WARRIOR FOOTBALL DROPS THIRD STRAIGHT GAME

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College football team hosted Juniata College, Saturday afternoon, for a Middle Atlantic Conference contest. The Eagles forced four second-half turnovers, including an interception for a touchdown, to defeat the Warriors, 14-7, and earn their first victory of the season. Lycoming drops to 2-6 on the season, while Juniata improves to 1-7. The win was also the Eagles’ first win over the Warriors since the 1987 season. The two teams had one tie which came in 1992.

Lycoming’s offense was led by freshman running back Brandon Traugh (Catawissa, Pa.; Southern Columbia) who carried the ball 21 times for 97 yards. David Hall (Sr./Franklin, Pa.; Franklin) took the majority of snaps behind center for the Warriors. He completed 12-of-30 passes for 144 yards, but was intercepted four times. Ray Withelder (Sr./Aston, Pa.; Sun Valley) was the leading receiver with three catches for 49 yards. Tony Kopp (Jr./St. Mary’s, Pa.; St. Mary’s) added three receptions for 48 yards.

Juniata was led by Duane Ehredt Jr. (So./Tyrone, Pa.; Bellwood-Antis) who rushed for 89 yards on 26 carries. Corey Doyle (Fr./Orbinsonia, Pa.; Southern Huntingdon) completed just 8-of-22 passes for 62 yards with three interceptions, but did toss a touchdown pass. Jason Koch (So./Kutztown, Pa. Kutztown) was his leading receiver with three catches for 27 yards, including the touchdown.

Defensively, Tim Hartingh (Jr./Willow Grove, Pa.; Upper Moreland) led Lycoming with 12 tackles, including three sacks. Luke Sterling (Jr./Lehighton, Pa.; Lehighton), Greg Silenok (Jr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Archbishop Ryan), and James Smith (Fr./Williamsport, Pa.; Williamsport) each intercepted a pass for the Warriors.

For the Eagles, Peter Thomas (Jr./Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Mechanicsburg) led the team in tackles with 11. Paul Evans (Sr./Huntingdon, Pa.; Huntingdon) had a tremendous day, intercepting three passes and breaking up a total of six passes, including the game-tying effort as time expired. He also had four solo tackles.

Neither team could break through in the first quarter. Lycoming took the opening kickoff and drove into Juniata territory, but the drive ended with Chris Schrader (So./Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) pushing a 34-yard field goal attempt wide right.

On the ensuing possession, a 40-yard run from Ehredt Jr. brought the ball into Warrior territory for the first time. Lycoming, however, held on a fourth-down attempt to regain possession.

The Eagle defense set-up the first score of the game. Matt Schmidt (Fr./Spring Grove, Pa.; South Western) intercepted a Hall pass and returned to the Warrior 35. Juniata found the endzone seven plays later as Doyle hit Koch for a 3-yard pass on first-and-goal. Dan Heinlein (Jr./Ebensburg, Pa.; Bishop Carroll) added the point after, giving Juniata a 7-0 lead.

Lycoming responded with a solid drive of their own, moving the ball 57 yards on seven plays to setup a first-and-goal from the three-yard line. The Eagles, however, forced the Warriors backwards two yards on four plays to get the ball back for their offense.

The Warriors forced a quick three-and-out, getting the ball back on the Juniata 43-yard line following the punt. Lycoming again moved the ball effectively and picked up a first down at the six-yard line with less than a minute left in the half. But once again the Eagles were able to keep the Warriors off the scoreboard by forcing the ball over on downs and taking a knee to carry their 7-0 advantage into halftime.

Lycoming gained some momentum on Juniata’s first possession of the second half. James Smith intercepted a pass to give the Warriors the ball at the Eagle 39. Hall completed passes to Withelder and Tim Brown (Jr./Liverpool, N.Y.; Christian Brothers Acad.) to move the ball to the one-yard line. He did the rest himself, diving into the endzone for the touchdown. Schrader’s extra point knotted the score at 7-7.

After the two teams exchanged punts, Juniata’s defense came up with its second turnover of the game. Troy Beaver (Jr./Bellwood, Pa.; Bellwood-Antis) picked off Hall in the flat and returned the ball 55 yards for the touchdown. The successful point-after gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead with 4:50 left in the third quarter.

Lycoming put itself in position for a tying drive when Silenok picked off Doyle and returned the ball to the Juniata 37. The Warriors moved the ball to the Eagle 18, but the drive ended when Hall was again intercepted throwing for the endzone on third-and-12.

The Warriors had two more opportunities to mount drives, but one ended in another interception and one ended after a failed fourth-down conversion.

Lycoming had one last gasp after Matt Murdock (So./Elysburg, Pa.; Southern Columbia) broke a 64-yard punt return to bring the ball to the Juniata 24 with just 11 seconds remaining. The Warriors took two shots at the end zone, but both of were broken up to preserve the win for Juniata.

Lycoming travels to Widener University next Saturday, while the Eagles will host King’s College.