LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — The Bald Eagles were close to winning their second game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 15, but fell eight points short during the final quarter against Bloomsburg, securing the Huskies’s win 17-9.
Lock Haven had a strong offensive start, receiving a first down during their opening play. However, they failed to capitalize off their drive with a missed field goal attempt halfway through the first quarter.
Bloomsburg quickly handed possession back over to the Bald Eagles allowing them to secure the 3-0 lead going into the second quarter. LHU kicker Brett Zechman made a successful 42-yard field goal in the final two minutes of play.
The bottom of the first half proved to be difficult for the Bald Eagles. Bloomsburg recovered shortly after a Lock Haven turnover. Halfback Matthew Bowes received a 17-yard pass from quarterback KJ Riley, earning the Huskies’s first touchdown of the game, giving them a 7-3 lead. Minutes later, Lock Haven was forced to sub out their starting quarterback Easton Turner due to game-related injuries. Samuel Barber stepped in as Turner’s replacement.
The Bald Eagles continued to struggle as Bloomsburg completed a 57-yard drive resulting in a 40-yard field goal by kicker Brendan McGonigle. There was a glimmer of hope, however, for the fighting Eagles as defensive back Victor Hunt intercepted the Huskies’s ball with 22 seconds to spare in the second half. Despite the turnover, Lock Haven trailed 10-7 going into halftime.
At the start of the third, Lock Haven scored their first touchdown of the game. Receiver Justin White caught-and-ran 19-yards into the end zone following Barber’s 92-yard drive. While the Bald Eagles narrowed the gap 10-9 they were unable to secure the extra point with five minutes remaining.
The Huskies pushed back aggressively minutes after Lock Haven’s touchdown. Quarterback Ben Ries’s four-yard sprint to victory extended Bloomsburg’s lead, 17-9, by the end of the third quarter.
Tension arose on the field during the fourth as a fight broke out among several players. Bloomsburg was penalized for unsportsman-like conduct, ejecting defensive lineman Kenny Yurkonis.
Despite the narrow lead, the Bald Eagles could not bounce back from their eight point deficit in the final minutes of the game. With 5:41 left, Lock Haven fumbled the ball resulting in an ecstatic retrieve from Bloomsburg defensive lineman William Martin III. Since the Huskies were unable to score on the turnover, the Bald Eagles gained one more chance to advance the ball down the field. However, the drive was halted after defensive back Quentin Gaskill intercepted Barber with 1:53 of play time remaining.
Lock Haven may have dominated the field offensively with a total of 309 yards, compared to Bloomsburg’s 259, but the Bald Eagle’s defensive strategy was not strong enough for them to earn a second season win.
Even in the midst of defeat, Lock Haven head coach Dan Mulrooney encouraged his team, reiterating how proud of them he was despite the disappointing final score.
“We were a dangerous opponent, and we fought. I’m proud of the fight. We [even] lost our starting quarterback, and we kept it up. I’m proud of the group. I’m proud of the players. I’m proud of the coaches. I’m proud of all of you.”
UP NEXT:
The Bald Eagles will hit the road in the coming weeks for two consecutive away games. Kick off begins at 3 p.m. on Oct. 22 against Kutztown.
Kerri Hoover
Kerri Hoover is in her third year working on the Eagle Eye staff and currently serves as the President and Editor-in-Chief. As a Lock Haven University senior, she majors in Communication with a triple-concentration focus in Advertising & Public Relations, Electronic Media, and Journalism. With her versatile skill set, Kerri hopes to pursue a career working as a social media content creator, journalist, or video editor. On the rare occasion Kerri isn’t working in the newsroom, she can be found hanging out with her friends, working at the PUB, or creating content for the LHU Media and Journalism Department.
