Bald Eagles Prep for Nationally Ranked Slippery Rock
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University football team (0-2) is set to host No. 11 Slippery Rock University (2-0) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. from Hubert Jack Stadium.
Saturday marks LHU’s second straight home game as the Bald Eagles enter Week 3 action at 0-2. Slippery Rock, ranked No. 11 in the most recent (Monday, Sept. 12) American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Poll, enters the game at 2-0 with wins over New Haven (W, 31-28) and West Chester (W, 36-28).
Despite the Week 2 loss to Edinboro University (L, 44-38), LHU head coach Dave Taynor has plenty to be happy about as his offense continues to shine.
The Bald Eagles dropped their 2016 home-opener to Edinboro 44-38 in a shootout. The two teams thrilled the fans with 1,075 total yards of offense, including 920 through the air and 82 total points.
Once again LHU quarterback Caleb Walton was a big player and for the second straight week turned in a career-game. After opening the season with a then career-high of 392 passing yards at Clarion in Week 1, Walton threw for 423 (*new career-high) vs. Edinboro. He added two more TD passes, pushing his career total to 52, which is just eight away from tying the all-time LHU career record. Walton now has 6,671 career passing yards, also No. 2 all-time in school history
Linebacker Kevin Chapple, who spent the last three seasons at Urbana made his mark during his Week 1 Bald Eagle debut at Clarion. He finished with a game-high 14 tackles including two tackles-for-loss. Last week vs. Edinboro (Week 2), his strong play continued and he had six tackles, three TFLs and two sacks.
Chapple ranks in the top-five among all active NCAA DII players in total TFL, solo TFL and TFL/game. His five tackles-for-loss this season ranked No. 8 in DII football.
#11 Slippery Rock (2-0) at Lock Haven (0-2)
12 p.m. | Hubert Jack Stadium | LHU | Lock Haven, Pa.
LHU Week 3 storylines:
- After Week 2, LHU’s passing offense ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II football with 407.5 yards/game. LHU is ranked No. 15 in total offense (523.5 yards/game).
- QB Caleb Walton’s 815 passing yardage is tops in DII and his 407.5 passing yards/game also ranked No. 1.
- Walton’s 400-yard passing game last week was not only an individual career-high, but it marked the first 400-plus yard passing game by a Bald Eagle QB since 1995.
- WR Shawn Seif ranks No. 2 in the NCAA (DII) in receiving yards (367) & No. 3 receiving yards/game (183.5).
- Seif’s 87-yard TD reception last weekend was the longest by a Bald Eagle since 1995 (96 yards) and the third longest in school history (1993; 99-yard TD reception).
- LB Kevin Chapple has five TFLs this season, which is ranks No. 8 in DII football.
- Chapple is ranked No. 2 among all active DII players in solo TFL (43) & total TFL (53) and he’s ranked fourth in TFL/game (1.51). He is fourth among all PSAC players with 10 tackles per game and fifth in the PSAC total tackles with 20.
Lock Haven vs. Slippery Rock:
Saturday’s game will mark the 56th meeting between Lock Haven and Slippery Rock in a series that dates back to 1931 (LHU won, 13-0). The two teams have not met since 2012 (SRU won 35-7).
Walton’s by the Numbers:
2016
Passing TDs: 5
Passing Yards: 815
Rushing TDs: 0
Career
Career Passing TDs: 52 (#2 all-time, school record is 60)
Career Passing Yards: 6,671 (#2 all-time, school record is 10,640)
Career Rushing TDs: 6
Career TDs responsible for: 55 (#2 all-time, school record is 71)
200-yard + passing games: 17
300-yard + passing games: 6
400-yard + passing games: 1 (Week 2 (9/10) vs. Edinboro; 423 yards, 1st 400-yard game for LHU QB since 1995).
*updated; as of Monday, September 12, 2016
Single Season Records
Passing TDs, 23 (2015)
Total TDs responsible for, 26 (2015)
