ERIE – It has been a wild ride this year for the Bald Eagles, a true roller coaster of a season. But unfortunately, all rides have to come to an end as (5-6) Lock Haven matched up against (3-7) Gannon for their final game of the 2024 season. It was a close bout, as many have been this season.

But in the end, Lock Haven came out victorious, downing the Golden Knights 21-13.

Here are my five takeaways from the win:

RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN

Historic does not even begin to describe this year for Lock Haven football, and it all came to a head in their win over Gannon.

Quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky entered today’s game with 2,925 passing yards on the season, needing just 191 more to become the all-time single-season passing record for Lock Haven.

Well, it only took one half, as Ostrowsky found Quon Williams on a ten-yard out route to break the record with mere seconds left in the period. In total he threw for 278 yards and two TDs versus Gannon, marking the single season records at 3,203 (was 3,115) and the touchdown record at 27 (was 23). But Ostrowsky wasn’t the only one who stamped his name in history on Saturday.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Ostrowsky said when asked about his record season. “A great building block for this program. Awesome to end the season with a win. That is the main objective, to go win.”

Justin Anderson entered the game only one TFL short of tying the career record, and 1.5 sacks away from tying the all time sack record at Lock Haven. Well, with a half sack early in the first, and a full sack late in the 4th, Anderson achieved two huge milestones, solidifying himself as one of the best to ever wear the Crimson and White.

After his first-half sack, Anderson ended up going down a few plays later, slamming his hand on the turf as the medical staff came to check on him. But a hyperextension was not going to stop him, as after getting his leg taped up, Anderson checked right back into the game and went on to make history. Not only was his sack in the 4th a record breaker, but it also came on a crucial drive in the 4th quarter when Gannon was driving to try and tie the game.

“It’s amazing,” Anderson said when talking about the records he broke. “At the end of the day, I’m just happy we got to win. It’s been a hard fought battle these last four years.”

One more player would insert himself in the annals of history on Saturday, as T’iar Young wrapped up one of the finest seasons a Bald Eagle wideout has ever had.

Young entered Saturday’s game with over 1,000 yards on the year and ten TDs. He is the third Bald Eagle ever to reach 1,000 yards in a season, and he only needed one more touchdown to tie the single-season TD record with 11. Well, Young made his big play when it was needed the most, as he caught his record-tying score on a fourth-and-7 pass that put them up 14-10.

The wideout also had a heartwarming tribute to his childhood friend Kasir Henry, who was inactive due to injury, by wearing his No.5 for the game.

“Me and Ky [Kasir] knew each other since we were 11 years old,” Young said when asked about the tribute. “We grew up together, we played little league football together and honestly me coming here was because of him, my best friend. Just wearing his number meant alot for me.”

A FITTING END TO A FANTASTIC SEASON

Lock Haven going out on a nail-biting win seems appropriate for how the season should end. Lock Haven played in seven one-score games this season, and had a record of 3-4 in those games. Saturday’s game was no different, as it was never a two-score game at any point for either team.

Gannon came into the game fresh off a 34-28 victory over Clarion. Meanwhile, Lock Haven was also coming off a win, as it beat Shippensburg 42-21 a week ago.

In total, turnovers were the difference in the game, as Gannon quarterback Jayden Whitaker threw four interceptions after he had only thrown five on the entire season before today’s game.

SENIORS SHINED WHEN IT MATTERED MOST

It is a different kind of feeling when you are a senior playing your final game in your career, and sometimes it can be hard to focus on the game at hand. But that was not an issue for Lock Haven today, as they got many major contributions from their seniors, who were vital in the victory.

As previously mentioned, Anderson was a force off the edge, racking up 1.5 TFLs. But that would not have been possible if it were not for Alfred Manyeah in the middle. Manyeah was a one-man wrecking crew on an interior defensive line that has been ravaged by injury this season. Manyeah finished with four tackles, half a tackle for loss, and multiple QB hurries.

Darryl Pollard had himself a game as well, coming away with two crucial interceptions. Pollard’s first came near the end of the second quarter, his takeaway providing a struggling Lock Haven offense a little bit of momentum. However his second INT was his best, as with 1:40 seconds left in the fourth Gannon needed a touchdown and two point conversion to tie the game. But Pollard put any hope of a Golden Knights win to bed, picking off Whitaker and icing the victory for Lock Haven.

Receivers Quon Williams and Chris Hicks also had a major impact in the win. Williams was held catchless last week on senior day, but against Gannon he showed out, catching five passes for 77-yards and a TD. Meanwhile Hicks caught three passes for 22-yards, also serving as a crucial blocker, helping power Damir Green to over 100 yards on the ground.

Other notable senior difference makers were Thomas Schultz, Tony Nicassio, Cameron Clark, and Ed Leak, who alongside playing on the offensive line, also checked in on defense on a 4th and 1 QB sneak that Gannon successfully converted.

ONE OF THE BEST SEASONS IN LOCK HAVEN HISTORY

1981-82 is the last time that Lock Haven won five or more games in consecutive seasons. Now, in just his third season, head coach Dan Mulrooney did just that. And you can’t help but feel like it could have been more, as the Bald Eagles lost games to IUP, Shepherd, East Stroudsburg, and PSAC West champion California (PA.) by a combined 20 points.

Either way, when you consider the records that were broken this season, and the upward trajectory that the program is on, it’s hard to find a way that this isn’t one of, if not the best, season in recent Lock Haven history.

NOW IT’S OVER, WHAT’S NEXT?

Coach Mulrooney has never lost more games than the season before as a head coach, and while it was close at times this season, that fact remains true. Mulrooney has proven he can stabilize the program, winning five games in back-to-back seasons. But now, the question is, can they take that next leap forward?

Despite their records being the same, there is no doubt that this year’s team is better than the last, and that team was better than the team before that. Lock Haven football is on the upswing, but that doesn’t mean they have arrived yet, they still have a ways to go.

“Success isn’t always measured in perfection,” Mulrooney said when asked about his thoughts on the season, “It’s measured off what you do when you get knocked down and you get back up. We had a tough year, some heartbreaking losses, but we are so much better that we were.”

It all starts this offseason, as now that the games are over, it’s recruiting time. Lock Haven already has a few big commits, most notably Bald Eagle Area quarterback Carson Nagle, who verbally committed to The Haven back in August.

This year was a great one for Lock Haven football, but now all eyes are fixated on the limitless potential that 2025 may bring.