LHU Drops Opener at Clarion

CLARION – The Lock Haven University football team hung with Clarion University for a while, tied at 3-3 early on, but the Golden Eagles opened up a 31-3 third quarter lead and coasted home with a 41-24 Thursday night victory in the seasonal opener for both teams.

The game did see LHU quarterback Caleb Walton (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) throw for a career-high 392 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough.


Walton, who entered the season with the second-most passing yards in school history added to his total with another big night. He was 29 of 50 (3 TDs, no interceptions) for 392 yards, which pushed him to 6,248 career yards. His three touchdown passes give him 50 career passing TDs, the second most in school history and just 11 away from breaking the school’s all-time record.


Lock Haven trailed Clarion 24-3 at halftime.


After a slow start the Bald Eagle’s high-flying offense found its groove in the second half and got things rolling. Three different receivers hauled in TD-passes and Malyk Harris (Harrisburg, Pa./Albright College) added 110 yards rushing.


Shawn Seif (Harrisburg, Pa./Kutztown University) had nine catches for 170 yards and a TD.
 
Defensively, standout-transfer Kevin Chapple (Columbus, Ohio/Urbana) shined in his Bald Eagle debut and finished with a game-high 14 tackles.


The Bald Eagles 2016 home-opener is set for Saturday, September 10 vs. Edinboro University (12 p.m.). It’s the first of two straight at home for LHU and the first of five home games during the 2016 campaign.