LH football opens season with thrilling road win over Post

WATERBURY, Conn. – After a wildly exciting fourth quarter, the Lock Haven University football team (1-0) overcame a late surge from Post University (0-1) in the 2022 season opener for both teams. LHU came away with the win 35-34 in a nail-biting non-conference matchup.

For first year head coach Dan Mulrooney, Saturday’s win also marked a homecoming for the Waterbury native. As a high school player, Mulrooney played on the same Municipal Stadium field countless times that he now led the Bald Eagles to victory for his first win in the Crimson and White.

The homecoming started quickly for Mulrooney and the Bald Eagles, as DeAndre Wakefield (Norristown, Pa./Souderton) capped a seven play 59-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown at the 7:42 mark in the opening quarter. Prior to the score on the opening drive of the game, the Bald Eagle defense forced a Post three-and-out to give their offense great starting field position.

Post responded later in the first quarter when quarterback Broghean McGovern found Christian Collin for a 10-yard score. The duo connected once more for a 60-yard score early in the second quarter as the Eagles jumped out to a 14-7 lead.

With 4:53 to play in the opening half, graduate transfer quarterback Easton Turner (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge (Assumption)) found his wide out Kaden Bittinger (Clarence, Pa./Bald Eagle) on a 16-yard pass connection to tie things up at 14-14 going into the halftime break. That marked the first of three touchdown tosses for the Assumption University transfer.

In the second half, Turner notched his second touchdown pass this time finding his wide receiver Marquon Williams (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford (Minnesota State University-Mankato)), also making his first appearance for LHU, for the only scoring of the third quarter to push Lock Haven ahead 21-14.

The fourth quarter proved to be a thriller and the fans at Municipal Stadium were a witness to offensive fireworks as the two sides combined for 34 points in the final period.

Post struck first with a 27-yard strike from McGovern to Antonio Spencer to knot the game up at 21-21. The Bald Eagles hit right back after another short touchdown run from Wakefield that pushed LHU back into the lead at 28-21. Once again, Post responded quickly and it was the Spencer and McGovern connection combining for another touchdown pass.

With seven minutes remaining, Turner unleashed a 52-yard pass and hit Williams once more to take a late lead 35-28. Williams score looked to put LHU ahead for good, but as was the story of the game Post had another response to the punches from Lock Haven.

Clinging to a seven-point lead, the LHU defense took the field with under two minutes remaining and held in their hands a chance to claim the first win of the Mulrooney era. After notching a quick first down, Post once again matched The Haven as McGovern launched his fifth touchdown of the day, this time to Nick Wright on a 46-yard bomb with 57 seconds left to play.

Playing for the win, Post elected to attempt a two-point conversion to take the lead, but The Haven defensive unit held strong and came up with the clutch and eventual game-winning stop.

With The Haven leading 35-34, Post was forced into an onside kick attempt, which the Bald Eagles special teams covered up convincingly to seal the road victory and the 1-0 start to the 2022 season.

On the ground, Wakefield led all rushers with 87 total yards and the sophomore found pay dirt twice. Wakefield also caught two passes for 20 yards out of the backfield.

Making his first start as a Bald Eagle, Turner impressed racking up three touchdowns and 248 yards through the air on 20-35 passing.

Another fresh face to Bald Eagle fans, Williams hauled in five catches at wideout, including two touchdowns one for 52 yards. The sophomore transfer led all Bald Eagles with 131 yards. He also made a huge impact on the special team’s side of the ball. Williams blocked a Post punt early in the third quarter and on the very next play caught a 29-yard touchdown pass.

Defensively, the linebacker duo of Kyler Cunningham (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) and Anu Okungbowa (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) each totaled 10 tackles each. 2021 All-PSAC returner Shane Scott (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) notched another eight tackles and the trio of linebackers all registered a sack and at least one tackle for loss. Cunningham totaled two tackles for loss, 10 tackles and one sack in an impressive outing.

Justin Anderson (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) was a force for the Bald Eagles on the edge and found himself in the Post backfield all afternoon. The sophomore registered a game-high two sacks for a total of nine yards lost.

As a team, Lock Haven was outgained by Post 457-346, but LHU held a strong 98-41 advantage in ground yardage as the Bald Eagles dominated in the trenches. The Bald Eagles also held a commanding lead in the red zone, converting on all three of their chances and holding Post to one successful red zone opportunity.

Up Next:
The Bald Eagles return to Hubert Jack Stadium on Saturday, September 10 for their home-opener versus Mercyhurst next week. That game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.