Playing on the road for the first time this season, the Lock Haven football team fell to Mercyhurst in Week-2 PSAC East-West crossover action Saturday night.

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 11, 2023

Courtesy of Lock Haven University
ERIE, Pa. – After opening the season last week with a thrilling victory, the Lock Haven football team (1-1) hit the road today (Week-2: Sat., Sept. 9) for the first time this season and despite a late offensive surge and rally, the Bald Eagles fell to Mercyhurst (1-1), 41-29, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East-West Crossover action.

Defensively, Kyler Cunningham (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) had a monster outing for the Bald Eagles. He finished with a game and career-high 15 total tackles, which included nine solo stops.

Lock Haven quarterback Danny Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman (Stony Brook)) threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

T’iar Young (Philadelphia/Northeast (Millersville)) hauled in two TD-catches.

Chris Collier (Lawrence, N.Y./Lawrence (Wagner College)) rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries. He rushed for a score and he added a touchdown reception.

Chase Holmes (Easton, Pa./Easton) caught five passes for 64 yards and DeAaron Lawrence (Middletown, Conn./Middletown (Stonehill)) had five catches for 61 yards.

On defense, Kasir Henry (Philadelphia/Anna Marie College) finished with six tackles and Cody Romano (Newton, N.J./Blair Academy (Penn State)) recorded five tackles.

The first quarter featured a pair of long scoring drives including one from each team. After Lock Haven opened the game with a three-and-out, Mercyhurst went up 7-0 after a 15-play, 87-yard drive (6:30). The Bald Eagles responded however and tied the game at 7-7 after marching 71 yards on 13 plays (5:29). Sanchez and Young connected on the score.

Brett Zachman (Leesburg, Fla./Eustis (Dordt)) kicked a 27-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half, but behind 14 second-quarter points, Mercyhurst led 21-10 at halftime.

Mercyhurst started the second half strong and scored 13 third-quarter points as the Lakers stretched the lead to 34-10 late in the third period.

With just over a minute to play in the third quarter, Collier darted into the end zone from four yards out to make it 34-17. Collier was at it again early in the fourth quarter when he scored on a 48-yard catch-and-run play. The long TD pass-play – Collier’s second score of the half – kept Lock Haven in the game as the Bald Eagles trailed 41-23 late.

With just under two minutes to go Sanchez and Young connected on a scoring-play again, this time a 46-yard pass-play. Young’s second touchdown-catch kept the Bald Eagles in the game, but the clock wasn’t in Lock Haven’s favor as The Haven rally ran out of time on the road.

With the win, the Lakers leveled their record at 1-1.

Lock Haven also moved to 1-1 overall on the young season after opening the 2023 campaign with a lopsided victory over Post last week at home.

UP NEXT:

Today’s PSAC East-West Crossover clash marked the first of two straight for Lock Haven. The Bald Eagles will hit the road again next week for a Week-3 matchup at Clarion. Next Saturday’s (Sept. 16) game at Clarion is set for a 1 p.m. start.

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