Honestly, if you haven’t been keeping an eye on the lock haven football schedule, you’ve missed one of the most improbable turnarounds in Division II sports. For decades, Hubert Jack Stadium was a place where hope went to die. We’re talking about a program that once endured a 52-game losing streak. But the 2025 season changed the narrative entirely.
The Bald Eagles didn’t just play games; they broke a 44-year curse.
The Schedule That Changed Everything
When the lock haven football schedule was first released for 2025, most fans looked at the September stretch and winced. Opening against Glenville State is never easy, but Lock Haven squeaked out a 16-13 win on Community Night. It was gritty. It was ugly. It was exactly what they needed.
Then reality hit. Hard.
Back-to-back losses to Indiana (Pa.) and California (Pa.)—by a combined score of 84-16—made it feel like the same old Lock Haven. You've seen this movie before, right? The team starts with a glimmer of hope and then the PSAC powerhouses just steamroll them. By the time they lost a heartbreaker to East Stroudsburg 24-21 on September 27, the Bald Eagles were sitting at 1-3.
Most people gave up. The "here we go again" tweets were everywhere.
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Turning the Corner in October
Something shifted when they hopped on the bus for Bloomsburg.
That October 4th game was a massacre in the best way possible. A 38-17 win. Suddenly, the offense, led by quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky, started clicking. Ostrowsky is the real deal, by the way. He ended up nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy—the D-II equivalent of the Heisman—and when you watch him play, you see why. He threw for over 2,600 yards this season.
- October 11: A tough 34-7 loss to a ranked Kutztown team. (Kutztown was #4 at the time, so no shame there.)
- October 18: Homecoming. A massive 28-21 win over West Chester. The atmosphere at the Jack was electric.
- October 25: They went to Shippensburg and handled business, 35-21.
By the end of October, the lock haven football schedule looked a lot more like a path to a winning record than a funeral procession.
The Historic Finale
November 15, 2025. Mark the date.
Lock Haven hosted Gannon for the season finale. The stakes were simple: win and secure the first winning season since 1981. Lose and stay stuck in the "almost" category.
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It wasn't even close.
Ostrowsky went nuclear, throwing for 459 yards and five touchdowns. The final score was 49-28. When the clock hit zero, the 6-5 record was official. Six wins. That might not sound like much to a Bama fan, but in Lock Haven, it’s a miracle. It’s the most wins for a first-year head coach at the school since 1931. Coach Joe Battaglia basically became a local hero overnight.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Lock Haven Football Schedule
The landscape is changing. Literally.
In 2026, Lock Haven is moving from the PSAC East to the PSAC West. That is a massive shift. The West is historically deeper and more physical. The 2026 lock haven football schedule is already looking interesting:
- Sept 5: At American International College.
- Sept 12: At Shippensburg.
- Sept 19: Home vs. Kutztown.
- Sept 26: At Gannon (The official start of the PSAC West era).
- Oct 3: Home vs. Clarion (Homecoming 2026).
They’ll be facing IUP, Edinboro, Slippery Rock, and California (Pa.) all in a row. It is a gauntlet.
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Why the Schedule Matters for Recruits
Success is the best recruiting tool. Because Lock Haven proved they can win, they’re starting to land guys who would usually head to the bigger PSAC schools. Six players made the All-PSAC squad this year. T'iar Young and Jackson Ostrowsky have put the conference on notice.
If you're planning to attend a game at Hubert Jack Stadium next year, get your tailgate spots early. The lot sold out multiple times in 2025. There's a "Locked In" culture now that actually feels sustainable.
The days of being a "gimme" game on everyone else's schedule are over.
What You Should Do Now
If you want to keep up with the team, don't just check the scores on Saturdays.
- Follow the Move: Keep an eye on how the roster adjusts for the move to the PSAC West in 2026. The size in the trenches will need to increase.
- Watch the Awards: See if Jackson Ostrowsky can actually snag that Harlon Hill Trophy; the voting happens throughout the winter.
- Ticket Alerts: Sign up for athletic department emails now if you want a 2026 tailgate pass. They are going to be the toughest ticket in town.
The 2025 season was a fever dream for Bald Eagle fans. Now, the real work of staying relevant begins.