LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - In need of a spark, Millersville looked to true freshman quarterback Robert Footman Jr. Footman's running and ability to hit big in the passing game helped the Marauders score touchdowns on six of their final eight possessions and roll to a 42-12 win at Lock Haven Saturday afternoon. 

Millersville came up empty on its first four possessions, but Footman, who had seen limited snaps as a runner a week ago at West Chester completed his first pass mid-way through the second quarter, connecting with Hakim Melvin for 25 yards on a third-and-five. Marcus Pierce Jr., punched it in five plays later, and the Marauders were off and running--quite literally. 

On the very next series, Footman connected with Mekhi Alexander up the middle of the field, and Alexander out-ran two defenders for an 88-yard touchdown reception--the longest pass play for the Marauders since hall of famer Drew Folmar and Sean Scott hit for 91 in 23 years ago. The new-found explosiveness helped open lanes for a running game that pounded Lock Haven for 257 yards on 52 attempts, piling up the most rushing yards since the 2014 season opener in the process. Millersville scored its most points since 2019 and scored its largest margin of victory since 2017. 

Footman finished 5-for-8 for 149 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while also rushing nine times for 46 yards. It was a game of milestones and first for the Marauders. Jaheim Morris rumbled for a career-high 93 yards and a score, ripping off a season-best run of 30 yards. Marcus Pierce Jr., scored the first two touchdowns of his Millersville tenure while tallying a career-high 83 yards on 15 carries. Sophomore Matt Frauen scored his first career TD, as did redshirt freshman wide receiver Kameron Taylor. On the other side of the ball, Omar Ba and freshman corner Gus Ross both made their first career interceptions. 

It was another stifling performance by the Marauders' defense, which held Lock Haven to just 279 yards of total offense and 2.3 yards per carry. Tyler Tate, Garrett Cox and KeShaun Jones all recorded sacks. Jones' was the first of his Millersville career. Millersville has limited its last two opponents to 6-of-32 on third down conversions. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
•  Footman led two scoring drives, and Millersville forced Lock Haven to punt on six first-half possessions, leading to a 14-0 halftime lead. Lock Haven pulled with a score after a 75-yard TD drive to start the third quarter, and after a three-and-out, Millersville's special teams and defense came up big. Zach Banta booted a 58-yard punt that was downed at the Lock Haven 1. Two plays later, Ross stepped in front of a pass to the sideline and took it to the Lock Haven 2. Pierce took the ball into the end zone on the first play of the drive, building Millersville's lead back to 15. 
• Lock Haven came right back with a second-straight scoring drive, traveling 74 yards in fewer than three minutes. The score made it 21-12, but Millersville never let Lock Haven get that close again. On third-and-11 from his own 34, Footman hit Alexander for 18 yards. A pass interference penalty and the running of Morris put the Marauders on the 1. From there, Morris barreled in for a touchdown. The rout was on. Jones' sack of Lock Haven's Easton Turner turned the ball over on downs near midfield. Morris rumbled for 30, and Footman completed a swing pass to Taylor, who sprinted 17 yards for a touchdown. Ba picked off Turner on Lock Haven's second snap of the next drive. Pierce and Frauen combined to run the ball 10 times for 53 yards on the ensuing series, putting the finishing touches on a 30-point victory. 

POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH J.C. MORGAN
•  On the postgame feeling after the victory: "They are happy to be in the win column. What I like about this group is how happy they are for each other's success. We had a lot of guys hit personal milestones, get the first touchdowns, game action for the first time, make some big plays. They are just as happy for those guys as well as for the team. That's the vibe right now. They are enjoying the success of others and that we worked hard to come away."
•  On Footman's play: "He was getting more reps this week by design but also by nature because of our injury situation at the position. The plan was to get him in the mix. When he got in he played very well at times and we decided to keep riding him. He's very athletic. He has the arm talent. He's a very confident young man. Through the mistakes that he had today, his confident played through that. For him to get his first game action over the last couple of weeks, to come back and have a big impact in the game like this, that will do well for him moving forward."
•  On the impact of young players in the game: "It shows the depth we are accumulating on our roster. There are positions we know we can roll out a lot of guys in any situation through injury or performance. We are starting to be a program that has quality depth and we will continue to build that depth moving forward. Being able to play your fourth quarterback and ride him to a victory is what we are seeing in recruiting over the last couple seasons."
•  On the success of the running game: "We did want to establish the run. It's not the first game we've come in with that mindset. We have some backs that we can put the ball in their hands. They are starting to get healthy and get a lot of practice reps. The line is getting that continuity there. Lock Haven plays hard, they hang around, and today they got the game into the third quarter. But I was proud that we answered back. When they scored, we came back with an answer. We did that both times. That shows where our mentality is in our locker room. I told our team in the locker room after the game that I love watching them play the way they play hard."
•  On what the offensive performance does for the unit moving forward: "It's a reward for their hard work. They are well aware of last week and how that performance impacted the game. They came back and responded the way they did in practice this week, be intent on the game plan and see the big picture for the season and what's possible."

NOTES
•  Anthony Butler started the game at quarterback after Luke Thomas started last week's game at West Chester. Thomas was unavailable with an injury, as was week one starter Jack Stagaard. Footman was the third Millersville quarterback to throw a touchdown pass in the first five games and the fourth to attempt a pass. 
•  Millersville has won five in a row against Lock Haven and is 5-2 all-time at Hubert Jack Stadium. 

UP NEXT
• Millersville returns home on Saturday, Oct. 8 to take on East Stroudsburg. Kick off is at 12 p.m.