LYCOMING FOOTBALL FALLS TO MORAVIAN
 

Senior Ray Withelder catches one of his two touchdown passes versus Moravian.

photo by Dick Hostrander

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College football team hosted Moravian College, Saturday afternoon, in Middle Atlantic Conference action. Sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries and junior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) completed six of 18 passes for 144 yards and two more scores to lead the Greyhounds to a 35-14 victory over the Warriors.

The win improved Moravian’s record to 7-0 overall and in the MAC for the first time in school history while Lycoming falls to 2-5 overall and 2-4 in the MAC.  The loss also ends the Warriors’ streak of 29-consecutive winning seasons.

Senior wideout Ray Withelder (Aston, Pa.; Sun Valley) led Lycoming with three receptions for 119 yards and both Warrior touchdowns. Glenn Smith (So./Watsontown, Pa.; Warrior Run) started at quarterback for the home team and completed 7-of-18 passes for 66 yards and a score. David Hall (Sr./Franklin, Pa.; Franklin) took over for Smith midway through the third quarter and threw for 129 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-21 passing. Freshman Brandon Traugh (Catawissa, Pa.; Southern Columbia) led the Lycoming ground effort with 61 yards on 11 carries.

Defensively, Luke Sterling (Jr./Lehighton, Pa.; Lehighton) and Brian Kaspick (Sr./Clearfield, Pa.; Clearfield) each had six tackles for the Warriors. Nick Tsirigotis (Fr./Berwick, Pa.; Berwick) added four stops and an interception.

The Greyhounds gained their first possession after an interception by junior cornerback Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) at the Lycoming 34-yard line, which Chomik returned to the 27-yard line.  After Jacoubs was stopped for a two-yard loss and no gain, Venturino hit sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) with a 27-yard touchdown pass.  Senior kicker Ken Macaulay (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge HS) added the extra-point for a 7-0 lead just 2:18 into the game. Martell ended the game with four receptions for 87 yards.

Lycoming answered on the ensuing drive when Smith connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Withelder to cap a nine-play, 65-yard drive.  Sophomore Chris Schrader (Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) added the extra-point to tie the contest at 7-7 with 7:35 remaining in the first quarter. 

Chomik set the Moravian offense up again returning a Lycoming punt 29 yards to open the second quarter and give the Greyhounds the ball at the Warrior 35-yard line.  On fourth-and-five from the 30-yard line, Venturino ran a quarterback draw to the nine-yard line for a first-and-goal.  Venturino then finished off the drive with a nine-yard scamper off the left side.  Macaulay was wide left with the extra-point, giving Moravian a 13-7 lead with 11:49 remaining in the second quarter.

The Greyhounds would extend their lead to 21-7 with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter.  Moravian started the drive on the Lycoming 28-yard line after senior linebacker Bill Carasia (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) recovered a fumble.  Jacoubs finished off the drive with a ten-yard run.  Venturino hit freshman tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) with the two-point conversion pass. 

Moravian scored again with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter when Venturino found junior wide receiver Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) with a 41-yard touchdown strike, three plays after the Greyhound defense had forced Lycoming to turn the ball over on downs.  Macaulay added the extra-point for a 28-7 lead.

The Warriors made one last gasp at a comeback on the ensuing drive when Hall hit Withelder for a 65-yard touchdown pass and run.  Schrader made the extra-point to pull Lycoming within 28-14 with 8:35 remaining in the game. 

Moravian, however, quickly regained the momentum when senior wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) returned the ensuing kickoff 55-yards to the Warrior 33-yard line and a 15-yard penalty on Lycoming put the ball at the 18-yard line.  Jacoubs scored from 16 yards out off the left side two plays later. Macaulay added the extra-point for a 35-14 lead with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter. 

Moravian held the ball for 33:38 in the game and ran 71 plays for 362 yards in the game.  Venturino also had 52 yards on five carries to go with his touchdown while sophomore fullback Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School HS) had 32 yards on five carries.

Sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) led the Greyhound defense with eight tackles and a sack while Carasia had six tackles, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery.

The Warriors are at home again next Saturday when they host Juniata College for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Greyhounds travel to Widener University.