TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Lock Haven defensive back Markel Morgan (1) celebrates a stop during a football game against Glenville State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Hubert Jack Stadium. Morgan came up with the game-sealing INT in Saturday's win over West Chester.

LOCK HAVEN — There is something a little sweeter about getting a win at home, especially when it’s in comeback fashion, on homecoming weekend.

After trailing 21-7 one minute into the third quarter, Lock Haven (3-4) came alive in a big way. Multiple clutch plays from all three phases throughout the contest paved the way as Lock Haven beat West Chester (3-4) by a final score of 28-21.

The win marks the first time that Lock Haven beat WCU since 1991, and the first time they beat them at home since FDR was president. Here are my five takeaways from the game.

Offense struggles, but emerges when needed

It was a rough day at the office for the Bald Eagles offense for the first 40 minutes of the game, struggling to consistently move the ball down the field and suffering from some bad timed penalties.

On their second drive of the game Lock Haven drove inside the West Chester red zone, and seemingly had the opening score of the game, but a hold brought it back then a false start on the field goal attempt led to Lock Haven coming away empty handed. That drive marked the last time the Bald Eagles would be inside the red zone until midway through the third.

At the half Lock Haven had just 64 yards passing and 55 yards rushing, showing no signs that fortunes would change. But coming out of the locker room, something changed with the Haven offense as they began to find their footing.

Lock Haven would find the end zone on their second drive of the half, with running back Careem Hathcock falling forward into the end zone to bring the game within seven. Then in the fourth quarter things really began to heat up. Quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky led a 99-yard drive down the field to tie the game with a Mekhi Watson touchdown, then Damir Green ran in a 29-yard score on the ensuing drive to win the game.

Ostrowsky finished the game with 257 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception. Meanwhile, the running backs combined to run for 121 yards and two scores. Also of note, was receiver Justin Popovich, who finished with a game-high nine catches for 136 yards.

Defense deserves its flowers

While the offense was finding its rhythm, It was the Lock Haven defense that deserves an incredible amount of credit for keeping them in striking distance.

Outside of a bad second quarter in which they gave up 200 yards of total offense, the Bald Eagles made things as hard as possible on West Chester, forcing a pair of interceptions and holding the Golden Rams to an abysmal ten percent (1-10) conversion rate on third down.

Two of those third-down stops were the key to Lock Haven’s victory Saturday, as they held WCU twice on third and less than one in key spots.

The first came after an Ostrowsky interception that set the Golden Rams inside the Haven 40. After driving all the way down to the one yard line the Bald Eagles defense stood on their heads on third, and fourth down when their opponent only needed one yard to cross the goal line.

Then, after a Haven touchdown, West Chester once again faced a third-and-short, this time third and two near midfield. Once again, the Bald Eagles made the stand, forcing a turnover on downs that led to another score from the offense. Finally on West Chester’s last drive to attempt and tie the game, senior safety Markel (Bam) Morgan added a garnish, picking off quarterback Colin O’Sullivan to clinch the win.

After the game, Morgan talked about the defense’s stands on those critical short yardage plays.

“When the ball gets close to the first down line that’s when we really love to play defense, this defense loves playing defense,” said Morgan.

Morgan also added what was going through his mind on his game sealing interception.

“My heart was going 110 miles per hour, I was reading my keys and I saw the ball in the air, and I just said see ball, get ball,” said Morgan.

Special teams kept Lock Haven in striking distance

Football is a game of three phases, and the Bald Eagles needed all three to pull out a win. But it was the special teams unit that gave them an initial spark.

Returner Jake Roberts got the party started, taking a kickoff 88 yards to the house to score his first with Lock Haven and give a jolt of energy to the Haven sideline.

That wouldn’t be the only time that special teams made a big time play in the first half, as a blocked field goal from Lock Haven safety Q. McMillan took three points off the board and kept the deficit at the half at 14-7. Oftentimes, special teams does not get the love it deserves, but their heroics on Saturday were integral to Lock Haven getting its third win of the year.

A Second Half Team

Saturday’s heroics in the last thirty minutes once again proved that this Bald Eagles team is one they play their best in the second half. Across the last three games Lock Haven has outscored opponents in the second half 45-14, and the 21 points they put up in the final two quarters against West Chester were the most they have scored all season in that time frame.

“This is a resilient football team.” said Lock Haven head coach Battaglia after the game, “We learned from last week coming into the locker room and facing adversity, how are we going to respond? We came out here and I’d say we responded pretty well this week. We didn’t change much with the plan [at half], we just went out there and executed.”

Biggest win in years

You won’t find many wins as big as Saturday’s in recent Lock Haven memory, as when you take everything into account, this may be the biggest win they have had in the last five plus years.

It felt like the game against WCU was a perfect litmus test for Lock Haven. Both teams were coming off a heart breaking loss, and both needed a win to get their season back on track. West Chester notably was without starting QB Cooper Jordan, as last year’s PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year was nursing an ankle injury he suffered against East Stroudsburg.

The win meant everything for Lock Haven, as they showed they can beat a team of WCU’s caliber. Even without Jordan, West Chester has an incredibly talented roster. It also just shows the resilience this Haven team has, as even though the largest deficit they faced was just 14, there were times where it felt like they were down much more than that.

But if the Bald Eagles have proved anything in this game, it’s that they play their best when it matters the most. Getting the momentum boost from a huge come from behind win could prove beneficial as Lock Haven still continues to chase their first six win season in nearly half a century.

After the game, coach Battaglia reminisced on the game, and the homecoming crowd that packed Hubert Jack Stadium.

“I’m just so happy with the product that showed up today,” said Battaglia. This place was packed, and our goal as a football program here is to make the community, administrators, and student body proud.”

Next up, Lock Haven will look for their fourth win of the year on Saturday, as they go on the road to take on the 2-5 Shippensburg Raiders. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.