LHU Football Downed by Ship, 56-37
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Shippensburg redshirt freshman quarterback Brycen Mussina (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) passed for 282 yards and five touchdowns as the visiting Raiders overcame a 23-14 halftime deficit in downing Lock Haven University by a 56-37 score on Saturday. The Bald Eagles’ senior quarterback Cameron Tobias (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, running back Chantz Swartz (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata H.S.) rushed for two TDs and tight end Jalen Jackson (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) hauled in two catches for scores, but the individual offensive highlights were not enough. Shippensburg (4-5, 2-3 PSAC East) rallied for a big second half and the win over LHU (1-8, 1-4 PSAC East) in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East shootout.
LHU got off to a quick start and led 10-0 with 5:55 left in the first quarter after a big TD-run from Swartz and a 34-yard field goal from Austyn Carson (Blanchard, Pa./Central Mountain).
Lock Haven led 23-14 at halftime, but the visiting Red Raiders scored 42 second half points, including 21 in the third and fourth periods, as they rallied for the thrilling win in a cold and rain-soaked Hubert Jack Stadium.
The game marked the Bald Eagles final home game of the 2018 season and LHU hosted its annual Pink Out and Veterans’ Appreciation Game. Lock Haven also honored its graduating seniors: Jimmy Strickland (Plymouth, Pa./East Stroudsburg), Blake Kovin (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsburg), David Staton (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional), Brent Crushong (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg), Bryan Greene (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle), along with Tobias.
Tobias was 17 of 31 passing for 256 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Swartz carried the ball 18 times for 172 yards and two scores. Both of his touchdown-runs came on big plays, thanks to rushes of 58 yards and 86 yards. Jackson finished with four catches for 116 yards.
Jackson hauled in two TD catches. He scored on a 79-yard catch-and-run and he scored on a five-yard play in the third quarter after a catch and nifty move that helped him split the Shippensburg defense.
Ralph Hyland (Philadelphia/Frankford) caught a TD pass as well. Mike Cottom (Upper Dublin, Pa./Upper Dublin) had four catches for 55 yards and Greene made three catches for 63 yards. Greene – a senior – made a huge block that sparked Swartz’s 86-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Obadiah Asare (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) was truly outstanding. He made a team-high 11 tackles and was all over the field for the Bald Eagles, busting play after play. Asare made eight solo tackles and three tackles-for-loss. He also forced one fumble.
Dontae Mason (Philadelphia/Bishop McDevitt), Javon Whitfield (Philadelphia/Simon Gratz) and Alex Welch (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) also sparked the LHU defensive until. The trio teamed up to make 30 tackles and each had 10 individual stops. Mason added two pass breakups.
LHU’s final two games of the regular season will come on the road at West Chester (Sat, Nov. 3) and at Gannon (Sat, Nov. 10). Kickoff at No. 12 West Chester is set for 2 p.m. next Saturday.
