Standing left-to-right are LHU head football coach Dave Taynor, and seniors Bryan Greene, Cameron Tobias, Jimmy Strickland, David Staton, Brent Crushong and Blake Kovin.

By SAM KUPERMAN

For The Express

LOCK HAVEN- Despite playing arguably its best football game of the season, Lock Haven Football dropped to 1-8 (1-4 PSAC East) on the season with a 56-37 loss to Shippensburg (4-5, 2-3 PSAC East) in Saturday’s Senior Day matchup.

Lock Haven led 10-0 early and 23-14 at halftime, but the high-octane offense of the Raiders roared back in the second half to claim victory. Montoursville native Brycen Mussina quarterbacked Shippensburg to the end zone on seven of eight second half drives (excluding the ninth and final drive when Shippensburg ran the clock out), as a banged up Lock Haven secondary ran out of steam as the game wore on.

“I was proud of our guys’ effort,” LHU coach Dave Taynor said. “The reality is we are down to like our fifth, sixth corners against them. Their guns kind of outlasted us a little bit at the end.”

The Raiders aerial attack took advantage of the injuries in the Lock Haven secondary. While safety Javon Whitfield returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games, cornerbacks Tyjae Rivers and Kahsim Buey were out of commission. Quickly into the game LHU was down one more man, as its most experienced corner, junior Shyheim Brown, got hurt in the first quarter and did not return.

On a day in which LHU honored its six seniors, the Bald Eagles started the game off surprisingly strong. A Lock Haven team that had a mere seven first quarter points to its name through its initial eight games, got on the board early, as running back Chantz Swartz (18 rushes, 172 yards, 2 TDs, 1 catch, 9 yards) broke loose on a 58-yard touchdown run on the Bald Eagles’ second play from scrimmage.

“Chantz Swartz made some big plays he’s been a guy that’s made some big plays throughout the year, and he’s a guy that I think will continue to make big plays,” Taynor said.

Following up the Swartz burst with two defensive stops, Lock Haven got on the board again with a 35-yard Austyn Carson field goal, moving its lead to 10-0 with 5:55 to go in the first frame.

Shippensburg was able to go ahead 14-10 early in the second quarter, after a Chase Yocum 2-yard rush and 10-yard pass from Mussina to receiver Josh Gontarek.

Lock Haven had a response though.

Redshirt senior quarterback Cameron Tobias (17-31, 256 yards 3 TDs, 2 INTs) did his best to finish his final game at Hubert Jack Stadium in style. First he connected with running back Ralph Hyland (7 rushes, 16 yards, 3 catches, 7 yards 1 TD) on a 5-yard touchdown pass (with a blocked extra point to follow). Then late in the half he completed the team’s longest pass of the season, hitting tight end Jalen Jackson (4 catches, 116 yards, 2 TDs) on a 79-yard touchdown strike to take a nine-point lead heading into the half.

Jackson has been an important weapon for the Bald Eagles all season long, and had a huge game Saturday.

“He’s been highly involved all throughout the year,” Taynor said. “Obviously he had a big statistical day but he’s part of the engine that makes us go. He plays as a receiver, plays as a tight end, plays as a fullback and can do a little bit of everything.”

While Shippensburg racked up 249 yards in the first half, Lock Haven’s defense was able to get off the field. The Raiders were 3-9 on first downs and 0-2 on 4th down through the first 30 minutes. With Shippensburg getting the ball back to begin the second half, the Bald Eagles needed to continue to get stops. That simply didn’t happen.

Mussina, who finished the day with five passing touchdowns, hooked up with Gontarek on an 8-yard score on the opening drive. After Tobias fumbled the ball deep in Bald Eagle territory on the following drive, Shippensbrg capitalized. Mussina found Gontarek again, this time from 16-yards out, to jump ahead 28-23.

Lock Haven scored twice more on the afternoon, first on a 5-yard pass from Tobias to Jackson to retake the lead at 30-28 midway through the third quarter.

Shippensburg scored three straight touchdowns to follow, not allowing LHU to get back into the game. Swartz did his best to give Lock Haven a shot though, busting off an 86-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 12 with 8:54 to play.

One more Mussina touchdown iced this one for the road team. He finished the day with 282 passing yards and 5 touchdowns.

“At times we played pretty well today,” Taynor said. “I was happy to see that. We’ve got two more opportunities to get ourselves better here this season.”

Lock Haven offensive linemen Brent Crushong, Blake Kovin, and Brent Crushing; along with Tobias, wide receiver Bryan Greene, and long snapper Jimmy Strickland, were honored before the game as members of the team’s senior class.

Taynor had great things to say about his seniors after the game.

“I think Cam played a solid game,” Taynor said. “I think the two bookend tackles (Crushong and Staton) played pretty well. I think Kovin contributed well in the game. You know, Jimmy’s been Dr. consistent as a long snapper for multiple years. He did what he does.”

Greene, who finished with three receptions for 63 yards on the day, leads Lock Haven in receiving yards with 419. Taynor expects to have the Milesburg native back next year as a graduate student, still with two years of eligibility remaining despite academically being a senior.

“The long run by Chantz Swartz over here was Bryan Greene. Chantz ran it all the way down but Bryan Greene made that play happen,” Taynor said. “He does things extremely well.”

Lock Haven finishes its 2018 home slate without a victory. The Bald Eagles still have two more road games, starting with Saturday’s contest at undefeated West Chester. A young and wounded Bald Eagles team will try to take down the Golden Rams, before wrapping up the season at Gannon the following week.