LOCK HAVEN – For the first time since 2019, Lock Haven won multiple games at Hubert Jack Stadium, and this one came in dramatic fashion. Trailing 21-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Huskies (3-4) scored 19 unanswered points to take a 25-21 lead.
However, the Bold Eagles (3-4) showed heroics in the final stages of the game, winning the battle on Interstate 80 by three points, 35-32.
Here are five takeaways from this match.
Football doesn’t get any better than this
While it wasn’t officially a rivalry game, it certainly felt like a Saturday game. At some point, both teams faced adversity, but many times neither team backed down. Lock Haven took the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Dameer Green, followed by a 64-yard pass from quarterback Jackson Ostrovsky to Tia Young. took a firm lead at 14-6.
Lock Haven ended up winning 21-6, but the Huskies never gave up. Bloomsburg running back Matt Bachman scored his own 1-yard TD to make the score 21-13 at halftime.
Then, in the second half, quarterback KJ Riley scored touchdowns of 60 and 13 yards to give the Huskies momentum, and Bloom suddenly took a 25-21 lead midway through the third quarter. After a competitive final 20 minutes that included three total passing touchdowns, the Bald Eagles got one final fourth quarter stop for their best win of the season to date.
“It was a great night celebrating both institutions.” Lock Haven coach Dan Mulroney said after the game. “What a celebration of the Commonwealth and a great game of football against two really good teams.”
A big recovery game from
crime
Last week was a nightmare for the Bold Eagles offense, with four turnovers and a high-powered Kutztown offense going scoreless. But one game doesn’t tell the whole story, and Saturday’s game proved that. Lock Haven’s offense came out strong, scoring 28 points (seven points came on defense). Quarterback Jackson Ostrovsky had the best game of his young Bald Eagle career, throwing for 339 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers.
Ostrovsky entered the game gaining just 66 yards to rank among the top 10 in single-season passing yards by Lock Haven QBs.
When asked about the QB’s performance, coach Mulroney couldn’t have been happier to see him bounce back.
“When I brought him into my office on Tuesday, I thought, you threw for 470 yards against Shepard, and life is good. Then football humbled you. Quarter. The ups and downs of a back’s play are real and you have to be able to manage that. But I’m proud of my staff for not giving up on him and not taking him out (last week). believed in him, and he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Jackson is a really great player and I’m happy he’s a Bald Eagle at Lock Haven.”
Ostrovsky has been a revelation to Lock Haven’s passing game, but he’s not the only contributor. Tia Young also had a big bounce-back game, catching 10 passes for 141 yards and 2 TDs. Through seven games, Lock Haven has solidified its position as the top PSAC passing attack. Add in players like Quon Williams, Chris Hicks, Coran Alleyne, and Nino Cinti, and it’s no wonder Lock Haven’s passing game is so deadly.
The run game had some good moments Saturday, rushing for 74 yards and making big-time runs when needed. Damir Green seems to have solidified his spot as RB1, but KJ Howard and Mr. Fuge have also gotten some exposure.
little things
go far
There are some things that happen during a football game that go unnoticed, but they deserve just as much praise as the dramatic plays. That’s what I do.
First, Lock Haven’s offense did a great job giving Ostrovsky time to throw. Undergraduate linemen Edward Leake, Taylor Hartner, Matt Fredrick and Donovan Jones have done a great job and are as much a driving force in Lock Haven’s passing attack as the receivers and quarterbacks.
Also, Mr. Fuge’s play on Saturday was impressive to me and shows the culture that Coach Mulroney brings to the table. On a crucial fourth-and-10 with a 25-21 lead, the Fuge placed a textbook chop block on the blitzing Huskies safety and completely robbed him. Out, giving Ostrovsky enough time to find an open Young on the field and help keep Lock Haven in the game.
This means that this team “Whatever it takes to win” The mentality of a great team.
And it’s not just Fuge, as Lock Haven’s receivers and tight ends are often seen doing their best to block teammates downfield. Good teams don’t just play to win, they play for each other.
Defense was strong
VS. Bloomsburg
new crime
For the first time this year, Lock Haven has had to face a completely different offensive style, but that’s nothing new for Mulroney. Bloomsburg is running what is commonly referred to as a triple option. This is an offense that allows the QB to pass the ball to the RB, run it himself, or throw it to another running back who follows behind. That’s why it’s called the triple option. But this is something Mulroney has experienced many times before, and when he was the head coach at Division III Anna Maria, his AmCats faced this situation many times a year. It didn’t happen.
“We have completely disabled the triple option.” When asked about his defensive performance, Mulroney said: “I’ve been faced with triple options throughout my career, so when they (Bloomsburg) ran the option, we dialed it up. They went back to what they did last year and went back to regular football. , and I knew they would.”
Mulroney and his defense seemed to have a clear game plan and never let the pitchmen win. With the triple option, the pitchman usually has the best chance to make a big splash play. By taking that away and letting Riley run, they gave up a lot of yards, but they forced the Huskies to earn in every corner and didn’t allow big time easily.
Lock Haven’s defense also had a great day in terms of turnovers, with Kassir Henry and Jayion Perry having interceptions. Lock Haven also got a scoop and a point thanks to none other than Rocco Daugherty. Daugherty has been a turnover machine for the Bold Eagles, with three interceptions and one forced fumble.
“When I go to my board meeting, all it says is, ‘Win the turnover battle.’ What I told the team in this morning’s meeting is that if we do nothing else, we’re going to win the turnover battle. It’s about winning by the margin of the over. I’m proud of how our defense has strengthened.”
one step closer
to get 6th place
Lock Haven is now halfway through its history and needs three more wins to end its first winning season in 43 years. Lock Haven ends the year playing against East Stroudsburg, West Chester, Shippensburg and Gannon. The Bald Eagles can afford to lose one more game to get to six wins, but if they win, they could pick up their sixth win at home against Shippensburg.
Lock Haven is scheduled to travel next Saturday to take on East Stroudsburg (6-1). That kickoff will be Saturday at East Stroudsburg at 12:05 p.m.
LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven won multiple games at Hubert Jack Stadium for the first time since 2019.
In last week’s Thursday Night Men’s League, Sean Monoski won the top men’s league with a 772 series in 300 games.
