MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Down 21-7 and facing a two-game losing streak, Lock Haven (3-2) never blinked, forcing four fumbles, and scoring 24 unanswered points, defeating the red-hot Marauders (3-2) 38-31.
This Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East win marks the first conference win for the bald eagles since 2018. Also, three wins is the most in a season since 2016.
Both Millersville and LHU sport some of the best running attacks in the PSAC. However, it was Lock Haven’s Chris Collier who won the day, rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns. Collier went on to win PSAC East Player of the Week for his performance.
The defense also did their job, forcing four fumbles and making a late goal line stand to seal the win.
Millersville got off to a hot start, stopping Lock Haven’s opening drive and capped off their first drive with a 31-yard TD pass to receiver Hakim Melvin. The Bald Eagles responded with a TD of their own thanks to a Danny Sanchez throw to wide receiver Chandler Baker. Marauders quarterback Robert Footman Jr. threw another touchdown in the quarter, this one to Brady Russell. Taking the 14-7 lead.
Footman threw a third touchdown pass at the start of the second, this one being to Kam Taylor. Lock Haven’s hopes of a win dwindled, especially after Sanchez threw an interception later in the quarter. Down 21-7 and with the offence sputtering head coach Dan Mulrooney had to ask his defense to create momentum, and they did, forcing a fumble and giving the ball to the offense at the Millersville 8-yard line. Sanchez punched it in for a TD, bringing LHU back within seven.
Feeling the momentum shift in the final minutes of the half, Mulrooney took a risk with a surprise onside kick, which Lock Haven recovered. The gamble paid off as kicker Brett Zachman booted a 36-yard field goal, making it a 21-17 game by halftime.
Lock Haven kept their foot on the gas coming out of the half, as defensive end Justin Anderson forced a fumble, setting up the offense in great field position. Collier made his presence known, pounding in a nine-yard touchdown to give the Bald Eagles the lead. Another forced fumble and Collier TD made it a 31-21 lead. Millersville responded at the end of the quarter to cut the lead to just three.
At the start of the fourth quarter Mulrooney knew his team couldn’t let up, continuing to keep pressure on the Marauders. Sanchez and the air attack gashed the defense, leading to Collier to finish the drive with his third TD of the game. Millersville had a late surge, scoring another TD and getting the ball back with 1:46 left in the game. Footman led the Marauders all the way to the 4-yard line with a chance to tie. On fourth down the defense needed to stand tall. Footman threw it to the end zone, and Jaderian Johnson broke it up, clinching the win for LHU.
With the win Lock Haven jumps up to fourth in the PSAC East, and for the first time in a long time, the Bald Eagles have a real shot to finish atop of the east division.
UP NEXT:
Lock Haven will return home to face No. 25 ranked Shepherd. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Hubert Jack Stadium.
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.
