PSAC announces Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll; Bald Eagles selected fifth
LOCK HAVEN– The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released the 2024 Preseason Football Coaches’ polls today (Aug. 8), and the Lock Haven football team was picked fifth in the PSAC Eastern Division.
The preseason ranking is the highest for Lock Haven in the last 20 years.
Kutztown received six of eight first-place votes and was tabbed by the coaches as the preseason-favorite in the Eastern Division. Shepherd and East Stroudsburg each grabbed one first-place vote to rank second overall and third, respectively. Rounding out the Eastern Division rankings was: West Chester, Lock Haven, Millersville, Shippensburg and Bloomsburg.
In the Western Division, Slippery Rock earned six of seven first-place votes and was selected as the preseason favorite. California (Pa.) was slated No. 2, while Indiana (1) and Gannon rounded out the top-four in the West. Seton Hill, Edinboro and Clarion round out the final seven spots in the Western Division.
The 2024 season will mark the third for the Bald Eagles under head coach Dan Mulrooney.
In his second season – last season (2023) – at The Haven, Coach Mulrooney led the Bald Eagles to a remarkable turnaround, as Lock Haven finished the 2023 season with five wins, marking the first five-win season since 1982.
Lock Haven ended the 2023 season with a 5-6 overall record and finished PSAC Eastern Division play with a 3-4 record with wins over Millersville, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg. The Haven entered this season coming off back-to-back one-win seasons, and the Bald Eagles had won a combined four games in the previous three seasons prior to last fall (2023).
ROAD WARRIORS
En route to their historic season last fall, the 2023 Bald Eagles overcame a 1-4 home record by racking up four wins on the road, to finish an impressive 4-1 away from Hubert Jack Stadium. The four road victories were more than the previous five seasons combined.
The Bald Eagles averaged 26 points-per-game on the road last season, including scoring a season-high 38 points in a convincing victory over Millersville in late September.
BACK FOR MORE
The Bald Eagles return one of their top weapons in dynamic receiver T’iar Young. Young had a monster season in 2023 and finished with 663 yards and six touchdowns on 31 receptions, all of which were team-highs. Young also provided a deep threat for The Haven and hauled in a season-long reception of 79 yards, while averaging 60.27 yards per game.
Returning to action after missing the bulk of the 2023 season is fifth-year senior Quon Williams. In 2022, Williams recorded 600 yards receiving and hauled in seven TDs. He ranked among the top-12 in the PSAC in total receiving yards and receiving yards per game. Tight end Chris Hicks also returns after setting career-highs in touchdowns and receiving yards (313).
Headlining the defense is All-PSAC East Second teamer Kasir Henry. The defensive back finished the season with 53 tackles (40 solo), an interception and two breakups.
The Bald Eagles, who ranked second in the conference in sacks in 2023, also return Justin Anderson to the defensive line, after racking up 3.5 sacks for 11 yards and 10 tackles for loss. Linebacker Izzy Ramos returns and was one of nine players to rack up over 30 total tackles (31), while also finishing with 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble/recovery and one interception.
ON THE HORIZON
Lock Haven will open the 2024 season on the road on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Glenville State University (Glenville, W.Va.). It marks the second meeting between the two schools since 2008.
The Week-1 road game is one of six road-games for the Bald Eagles in 2024.
Lock Haven will hit the road for PSAC East contests at Shepherd, Kutztown, East Stroudsburg and West Chester, before closing the regular season at Gannon in PSAC East-West crossover action.
The Bald Eagles kick off a three-game home stand on Sept. 14 when they welcome PSAC powerhouse IUP to Hubert Jack Stadium. The Haven will also host Cal (Pa.) in early-season PSAC crossover play before hosting PSAC East opponents Millersville, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg. The Week-4 matchup at home against Millersville is Lock Haven’s 2024 Homecoming Weekend, and is set for Saturday, Sept. 28.
The full 2024 Lock Haven Football Schedule is available at GoLHU.com, and includes a full list of current game-by-game promotions for the 2024 home games.
BRIGHT LIGHTS
The Bald Eagles will host a pair of night games in 2024, including the home opener against IUP on Sept. 14 (6 p.m.) and the Hall of Fame Game on Oct. 19 when Bloomsburg comes to town (6 p.m.).
NEXT CHAPTER
On Feb. 7 head coach Dan Mulrooney and the Lock Haven football team announced a talented and impact-ready 42 person signing class as part of 2024 National Signing Day. The initial class featured 35 incoming freshmen and seven transfers. The seven transfers consist of six graduate students and one junior. During the second signing period, Mulrooney announced the addition of 14 transfer athletes to round out the group of talented newcomers. Visit GoLHU.com for information on the newest Bald Eagles.
GET #LOCKEDIN
The Bald Eagles are set to report back to campus in the coming days and preseason practice will officially get underway early next week.
For updates, follow the team on social media – @LHU_Football.
