WARRIOR FOOTBALL SUFFERS HEARTBREAKING OVERTIME LOSS AT WIDENER

CHESTER, PA – The Lycoming College football team suffered a heartbreaking, 20-14 overtime loss to Widener University, Saturday afternoon. The Warriors fall to 4-1 on the season, while the Pioneers improve to 4-0.

The decisive play came on a fourth-and-6 from the Lycoming 21-yardline on Widener’s first drive of overtime. The Pioneers lined up for a potential game-winning field goal from 38 yards out. Brian Bond (Sr./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge), however, sprinted into the backfield and blocked the attempted kick. Chaos then broke out as Widener’s holder Mike deMarteleire recovered the live ball and passed the ball forward to Bo Fischer who sprinted 21 yards into the endzone. After a two-minute conference, the officials signaled a touchdown, ruling that the ball never crossed the line of scrimmage and that deMarteleire successfully completed a shovel pass to Fischer for the game-winning score. Lycoming argued that deMarteleire was down prior to the pass, but no whistle had blown so the play stood and the game was over.

Both teams played extremely well defensively. The Warriors limited  the Pioneers to a season-low 206 yards of total offense, including just eight first downs. Widener was just as effective, holding Lycoming to 199 yards of total offense, including just 45 yards rushing.

The Warriors were the first to score, finding the endzone on their first possession of the second half. Tim Schmidt (Jr./Philadelphia, PA; Roman Catholic) set up the drive by intercepting Mike Warker and returning the ball 17 yards to the Pioneer 48-yardline. R.J. Kreutzer (Sr./Sea Girt, NJ; Wall Township) then directed a five-play drive that culminated with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ray Withelder (Jr./Aston, PA; Sun Valley).

Widener responded two possessions later. After forcing Lycoming to punt deep within their own territory, the Pioneers started a drive from the Warrior 36-yardline. Luther Bowen caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Warker seven plays later to tie the game at 7-7.

Schmidt again set the table for Lycoming’s offense in the fourth quarter, intercepting his second pass of the game and returning it 42 yards to the Widener 19-yardline. A facemask penalty at the end of the return gave the Warriors a first-and-goal from the nine. Three plays later, Kreutzer found Jon Neve (Sr./Norristown, PA; Germantown Academy) for a five-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead.

The Pioneers responded immediately, however, as deMarteleire returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Lycoming 48-yard line. Widener then needed just two plays – a 39-yard pass to Bowen and nine-yard run by Warker – to punch the ball in an tie the game with just less than 10 minutes to play.

The Warriors had a chance to regain the lead on their next possession, driving from their own 32 to the nine-yard line of the Pioneers. But a field goal attempt sailed wide left and the game remained deadlocked at 14-14.

Lycoming received the ball first in overtime, but lost one yard on three plays before Kreutzer was intercepted on fourth down to end the drive. Widener then took over, gaining four yards on three plays to set up the bizarre play that ended the game.

Kreutzer completed 13-of-26 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Jared Morris (Sr./Canton, PA; Canton) carried the ball 23 times for 66 yards. Withelder led all receivers with five receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Warker was held to just 7-of-28 passing for 132 yards and a score. Bowen was his favorite target catching three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Michael Gandy led the Pioneers rushing attack with 25 yards on 12 carries.

Defensively, the Warriors were led by Luke Sterling (Fr./Lehighton, PA; Lehighton) with nine tackles, including a sack. Bond added four tackles, including two sacks and Schmidt intercepted a pair of passes.

Ryan Killian, Bill Walsh, and Steve Varrasse each had nine tackles for Widener.

Lycoming will be at home for their next game, hosting FDU-Florham on Saturday, October 12, at 1:30 p.m.