on 26 carries. He has one touchdown on the season, with Freshman Jamar Brittingham recording the other two.

Junior Jack Lydic leads the team with 159 passing yards, his favorite target being Nick Kurtz, who has six grabs for 71 yards. BU has yet to record a passing TD.

Defensively, junior linebacker Rodney Johnson leads the team with 14 tackles, including nine solos. Senior linebacker Paul Linn is right behind him with 13 tackles and four solos. Junior defensive back Joe Scritchfield has two interceptions in the young season, pacing the team in take-aways.

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE
The Bald Eagles shot themselves in the foot against Kutztown, this time hit by the fumble bug, resulting in two Golden Bear touchdowns, to fall 28-20.

Maurice Walker (N. Braddock, Woodland Hills) was a definite bright spot for the Haven, recording 261 all-purpose yards (108 rush, 43 recieving, 110 kick returns) and a rushing touchdown.

For the first game this season the Bald Eagles used just one quarterback, as Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) went 17-of-38 for 202 yards and a touchdown. His top target was Rafael Smith, who grabbed six passes for 76 yards. Justin Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois Area) added the lone receiving touchdown.

Gang tackling against Kutztown

THE COACHES

Lock Haven Head Coach Mark Luther (Penn State, ‘92) is in his fifth season with the Bald Eagle program. The 2002 PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year, Luther continues to create a more competitive product with his teams challenging the top conference and regional programs on a regular basis.

Just last season, the Bald Eagles’ wins included one over Bloomsburg University, the 2003 runner-up and 2004 pre-season favorite in the Eastern Division. He currently owns a 13-31 overall mark at Lock Haven. Luther assumed the head role at LHU following five years as an assistant with the Bald Eagles from 1994-1998, acting as defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant to former head coach Nick Polk.

Danny Hale (West Chester, '68) will begin his 12th season leading the Huskies' football program. Hale had a previous five-year coaching tenure at West Chester. Hale has a record of 88-35-1 (.713) at Bloomsburg, and is ranked in the top 10 among active coaches on the all-time NCAA Division II winning percentage list with a career record of 128-48-1 (.725).

Hale was named the 2001 PSAC East Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career along with picking up the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) Division II District I Coach of the Year for the seventh time. Following the 2000 season when Hale led the Huskies to the NCAA Division II title game, he was named the AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year. That year Hale led Bloomsburg to a 12-3 record.

A senior running back, Walker has powered the the Haven’s ground attack, posting 329 yards and three touchdowns. Continuing to climb the school record books with 2,167 career rushing yards, he jumped into fourth place last Saturday. Justin Marshall and Derek Marshall (Luthersburg/DuBois) have taken the ball on several occasions, Justin averaging 22 yards a game while Derek has accounted for 10 yards per outing.

Probable starters up on the line include junior center Jason Scott (Linden/Williamsport) along with guards Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) and Adam Lanzendorfer (Martinsburg/Central). Eric Scaife (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) and Matt Coxford (Middlebury Center/Wellsboro) claim the pair of offensive tackle positions, while junior Kevin Scheidler (Millersburg/Millersburg Area) is the probable starter at tight end.

THE DEFENSE
Put in a tough spot having to overcome key turnovers against Kutztown, the defense was able to garner four tackles for loss and an interception of their own.

Mike Nesby (Rankin/Woodland Hills) had the pick, his first of the year. Joining him for the probables at defensive back will be Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Red Bank Valley), David Show (Mill Run/Connellsville Area) and Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport), a group that recorded 18 tackles against Kutztown. Show is fourth in the PSAC with 27 tackles on the year.

The linebacking crew is led by Brian Lumpkin, who averages 7.3 tackles per game. Lumpkin is joined by Michael Slatcoff (Sandy Lake/Cochranton) with 21 tackles, nine solo and Jon Nalewak (Shamokin/Shamokin Area)who has 19 tackles, 11 solo.

Defensive end Brad Sones (Elysburg/Southern Columbia) paces the D-line with 15 tackles, including three for loss and a sack. John Smeltzer (Red Lion/Red Lion) holds down the other end with three tackles, two for loss. In the middle are defensive tackles Warren Whitaker (Wilkes-Barre/GAR Memorial) (10 TT, 2 TFL) and Brian Johnson (St. Marys/St. Marys Area) (10 TT, 0.5 TFL).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker and punter Dan Hagerman has punted 17 times with an average of 34.5 yards per punt. As a placekicker, he is a perfect 8-for-8 on point after kicks and, with two kicks against Kutztown, 2-for-4 in field goal attempts.

Maurice Walker ranks eighth in the conference in kick return average, putting up 21.9 yards per return. The senior runningback averages a PSAC-best 195.7 all-purpose yards per game. Rafael Smith, the starting punt returner, currently averages 8.0 yards per return.

###LHU###