Lock Haven running back Beau Swales had a career rushing game against East Stroudsburg Saturday. (Lock Haven University)
FOOTBALL
LOCK HAVEN — Senior running back Beau Swales (Clearfield) had a career afternoon with 193 rushing yards in front of a Hubert Jack Stadium crowd of 1,349 Saturday, but the Lock Haven workhorse didn’t get to really celebrate it because East Stroudsburg scored a touchdown with 1:32 remaining to escape with a 37-34 victory in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division opener.
The 6-0, 210-pounder carried 27 times in recording the highest total by a Bald Eagle since 2005, one that ranks No. 11 in Lock Haven history.
Making his third career 100-yard performance all the more impressive was the fact that he had only one carry for 10 yards until midway through the second quarter, as East Stroudsburg dominated the first 23 minutes in building a 23-7 lead.
A pair of 33-yard jaunts highlighted his 88-yard output in the final period after he had joined the Bald Eagle 1,000-yard club in the third quarter. He now has amassed 1,115 yards in 37 games.
Swales, who also caught one pass for 10 yards, currently is fifth in the PSAC with 357 yards on 56 carries. His 6.4 average is eighth best.
With 59 additional yards for seven pass receptions, Swales is averaging 104 yards a game for the Bald Eagles, now 0-4.
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GREENSBURG — Redshirt senior strong safety Derek Morgan (Clearfield) had a productive game, but No. 14-ranked Slippery Rock was shocked 41-38 by homestanding Seton Hill in their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division opener Saturday.
Morgan was involved in six tackles, including two solo stops, and made his first interception of the season. He also broke up one pass.
A crowd of 1,500 saw the Griffins knock The Rock out of the top spot in NCAA Division II Super Region One.
Morgan has made 11 solo tackles and assisted on eight other tackle in his four starts.
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ERIE — Senior longsnapper Eric White (Clearfield) appeared in 11 plays for the Clarion extra point, field goal and punt units Saturday when the Golden Eagles stunned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division preseason favorite Gannon 47-31.
The battle of unbeaten drew 1,705 fans into McConnell Family Stadium for the conference opener, with Clarion emerging 4-0.
Golden Eagle kicker Phil Esposito (Brockway) was named PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week for his two field goals, five extra points and 55.8 average on kickoffs.
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WILLIAMSPORT — Freshman linebacker Nick Kovalick (Woodland/Clearfield Area H.S.) saw action for Lycoming in a 32-10 loss to undefeated Albright with 1,856 fans on hand at David Person Field Saturday.
Kovalick has played in three games, with one start, for the Warriors, who are 1-3 with a Middle Atlantic Conference record.
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MEN’S GOLF
NORTH EAST — Sophomore Jason Thorp (Curwensville) posted an 81, tied for second on the team and tied for 11th overall, as Thiel claimed fourth place in the 11-team James Bowen Invitational hosted by Penn State Behrend at the Lake View Country Club on Monday, Sept. 21.
The Tomcats finished with a 323, six strokes out of first place. Grove City won the title in a tiebreaker with Daemen.
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BRADFORD — Sophomore Brett Gardner (Curwensville) had the second-best score for Pitt-Bradford in two tournaments last week.
He recorded an 87 at the Lake View Country Club on Monday, Sept. 21 to tie for 30th among the 55 players from 11 teams in Penn State Behrend’s James Bowen Invitational. The Panthers wound up ninth with a 355 total.
In the D’Youville Invitational Friday at the Tri-Country Country Club, Forestville, N.Y., Gardner turned in an 88 to share sixth place among 30 players. Pitt-Bradford was second with a 356 score, just two strokes behind Penn State Behrend.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER
CLARION — Sophomore forward Carlee Freeburg (Clearfield) played 120 minutes for Clarion in Pennsylvania State College Conference losses to host Seton Hill, 4-3, at Greensburg last Wednesday and to visiting East Stroudsburg, 2-0, at Memorial Stadium Saturday.
Freeburg has started in all PSAC games for the 2-5-1 Golden Eagles.
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ALTOONA — Sophomore defender Katie Powers (Clearfield) registered her first point for Penn State Behrend Saturday when the four-time champion Lions began their Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference schedule with a 5-2 win over Penn State Altoona at Spring Run Stadium.
Powers sent a long ball into the box that Caitlyn Caldwell converted into the final goal for the 4-5 Lions.
Sophomore midfielder/defender McKenna Aleksivich (Clearfield) and freshman midfielder Tessa Munshower (Clearfield) also saw action in reserve roles for Penn State Behrend.
All three subbed in the Lions’ 3-0 non-conference loss to Grove City earlier in the week.