LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Bald Eagles hosted the Millersville Marauders for a football contest this past Saturday (October 1). Millersville (1-4) jumped out to a 14-0 lead at halftime but a third quarter surge saw Lock Haven (1-4) cut Millersville’s lead to 21-12. Millersville rallied ahead scoring 21 unanswered handing Lock Haven a 42-12 loss.
“I challenged them this week,” Lock Haven head coach Dan Mulrooney said. “Our kids were fired up on the sideline the whole game. We’re trying to be in the game in the fourth quarter. I’m so proud of them. And we’re out there playing eight freshmen on defense, and we’re stopping them. We’re getting off the field, we’re intercepting them. We’re doing some really good things. I know the score doesn’t look like it right now but when it does, it will be magical as I keep telling them.”
Millersville received the ball first and drove deep into Lock Haven territory until a fumble halted the drive, giving the Bald Eagles possession of the ball. Both teams were unable to reach the endzone in the first quarter. The Marauders scored twice in the second quarter giving them a 14-0 advantage over Lock Haven. Millersville drove the ball to Lock Haven’s 15-yard line on a 25-yard pass play from Robert Footman Jr. to Hakim Melvin. Multiple plays later, Marcus Pierce Jr. rushed for a six-yard touchdown. On their next possession, Footman hit Mekhi Alexander for an 88-yard touchdown to cap off a drive that started at their own one-yard line.
The Bald Eagles scored on their opening possession in the second half when Easton Turner connected with Marquon Williams for a 48-yard touchdown pass. A missed extra point had Lock Haven trailing 14-6. The Bald Eagles forced a Millersville punt which was downed at their own one-yard line. The drive ended when Millersville defensive back Gus Ross picked off Turner and returned it to Lock Haven’s two-yard line. On the very next play, Pierce punched it in giving Millersville a 21-6 lead with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter.
Lock Haven responded quickly in their next possession, driving down to Millersville’s 21-yard line on a 50-yard pass from Turner to Chase Holmes. The drive was capped off on a 10-yard touchdown catch from Williams, his second of the game. The Bald Eagles closed in on the Marauders 21-12.
“I told my team, go out there (in the second half) and do it,” Mulrooney said. “Go out there and attack. You have the ability to do it. It was 21-12, we were playing back and forth. At that moment, I was really proud because they showed experience.”
Millersville scored once more in the third on a one-yard plunge from Jaheim Morris.
The fourth quarter saw only two touchdowns, both by Millersville. Kameron Taylor caught a 17-yard touchdown pass which was set up by a 30-yard run by Morris. Minutes later, Millersville defensive back Omar Ba picked off Turner leading to a one-yard touchdown run by Matt Frauen.
PASS CATCHERS… Bald Eagle wide receivers Williams and Holmes led the way for the offense. Williams grabbed two catches for 58-yards and two touchdowns. Holmes realed in six catches for 111-yards.
UP NEXT… Lock Haven will hit the road to face Shepherd on Saturday, October 8. Kick off is at 12:00 p.m.
“We’re not gonna back down,” Mulrooney noted. “Things may go bad, and we’ll have a smile on our face. We’re ready. We’ll compete against you. I cannot wait to play Shepherd. I’m excited.”
