2003 LYCOMING COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Twenty-eight consecutive winning seasons; 12 conference championships; 10 NCAA playoff appearances; two trips to the NCAA Division III National Championships – that is the legacy of Lycoming College football. With that legacy come lofty expectations. In 2003 those expectations will be no different, despite a three-year drought in regards to conference titles and national playoff appearances.

“At a lot of schools a 6-3 season [the Warriors’ record in 2002] would be considered a success, but at Lycoming a 6-3 season is something we’d like to put behind us as quickly as possible,” said head coach Frank Girardi. “While we don’t want to dwell on last season, we will use it as motivation. We’re eager to prove last year was a fluke.

“Our expectations will be exactly the same as they have been for years. We want to win the MAC championship, be one of the top teams in the nation by the end of the season, and earn strong consideration for a bid to the NCAA playoffs.”

Girardi, entering his 32^nd season at the helm of the Warriors, will welcome back 34 letterwinners, including 14 starters, in 2003. Eight of those starters will line up on the offensive side of the ball, where Lycoming ranked second in the MAC last season averaging 33.1 points per game. Only four starters are back from a defensive unit that allowed just 14.7 points per game in 2002, but veteran defensive coordinator Steve Wiser has a knack for reloading rather than rebuilding. Two starting specialty performers are also back this season.

“I’m very comfortable with the players we have returning,” said Girardi. “Offensively, this is one of the most experienced groups we’ve ever had. Defensively, we lost some good players up front, but I know we have guys who are eager to get a chance. The pieces are definitely in place for us to achieve our goals.”

The following is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2003 Warriors:

QUARTERBACK

Junior Phil Mann (Mill Hall, PA; Central Mountain) returns after going 6-1 as a starter in 2002 and will be the incumbent in that role this season. Mann overcame a shoulder injury, which cost him two games, to lead the conference in passing efficiency with a rating of 143.4. Mann completed 80-of-134 passes for 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns, while being intercepted only five times.

Fellow junior Josh Knecht (Catasaqua, PA; Catasaqua), sophomore Nick Finn (Waldorf, MD; Thomas Stone), and freshman Glenn Smith (Watsontown, PA; Warrior Run) will compete for the responsibility of backing up Mann. Neither Knecht nor Finn threw a pass in a varsity game in 2002, but both played in several junior varsity contests. Smith enters the program as a highly touted recruit who threw for more than 2,000 yards his senior year of high school.

RUNNING BACK

Lycoming has two big holes to fill in the offensive backfield with the graduation of Jared Morris and Jon Neve. Morris and Neve combined for more than 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, while all other Warrior rushers accumulated just 343 yards and eight scores.

That is not to say that Lycoming lacks talent in that position, however. Drew Corsilli (Manville, NJ; Manville) is back for his junior season and is the favorite to earn the starting role at tailback. Corsilli appeared in seven games last season, carrying the ball 19 times for 75 yards. He will be challenged by senior John Bickford (Emporium, PA; Cameron County) and junior Jon Carpenter (Montgomery, PA; Montgomery). Bickford has battled injuries throughout his collegiate career, but has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy. In 2002, he carried the ball six times for 68 yards and a touchdown. Carpenter toted the rock seven times for 29 yards a year ago.

At fullback, senior Bob Miller (New Columbia, PA; Milton) will enter camp as the leading candidate to start. Miller was the Warriors’ third leading rusher with 118 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries in 2002. Sophomore Jared Mauer (Muncy, PA; Muncy) will also compete for the starting job.

WIDE RECEIVER

Lycoming quarterbacks will have familiar faces to throw to in 2003. Arguably the deepest position on the Warriors’ roster, the receiving corps begins with three seniors, each returning for their second season as a starter. Ricky Lannetti (Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge), Ray Withelder (Aston, PA; Sun Valley), and Sean Hennigar (Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) combined for 70 receptions, 1,149 yards, and eight touchdowns a year ago. Each averaged more than 15 yards per catch.

Challenging the three incumbents will be a stable of young receivers. Senior Brandon Johnson (Franklin, PA; Franklin) played in all nine games last season, making 13 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Tim Brown (Liverpool, NY; Christian Brothers Acad.) played in seven games and made four catches for 44 yards, including one touchdown. Junior John Moor (Hawley, PA; Wallenpaupack), sophomore Tony Kopp (Saint Marys, PA; Saint Marys), and several highly recruited freshmen will also vie for playing time. Sophomore Justin Grenoble (Muncy, PA; Muncy), a traditional tight end, will factor into the passing attack as well.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Up front Lycoming returns four of five starters from 2003. Senior Matt Mendola (Dunmore, PA; Dunmore) is back for his third season as the starting center. At 6’6” – 270 pounds, Mendola is the most dominating center in the conference and should garner All-America consideration. Senior Jay Seagreaves (Allentown, PA; Allentown Central Catholic), 6’2” – 285 pounds, is also back for his third season as a starter, holding down the left tackle position. Fellow seniors Dickie Houck (Bethlehem, PA; Bethlehem Catholic) and Andy Miller (Emporium, PA; Cameron County) round out the returning starters. Houck, 6’2” – 290 pounds, will play at right tackle, and Miller, 6’1” – 250 pounds, will play at left guard.

Sophomores Sean Murphy (Philadelphia, PA; North Catholic) (6-3, 240) and Jim Crompton (Warminster, PA; Archbishop Wood) (6-3, 220), and freshman Lucas Baltz (6-3, 290) are the leading candidates to start at left guard.

DEFENSIVE LINE

On the opposite side of the ball, the Warriors return just one starter. Senior Garrett Zoschg (Emporium, PA; Cameron County) is back at defensive end after recording 22 tackles, including one sack, in 2002. He also broke up a pass and recovered a pair of fumbles.

Competing for playing time at the other three spots along the defensive line will be senior Sean McGinley (Croydon, PA; Conwell-Egan), a converted tight end, juniors Jeff Jacavage (Shenendoah, PA; Shenendoah Valley) and Tom Babbony (Pottstown, PA; Owen J. Roberts), and sophomores Mike Kozak (Drexel Hill, PA; Monsignor Bonner), Tim Hartingh (Willow Grove, PA; Upper Moreland), Len Loper (Erial, NJ; Highland Regional), and Damien Burton (Sicklerville, NJ; Highland Regional).

LINEBACKER

At linebacker, Lycoming returns their leading tackler in sophomore Luke Sterling (Lehighton, PA; Lehighton). Sterling recorded a team-high 54 tackles as a freshman, including two sacks and six tackles-for-a-loss. He will likely be joined by senior Tim Schmidt (Philadelphia, PA; Roman Catholic), who moved from defensive back to linebacker last season. Schmidt tallied 21 tackles in 2002, while also intercepting a team-high four passes.

The competition for the third starting linebacker position will be one of the most hotly contested in camp. Senior Brian Connors (Clarks Summit, PA; Abington Heights) missed the 2002 campaign with an injury, but hopes to return the form that earned him a starting role as a sophomore. Fellow senior Matt Diggan (Cresson, PA; Penn Cambria) saw action in five games last season, making six tackles. Junior Adam Mattis (Halifax, PA; Halifax) and sophomores Mike Piotrowicz (Philadelphia, PA; North Catholic), Greg Silenok (Philadelphia, PA; Archbishop Ryan), and Kevin LeSage (Darby, PA; Monsignor Bonner) are also eager to contribute to the Warrior defense.

SECONDARY

In the defensive backfield, two starters are back from last season. Junior Brian Kaspick (Clearfield, PA; Clearfield) is back at free safety where he made 42 tackles and broke up eight pass attempts a year ago. Fellow junior Joe Dumas (Philadelphia, PA; Archbishop Ryan) returns at cornerback after recording 17 tackles and breaking up four passes in 2002.

Senior Adam Bickford (Emporium, PA; Cameron County) is the leading candidate to start at strong safety after backing up Matt Henrich last season. Bickford saw action in seven games, making four tackles and intercepting a pass. At the other cornerback position, senior Matt Greim (Morton, PA; Cardinal O’Hara) and junior Nick Pinto (Philadelphia, PA; Archbishop Ryan) are the leading candidates to start. Greim played in seven games last season, recording seven tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception. Pinto appeared in five games and totaled seven tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

On special teams the Warriors return two starters at punter and kick returner, but neither of the two are guaranteed their position in 2003.

Senior Ricky Lannetti (Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) has been one of the most dangerous kick returners in the MAC during his career. Over the past two seasons he has averaged 21.6 yards per kickoff return and 7.8 yards per punt return and returned two kicks for touchdowns. However, talented, athletic freshmen such as Matt Murdock (Elysburg, PA; Southern Columbia) will be competing to at least share some of those responsibilities this season.

Junior Dylan Dupuis (Flemington, NJ; Hunterdon Central) handled both kickoff and punting duties last season for the Warriors, averaging 33.5 yards per punt while pinning teams inside their 20-yardline on four occasions. His experience will give him a leg up heading into camp, but freshmen Chris Schrader (Glenolden, PA; Monsignor Bonner) and Stephen Deao (Houtzdale, PA; Moshannon Valley) both hope to make an impact early in their collegiate careers. Schrader will compete for both placekicking and punting duties, while Deao will compete just for starting placekicker.