LOCK HAVEN — Behind late-game heroics on both sides of the ball, the Bald Eagles rallied late and cemented a comeback-win as the Lock Haven football team downed Millersville, 24-23, for a thrilling homecoming victory.

Trailing 23-17 with 4:18 left in the game and facing fourth-and-10 from the Millersville 20-yard line, Jackson Ostrowsky found Justin Popovich in the back of the end zone. The score tied the game at 23-23 and the ensuing extra point put the Bald Eagles up 24-23, and it kept them up for good as they secured the win late – much to the delight of another large Hubert Jack Stadium crowd.

The game marked the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division opener for both teams. With the win, Lock Haven sits 1-0 in PSAC East play and the Bald Eagles moved back to .500 with a 2-2 overall record. Millersville fell to 0-4 on the season.

Lock Haven has now won two straight vs. Millersville and the victory provided the Bald Eagles with their first win on Homecoming since 2016.

Ostrowsky, a graduate-transfer in his first year with Lock Haven as the starting quarterback, finished with 222 yards passing and two touchdowns. Through four games, he’s averaging a PSAC-best 263.25-plus passing yards per game. Ostrowsky also led the team in rushing with 52 yards which included a pair of long runs.

Quon Williams led Lock Haven with five catches and 84 yards, and he finished with one touchdown. Damir Green also rushed for a score and Tony Nicassio kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Behind a game-high nine tackles, Izzy Ramos led a stellar Bald Eagle defensive effort from his linebacker spot. For Ramos, seven of his nine stops were solo tackles. Morgan Markel finished with eight tackles and both Kasir Henry and Davien Vernon finished with seven. 

Defensive back Darryl Pollard added six tackles and he turned in another tremendous outing while Rocco Daugherty’s interception on Millersville’s first drive of the second half set up a Lock Haven touchdown.

Lock Haven struck quick to start to the game as the Bald Eagles scored on just their third offensive play of the day when Ostrowsky and Williams connected on a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown l:23 into the game.

Millersville was quick to respond and the game was tied 7-7 with 8:52 left in the first quarter. The visitors strong start continued and quieted the home crowd as the Marauders extended the lead to 20-7 with 1:11 left in the first half.

The Bald Eagles went into halftime on a high note however as Nicassio’s 20-yard field goal as time expired in the half capped an impressive eight-play drive that saw Lock Haven march 86 yards down the field.

As the second half started, Millersville led 20-10, but the Marauders turned the ball over on the first drive of the second half and Daugherty’s interception set up a Lock Haven TD.

Following the interception, the Bald Eagles quickly went down the field, and just three plays later Green’s two-yard sprint into the end zone cut into the lead as Millersville led 20-17.

Millersville extended the lead to 23-17 with less than 10 minutes to play, but the comeback-minded Bald Eagles rallied in a big way.

With 4:18 left, Ostrowsky found Popovich on a 20-yard pass play, which proved to be the difference. Ostrowsky’s second TD-pass of the game put Lock Haven up 24-23. An aggressive Bald Eagle defense powered by a huge sack from Jahmel Flowers held MU to a field goal attempt, which sailed high and short while under pressure from Lock Haven.

Millersville 7 13 0 3 — 23

Lock Haven 7 3 7 7 — 24

First quarter

LHU–Quon Williams 55 pass from jackson Ostrowsky (Tony NiCassio kick), 13:37.

M–Jose Lopez 25 pass from Ryan Zeltt (Trent McDowell kick), 8:52.

Second quarter

M–McDowell 37 field goal, 13:38.

M–McDowell 26 field goal, 8:47.

M–Hakim Melvin 15 pass from Zelt (McDowell kick), 1:11.

LHU–NiCassio 20 field goal, 0:00.

Third quarter

LHU–Damir Green 2 run (NiCassio kick), 12:13.

Fourth quarter

M–McDowell 24 field goal, 9:36.

LHU–Justin Popovich 20 pass from Ostrowsky (NiCassio kick), 4:18.

TEAM STATISTICS

M LHU

First downs 22 17

Rushes-yds 46-249 24-114

Passing 154 222

C-A-I 16-23-1 17-34-2

Total yards 403 336

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 13-123 8-80

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Millersville, Jaiden Abrams 24-172; Jose Lopez 14-80; Jaheim Morris 4-5; Hakim Melvin 1-1; Ryan Zeltt 3-(minus 9). Lock Haven, Jackson Ostrowski 3-52; KJ Howard 8-37; Damir Green 11-25 TD.

PASSING–Millersville, Ryan Zeltt 16-23-1 154 2 TD. Lock Haven, Jackson Ostrowski 17-34-2 222 2 TD.

RECEIVING–Millersville, Hakim Melvin 4-43 TD; Jose Lopez 3-39 TD; Jaiden Abrams 4-19; Titus Kruah 1-15; Kam Taylor 1-13; Isaiah Armand 1-13; Jaheim Morris 1-7; Brady Russell 1-5. Lock Haven, Quon Williams 5-84 TD: Justin Popovich 2-44 TD; Nino Cinti 3-29; T’iar Young 3-28; Chris Hicks 2-23; Corahn Alleyne 2-14.