LHU football drops back-and-forth PSAC East clash at Millersville

MILLERSVILLE, PA – The Lock Haven University football team (1-4, 0-2 PSAC East) dropped a wild back-and-forth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division clash Saturday at Millersville University (2-3, 1-1 PSAC East), 31-29.

In a game filled with wild plays and big momentum shifts, the host-Marauders used a late-game rushing-touchdown to come back from a 23-14 halftime deficit and secure the victory. Jaheim Morris scored from eight yards out with 3:58 left in the game, which provided the difference-maker and helped Millersville edge out The Haven.

With the win, Millersville moved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in PSAC East play. Lock Haven fell to 1-4 (0-2 PSAC East).

The Bald Eagles led 23-14 at halftime, but Millersville scored 17 second-half points, which included an 11-point third quarter.

Lock Haven quarterback Ethan Persa (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) proved an early offensive spark. He rushed for one score and threw a touchdown pass in the first half.

Trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, Persa darted into the end zone from two yards out with 7:35 left. The TD-run capped a 7-play, 75-yard drive that tied the game at 7-7.

Early in the second quarter Persa connected with Chris Hicks (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) on a 76-yard touchdown-reception. The long Lock Haven touchdown put LHU up 14-7.

Behind a momentum changing special teams play, the Bald Eagles jumped out to a 20-7 lead. Jacob Sturm (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) scooped up a blocked punt from eight yards as LHU was in full control with 7:05 left in the first half.

As time expired in the first half, Hunter Hess (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) connected from 35 yards out and the field goal put Lock Haven up 23-14 at halftime.

The Marauders started the second half strong and with 11:30 left in the third quarter, the game was tied 23-23. A Millersville safety put the hosts up 25-23 with 5:28 left in the third period, but Lock Haven once again responded in a big way. With 6:19 left in the game, Haseem Johnson (Philadelphia/Kensington) returned a fumble 30 yards for a score and the Bald Eagles pushed ahead again, at 29-25.

That aforementioned Millersville TD from Morris with 3:58 left in the game proved to the ultimate difference maker in the back-and-forth thriller that provided a little bit of everything. .

Once again, Shane Scott (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) led Lock Haven’s defensive effort. He finished with 10 tackles (8 solo), three tackles-for-loss and two sacks.

Monte Jones (Annapolis, Md./Saint Mary’s) had nine tackles and Levi Engle (Williamstown, Pa./Williams Valley) recorded five stops.

Persa threw for 165 yards in the game (10-22, 1 TD, 2 INT). Dante Graham (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) ran for 36 yards on five carries, Hicks finished with two catches for 109 yards (1 TD) and Alex Lantz (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) added two catches.

LHU will host nationally-ranked Shepherd University next Saturday, October 9. The Week 6 PSAC East clash will kick off at 1 p.m. from Hubert Jack Stadium.