LOCK HAVEN — After back-to-back road games against tough opponents — including a to-10 ranked team in California (Pa.) — Lock Haven is back at Hubert Jack Stadium for a PSAC showdown against East Stroudsburg today at 1 p.m.

Lock Haven struggled after a season-opening win against Glenville State. Following a 16-13 against the Pioneers to open the season, the Bald Eagles ell to Indiana (Pa.), 42-10, and then to California (Pa.), 42-6.

Lock Haven’s offense has struggled the past two weeks to get established and put up points and the defense let up back-to-back games with 42 points.

Against the Vulcans, the Bald Eagles trailed 35-0 before finally scoring a touchdown, doing so when Connor Foltz caught a 21-yard touchdown from Jack Ostrowsky with 41 seconds until halftime. That was the closest the Bald Eagles came to rallying.

Defensively, Lock Haven struggled overall against the Vulcans. Roman Purcell went 14 for 25 for two touchdowns and 140 yards and on the ground, Bobbie Boyd Jr. ran it 11 times for 73 yards and found the endzone twice as he averaged 6.6 yards per game. Purcell also had nine carries for 48 yards and averaged 5.3 per rush.

The Bald Eagles know they have to shore things up defensively to compete in games.

Ostrowsky ended Saturday’s lopsided loss with 149 passing yards and a touchdown. Lock Haven’s ground game struggled to move the ball as Damir Green had just 54 rushing yards but he did average 7.7 per carry.

Markel Morgan led LHU with nine tackles . JahCure Maxam had a sack and both Jaeion Perry and Maxam had tackles for losses. Rocco Daugherty had an interception.

Last year, East Stroudsburg earned a close 38-35 win against Lock Haven in which the Warriors scored in the fourth quarter after trailing by five to win. The Bald Eagles are hoping to not only avenge last year’s loss, but snap a five-game losing skid to East Stroudsburg. The Bald Eagles last win vs. the Warriors came in 2018 (44-41). Lock Haven has beaten East Stroudsburg only twice in the 2000s.

After a season-opening 29-14 loss to Edinboro at home, East Stroudsburg beat Pace and Gannon in back-to-back games to open this season 2-1 entering today’s game vs. Lock Haven. The Warriors beat Pace, 31-12, at home before cruising past Gannon on the road, 69-22.

Against Gannon, East Stroudsburg scored at least 14 points in each quarter and quarterback Sean McTaggart threw for 212 yards on 10 for 10 passing with four touchdowns. On the ground, Harrison Susi ran the ball eight times for 91 yards and two touchdowns while the Warriors had three other ball carries score touchdowns in Cade Sawyer (11 for 65), Ajani Walker (8 for 59) and Deante Crawford (4 for 39).

Defensively, East Stroudsburg recorded six sacks — two by Vincent Isom — and one each by Terrell Reynolds, Ryan Epps, Ashton Blose and Jake Williamson. Everette Dingle and Amir Jones both had interceptions.

That all adds up to a defense which can bring a lot of pressure and force turnovers.

For the season, East Stroudsburg has a trio of players who have run for at least 100 yards in Susi (103), Crawford (125) and McTaggart (158) through three games.

McTaggart has also thrown for 458 yards through three games played and is 33 for 47 with a 70.2% completion percentage.

The Bald Eagles (1-2) kickoff against East Stroudsburg this afternoon at 1 p.m.