LYCOMING FOOTBALL DEFEATS FDU-FLORHAM
 

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College football team hosted FDU-Florham, Saturday afternoon, for a Middle Atlantic Conference match-up. The Warriors scored in every period and held the Devils to just one touchdown en route to a 31-7 victory. Lycoming improves to 2-3 overall and 2-2 within the conference. FDU falls to 2-3 and 2-3.

The Warriors were led on offense by Phil Mann (Sr./Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain) who completed 10-of-18 passes for 180 yards, while also running for 32 yards and a touchdown. Mann left the game in the third quarter with an injury and did not return. Ray Withelder (Sr./Aston, Pa.; Sun Valley) was Lycoming’s leading receiver with 83 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Dustin Heintzelman (Fr./Herndon, Pa.; Line Mountain) led the ground attack with 20 carries for 72 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Brian Kaspick (Sr./Clearfield, Pa.; Clearfield) recorded a team-high nine tackles for the Warriors, while also intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble. Mike Piotrowicz (Jr./Philadelphia, Pa.; North Catholic) and Jim Smith (Fr./Williamsport, Pa.; Williamsport) also intercepted passes for Lycoming. Smith returned his 16 yards for the final touchdown of the game.

Dan Huff (So./Sayreville, N.J.; Sayreville War Memorial) orchestrated the Devils’ offense, completing 13-of-31 passes for 131 yards and the team’s lone touchdown. He also gained 31 yards on the ground. Louis Smith (Fr./North Plainfield, N.J.; North Plainfield) led the rushing attack with 56 yards on 19 attempts. Stacey Daniels (Fr./Bogota, N.J.; New Haven) was FDU’s leading receiver with three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Matt DeNardo (Sr./Toms River, N.J.; Monsignor Donovan) led the Devils with 10 tackles.

The Warriors scored on their first possession of the game after receiving the ball on FDU’s 41-yardline thanks to an interception by Kaspick. Mann found Tim Brown (Jr./Liverpool, N.Y.; Christian Brothers) on the very first play for a 40-yard pass-and-catch that set up a first-and-goal from the one. Three plays later, Mann took it over the goal line himself on a boot-leg to the right. Chris Schrader (So./Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) added the extra point for a 7-0 Lycoming lead.

Schrader added the team’s next points, as well, connecting on a season-long 42-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The field goal capped a 15-play drive that took 6:25 off the game clock.

The home team scored once more before the half to carry a 17-0 advantage into intermission. Starting on their own 32, the Warriors rode Heintzelman for four consecutive plays and the freshman responded by gaining 25 yards and a pair of first downs. Facing a third-and-four from the FDU 37, Mann found Tony Kopp (Jr./St. Mary’s, Pa.; St. Mary’s) down the sideline for a 34-yard pickup and another first-and-goal from the Devils’ three-yard line. Heintzelman got the call to finish the drive he started and pounded the ball into the endzone for his first collegiate touchdown.

In the third quarter, Lycoming received some help from the FDU punt team when a bobbled snap led to a one-yard rush on fourth-and-13, giving the Warriors the ball just 20 yards from the endzone. Lycoming wasted no time capitalizing as sophomore Glenn Smith (Watsontown, Pa.; Warrior Run) – under center in place of an injured Mann – found Withelder on a deep slant for a touchdown on the first play of the drive. The touchdown pass was the first of Smith’s collegiate career. The point-after pushed the Devils’ deficit to 24-0.

FDU spoiled the shutout two possessions later. Starting at their own 43 after recovering a fumble on a punt return by the Warriors, the Devils went 57 yards in five plays for their only score of the game. The drive was keyed by a 26-yard completion from Huff to Daniels and capped by a 19-yard hookup, again from Huff to Daniels for the touchdown.   

Lycoming’s defense fittingly added the final score of the contest early in the fourth quarter. Facing a second-and-nine from their own 12 yard line, FDU dropped back to pass but Huff was intercepted by Jim Smith who sprinted into the endzone from 16 yards out.

The Warriors return to the road next week as they travel to Delaware Valley College for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Devils will travel to Moravian College also for a 1 p.m. kickoff.