Bald Eagles Picked 6th in East Div.
KUTZTOWN – The Lock Haven University football team has been picked in a tie for sixth in the 2015 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was released today at Media Day on the campus of Kutztown University.
The Bald Eagles are tied for sixth in the eight-team division with Millersville. Bloomsburg, the winner of the 2014 PSAC East regular season title was tabbed as the favorite. West Chester sits second in the Eastern Division poll, while East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg are tied for third.
In the Western Division, Gannon was picked as the favorite.
Last season, Lock Haven, picked sixth in the preseason poll, went 2-9, picking up wins over Cheyney and Millersville. The two wins in 2014 followed up a 3-8 campaign in 2013.
The 2015 season will mark a new era for the Bald Eagle program as Dave Taynor takes over as head coach. Taynor was hired in mid-April after spending the last seven seasons at his alma mater – Urbana.
Under his guidance, the Blue Knights enjoyed the five most successful seasons in school history from 2009 to ’13 and he’s the winningest coach in the school’s history. Known for his offensive mind and high-flying attack, Taynor’s Urbana teams broke over 50 offensive school records from 2008 – ’14.
A university release said Taynor has put together a top-notch staff from top to bottom and they are ready to hit the field later this week.
As a whole, the staff has a strong resume including 21 conference championships, two NCAA Division I Bowl Games, two NCAA National Championships, a high school state championship, nearly 500 All-Conference players and 28 All-Americans.
Taynor and his staff have plenty to work with as the Bald Eagles return 14 starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball.
Highlighting the offensive starters returning is redshirt-junior quarterback Caleb Walton. Last season he passed for 2,164 yards and 15 TDs. He became the first Bald Eagle quarterback since 1995 to throw for over 2,000 yards in a season. It’s just the seventh time in school history where a Lock Haven quarterback has surpassed the 2,000-yard passing mark in a single season. Walton now has 3,320 career passing yards, the seventh-most in school history. His 24 passing TDs are No. 5 in school history.
What was a young offensive line in 2014 is now an experienced one as the Bald Eagles will be aided by all five starting offensive linemen returning for this season. Leading the way is senior-center Luke Erdman, who has 30 career starts under his belt – the fifth-most among all active PSAC players.
On offense, LHU also returns skill at running back and wide receiver giving Taynor options.
On defense, both Daniel Strawbridge (CB) and Tony Ballon (LB) return after ranking No. 2 and No. 3 in tackles last season. The defensive unit was a key for Lock Haven in every game last year.
2014 marked Randi Moore’s first season as the Bald Eagles’ defensive coordinator and he made an immediate impact. LHU forced at least one turnover in all but one game last season. LHU ranked seventh in the PSAC in interceptions (11) and eighth in total pass defense. The Bald Eagles return four of their top-five tacklers from last season. The shutout-win over Cheyney in Week 7 was the first in 12 years.
The Bald Eagles report to preseason camp on Wednesday and practice gets underway on Thursday.
2015 PSAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
East:
1. Bloomsburg
2. West Chester
T-3. East Stroudsburg
T-3. Shippensburg
5. Kutztown
T-6. Lock Haven
T-6. Millersville
8. Cheyney
West:
1. Gannon
2. Slippery Rock
3. Mercyhurst
4. California
5. IUP
6. Seton Hill
7. Edinboro
8. Clarion
