LYCOMING FOOTBALL COMES UP SHORT AT WIDENER

CHESTER, Pa. – The Lycoming College football team traveled to Widener University, Saturday afternoon, for a Middle Atlantic Conference contest. The Warriors’ frustrating season continued as they fell to the Pioneers, 0-7, despite moving the ball inside Widener’s 10-yard line on two occasions. Lycoming drops to 2-7 overall and 2-6 in the MAC. The Pioneers improve to 6-3 and 5-3.

The lone score of the game came in the third quarter. Widener received the ball to open the second half and moved the ball 57 yards on nine plays for a touchdown. Mike Lomas capped the drive with a 15-yard pass to Jon Steever. Frank Vinci added the point-after.

In the first quarter, Vreeland Wood (Fr./Hamburg, Pa.; Hamburg) intercepted a Lomas pass to give the Warriors possession at the Pioneer 40. Phil Mann (Sr./Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain) completed a 15-yard pass to Tim Brown (Jr./Liverpool, N.Y.; Christian Brothers) on a third-and-14, and eventually moved the offense to a first-and-goal from the seven. From there, however, Lycoming was only able to move the ball two yards on three plays. A failed field goal from 22 yards left the game scoreless.

The Warriors also had an opportunity to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. With less than seven minutes to play in the game, Lycoming took over at their own three-yard line. Mann methodically moved the Warriors down the field, finding Ray Withelder (Sr./Aston, Pa.; Sun Valley) for 30 yards on a second-and-10 and then running for 17 yards himself on the very next play. Another completion to Brown, for 19 yards, gave Lycoming a first down on the Widener 14-yard line. Mann rushed for four yards to the ten, but then misfired on two passes to bring up a fourth-and-six with just more then four minutes remaining. Mann’s pass for the endzone was intercepted by Drew Gardner and returned to the Pioneer 46 to seal the game for the home team.

Mann led the Warriors’ with 136 yards passing (13-of-28) and 80 yards rushing on 15 carries. Brown was the leading receiver with five catches for 65 yards. Brandon Traugh (Fr./Catawissa, Pa.; Southern Columbia) ran the ball 21 times for 57 yards.

Widener was led by Lomas with 260 yards and one touchdown on 27-of-40 passing. Jeff Chick was his favorite receiver with eight receptions for 90 yards. Dominic Rock was the Pioneers’ leading rusher with 38 yards on 13 carries.

Defensively, Mike Piotrowicz (Jr./Philadelphia, Pa.; North Catholic) led Lycoming with a game-high 13 tackles. Mike Kozak (Jr./Drexel Hill, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) added nine stops. Ryan Repko (So./Perkiomenville, Pa.; Boyertown) and Wood each intercepted a pass, while Tim Hartingh (Jr./Willow Grove, Pa.; Upper Moreland) and Damien Burton (Jr./Sicklerville, N.J.; Highland Regional) each recovered a fumble. David Berger was Widener’s leading tackler with 10 tackles.

The Warriors will complete their season, next Saturday, when they travel to Susquehanna University.