After defeating Bloomsburg for their second win of the year, Lock Haven’s football team suffered a setback against No. 4 Kutztown at Lock Haven last Saturday with a 34-7 loss.

The Golden Bears led 13-0 after the first quarter and were ahead 27-0 entering halftime as Lock Haven struggled to get its offense going. Jackson Ostrowsky had just 168 passing yards while Selinsgrove graduate Tucker Teats led the ground game with only 47 rushing yards.

The Bald Eagles are 2-4 and hoping to rebound this week as Lock haven hosts West Chester for homecoming weekend at Hubert Jack Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Lock Haven lost the last meeting between the two schools last year, 27-16. The Bald Eagles are hoping to snap a 13-game losing skid to West Chester. Lock Haven’s last win against the Rams came in 1991 (13-7). Since renewing the rivalry in 2008, the two teams have played every year except for a three-year gap in 2010-12 and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lock Haven’s running game hasn’t gotten off to the best start this year as the team’s leading rusher, Damir Green, has just 179 yards and three rushing scores while Ezequiel Johnson has 167 yards. While both average 4.1 and 5.2 yards per carry, respectively, neither is averaging more than 41 yards per game.

Jackson Ostrowsky is closing in on 1,000 passing yards as he has 940 and is 88 for 145, but has just four passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Mekhi Watson has been Lock Haven’s top receiver this season so far with 221 receiving yards on 23 catches and two touchdowns. Justin Popovich has 20 catches for 211 and two touchdowns. In addition, Jaiden Huntington has 13 for 185 and a score and Jake Roberts has 15 receptions for 178.

Defensively, JahCure Maxam has led the Bald Eagles with 2 1/2 sacks while also having four tackles for loss. LucRichard Rameau has six tackles for loss. Markel Morgan has a team-high 35 tackles while Rocco Daugherty has recorded 34.

West Chester is 3-3 and has lost back-to-back games, dropping a 45-14 decision to East Stroudsburg before a 28-24 loss last week on the road at Shepherd.

Jordan Cooper is averaging 5.5 yards per carry for West Chester and has a team-high 415 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns while Khalil Owens has 247 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Passing wise, Jordan has thrown for 921 yards and nine touchdowns to just two interceptions.

Lock Haven’s offensive line will have to play solid and try to limit Connor Noble, who has 56 tackles, and Johnny Pergine, who has 40. In addition, Gus Ross has 29 while Jack Fry has 23 and Jimmy Wright has recorded 22.

West Chester has six players who have recorded at least one sack so far this season in Seamus McCain (three), Ricardo Delgado (two), Pergine (one), Debrick Johnson (one), Anthony Delle Donne (one) and Khalif Kemp (one).