LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven (2-2) kept it close through three quarters, but East Stroudsburg (ESU) (4-0) kept their foot on the gas and defeated The Haven, 35-21.
Early in the first quarter disaster seemed to strike for ESU, as starting quarterback Charlie McKee was knocked out of the game with an injury. After a failed Lock Haven drive, back up QB Sean McTaggart had to come into the game for ESU. However, the Warriors showed a steely, unrelenting resolve, as McTaggart lead a 99-yard scoring drive, capping it off with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Stuart.
Being down 7-0 in the second quarter, head coach Dan Mulrooney needed his offense to respond. And respond they did, as quarterback Danny Sanchez threw back-to-back 30-yard passes, including a 37-yard flea flicker TD to Chase Holmes.
ESU got the ball back, tied 7-7, and what looked to be a promising drive was snuffed out thanks to the Bald Eagles’ defensive line generating pressure on McTaggart. Then after a Lock Haven punt, it was clear one team needed a big play to break the 7-7 deadlock. Backed up on his own 19-yard line, McTaggart looked to go deep, but defensive back Darryl Pollard picked off the pass and gave Lock Haven the momentum they were looking for.
Collier led the Bald Eagles down the field, rushing for 25 yards on the drive, and punching in a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 14-7 going into the half.
In the third quarter ESU took control, scoring 21 points, holding the Bald Eagles to just seven. The Warriors scoring barrage came thanks to McTaggart, who carved up The Haven defense and threw two TDs in the quarter. Lock Havens lone score was a 57-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Baker.
At the start of the fourth, Lock Haven drove down to the Warriors 24-yard line, but a costly penalty took a TD off the board and led to a turnover on downs. ESU responded with another TD drive, and would hold off the Lock Haven offense, sealing up a 35-21 win. This also secured the 500th win in East Stroudsburg history.
“I’m proud of the fight,” Coach Mulrooney said when asked about the loss. “We’re good enough to win. We proved it. We’re a good football team. And we could beat anybody in this conference. And the team knows that, and we shut them down in the first half. Lock Haven’s back.”
UP NEXT:
Coach Mulrooney is looking forward to next Saturday’s matchup against Millersville.
“You got a good football team there,” Mulrooney said. “Obviously, the coach has been there six years, he’s had a lot of losing seasons, he developed recruiting classes, and he’s got more time in than us. Eventually, we’ll give you a better team and show progress. Our team is dangerous and everyone in the league knows.”
Lock Haven will take on the red-hot Millersville Marauders (3-1) on Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. in Lancaster.
Ryan States is in his 3rd year at Lock Haven University, and his second with the Eagle Eye. He is a Journalism major with intentions to minor in Sports Management. With his never-ending passion for all things sports, he wishes to pursue a career as a sports writer for a major outlet. When not watching sports, he can be found playing video games, hanging out with friends at the REC. Or you can find him helping out in the booth during LHU sporting events. His biggest hope while at Lock Haven is to be able to positively contribute to LHU sports in any way he can.
