Lock Haven falls just short of a miracle, losing to Shepherd 45-38
Tagged under: News, Pennsylvania Colleges, pfn
Ryan States | October 10, 2024
Photo taken for Lock Haven Athletics Department
Shepherdstown, WV.- Lock Haven (2-3) faced their first big road test of the season, traveling down to West Virginia to take on the Shepherd Rams (4-1). And after a wild game full of twists and turns, the Rams held on to defeat the Bald Eagles 45-38.
After a slow start to last week’s game versus Millersville, Lock Haven head coach Dan Mulrooney emphasized they needed a fast start, but once again the first half was a nightmare for The Haven.
Nothing went right for the Bald Eagles, who again fell behind early, but this time it was much worse. The Bald Eagle offense looked helpless in the first half, especially on the ground. Lock Haven generated 20 yards rushing in the first half, while giving up 183 yards on the ground to the Rams.
Shepherd running backs had a field day on the ground, running through wide open lanes and consistently generating five or six yards after contact. Going on to score three rushing touchdowns in the first half.
Lock Haven looked like a team coming off of three straight one possession nail biters, seeming incredibly fatigued and overall completely outclassed in every aspect of play. Looking at The Haven’s sideline told the whole story looking completely stunned as they went into the locker room down 31-3. That 31 points being the most they had given up in a half since 2022 versus Shippensburg (35).
“We got punched in the mouth in the first half.” Mulrooney said when asked about his thoughts of the first half, “We were ready to play, that’s what I don’t understand. Sometimes football has a way of humbling you and it just doesn’t go your way.”
The second half looked like a formality from the Rams perspective, clearly letting their foot off the gas, seemingly expecting the Bald Eagles to surrender after another touchdown made it 38-3, but Lock Haven refused to waive the white flag.
In the second half Lock Haven completely changed their offensive perspective, abandoning the run and shifting to a high tempo passing attack trying to score as quickly as possible. That new offensive scheme began to show results midway through the third quarter, as quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky fired a 45-yard pass down field to Corahn Alleyne, who came back for the ball before running it into the endzone to make the score 38-10.
Then after forcing their first three and out of the day Lock Haven scored again, this time it was Ostrowsky hooking up with T’iar Young for a 13-yard TD in the waning minutes of the third, but that final minute of the third quarter would take longer than anticipated.
After forcing another stop Lock Haven was set to get the ball back, however on the punt return man Nino Cinti muffed the fair catch and a Ram’s special teamer was there to dive on it, seemingly setting them up inside The Haven’s redzone. But on the recovery a flag was thrown as the Rams were called for targeting, with a defender diving at Cinti’s head as he fell to try and recover the ball. This call forced a 10 minute long discussion between the officials, trying to decide how to rule the call. After the extended stoppage the ruling of a fumble and clean recovery stood, with the 15-yard targeting penalty being applied after the recovery. But as an irate coach Mulrooney pleaded his case something changed the ref’s mind, as after already making the call, they huddled up for another five minutes before eventually overruling their own call, and forcing the Rams to re-punt as boo’s from the Shepherd faithful rained down.
After all that excitement it ended up amounting to nothing, as Ram’s defender Geo-Di Tolbert picked off Ostrowsky, and with only 13 minutes left in the game, seemed to slam shut any chance of a Lock Haven comeback.
Starting at their own 33 the Rams offense, who had been sluggish in the second half, sprung to life. Running backs Gran Swienhart and Jordan Barnett led the Rams all the way to the Lock Haven 35. But then, just in the knick of time, the Bald Eagles caught a break as true freshman cornerback Jaeion Perry forced Rams receiver Malakai Brown to fumble deep in Lock Haven territory.
That fumble recovery meant that the Bald Eagles were somehow still alive, and they took advantage. Lock Haven marched 82-yards in just six plays, capping off a two minute drive with a 15-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Quon Williams. Now with a little under 7 minutes left, Lock Haven brought it within 14 points.
Still needing multiple lucky bounces Bald Eagle kicker Tony NiCassio lined up for an onside kick to try and give Lock Haven the ball back. Coming into the game Lock Haven was a perfect one for one on onside attempts, that one coming in their 27-20 loss to California (PA). But The Haven would make it two for two, as Davien Verrnon jumped on the ball and gave his team the ball right back.
Now with the ball down only 24-38 Lock Haven was beginning to build real momentum, and the Bald Eagle sideline came to life as running back KJ Howard, in the midst of a tough four game scratch after his dominant week one performance, caught a 22-yard score on a perfectly run wheel route. And now suddenly it was the Shepherd sideline who looked lost for words, as a 28-0 run in just over 10 minutes of game time made the score 38-31.
Feeling the tides turn in his favor coach Mulrooney gambled again, lining up for another onside with 5:48 to go. This time however the gamble backfired, as the Rams fell on the ball and were now just 15 yards away from field goal range.
Needing to stop the run that had been killing them all game, the Bald Eagle defense stood strong, seemingly forcing a three and out. But at the worst possible time Lock Haven’s untimely penalty bug bit them, as a Haven defender was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after the third down stop, giving the Rams an automatic first down.
Shepherd would go on to score again, as it was Jordan Barnett finding the endzone. Yet Lock Haven still did not give in, scoring another touchdown on a 1-yard QB run from backup William Pickett, before another failed onside kick brought the game to a close.
Ostrowsky finished the game with an absurd 470 yards passing, the most a PSAC QB has thrown since 2022.
Lock Haven will be on the road again next Saturday, facing the #5 ranked Kutztown Golden Bears on Oct. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
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