GOLF
UNIVERSITY PARK — Sophomore John Gaylor (Clearfield) posted rounds of 81 and 76 over the par-72 Penn State Blue Course October 7 and 8 as the Penn State DuBois team punctuated its first season by coming from behind to win the title at the 2013 Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference Championships.
The Lions had to make up a 14-stroke deficit on the second day to overtake regular season kingpin Penn College and Penn State Mont Alto, who opened with four-player totals of 329 and 340, respectively.
Gaylor had combined with Tighe Truman (86) of Brookville, John Kane (88) of DuBois and Derek Buganza (88) of Brockway for a 343.
With Gaylor turning in his career low thanks to an eagle-3 with an 85-yard wedge shot on his last hole, the Lions roared back to edge Penn College by three strokes with a 667 aggregate.
Rounding out the second-day 324, a new Penn State DuBois match record, were Buganza with an 81, Owen Braun of Mechanicsburg with a career-low 83 and Kane with an 84.
“As a coach, you always talk about your team peaking at the right time, and I can honestly say that our guys did that in the final round,” Penn State DuBois coach Pat Lewis said. “This was the first time any of the guys ever played in a tournament of this magnitude, and one of our main goals was to try to stay within striking distance of the leaders on the first day, but 14 strokes back was a little more than we would have liked.
“Our guys played well both days but more so on the second day. I am very happy for them and all that they have accomplished this season.”
The Lions also placed eighth among 19 teams from all around the country in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships that were held in conjunction with the PSUAC tourney.
Penn College’s Corey Teeple edged Gaylor by two strokes to claim the PSUAC individual title.
Gaylor did earn all-conference laurels and missed USCAA second team honors by four strokes, finishing 19th among 105 golfers who played two rounds.
* * * * * * * * * *
FOOTBALL
BLOOMSBURG — Redshirt freshman Curtis Frye (Clearfield) got his first start for Millersville (0-6) and completed 16 of 24 passes for 98 yards, all season highs, but he was unable to guide the Marauders to paydirt in two-and-a-half quarters of a 45-7 loss to nationally-ranked Bloomsburg (6-0) Saturday afternoon.
Frye suffered one interception that was returned for a touchdown, was sacked three times for losses of 24 yards and lost one fumble in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division game seen by 5,395 fans in Redman Stadium.
In six appearances, Frye has connected on 34 of 54 aerials, a percentage of 62.9, for 328 yards and one touchdown. He has been intercepted twice and sacked nine times that leaves him with minus 53 yards for 15 keepers.
His pass efficiency rating is 112.69.
* * * * *
LOCK HAVEN — Sophomore running back Beau Swales (Clearfield) scored from three yards out for the second of three touchdowns by Lock Haven (2-4) in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division game, but they were too little, too late, as Shippensburg (4-2) escaped Hubert Jack Stadium with a 30-24 win to disappoint the crowd of 2,011.
Swales gained 19 yards on four carries, one a season-long 10-yarder, and assisted on one tackle for the Bald Eagle punt unit.
Lock Haven starting wide receiver Jesse Hoover (Curwensville) snared four passes for 29 yards.
The graduate student leads the Bald Eagles with 26 receptions for 252 yards and one touchdown. He also has one tackle and one assist.
Swales has 17 carries for 44 yards and five catches for 55 yards. He’s returned 16 kickoffs for a 19.4 average.
* * * * *
SLIPPERY ROCK — Redshirt sophomore defensive back Derek Morgan (Clearfield) registered two solo tackles and broke up one pass for Slippery Rock (5-1) in a crucial 42-16 win over No. 7-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania (5-1) Saturday afternoon.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division showdown drew 7,620 fans into Mihalik-Thompson Stadium and left both teams tied at 2-1 behind Gannon (3-0).
The Rock rolled up 676 yards against the No. 1 NCAA Division II defense and led 42-3 after three quarters.
Morgan, who has made two starts, is sixth on The Rock defense with 26 stops, 17 of them solo, and has one interception and two pass break-ups.
* * * * *
PITTSBURGH — Grad student center Nick Redden (Clearfield) and his Duquesne (3-2) teammates opened their Northeast Conference schedule with a 34-7 victory over defending champion Wagner (2-5) at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field Saturday afternoon.
A Homecoming crowd of 2,781 saw the Dukes’ offense explode for 24 points in the fourth quarter to hand the preseason NEC favorites their second loss in three conference outings.
Redden has made 16 consecutive starts for the Dukes.
* * * * *
CALIFORNIA — Sophomore long snapper Eric White (Clearfield) saw most of his action on eight punts as the Clarion (3-3) offense was held to 230 yards and shut out until the final three minutes by California (4-2) in a 35-7 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division loss at Adamson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles slipped to 1-2 in the PSAC-West in front of the 4,322 fans in Adamson Stadium.
* * * * *
ANNVILLE — Junior kicker Zack Fannin (Clearfield) trotted on to Arnold Field only two times for kickoffs that averaged 53 yards because the Lycoming (4-2) offense was shackled by host Lebanon Valley (5-1) in a clash of Middle Atlantic Conference contenders Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors, who were ranked No. 24 in NCAA Division III, could not overcome three interceptions and 10 sacks by the Dutchmen that delighted the 3,500 fans at Arnold Field and fell 14-7 but remained tied atop the MAC at 4-1.
Fannin has made his lone field goal attempt, a 27-yarder. His average for 16 kickoffs is 52.7 yards.