Lycoming College (0-0) at Delaware Valley College (0-0)
September 7, 2002 - 1:00 p.m.
James Work Memorial Stadium (4,000)
Doylestown, Pa.

THE STORY: The Warriors open the 2002 campaign on the road at Delaware Valley College. Lycoming has high expectations coming off an 8-1 season in 2001. The Warriors are also hungry to return to the NCAA Division III playoffs having missed the past two years. Prior to that the team had qualified for the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. The Aggies enter the 2002 season with a new head coach in G.A. Mangus. Mangus will attempt to turn around a program that went 3-7 last season and has not had a winning season since 1985. The cupboard is not bare for Mangus, however, as he welcomes back 16 starters from last year’s squad.

RADIO AND TV: Today’s game is being broadcast live on WRAK-AM (1400) in Williamsport, and WRLC-FM (91.7), the Lycoming College radio station. Ken Sawyer and Bill Byham will call the action for WRAK.

THE COACHES: 
Lycoming – Frank Girardi (West Chester, 1961)
Career: 226-69-5 (.762)/31st season
At Lycoming: 226-69-5 (.762)/31st season
Delaware Valley– G.A. Mangus (Univ. of Florida, 1992)
Career: 0-0 (.000)/1st season
At Delaware Valley: 0-0 (.000)/1st season

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: Lycoming leads series – 26-12-1 (.679)

LAST MEETING: DELAWARE VALLEY 12 LYCOMING 51
November 3, 2001 – David Person Field, Williamsport, Pa.
Lycoming seniors scored seven touchdowns in the final appearance on their home field as the Warriors dominated the Aggies in a 51-12 victory. Quarterback Joe Feerrar completed 15-of-17 passes for 223 yards and five touchdowns. Tim Deasey led the rushing attack with 86 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Tom Zulkowski was Lycoming’s leading receiver with six catches for 84 yards and two scores. Dave Christensen connected from 30 yards out for the Warriors’ only field goal of the season.

LAST GAME: LYCOMING 42 JUNIATA 14
November 10, 2001 – Knox Stadium, Huntingdon, Pa.
Juniata jumped out to a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter, but the Warriors responded with six unanswered touchdowns to end the game. Tim Deasey had a record-breaking day to end his collegiate career. Deasey carried the ball 39 times for 242 yards and five touchdowns. Joe Feerrar threw for 163 yards on 16-of-30 passing. His favorite target was Sean Hennigar with four catches for 29 yards. Defensively, Ryan Rupprecht led the team with seven tackles. Matt Henrich, playing in his home town, intercepted a pass for Lycoming.

LYCOMING’S OFFENSE: The Warriors finished the 2001 campaign ranked second in total offense in the MAC, averaging 402.8 yards and 32.6 points per game. Lycoming averaged 178.4 yards per game on the ground and 224.3 yards per game through the air. In 2002, the Warriors return five starters from last year’s offensive unit. Jon Neve is lone returnee from the starting backfield. Neve ran for 220 yards on 53 carries and scored three touchdowns for Lycoming. The other four returnees are all members of the offensive line, including: Matt Mendola, Jay Seagreaves, Mike Juba, and Dickie Houck.

DELAWARE VALLEY’S DEFENSE: The Aggie defense allowed more points than any other team in the MAC last season, giving up 34.8 points per contest. Statistically, they ranked seventh in total defense, allowing 346.6 yards per game. Delaware Valley returns seven starters from last season’s defense, including their two leading tacklers, Andrew Erby (76 tackles), and Nick Sabean (64 tackles).

DELAWARE VALLEY’S OFFENSE: Delaware Valley ranked eighth in both scoring offense and total offense in 2001. The Aggies averaged 23.6 points and 337.6 yards per outing. Their offense was more pass oriented throwing for 240.7 yards per game, while they averaged 96.9 yards per game on the ground. Eight starters return from that unit including their two leading receivers Rich Gear and Giovanni Brooks. Gear caught 74 passes in 2001 for 1,127 yards and 12 touchdowns. Brooks added 26 catches for 408 yards and five scores. Delaware Valley is looking for a new signal caller this season and has freshman Adam Knoblauch penciled in to make his collegiate debut this Saturday.

LYCOMING’S DEFENSE: Lycoming boasted the MAC’s top defense last season leading the conference in both scoring defense and total defense. The Warriors allowed opponents just 14.3 points and 249.1 yards per game last season. In 2002, the team returns seven starters from the defensive side of the ball. Jake Davis and Matt Henrich headline an extremely deep and talented secondary. Last season the pair combined for 60 tackles, eight interceptions, and 27 passes broken up. Chris Roantree and Zach Latsha also return to anchor the defensive line. Roantree recorded 32 tackles in 2001 including three sacks. Latsha was second on the team with 39 stops.

MATCH-UP TO WATCH: Delaware Valley’s passing attack against Lycoming’s secondary. The defensive backfield is agruably the Warriors’ greatest strength entering the new season. They will go against one of the top passing games in the conference from a year ago. The Aggies still have potent weapons at receiver, but will have a freshman starting behind center. His ability to deal with Lycoming’s secondary will be a key to the game for both teams.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Lycoming has garnered national attention entering the 2002 season. The Warriors have been listed in a number of preseason polls, including: 10th in Sports Illustrated, 13th in Street & Smith’s, 15th in Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, and 18th on D3football.com.

LEGEND OF THE FALL: Warrior’ head coach Frank Girardi begins his 31st season at the helm of the Lycoming football program this Saturday. Girardi has coached in 300 football games, winning 226, tieing five, and losing just 69. His win total ranks third among active coaches in Division III and his winning percentage of .762 ranks fifth.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL:
1. Widener (8) 117
2. Lycoming 107
3. King’s (1) 91
4. Susquehanna 77
5. Juniata (1) 74
6. Moravian (1) 67
7. Wilkes 65
8. Albright 58
9. Lebanon Valley 26
10. FDU-Florham 23
11. Delaware Valley 21

MAC NOTES FROM 2001:
– Had two teams ranked in final Top-25 poll.
– Posted an 8-6 non-conference record.
– Went 4-1 in post-season play.

ATHLETIC UPDATES VIA E-MAIL: Weekly updates on all of Lycoming’s athletic teams are now available via e-mail. If you would like to receive these updates, simply send an e-mail to: dietrich@lycoming.edu and ask to be added to the Warrior Update List. 

ACTION AROUND THE MAC:
Septemebr 7, 2002
Gettysburg at Lebanon Valley
Hartwick at King’s
FDU-Florham at Moravian
Montclair St. at Wilkes
Juniata at Dickinson