LHU football drops PSAC East clash as West Chester pulls away late
LOCK HAVEN, PA – Despite an upstart-defensive effort that saw the Bald Eagles force three first-half turnovers, the Lock Haven University football team (1-8, 0-6 PSAC East) trailed 21-13 at halftime, and in the end, visiting West Chester University (6-3, 4-2 PSAC East) pulled away late for a 35-13 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division victory Saturday at Hubert Jack Stadium.
It marked Lock Haven’s second straight home game and the Bald Eagles looked poised for the upset as the defense made big play after big play.
For the game, LHU’s total team-effort on defense, led to two interceptions, three forced fumbles – all three of which were recovered by Lock Haven – to go along with four sacks and five total tackles-for-loss.
Shane Scott (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) and Darryl Pollard (Philadelphia/Upper Darby) finished with nine tackles apiece and each recorded eight solo tackles. Scott forced one of three fumbles as the Lock Haven defense kept the West Chester offensive unit unbalanced for much of the contest. Pollard and Kahari Kirklin-Whitfield (Reading, Pa./Reading) each pulled in interceptions.
Markel Morgan (Philadelphia/John Bartram) finished with seven tackles and Haseem Johnson (Philadelphia/Kensington) came up big for the Bald Eagle defense. Johnson finished with four total tackles, but they included two sacks for a loss of 17 total yards. He also scooped up two fumbles.
In the first half, Lock Haven’s defense recorded one interception and forced two fumbles, both of which the host-Bald Eagles recovered as the two teams exchanged scores early in a tightly-contested first-half grudge match.
The Golden Rams led 21-13 at the half, but they used 14 fourth-quarter points to pull away from the upset-minded Bald Eagles.
LHU forced West Chester turnovers on each of the Golden Rams’ first two possessions of the game. Lock Haven took advantage and jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter after Jordan Heisey (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) darted into the end zone from 1-yard out.
With just 47 seconds left in the opening frame, West Chester tied the game at 7-7 after Dan Neuhaus hauled in a 14-yard pass from WCU-quarterback Shane Dooley.
The Bald Eagles jumped ahead again after Isiah Gonzalez (Philadelphia/Olney(Alvernia) grabbed a 6-yard pass from Heisey. The score put Lock Haven up 13-7.
West Chester scored on a long run with 5:42 left in the half, the visitors scored again with just 13 seconds left in the opening half and they took a 21-13 lead into the break despite a number of big plays for Lock Haven, particularly on the defensive end.
LHU’s defense continued to keep the Bald Eagles in the game, but West Chester scored twice in the final 11 minutes to pull away and secure the important PSAC East win. With the win, WCU moved to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in PSAC Eastern Division action.
Heisey and Ethan Persa (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) split time at quarterback tonight for Lock Haven. Heisey was 7-for-12 (68 YDS.) with a touchdown and one interception. He also provided a huge spark on the ground as he finished with 97 yards on 12 carries and a score. Persa was 7-of-13 (58 YDS.) passing.
DeAndre Wakefield (Norristown, Pa./Souderton) carried the ball 14 times for 58 yards and Dante Graham (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) ran for 35 yards on three carries.
Gonzalez continued to provide a huge jolt for the offense. He hauled in a game-high seven catches for 94 yards (1 TD).
For West Chester, Dooley threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Ja’Den McKenzie ran for 160 yards and one TD.
Lock Haven will travel to Shippensburg University next week for a Week-10 PSAC East contest on November 6, before closing the 2021 regular season at home on Saturday, November 13 vs. Seton Hill. Next Saturdays’ game at Shippensburg is set for a 1 p.m. start.
