Football | 10/26/2017 9:29:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG (6-2, 4-1 PSAC East) vs LOCK HAVEN (1-7, 1-4 PSAC East)
Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2:00 PM)
Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium - Bloomsburg, Pa.

GAME NOTES
Bloomsburg Game Notes
Lock Haven Home Page
PSAC Week 9 Notes

GAME COVERAGE
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RELATED LINKS
Bloomsburg - Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Lock Haven - Schedule | Roster | Statistics

SERIES HISTORY
Bloomsburg leads the all-time series, 47-39-3
Streak: Lock Haven 1W

Last Meeting: October 29, 2016 at Lock Haven (Lock Haven 26, Bloomsburg 18)
First Meeting: November 14, 1908 at Bloomsburg (Bloomsburg 9, Lock Haven 5)
Largest Bloomsburg Win: September 21, 1996 at Bloomsburg (64-0)
Largest Lock Haven Win: October 22, 1938 at Lock Haven (64-0)

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
- Saturday's game with Lock Haven is the 90th in the series between the two schools, dating back to the first meeting in 1908. Bloomsburg has a 47-39-3 record in the series, with a mark of 27-16-3 at home and 20-23 on the road. The Huskies have won nine consecutive home games against the Bald Eagles since 1994.

- After rushing for a career-high 164 yards last Saturday, redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) needs 222 rushing yards to give him 1,000 for the season. The Huskies have had at least one 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last seven seasons, in 13 of the last 14, and in 15 of the last 17 years.

- The Huskies rank sixth in the PSAC (31st in the country) in converting third downs (44%) and are second in the league (11th in the country) in converting on fourth down (71%). On the flip side, Lock Haven opponents have successfully converted 52% of third downs and 59% of fourth downs against the Bald Eagles. Lock Haven is dead last in the PSAC in stopping opponent third downs (165th out of 168 in the country) and is 14th in the PSAC (141st in the country) in stopping fourth downs.   

- Last Saturday's win clinched Bloomsburg's 19th consecutive winning season dating back to 1999. It is the third-longest streak in PSAC history, behind West Chester's 31 (1940-42, 1945-72) and Clarion's 22 (1964-85). The 19 straight seasons with at least six victories continues a PSAC record. Bloomsburg has now posted a winning record in 23 of the last 24 years.

- The Huskies have scored at least one point in 170 consecutive games and have recorded at least one touchdown in 125 straight contests.

LAST WEEK
Bloomsburg scored 28 unanswered points, after falling behind 28-10 early in the third quarter, to come from behind and stun East Stroudsburg University, 38-28, on last Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium. Bloomsburg rushed for a season-high 300 yards on the day, averaging 6.1 yards on 49 carries. One week after posting a career-high 121 yards rushing in the win over West Chester, redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) established a new career-high with 168 yards and two scores on 24 carries. Redshirt sophomore Alex Gooden (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) also got over the century mark with 108 yards on 19 carries. On the flip side, the Huskies' defense limited East Stroudsburg to just four yards rushing on 19 carries. Defensively, redshirt junior Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) finished the day with a career-high three sacks, three tackles for a loss, and the fumble recovery that led to Bloomsburg's go-ahead touchdown with 10:45 left in regulation.

John Ford rushed for a pair of scores and Carlos Balkcom returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to spark Lock Haven as the Bald Eagles fell to Kutztown, 55-26, last Saturday in Lock Haven. Balkcom also returned a blocked extra point attempt 90-plus yards late in the second quarter to put two points on the board for Lock Haven in an all-around solid defensive outing. He finished with three solo tackles, including two tackles-for-loss. The interception was his team-leading fifth of the season. Isaiah Flamer was all over the field for the Bald Eagles and finished with a game-high 10 tackles. Alex Welch finished with eight stops. Offensively, quarterback Cameron Tobias was 17-of-27 for 123 yards.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK
For the second consecutive week, the Huskies trailed late but were able to find a way to win and stay in the hunt for the PSAC Eastern Division crown. Last Saturday, the Huskies trailed 28-10 with 13:44 left in the third quarter and were behind 28-17 with 13:22 left in the fourth quarter before rallying for a 38-28 win at East Stroudsburg. Bloomsburg scored the final 28 points including a 21-0 margin in the fourth quarter. The week prior, at West Chester, the Golden Rams took a 19-14 lead with 7:39 left in the fourth before the Huskies put together a game-winning, 12-play, 65-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock. With last Saturday's win at East Stroudsburg, the Huskies improved to 3-12 under head coach Paul Darragh when trailing after three quarters.

GOING STREAKING
Bloomsburg's victory over Cheyney earlier this season marked the 28th consecutive win over the Wolves in the all-time series. Bloomsburg has not lost to Cheyney since a 31-28 setback, in Bloomsburg, on October 14, 1989. The winning streak represents a school-record against a single opponent. Meanwhile, with the win the following week at Millersville, the Huskies have now won 18 consecutive contests against the Marauders dating back to a 31-21 loss at home during the 1999 campaign. The Huskies also clinched their 19th consecutive winning season with last Saturday's victory at East Stroudsburg. Bloomsburg's last losing season came in 1998 when the Huskies went 5-6. It is the third longest streak in PSAC history, behind West Chester's 31 (1940-42, 1945-72) and Clarion's 22 (1964-85). The 19 straight seasons with at least six victories continues a PSAC record. Bloomsburg has now posted a winning record in 23 of the last 24 seasons.

300 GAME
Bloomsburg rushed for a season-high 300 yards last Saturday at East Stroudsburg, averaging 6.1 yards on 49 carries. It marked the most rushing yards in a game by the Huskies since running for 309 yards in a double-overtime victory over Lock Haven on November 7, 2015 and the team improved to 11-0 under head coach Paul Darragh when rushing for at least 300 yards in a game.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
One week after posting a career-high 121 yards rushing in the win over West Chester, redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) established a new career-high with 168 yards and two scores on 24 carries. Redshirt sophomore Alex Gooden (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) also got over the century mark with 108 yards on 19 carries. The duo became the first pair of Bloomsburg backs to rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since Eddie Mateo (269) and Dai'Shon Munger (143) accomplished the feat in a 41-10 win over then-#7 West Chester on October 25, 2014.

AGAINST THE RUN
Last Saturday, the Huskies' defense limited East Stroudsburg to just four yards rushing on 19 carries - the fewest rushing yards allowed by a Bloomsburg team in a game since limiting Kutztown to minus-3 yards on the ground in a 31-12 win over the Golden Bears on September 21, 2013.

SACK ATTACK
Bloomsburg tied a season-high with six sacks at East Stroudsburg and has now recorded 22 sacks over the last six games after collecting only two through the first two weeks. Bloomsburg is tied for second (West Chester) with 24 sacks and trails only Shippensburg (25). Individually, redshirt junior Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) ranks second in the PSAC with 6.5 sacks on the season. Redshirt junior Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) is tied for fifth with five while redshirt senior Scott Beltz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl) has 3.5 sacks to put him in a tie for 14th in the conference.

GETTING IN THE BACKFIELD
Redshirt junior Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) is enjoying a breakout campaign in 2017 as he has become has force to be reckoned with for opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks. Last Saturday, he collected a career-high three sacks and had three tackles for a loss against the Warriors. With his three tackles for a loss and three sacks, Klinger has moved into second in the PSAC in both categories as he has 15 tackles for a loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks on the season. He trails only Slippery Rock's Marcus Martin in both categories. He has 11.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks over the course of the last four weeks.
 
ANOTHER QUITEH LEADS THEM
Redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) rushed for a career-high 168 yards during Saturday's 38-28 win at East Stroudsburg. It was his fourth 100-yard game of the season - he picked up his first collegiate 100-yard rushing effort as he carried the ball 29 times for 118 yards in the victory at Clarion on September 9, while also hitting the century mark against Cheyney and West Chester. Through eight games this season, Quiteh leads the Huskies with 788 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 161 carries. He ranks fifth in the PSAC in rushing yards per game (98.5) and he has led the Huskies in rushing in seven of the first eight games. Quiteh is the younger brother of Bloomsburg's - and the PSAC's - all-time leading rusher, Franklyn Quiteh who compiled 7,523 rushing yards from 2010-13. Franklyn won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top player in Division II during his senior season of 2013 after rushing for 2,195 yards and 29 scores. He was a three-time Harlon Hill finalist.

GROUND GAME
Bloomsburg totaled only 332 total yards on the ground during the first three contests of the season (110.7 per game) but has combined to rush for 1,142 yards (228.4 per game) in the last five contests. With 200-plus rushing yards in four of the last five games, Bloomsburg has now totaled at least 200 rushing yards in a game 34 times in 55 career games under head coach Paul Darragh. Bloomsburg is 31-3 in those contests.

THROUGH THE AIR
Bloomsburg is averaging only 175.6 passing yards per game - 14th fewest in the conference. Only Clarion (173.3) and Lock Haven (155.9) average fewer than the Huskies. However, the duo of redshirt sophomore Michael Allen (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) and redshirt sophomore Jay Popson (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) have emerged as one of the top receiving tandoms in the conference. Allen leads in both receptions (36) and yards (454) while Popson has hauled in 27 passes for 430 yards. The duo have combined for 63 of the team's 109 receptions (57.8%) and 884 of the team's 1,405 receiving yards (62.9%). Popson caught seven passes for 121 yards in the season opener against Stonehill - the first time a Bloomsburg receiver eclipsed 100 yards receiving yards in a game since Connor Gades hauled in 102 yards against Lock Haven on November 7, 2015. Meanwhile, Allen caught seven passes for a career-high 91 yards against Kutztown. As a team, the Huskies only had 10 catches for 104 yards against the Golden Bears.

WORKING AHEAD
The Huskies have been tremendous when scoring first and while working with a lead under head coach Paul Darragh. This season, the Huskies are 5-0 when scoring first to improve to 27-2 since Darragh took over in 2013. Meanwhile, during the Darragh era, the Huskies are 25-1 when leading after one quarter, 32-1 when leading at halftime, and 34-2 when leading after three quarters.

MONROE EARNS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Redshirt junior linebacker Nate Monroe (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts during Saturday's 20-19 victory at West Chester. It marks the first time in his collegiate career that he has been honored with a weekly accolade from the conference and he became the fourth different Huskies' player to earn a weekly honor this season. Monroe blocked an extra point attempt late in the second quarter which proved to be the difference as the Huskies earned a one-point victory on the road at West Chester to knock the Golden Rams from the ranks of the unbeaten in divisional play on Saturday. Monroe was also involved in a tackle of West Chester quarterback Paul Dooley short of the goal line on a two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter. That play kept the Golden Rams' lead at five points and enabled the Huskies to pick up the go-ahead score with 1:39 left in regulation. Monroe also led the Huskies with seven total tackles and had a half a tackle for a loss during the win.

SECONDARY TO NONE
Two weeks ago, Bloomsburg's defense picked off West Chester quarterback Paul Dooley three times - the team had entered the contest with only three interceptions through the first six games of the season. Freshman Jordan Villafane (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and senior Darnell Baldwin (Philadelphia, Pa./Lankenau) each collected their first career interceptions while senior Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) nabbed his second pick of the year. The Huskies limited Dooley to just 8-of-21 passing for 106 yards - the Golden Rams had averaged just over 260 passing yards per game prior to the contest.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES
Bloomsburg struggled to get anything going offensively during its 23-7 loss to Kutztown two Saturdays ago. The Huskies totaled just 166 yards of offense and seven first downs in the 16-point loss - the fewest yards by a Bloomsburg team in a game since recording only 136 yards of offense in a 21-0 loss to Shippensburg on September 13, 2003. Thanks to a forced fumble, and recovery, by senior Scott Beltz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl) which led to Chris Palubinsky (Ringtown, Pa./Shenandoah Valley)'s one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, the Huskies did keep their consecutive point-scoring streak intact. Bloomsburg was only on Kutztown's half of the field three times all afternoon and one of those came on Beltz's fumble recovery at the one-yard line.

GARY EARNS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Redshirt junior Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts during the Huskies' 48-19 victory over Cheyney. Gary, the PSAC leader in sacks a season ago, was up to his old tricks on Saturday as he finished the day with five total tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry. Gary's three sacks tied a career high and his four tackles for a loss established a new career best. His second sack of the game also proved to be his second forced fumble of the season and led to a 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown by freshman Aaron Trumino (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley).

SCHWARTZ EARNS FIRST WEEKLY AWARD
Senior Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Huskies' 27-10 win over Gannon. Schwartz, arguably, had the best game of his collegiate career as he led the Huskies with nine total tackles (seven solo), a sack, and an interception during the Huskies' 17-point win. He was also an integral part in limiting Gannon's offense to only 10 points (34 below Gannon's season average) and 321 yards of total offense (176.5 below Gannon's season average). The nine tackles established a new career-high for Schwartz and the sack was the first of his collegiate career (37 career games). His interception came late in the fourth quarter - at the Bloomsburg 37-yard line - and led to an Abbott field goal with under a minute remaining to put the game out of reach. It was Schwartz' first interception since November 8, 2014 during a victory at Lock Haven.

ABBOTT EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Redshirt junior placekicker Ryan Abbott (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School) was named the PSAC East Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Huskies' 29-20 victory at Clarion. Abbott was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points as he helped the Huskies to their first win of the 2017 campaign. It marked a new career-high in field goals made in a game for Abbott – his previous high was two set on two different occasions last season (at Cheyney on September 24 and at IUP on November 12). He connected on a 30-yard field goal late in the first half which, at the time, gave the Huskies a 17-13 lead over the Golden Eagles. His 35-yarder on the Huskies' first drive of the second half tied the game at 20-20 and then his 33-yard boot late in the third quarter gave Bloomsburg the lead for good at 23-20.

SERVICEMEN
Schwartz spent four years in the service, serving as a lance corporal before promotion to corporal. During his time in the Marines, Schwartz was deployed for nine months in Kunjak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where he worked as an infantry machine gunner. Deployed in 2009, he spent his days in a combat position on top of a truck, responsible for tactical employment of a heavy machine gun to provide direct fire in support of his unit. He also served a tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea with an expeditionary unit. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Alex Findura (Bloomsburg, Pa./Woodland (Ga.)) also served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry for four years. Findura's training and experience led him to become a member of an elite team called the Body Bearers, stationed in Washington D.C.  As a part of the Body Bearers, Findura was tasked with aiding in the funerals of fallen soldiers.

PRESEASON POLL
The Huskies were picked to finish fourth in the PSAC preseason coaches poll released in early August. Bloomsburg finished in a tie for third last year with a 6-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in divisional play. The six victories snapped a streak of 17 straight seasons of seven or more victories but extended the program's streak to 18 straight years of having a winning season. The Huskies have had a winning record in 22 of the last 23 seasons.

JONASSEN TO ENTER BU HALL OF FAME
Former Husky great Eric Jonassen will be inducted into the Bloomsburg University Hall of Fame on October 27 as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Jonassen is the father of starting center, Seth Jonassen (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley). Eric Jonassen was a dominant offensive lineman for two seasons on the Huskies' football team and earned a number of postseason accolades during his time at Bloomsburg. He was a two-time First Team All-PSAC selection and collected numerous All-American honors including being named Second Team AP All-American in 1990, First Team AP All-American in 1991, and First Team AFCA All-American in 1991. He was also tabbed a First Team Football Gazette All-American twice. After his collegiate career, Jonassen was drafted in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played three seasons in San Diego, participating in Super Bowl XXIX, and then played two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 1997 season. Other members of this year's class are Michele Baylor Kane (women's lacrosse), Kathy Frick (field hockey, women's lacrosse coach), Chuck Laudermilch (women's soccer coach), Ralph Moerschbacher (men's swimming), and Michelle Wolyniec (women's cross country/track and field).

SCOUTING LOCK HAVEN
Lock Haven comes into Saturday's matchup sitting at 1-7 on the year (1-4 in the PSAC East). The Bald Eagles have dropped their last two games, which leaves them currently sitting at seventh in the PSAC East.  The Bald Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the PSAC East at the preseason after a 4-7 (4-3 in the PSAC) finish last year.
 
Lock Haven comes in seventh in the PSAC in total rushing yards, tallying 1,371 yards on the season. Freshman quarterback Kyle Knight heads the running game with 409 yards on the season - 181 of which came in Lock Haven's week five matchup against Cheyney. On his 82 carries, four have resulted in a touchdown, with a season long of 40 yards. Junior running back John Ford has rushed for a total of 336 yards recording six touchdowns of his own. Redshirt junior Cameron Tobias leads the Bald Eagles in passing yards with 737 yards on the season.  Lock Haven has utilized three different quarterbacks throughout the season.

The defense is allowing an average of 420.5 yards per game which puts them 12th in the PSAC.  Redshirt junior Isaiah Flamer has accounted for 74 tackles on the year (sixth in the PSAC), one sack, and one interception on the season.  Senior defensive back Carlos Balkcom leads the team with five interceptions on the year, putting him in a three-way tie for second in the PSAC. The Bald Eagles have patrolled the air this year reeling in 11 interceptions, two of which have been returned for touchdowns. However, Lock Haven has struggled to put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks this year only accounting for eight sacks on the season.

UP NEXT
The Huskies will travel to Shippensburg next Saturday, November 4, for a game that could potentially determine the PSAC Eastern Division champion. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Shippensburg leads the all-time series, 45-36, but the Huskies knocked off the Red Raiders last season, 22-19, at Redman Stadium.