Bears Beat Bald Eagles, 55-26

LOCK HAVEN – John Ford (Etters, Pa./Shippensburg Univ.) rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Carlos Balkcom (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) returned an interception 51 yards for a TD, but it wasn’t enough Saturday as the Lock Haven University football team (1-7, 1-4 PSAC East) fell to visiting and first-place Kutztown University (6-2, 4-1 PSAC East), 55-26 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East action.

Balkcom also returned a blocked extra point attempt 90-plus yards late in the second quarter to put two points on the board for Lock Haven in an all-around solid defensive outing. He finished with three solo tackles, including two tackles-for-loss. The interception was his team-leading fifth of the season.

Isaiah Flamer (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) was all over the field for LHU and finished with a game-high 10 tackles. Alex Welch (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) finished with eight stops.

Quarterback Cameron Tobias (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) was 17 of 27 for 123 yards.

A pair of true-freshmen from nearby Williamsport also shined on the offensive side as wide receiver Elliot Walker(Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) hauled in six catches for 84 yards and Jalen Jackson (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) recorded four catches for 30 yards from his tight end spot.

Kutztown led 27-12 at halftime and scored 14 third-quarter points to extend the lead to 41-12 after three periods. The Golden Bears’ Evan Culver rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Collin DiGalbo threw for 244 yards and three TDs.

The Bald Eagles will return to action on Saturday, October 28 when they travel to the short distance east for a divisional clash at local-rival Bloomsburg University (2 p.m.).