Bald Eagles Rally But Fall to ESU, 37-27

AdminNovember 5, 2017Last Updated: November 5, 2017

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LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University football team (2-8, 2-5 PSAC East) rallied for 13 fourth-quarter point as the Bald Eagles looked to cap a comeback, but in the end East Stroudsburg (3-7, 2-5 PSAC East) hung on for a 37-27 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East victory on Saturday.

Trailing 37-14 late in the fourth quarter, the LHU offense stepped up and did all it could to try and complete the comeback.

John Ford’s (Etters, Pa./Shippensburg Univ.) 24-yard touchdown run with 4:27 left in the game capped an eight-play, 75 yard drive and cut the ESU lead to 17, at 37-20.

Just two seconds after Ford’s TD-run Lock Haven got the ball back after a successful onside kick. The onside kick set up another LHU touchdown as Kyle Knight (Myerstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon) connected with Marcus Williams (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) in the back corner of the end zone on a 29-yard pass.

Williams’ touchdown catch – the first of his collegiate career – with just 2:36 left in the game made it a two-possession game, but ESU still led by 10, 37-27.

That 37-27 score held, as the LHU comeback bid fell short.

Knight, LHU’s true-freshman quarterback and the reigning PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week, finished with 47 rushing yards and one TD. He had a monster day in the air and threw for 264 yards. Knight was 18 of 34 passing with no interceptions. The late fourth-quarter TD pass to Williams was Knight’s first career collegiate passing touchdown.

Ralph Hyland (Philadelphia/Frankford) had a huge day on the ground for Lock Haven. He carried the ball 27 times for a career-high 165 yards. He rushed for a touchdown midway through the second quarter.

Ford finished with 77 yards and a score. It marked his fifth straight game with a touchdown-run.

Offensively, the Bald Eagles had a big day. LHU rushed for 307 yards and three TDs. It marked Lock Haven’s second straight game with over 300 yards on the ground.

Tight end Jalen Jackson (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) capped a strong offensive outing with a career-day of his own. He finished with career-highs in catches and receiving yards with eight, and 116, respectively.

Obadiah Asare (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), Isaiah Flamer (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville), Shyheim Brown(Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) and Alex Welch (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) led the Lock Haven defense.

Asare finished with seven tackles including five solo stops and Flamer registered six stops. Brown had five tackles including one tackle-for-loss and he had an interception. Welch rounded out a strong defensive outing with five tackles.

Next Saturday (Nov. 11; Week 11), the Bald Eagles will close out the 2017 season at home vs. Mercyhurst. The game is set to kick off at 12 p.m. and will serve as The Haven’s Senior Day. The game will also mark LHU’s 2017 Veteran’s Appreciation Game.