LH football falls to ESU in Homecoming clash, 35-21
LOCK HAVEN, PA – In a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division opener on Saturday that featured two of the PSAC’s top offensive units, the Lock Haven football team (2-2, 0-1 PSAC East) fell to East Stroudsburg (4-0, 1-0 PSAC East), 35-21, after the visiting Warriors rallied for a second-half comeback.
With the loss, the upset-minded Bald Eagles move back to .500 at 2-2 overall and fall to 0-1 in PSAC East play. ESU, a traditional conference power, remained unbeaten on the season at 4-0 (1-0 PSAC East).
Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, an energetic crowd was on hand for The Haven’s Homecoming, and – to the crowd’s delight Lock Haven led East Stroudsburg 14-7 at halftime.
The Warriors survived and escaped with a win, thanks in large part to 28 second-half points.
Quarterback Danny Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman (Stony Brook) continued his strong play, throwing for 178 yards (8-for-21) and two touchdowns.
Running back Chris Collier (Lawrence, N.Y./Lawrence (Wagner College), the reigning PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week, had another big day on the ground for Lock Haven. He carried the ball 18 times on the way to a game-high 68 yards and one TD.
Chase Holmes (Easton, Pa./Easton) and Chandler Baker (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia (Buffalo)) both hauled in touchdown catches, and T-iar Young (Philadelphia/Northeast (Millersville) had four catches for 77 yards.
Cody Romano (Newton, N.J./Blair Academy (Penn State)) led the charge once again on defense. He finished with nine tackles (6 solo), a sack and two quarterback hurries.
Raymell Hester (Cleveland/Bedford) registered nine tackles, Jaderian Johnson (Pensacola, Fla./Take (North Dakota)) made seven tackles and Darryl Pollard (Philadelphia/Upper Darby) had an interception.
Despite the high scoring offensive units, the two teams were scoreless after the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, ESU went up 7-0, but Lock Haven responded in a big way.
The Bald Eagles got on the board with a 37-yard flea flicker from Sanchez to Holmes.
