LOCK HAVEN, PA – Host Lock Haven University scored three touchdowns in the second half to erase a 14-point deficit and pull off a 28-21 upset over visiting West Chester in front of its Homecoming Crowd at Hubert Jack Stadium Saturday afternoon.
West Chester (3-4, 1-3 PSAC East) dropped its third straight contest while Lock Haven (3-4, 2-2) ended a personal 13-game losing streak to the Golden Rams that dated back to 1991, and beat them at Hubert Jack for the first time since 1942.
When
Matthew Iuvara (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights) hauled in a 47-yard TD strike from quarterback
Colin O'Sullivan (Fort Washington, Pa./Upper Dublin) on the team's opening drive of the second half, his second score of the game and team-leading sixth of the season, things looked to be well in control for the Golden Rams.
However, Cureem Hathcock scored on a 4-yard run with three minutes left in the third quarter, and then Mekhi Watson caught a 2-yard pass from quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky with five minutes left in the game before Damir Green put the game away with a 29-yard TD run for the Bald Eagles.
West Chester had jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on a 2-yard run by
Future Robertson (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and a 9-yard touchdown reception from Iuvara. Unfortunately, Lock Haven's Jake Roberts returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to put the Bald Eagles on the board and cut the deficit in half. It was the second week in a row that West Chester has allowed a special teams score.
O'Sullivan finished 24-for-35 for 282 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, in his second straight start of the season. His favorite target Saturday,
Dylan McKenzie (Oreland, Pa./Springfield [Montco]) posted career highs of eight catches for 106 yards. Iuvara had five catches, two for touchdowns, for 96 yards as well.
The Golden Rams' defense kept Lock Haven under 100 yards rushing and only surrendered three of the Bald Eagles' touchdowns.
Jimmy Wright (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) led the squad with nine tackles on the day, including eight solo efforts.
Maurice Beverly (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) was credited with seven tackles, including two sacks. He also intercepted a pass.
West Chester will try to get back on track next Saturday when fourth-ranked Kutztown pays a visit to Farrell Stadium for a 12 p.m. kickoff.
