PSAC announces Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll; Bald Eagles open season at home
LOCK HAVEN– The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released the 2025 Preseason Coaches’ polls today and the Lock Haven football team was picked sixth in the PSAC Eastern Division.
Kutztown received seven first-place votes and was tabbed by the coaches as the preseason-favorite in the Eastern Division. East Stroudsburg earned the final first-place vote and was picked second overall in the eight-team division. West Chester, Shepherd and Bloomsburg rounded out the top-5, with Lock Haven following at the sixth spot. Shippensburg and Millersville rounded out the East at seventh and eighth, respectively.
In the Western Division, National finalist Slippery Rock earned four first-place votes and were selected as the preseason favorite. Indiana (Pa.) earned the remaining three votes for the top spot and were tabbed No. 2. California (Pa.), Gannon and Seton Hill rounded out the top-5. Edinboro and Clarion rounded out the final two spots in the seven-team division.
NEW ERA
Joe Battaglia was officially named Lock Haven’s head football coach on April 15.
Since taking over offensive-play calling duties for the Bald Eagles in 2022, Battaglia has turned The Haven’s offense into one of the most prolific in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), both through the air and on the ground.
In 2024, quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky finished the season with 3,203 passing yards, 291.18 passing yards-per-game and 27 passing-touchdowns, all of which led the PSAC. All of those marks also stand as Lock Haven single-season passing records. All-American wide receiver T’iar Young won the PSAC receiving triple crown after earning the top marks in receiving yards (1,146), receiving yards-per-game (104.2) and receiving touchdowns (11).
In 2023, current Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) running back Chris Collier earned multiple All-American honors and was named PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, after leading the league in rushing and breaking the Lock Haven football program record for single-season rushing yards (1,393).
Both Ostrowsky (2024) and Collier (2023) where nominated for the Harlon Hill award, which is given to the top player in Division II football and equivalent the Heisman trophy at the DI level.
ANOTHER RECORD YEAR
Much of Lock Haven’s recent on-field success was fueled by the Battaglia-led offense, and in 2023 when Lock Haven won five games, it stood as the Bald Eagles’ first five-win season in 42 years (1982). The Haven has now posted 10 wins in two seasons (2023 and 2024), the most victories in a two-year stretch since Lock Haven won 11 games in 1981 (6) and 1982 (5).
VETERAN PRESENCE
Lock Haven was the second ranked team in the PSAC in total offense in 2024 and returns the man under center, Jackson Ostrowsky, who is coming off one of, if not the best, quarterback seasons in program history.
The Bald Eagles racked up 4287 yards of total offense last season, led by 3198 yards through the air. The Haven’s 389.7 yards per game ranked second in the PSAC, while its 36 touchdowns finished fifth.
Despite the success through the air in last year, Battaglia looks to feature a balenced offensive attack, led by second-year back Damir Green.
Green is the top returning ball carrier from 2024, where he rushed for 473 yards and four touchdowns on 99 carries. Green is a north and south tailback who can punish secondaries after fighting through the line of scrimmage.
On defense, the Bald Eagles ranked third in the PSAC with 13 interceptions and return team leader in the category, Rocco Daugherty, who picked off four passes in 2024. Jaeion Perry and Davien Vernon also return after finishing with two interceptions each last season, while the trio of Daughtery, Perry and Vernon all forced a fumble, contributing to Lock Haven’s 11 forced fumbles, which ranked second in the conference last year.
ON THE HORIZON
Lock Haven will open the 2025 season on Saturday, Sept. 6 by hosting Glenville State University (Glenville, W.Va.). It marks the third meeting between the two schools since 2008. In 2024, Lock Haven took down GSU on the road, 31-9 behind a dominating ground attack that ran for over 100 yards.
The Bald Eagles will follow the home opener with a two-game road trip beginning on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Indiana (Pa.) before visiting California (Pa.) on Sept. 20.
The Haven returns home on Sept. 27 to host ESU, before hitting the road to take on Bloomsburg to kick off October (4th).
The Bald Eagles remaining home schedule features Kutztown (Oct. 11), West Chester (Oct. 18), Shepherd (Nov. 8) and Gannon (Nov. 15). The meeting vs. West Chester on Oct. 18 is Lock Haven’s Homecoming Game, while the showdown with Gannon on Nov. 15 is Senior Day.
The Haven’s remaining road schedule features Shippensburg (Oct. 25) and Millersville (Nov. 1).
BRIGHT LIGHTS
The Bald Eagles will host a pair of night games in 2024, includiong the home opener against Glenville State on Saturday, Sept. 6 (Community Night) and vs. Kutztown on Saturday, Oct. 11.
BRIGHT FUTURE
On Feb. 5, head coach Joe Battaglia and the Lock Haven football team announced a talented and impact-ready 24 person signing class as part of 2025 National Signing Day.
The class features 24 athletes from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, Connecticut, West Virginia, North Carolina and Delaware. Each of the new Bald Eagles have signed a National Letter of Intent, have been accepted and/or enrolled at Lock Haven.
The Haven put a major emphasis on the “battle of the trenches”, adding nine athletes to the defensive and offensive line.
2025 PSAC Football Preseason Polls (first place votes in parentheses)
EAST
- Kutztown (7)
- East Stroudsburg (1)
- West Chester
- Shepherd
- Bloomsburg
- Lock Haven
- Shippensburg
- Millersville
WEST
- Slippery Rock (4)
- IUP (3)
- California
- Gannon
- Seton Hill
- Edinboro
- Clarion
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