WARRIOR FOOTBALL RUNS OVER ALBRIGHT IN 35-12 VICTORY

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College football team returned to the win column, Saturday afternoon, with a convincing 35-12 victory over conference rival Albright College. The Warriors gained 300 yards running the football and limited a high-powered Lion passing attack to just 143 yards en route to their first victory in three outings. Lycoming improves to 5-2 with the victory, while Albright drops to 2-5.

Jared Morris (Sr./Canton, PA; Canton) led the Warriors’ rushing attack with 178 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. He also caught two passes for 18 yards and a fourth score. Phil Mann (So./Mill Hall, PA; Central Mountain) started at quarterback for Lycoming after missing two games due to injury and threw for 117 yards on 11-of-23 passing. He tossed two touchdowns and was also intercepted twice. Tim Brown (Fr./Liverpool, NY; Christian Brothers) and Sean Hennigar (Jr./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) each caught three passes on the afternoon for 36 and 35 yards respectively. Brown also recorded the first touchdown reception of his collegiate career on a 17-yard pass from Mann.

Albright quarterback John Port (So./Folcroft, PA; Monsignor Bonner) completed 18-of-39 passes for 132 yards, including two touchdowns and an interception. Jason Scheerer (Sr./Levittown, PA; Harry S. Truman) was the Lions’ leading receiver with seven receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Adam Hubley (So./Boyertown, PA; Boyertown) and Jeff Lee (Fr./Penns Grove, NJ; Penns Grove) combined for 71 yards rushing on 23 carries.

Defensively, Zach Latsha (Sr./Sunbury, PA; Line Mountain) led the Warriors with 10 tackles, including a sack. Chris Roantree (Sr./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) added nine stops and a sack of his own. As a team, Lycoming broke up 12 passes in the game. Albright’s defense was led by Mikki Sprenkle (So./Herdon, PA; Line Mountain) and Mike Gancarz (Sr./Fairless Hills, PA; Pennsbury) each with nine tackles.

The Warriors got on the board first mounting a scoring drive on their second possession of the game.  Starting on their own 21 yard line, Lycoming marched 79 yards on 12 plays for a touchdown. Morris carried the ball five times on the drive, including the final 32-yard scoring run. Dave Christensen’s (Sr./Yardley, PA; Pennsbury) point after gave the Warriors a 7-0 advantage.

Lycoming scored again early in the second quarter to go ahead 14-0 after receiving the ball at mid-field on a short punt by Albright. Jon Neve (Sr./Norristown, PA; Germantown Academy) carried the ball for 19 yards to open the drive and Morris finished it on the next play with a 31-yard sprint to the endzone.

The Lions ruined the shutout on the ensuing possession, driving 52 yards on six plays. Port capped the drive with a 20-yard scoring pass to Scheerer. The extra point was no good leaving the score at 14-6.

The Warriors extended their lead just prior to halftime with an eight-play, 80-yard two-minute drill. Mann ran the offense to perfection, completing 6-of-6 passes for 68 yards. The key play was a 28-yard strike to Hennigar from the Albright 38. Morris scored one play later on a 10-yard pass from Mann. Christensen’s extra point made the score 21-6 heading into the locker rooms.

Albright attempted a comeback by scoring on their first possession of the second half. Port completed five passes in five attempts, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to culminate a seven-play, 47-yard drive. The point after was again no good, making the score 21-12.

After trading possessions, the Warriors took away any momentum the Lions may have gained. Following an Albright punt, Lycoming was backed up to their own 14 yard line, but Morris broke the first play from scrimmage for an 86-yard touchdown run that broke the Lions’ back. Two series later, the Warriors added their final touchdown of the game on a 17-yard pass from Mann to Brown to bring the final to 35-12.

NOTES: Albright’s offense had entered the game averaging 420 yards per game, including 311.2 yards passing. Lycoming held the Lions to 213 total yards of offense and 143 through the air. … The Warriors’ offensive line paved the way for 300 yards rushing for the second time this season and did not allow a sack. … Phil Mann is now 5-0 as a starting quarterback. … Lycoming clinched their 28^th consecutive winning season with today’s victory. … Today’s win also broke a two-game losing skid. The Warriors have not lost three consecutive regular season games since 1974.