Going on the road is never an easy task, but the Lock Haven Bald Eagles got the job done on Saturday. After driving over two hours to Shippensburg University, the Bald Eagles beat the Raiders 35-21. Here are my five takeaways from the game.

DODGED A TRAP GAME

Saturday’s game was a perfect concoction for disaster, coming off an emotional homecoming win and traveling on the road for the first of a two-game road stretch. It’s a classic set up for a trap game. Especially when you factor in that Shippensburg is led by a very experienced head coach, and they were hosting their own homecoming event.

Despite everything looking to go against Lock Haven’s favor off the field, on the field the Bald Eagles handled their business. After being down 7-0 and 14-7 early in the game, Lock Haven took control, outscoring Shippensburg 28-7 the rest of the way to earn a hard-fought 35-21 win.

OFFENSE HAD A FIELD DAY

The Lock Haven offense found their stride on Saturday against the Raiders, hanging 35 points. Coming into the game, the Bald Eagles were one of the worst scoring offenses in the PSAC, but their fortunes changed in a big way thanks to incredible quarterback play.

Jackson Ostrowsky has had his ups and downs this season, as the signal caller entered Saturday’s game with just five touchdowns on the year and only two games passing over 250 yards. Last year’s Harlon Hill nominee would return to vintage form against Shippensburg, lighting it up through the air on his way to 334 passing yards and tying his career high with five touchdowns.

Ostrowsky was recently named the PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week, the second Bald Eagle to win the award in as many weeks (Justin Popovich last week).

“I think he was being smart with the football,” Lock Haven head coach Joe Battaglia said when asked about Ostrowsky’s play. “He knew the matchups he wanted. I give a lot of credit to him for his week of preparation this week, he was in the office just as much as I was this week.”

Other notable names for Lock Haven on Saturday were receiver Jake Roberts and running back Ezequiel Johnson. Roberts finished the game with seven catches for 116 yards and one 68-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Johnson accumulated 123 total yards and two touchdowns.

After going down 7-0 early and having a few stalled drives, the Bald Eagles kicked into high gear. A nine-yard touchdown pass to Justin Popovich got the scoring started, and was the first of three straight drives for Lock Haven that ended in the endzone. The Bald Eagles 35 points is the second most they have scored in a game all season.

ANOTHER STELLAR DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE

After giving up 14 points in the first few drives of the game, the Bald Eagles’ defense pitched a shutout for the final 40 minutes of the game.

Pressure was the name of the game for Lock Haven, sacking Shippensburg QB Riley Gunnels four times. Those sacks eventually led to turnovers, as linebacker Rocco Daugherty and cornerback Jaeion Perry each came away with an interception. Add a first quarter fumble recovery by Justin Castro-Dixon and in total Lock Haven was able to generate three takeaways.

“Starting off we have been trying to throw the first punch,” Daugherty said when asked about the defense’s improvements after the first few drives. “[It] just takes us a bit to get settled, but once we are settled in, we’re full go. Nobody can stop us except ourselves.”

BATTAGLIA’S COACHING EVOLVING THROUGH SEASON

Throughout the season, there has been a clear evolution in the coaching style of first-year head coach Joe Battaglia, the most apparent of which is their aggressiveness on fourth downs.

In the first weeks of the season, Lock Haven deployed a much more conservative approach on fourth down, multiple times punting on fourth and short at or near midfield. But in recent weeks there has been a major shift in that philosophy, as Lock Haven has begun to be incredibly aggressive.

In total, the Bald Eagles attempted two fourth downs Saturday, and five the week prior. When looking for an answer for the shift in priority, Battaglia noted how it boiled down to a trust in his players.

“It depends on what you see, and how you feel. I want to feel the situation. I want to see the look in the guy’s eyes. I’m looking at my sheet trying to decide whether to punt or go, and our guys are like, hey, we’re going, we are getting this thing. So that creates a confidence as a head coach or a decision maker to be able to say, if they’re confident, I’m confident. From there it’s just trying to put them in the best position.”

CHASING 1981, IN MORE

WAYS THAN ONE

With their win over Shippensburg, Lock Haven has the chance next week to win three games in a row, in the same season, for the first time since 1981. Ironically, 1981 is also the last time Lock Haven won six or more games in a season, a mark that this team has been chasing for a few years now.

Next week, Lock Haven goes on the road to take on a (0-8) Millersville team in the midst of a long slump, firing their head coach earlier this season and having lost 25 of their last 26 regular season games. Despite this, Battaglia and his team know it won’t be an easy game, referencing how last year’s matchup against Millersville was a nailbiter at home and saying their only goal is to “go 1-0 every week”.