LHU Football edged out by Cal, 27-20
LOCK HAVEN– Jackson Ostrowsky threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way for the Bald Eagle offense, but it wasn’t enough in the end as visiting California (Pa.) edged out the Lock Haven football team, 27-20, in a hard-fought Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East-West crossover clash today (Saturday, Sept. 21) at Hubert Jack Stadium.
Ostrowsky, a graduate-student transfer in his first year with the Bald Eagles, is averaging a PSAC-best 277 passing yards per game through the first three games of the season. Today, he was 24-for-45 (1 INT.), and he now has six passing TDs on the season. Ostrowsky’s 277 passing yards per game are 47 more than the No. 2 mark in the PSAC and his 346 yards today marked the most in a game by a Lock Haven quarterback since Cameron Tobias threw for 363 on November 10, 2018 at Gannon.
T’iar Young and Nino Cinti proved to be Ostrowsky’s favorite targets today. Young hauled in eight catches for 153 yards and one score. Cinti racked up 127 yards on six receptions. Quan Williams also grabbed a touchdown-catch to spark the offense.
Tony Nicassio booted field goals from 27 and 26 yards.
Izzy Ramos, Rocco Daugherty, Kasir Henry and Justin Anderson led the way for another stellar defensive effort.
Ramos recorded a team-high eight tackles, while Daugherty finished with seven and Henry added six.
Anderson finished with five total tackles (4 solo) and 2.5 sacks. In all, the 4.5 of his five total stops went down as tackles-for-loss.
After Cal struck quick in the first quarter and took a 7-0 lead, Lock Haven was quick to tie the game at 7-7 after Ostrowsky and Young connected on a 40-yard pass play.
Williams hauled in a 22-yard pass from Ostrowsky with 12:09 left in the first half pushing Lock Haven to a 17-10 lead. With just 10 seconds left in the first half, the Vulcans tied the game at 17-17.
With 2:48 left in the game Cal’s Omari Hopkins scored on a six-yard pass-play from Davis Black and the visitors led 27-20.
Lock Haven responded late, however, and with just 37 seconds left in the game, Nicassio chipped home his second field goal of the game, cutting California’s lead to 27-20. Following the made field goal, the Bald Eagles recovered the ensuing onside kick – giving Lock Haven the ball with 35 seconds left, but in the end, Cal’s defense held strong.
With the loss, Lock Haven moved to 1-2 on the young season and the Vulcans pushed their way to 2-1. Today’s outing marked the first meeting between the two schools since 2021 when Cal won 59-0.
Up Next for Lock Haven:
The Bald Eagles will cap a three-game homestand next Saturday, September 28 when they open PSAC East play vs. Millersville at 1 p.m. Next week’s game marks Lock Haven’s 2024 Homecoming Game. The full 2024 Lock Haven football schedule can be found at GoLHU.com.
