Klacik prepares his Lock Haven for Ice Castle visit

The former YSU assistant and his Bald Eagles take on the Penguins on Saturday.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — John Klacik has spent a lot of time on the sidelines at Stambaugh Stadium — 16 years to be exact.

But in all those years, Klacik has never been where he will be Saturday afternoon — on the opposing team’s sideline.

Klacik, who spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach at Youngstown State (nine of them as the team’s offensive coordinator), will bring his Lock Haven team into Stambaugh Saturday to take on the Penguins.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

In 2005, Klacik took over a pretty depleted program at Lock Haven. He has spent the past two years trying to rebuild things.

Lock Haven went 2-9 in each of his first two seasons and has started the 2007 campaign with three straight losses.

The Bald Eagles, a Division II program, are members of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (West Division).

“We are still a very young football team,” said Klacik, who starred locally at Chaney High and four years at Lock Haven. “We’ve been going through some growing pains in the first three weeks.

Eagles are young team

Klacik said that 85 percent of this year’s team is are either sophomores or freshmen. He will start 15 underclassmen.

“We’re getting better,” Klacik said. “We went down and played well against VMI in the season opener, but then came back and turned it over too many times in the second game against East Stroudsburg.”

The Eagles lost to VMI, 20-0, and then were soundly beaten 58-13 against East Stroudsburg. Last week, the Eagles dropped a 19-10 decision to Millersville.

“Last week, we played decent on defense and really had a chance to win the game, but a call went against us late and it really took the momentum away from us,” Klacik said.

“I’m excited about coming home to play, especially after coaching there for so many years and there are so many memorable experiences I’ve had there.,” Klacik said. “But it will be different standing on the other sidelines.”

Klacik said he feels that the game against the Penguins will be a big benefit to his team.

“Our league has gotten so much better and to play against a team like Youngstown State is only going to help us get ready for league play,” he added.

“Youngstown is an outstanding football team, fundamentally sound and they run multiple offenses which will be a big test for our defense,” he said.

Klacik said the Eagles suffered a key loss before the season began.

Lost key player

“We lost our best defensive player with a season-ending injury in camp,” he said.

Sophomore linebacker Luke Ellison (6-0, 215) was the team’s top returning tackler and according to Klacik, “just an outstanding athlete.”

The offense is led by sophomore quarterback Ilio DePaolo (5-11, 180) who leads the team in both rushing and passing. He has thrown for 205 yards and rushed for 107 and has scored one touchdown.

“Ilio suffered a slight concussion last week, but we expect him to be ready to go on Saturday,” Klacik said.

Lock Haven has scored just 23 points in three games and has allowed 97, allowing 277.3 rushing yards and 110 yards a game through the air.

Offensively, the Bald Eagles are averaging just 72 yards rushing and 109 passing. They also have lost three fumbles and have been intercepted four times.

“I’m excited and the whole team is excited about the opportunity to come up and play Youngstown State,” Klacik said. “We know that we can’t afford to make any mistakes and we have to be at our best to even have a chance against the Penguins. But we look forward to that challenge.”

mollica@vindy.com