Box Score

Lock Haven, Pa. – It came by the slimmest of margins, but Millersville will take the win. The Marauder defense generated four turnovers and the offense capitalized to top Lock Haven 21-20 in the Bald Eagles' home opener.

Millersville pounced on two Lock Haven fumbles in the first quarter which resulted in touchdown catches from  Dominic Sanders and Mike Jones, giving the Marauders a 14-0 lead. Still, Lock Haven allowed Millersville little breathing room. The game wasn't even decided when junior safety #Brian Knell sealed intercepted Jarryd Burkett's long pass attempt with 3:24 remaining. Lock Haven had one more chance from its own 21 with two seconds to go, but Gary Tillman made a sure tackle on Devin Sims with no time on the clock.

The win was Millersville's sixth-straight over Lock Haven and quite a bounce-back after the week one rout at W.Va. Wesleyan.

The turnaround was nowhere more evident than in the play of quarterback Dan Miller, who continued to knock off the rust. After just seven yards passing in week one, Miller completed his first nine passes and finished 15-of-28 for 134 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 32 yards.

Miller dialed Sanders's number early and often. Sanders caught a career-high seven passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third quarter, 20-yard touchdown grab that put Millersville comfortably in front 21-10.

Mike Jones totaled 132 yards from scrimmage with 67 rushing on 20 carries and 58 receiving on six catches.

Burkett threw for 281 yards on 21-of-39 passing. He found Jesse Hoover seven times for 139 yards including a 68-yard touchdown connection with 1:41 remaining in the third that brought the Bald Eagles to within 21-17.

Lock Haven fumbled four times and Pat Maloney, Jamie Hoffman and Lee Hoover each recovered one. Knell's interception gave the Millersville defense its sixth generated turnover in two games. Donald Vodopija also tallied a career-high 1.5 sacks.

Shakar Jones forced the first fumble of the game at the Lock Haven 35, and Miller jump-started the Marauders. He rushed for 17 on the first play of the drive and after a pair of negative Jones carries, Miller found Sanders from eight yards for a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing Lock Haven drive, the ball hit the ground again. This time, it was Nate Hinkle that jarred it free at the Lock Haven 34. Millersville needed just two plays to boost the lead to two scores. Miller found Jones from 34 yards out for a two score advantage.

The Marauder offense lost momentum quickly, though, and failed to find the end zone until the third quarter. By the time Miller and Sanders hooked up for a second time, Lock Haven had scored 10 unanswered and were within four points. But Sanders' grab capped a well-executed seven play, 73-yard drive that took 2:30 off the clock. That even came after freshman Brent Collins' 58-yard touchdown scamper was called back because of a holding penalty.

With 11:56 to go in the game, Lock Haven drove to the Millersville 11 but was halted. Noah Heimer converted a field goal to decrease Millersville's lead to 21-20. The Marauder defense, however, stopped Lock Haven on its next four offensive possessions and did not surrender a single first down in those drives.

Millersville now faces a long road trip to Erie, Pa., to face Gannon on Sept. 18. Game time is 12 p.m. Fans can listen live on MSBN.