LHU Football Edged Out at Kutztown

AdminOctober 23, 2016Last Updated: October 23, 2016

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KUTZTOWN – The Lock Haven University football team (2-6, 2-3 PSAC East) turned in another strong 60 minutes of football, but the Bald Eagles bid for a third straight victory came up just short as Kutztown University (5-3, 5-0 PSAC East) held on and edged LHU, 35-29.

LHU quarterback Caleb Walton (Manheim, Pa./Manheim) turned in another historic outing and John Ford (Etters, Pa./Shippensburg) had a career-day.

Kevin Chapple (Columbus, Ohio/Urbana) led the effort by the Bald Eagles’ defensive unit.

Lock Haven was in search of its third straight as the Bald Eagles were coming off back-to-back wins. LHU hasn’t won three straight since 1981.

Kutztown celebrated its Homecoming with its fifth straight victory as the Golden Bears clamped down on first-place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division standings.

Walton threw for 255 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for one score.

Walton’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass was the 60^th of his career, which ties him for the most in school history and leaves him just one away from becoming Lock Haven’s all-time leader in passing TDs. His two TDs today give him 71 total touchdowns accounted for in his Bald Eagle career, which also ties the school’s all-time record.

Ford finished with a career-high 121 yards and two TDs.

Shawn Seif (Harrisburg, Pa./Kutztown Univ.), the nation’s top receiver finished with 89 yards on four catches.

Del’Vaughn Dennis (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) hauled in an acrobatic TD in the fourth quarter as LHU looked to rally.

Chapple finished with a game-high 15 tackles and Rahjeir Miles-Eubanks (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) turned in a nine-tackle effort.

Christian Martir (Reading, Pa./Wyomissing) and Destyn Woody (Easton, Pa./Norte Dame-Green Pond) both finished with eight tackles apiece.

The Bald Eagles wasted little time in getting on the board and took a 3-0 lead just 1:42 into the game. Ethan Harro’s (Annville, Pa./Palmyra) 36-yard field goal capped a quick 5-play, 46-yard drive. Walton and Seif connected on a 45-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage, which was huge key in the opening-drive score.

Kutztown quarterback Collin DiGalbo then threw a pair of first-quarter TD-passes and the Golden Bears led 14-3 after the first period.

Midway through the second quarter, LHU cut into the KU lead after a four-yard Walton touchdown run. After the extra-point was blocked, Kutztown led 14-9.

The Bald Eagles capped an exciting first half with a Ford-TD run with just two seconds left. Ford’s 11-yard burst into the end zone capped a 7-play, 74 yard scoring drive. LHU went for two, but didn’t convert.

Kutztown led 21-15 at halftime.

The Golden Bears took the opening drive of the second half 66 yards down the field and scored a touchdown to extend their lead to 28-15.

The Bald Eagles however were quick to answer and a 3-yard TD run by Ford marked his second touchdown of the game and capped a 79-yard drive as Kutztown led 28-22.

With just 42 seconds left in the third quarter, Kutztown made it 35-22.

Lock Haven wasn’t ready to call it a game and the Bald Eagles’ hopes of spoiling Kutztown’s Homecoming party remained alive when Walton and Dennis connected for a score with 4:49 to play in the game. Dennis hauled in an 18-yard pass from Walton in acrobatic style to make it a one-possession game as the Golden Bears clung to a 35-29 lead.

Kutztown got the ball back with 4:49 left in regulation and was able to run out the clock for the win.

The Bald Eagles will host Bloomsburg on Saturday, October 29 at 12 p.m. in PSAC East action. The Week 9 matchup marks LHU’s final home game of the 2016 season.