WARRIOR FOOTBALL DROPS HEARTBREAKER AT DELAWARE VALLEY
 

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Lycoming College football team traveled to Delaware Valley College, Saturday afternoon, looking to avenge their only regular season defeat from a year ago. The Aggies, however, had different plans as Adam Knoblauch hit Don Marshall for a 41-yard touchdown pass with just 24 seconds remaining to give the home team a 26-19 victory over the defending Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) champion Warriors. Lycoming falls to 2-4 overall and 2-3 within the MAC. Delaware Valley remains undefeated at 6-0 overall and 5-0 within the conference.  

With the game knotted at 19-19, the Aggies trapped the Warriors at their own one-yard line on a 36-yard punt by Bill Miller with 2:23 remaining. The defense held Lycoming to nine yards on three plays, forcing a punt that gave Delaware Valley possession at the Warriors 41-yard line with 33 seconds left on the clock.

The first play saw Knoblauch get flushed out of the pocket, but the junior found Marshall behind the secondary for the game-winning score. Knoblauch completed 23 of 45 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 46 yards on seven carries. Marshall hauled in five passes for 135 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Lycoming methodically built a 12-0 lead early in the third quarter, but the Aggies scored two times in the third period to claim a 13-12 lead. Knoblauch completed a 12-play, 87-yard scoring drive by hitting Lenzie Davis with a nine-yard touchdown pass with 7:43 remaining, and then capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive with a five-yard scoring strike to David Carmon with 1:21 left in the third. Davis caught a career-high eight passes for 30 yards and the one score while Carmon had six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Delaware Valley then took advantage of a crucial and controversial turnover by Lycoming. A Miller punt was originally ruled down by the closest official, but the line judge trailing the play overruled the call claiming it hit a Warrior. The fumble was recovered by A.J. Neal at the Lycoming 11-yard line, and Steve Cook needed just one play to get into the end zone for a 19-12 Aggie lead with 8:10 remaining. Cook netted a game-high 110 yards on 23 carries.

The Warriors went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but pinned Delaware Valley deep in their own territory. Knoblauch hit David Carmon for a pass, but Carmon was stripped of the ball by Mike Piotrowicz (Jr./Philadelphia, Pa.; North Catholic), who ran the fumble return into the end zone from 18 yards out. Chris Schrader's (So./Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) extra-point tied the game at 19-19 with 5:37 remaining and set the stage for the Aggie’s last-minute heroics.

Glenn Smith (So./Watsontown, Pa.; Warrior Run) received his first collegiate start at quarterback and went the distance behind center. Smith had an excellent first half, completing 16-of-26 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Lycoming’s first scoring drive was capped by a 27-yard field goal by Schrader just 15 seconds into the second quarter. The Warriors added a touchdown before the half when Smith found Tony Kopp (Jr./St. Mary’s, Pa.; St. Mary’s) from eight yards out on a fade patterm. Lycoming’s final offensive points came early in the second half on another 27-yard field goal by Schrader.

Smith ended the game 20-for-40 passing for 210 yards and one touchdown. Ray Withelder (Sr./Aston, Pa.; Sun Valley) led the receivers with five catches for 80 yards. Kopp added four receptions for 40 yards and the one score. Lycoming struggled with its running game gaining just 32 yards on 34 attempts.

Matt Murdock (So./Elysburg, Pa.; Southern Columbia) led the Warrior with eight tackles. Piotrowicz added six tackles to his fumble return for a touchdown.

The Aggies’ defense was led by Andrew Erby and Neal had 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.

The Warriors will look to rebound next Saturday when they host Moravian College.