LHU rocked at Slippery Rock
SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – The Lock Haven University football team (1-2) fell to host and nationally-ranked (No. 6) Slippery Rock University (3-0), 57-7, Saturday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East-West crossover action.
Highlighting the night for Lock Haven was DeAndre Wakefield’s (Norristown, Pa./Souderton) electrifying 95-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Slippery Rock scored on its first three possessions of the game and led 20-0 after the first quarter. At halftime, The Rock had extended the lead to 30-0. In the first half, Slippery Rock scored on its first five possessions and 5-of-7 overall possession in the opening half.
SRU scored 27 points in the third quarter, but Wakefield’s long TD-run late in the fourth quarter ended The Rock’s bid for the shutout. With 5:34 left in the game, Wakefield broke free at the line with a quick move and went the distance down the sideline.
Wakefield finished with 106 yards on 11 carries, but most of his yardage came on his lengthy touchdown run. Tight end Alex Cruz (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) hauled in two catches.
Shane Scott (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) led the Bald Eagles defense with 10 tackles. He recorded six solo stops and one tackle-for-loss.
Monte Jones (Annapolis, Md./Saint Mary’s (Frostburg State)) recorded nine tackles, while Austin Barber (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown) added eight tackles and one pass breakup. Kahari Kirklin-Whitfield (Reading, Pa./Reading) chipped in with eight tackles and a forced fumble.
Slippery Rock quarterback Andrew Koester finished with 331 yards and three TDs.
The game marked Lock Haven’s third straight on the road to open the season. The Bald Eagles now set their attention on their 2021 home-opener.
LHU will host East Stroudsburg University at 6 p.m. in Week-4 action on Saturday, Sept. 25. The Week-4 clash at Hubert Jack Stadium will mark the PSAC Eastern Division opener for both Lock Haven and ESU.
