Lock Haven comes up just short, losing to California (PA) 27-20

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Ryan States | September 22, 2024

Photo taken by Mike Frame for Lock Haven Athletics Department

Lock Haven, PA. – It has certainly been a rough two game stretch for Lock Haven Football, just one week after a heartbreaking loss to IUP, the (1-2) Bald Eagles again come up just short of that second win, losing to the (2-1) California (PA) Vulcans 27-20. 

While Lock Haven was coming off a loss, the Vulcans were not, as they beat West Chester last Saturday 38-28 in a shootout. Cal. PA started their season with three straight road games, traveling to Charleston, West Chester, and most recently Lock Haven. 

The first half was an offense showcase for both teams, and a real coming out party for Lock Haven’s passing game. Cal. PA got on the board in a flash, on just their first play from scrimmage Vulcans QB Davis Black found a wide open D’Avay Johnson for an 83-yard catch and run to put Cal. PA up 7-0. 

But then Lock Haven’s offense kicked into high gear, with the run game proving ineffective the Bald Eagles had to lean on graduate senior QB Jackson Ostrowsky to command the offense, and he did just that as he found T’iar Young in the end-zone for a 40-yard touchdown to tie it right back up at seven all. 

In the second quarter Lock Haven continued to have a field day passing the football, Ostrowksy again and again finding wide open receivers, including Quon Williams for another score that put the Bald Eagles up 17-10. 

However, The Vulcans are no stranger to a shootout, and they were ready for it, as Black found Omari Evans in the end-zone on a big 3rd down to tie the game 17 all going into the half.

While the Bald Eagle offense couldn’t be stopped in the first half, the script seemed to flip in the second, as suddenly their red hot passing game was ice cold. The Vulcans did a fantastic job all game in shutting down Lock Haven’s vaunted ground game, largely using blitzes to overwhelm the Bald Eagles O-line. Overall on the day Lock Haven would finish with -1 total rushing yards, their worst day running the ball in two years. 

It’s no secret how much Lock Haven depends on the ground game, and that is apparent when you look at the numbers. Since 2023 The Haven is 5-4 in games they rush for over 100 yards, meanwhile they are 0-4 in games they don’t. In this game Lock Haven’s leading rusher was KJ Howard, who only accumulated 13 yards on 6 attempts, marking his second game in a row rushing under 2 yards per carry. 

With the Lock Haven offense sputtering, it was on the defense to step up, and they did in a big way. Linebacker Justin Anderson seemed to live in the Vulcan’s backfield, recording 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss as the Bald Eagles continued to force punt after punt. 

Unfortunately though the offense was stuck in neutral, and it was only a matter of time before the Cal. PA offense came alive. And they did, kicking a field goal then scoring another touchdown to put them up 27-17 with 2:48 left in the fourth.

With their backs against the wall Lock Haven needed points, and while it took a whole two minutes off the clock, they found it as they hit a field goal to bring it within seven with :40 seconds left. Needing a miracle the Bald Eagles recovered an onside kick to keep hope alive, but just like last week the offense couldn’t put a last second drive together and would fall just short. 

Despite the loss Lock Haven head coach Dan Mulrooney was proud of how his team fought, making a point to recognize the many positive takeaways. 

“We just played arguably the two best teams in the west (IUP and Cal. PA).” Mulrooney said, “And it means nothing to our season because we haven’t started divisional play yet. So if anything the silver lining is that we know we’re good enough to compete against the top programs. Obviously I want to win the game, but we closed the gap from where it has been and I am proud of that.”

Also of note is that Lock Haven cleaned up many of the penalty problems they had a week ago, as it was actually the Vulcans who committed a majority of the untimely errors. 

Overall there is no reason to worry if you are a fan of Lock Haven football, in fact there is reason to be excited. Cal. PA and IUP were projected to finish 2nd and 3rd in the PSAC West this season (Via PSAC Sports) and Lock Haven, projected to finish 5th in the PSAC East) hung with both teams and nearly won both games. The Bald Eagles are a program on the rise, and despite the record this year’s team looks better than the one that won five games a year ago. 

Lock Haven is a team that has all the right pieces to be a winner, boasting both a top five offense and defense in the PSAC so far. If this team can play complimentary football, like they did in their win over Glenville, then this Bald Eagle team may very well find themselves near the top of the PSAC East standings by season’s end. 

Both losses for Lock Haven are non divisional, so their chances of winning the east haven’t changed. Next week will be the first inter divisional test for the Bald Eagles as they will take on Millersville in their final home game of this three game stretch. A win would bring Lock Haven back to .500, right in line with Mulrooney’s goal to finish over that mark this season. 

Lock Haven will host the Marauders at Hubert Jack Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28th. Kickoff for that one will be at 1 P.M.

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