Football Game Notes (Week 5): LHU Heads to #9 Texas A&M Commerce

2018 LHU Football Game Notes Week 5 | Saturday, September 29 | 7 p.m. EST Texas A&M University-Commerce | Commerce, Texas | Memorial Stadium Lock Haven (1-3, 1-1 away) at #9 Texas A&M Commerce (3-1, 1-1 home)

Football Game Notes (Week 5): LHU heads to #9 Texas A&M Commerce

The LHU football team is headed to Texas to take on the defending NCAA Division II national champions.

The Lock Haven University football team is set for another big test on the road as the Bald Eagles travel to Lone Star State to take on Texas A&M Commerce, the defending NCAA Division II national champions.

Setting the stage: For what is believed to be the first time in school history, the LHU football team will play in the state of Texas, as the Bald Eagles are set for a Week 5 (Saturday, Sept. 29) showdown with the 2017 NCAA DII national champions. Lock Haven will take on host Texas A&M Commerce at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday night.

The Bald Eagles are coming off their first win of the season after downing East Stroudsburg last weekend in their 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener. LHU is 1-3 overall and 1-1 on the road.

No. 9 Texas A&M Commerce is 3-1 and 1-1 at home. Last season, on the way to the Division II national title, the Lions went 14-1. A&M Commerce downed West Florida, 37-27 in the 2017 national title game.

The series vs. Texas A&M Commerce: Saturday will mark the first ever meeting between Lock Haven and Texas A&M Commerce in football. It is actually the first meeting for LHU vs. any team from the state of the Texas and is believed to be the first LHU football game in the state of Texas. The Lions will serve as Lock Haven’s 71st all-time collegiate opponent.

Open PSAC Play with win: Last week, the Bald Eagles used 31 second-half points and held off host-East Stroudsburg, 44- 41, in a second-half offensive shootout. Cameron Tobias threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns, Nysir Minney-Gratz returned a punt 84 yards for a TD, and Javon Whitfield finished with a team-high 11 tackles and two interceptions, sparking the comeback. The win – Lock Haven's first of the 2018 season – came in the PSAC Eastern Division opener for both LHU and host East Stroudsburg. Both teams combined for 55 second-half points, and Lock Haven came back to win after trailing 14-0 in the first quarter, 17-13 at halftime and 27-13 midway through the third quarter.

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Tobias, PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 24): On Monday, redshirt-senior quarterback Cameron Tobias was named the PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week for sparking LHU to its first win of 2018. Tobias' exceptional play at quarterback, particularly in the second half, sparked the Bald Eagles to their first win of 2018. Tobias threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his TD-passes came in the first minute of the fourth quarter, as he rallied Lock Haven back in the second half to down the Warriors. Tobias was 18 for 27 passing with one interception. He also ran for 39 yards. Thanks to Tobias' play, LHU scored 31 second-half points to rally past host-ESU after trailing until late in the third quarter.

Minney-Gratz, PSAC East Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 24): On Monday, wide receiver and return specialist Nysir Minney-Gratz was named the PSAC Eastern Division Special Teams Player of the Week. Minney-Gratz, one of the elite return specialists in all of NCAA Division II football, sparked the Bald Eagles to victory Saturday at East Stroudsburg, thanks to an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second half. The electrifying return tied the game (27-27) with 3:09 left in the third quarter and started the LHU offensive surge. Minney-Gratz's punt return touchdown was the first for Lock Haven since the Bald Eagles recorded a punt return for a TD after a block, back in the 2016 win at East Stroudsburg. Minney-Gratz also caught a TD-pass in the fourth quarter and the wide receiver finished with two catches for 45 yards. He scored on a 24 yard catch-and-run pass-play. In all, Minney-Gratz racked up 218 all-purpose yards in the win thanks to 10 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards, 82 kick-return yards and 81 punt-return yards.

Nationally-ranked opponents: For the second time in three games, the Bald Eagles will get a crack at a team ranked in the top- 10 of the American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) Division II Top-25 national-poll. This week’s opponent, Texas A&M Commerce is ranked No. 9 after being ranked No. 1 for most the season previous to this week. Two weeks ago, Lock Haven hosted Indiana (Pa.), ranked No. 3 at the time. IUP is ranked No. 2 this week.

Asare leading the way on ‘D’: Through four games, sophomore-linebacker Obadiah Asare leads the way on ‘D’ with 33 total tackles (22 solo, 5 TFL, 1 sack). His 8.3 tackles per game rank 10th in the PSAC.

Secondary strong: On the season, defensive backs Javon Whitfield and Dontae Mason both have three interceptions, which are the second-most in the PSAC.

A number of ‘firsts’ vs. IUP: Despite the Week 3 (Sept. 15) loss to nationally-ranked IUP, the Bald Eagles recorded a number of ‘firsts’ in the game. Rookie kicker Austyn Carson knocked home his first career field goal and fellow true-freshman Dante Graham ran for his first career TD. Sophomore tight end Jalen Jackson hauled in his first touchdown catch of the 2018 season.

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Mason makes history in Week 2: In the narrow Week 2 (Sept. 8) loss to Clarion, redshirt-sophomore defensive back Dontae Mason made history with three interceptions, which tied the single-game LHU record.

Staton holds down the O-line: Redshirt-junior David Staton (LT) leads the way on the offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound left tackle has played in all 26 games of his career for the Bald Eagles and is without question one of the premier lineman in the entire PSAC.

The ‘grand re-opening’ of Hubert Jack Stadium surface: During LHU’s 2018 home-opener in Week 2 (Sat, Sept. 8) action, the Bald Eagles took time to celebrate the ‘grand re-opening’ of the Hubert Jack Stadium surface. Prior to the coin toss, there was a special ribbon cutting ceremony. Following the ribbon cutting and as part of the grand re- opening, the LHU offense ran a ceremonial first play and it was only fitting that new LHU President Robert Pignatello scored the first touchdown on the new turf. Last spring, LHU replaced its former surface with Astroturf’s Trionic fiber, one of the most technologically advanced surfaces in the world.

2018 Gridiron Greats: On Saturday, Sept. 8 (home-opener vs. Clarion), the LHU football team honored its 2018 Gridiron Greats class at halftime: Jim Doran, Brian Sekerak, John Spinosa, Maurice Walker and Chris Kustanbauter.

Starting vs. FCS opponents: For the second straight season, the Bald Eagles opened a new season with an NCAA Division I FCS opponent. On Saturday (Sept. 1), LHU fell to host Duquesne, 45-0. It marked the first meeting between the two Pennsylvania schools. Last year, Lock Haven dropped its 2017 opener at Saint Francis, 69-3. Last season's opener marked LHU's first game vs. an FCS team since the 2012 season-opener at Fordham. In all, Saturday's game at Duquesne marked LHU's 13th game vs. an NCAA DI FCS opponent since 2000. Nine of those games served as season-openers. LHU hasn't beaten an FCS opponent since 1971 when the Bald Eagles opened the season with a 14-7 victory over Delaware State.

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Taynor in fourth season: - Dave Taynor (Urbana, ’99), fourth season at LHU (9-28, 9-13 PSAC East) - Career Record, 11th season (46-68 overall) For LHU head football coach Dave Taynor, the 2018 season will mark his fourth at The Haven. On April 12, 2015 he was named the school’s 24th head coach.

2018 LHU Coaching Staff - Head Coach/Quarterbacks: Dave Taynor - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line/Tight Ends: Bill Nickell - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Jeff Smith - Wide Receivers: Matt Zanellato - Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs: Cortez Carter - Defensive Line: Marshall Hall - Assistant Defensive Line: Mat Turner - Running Backs: Shane Baker

The 2018 schedule: A second straight season-opener at a Division I opponent, five home games and a trip to Texas to take on the defending NCAA Division II national champions highlight the 2018 schedule. During the 2018 season, the Bald Eagles will host Clarion, IUP, Millersville, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg. LHU's home-opener is set for Saturday, September 8 at 12 p.m. All five of Lock Haven's home games will start at 12 p.m. including the Homecoming game on October 20.

Up next: The Bald Eagles will return home to host Millersville University in Week 6 (Saturday, October 6) action. The PSAC East game is set for a 12 p.m. EST start.