Williamsport, Pa. – Big plays, an explosive ground game, and a dominating defensive performance helped the Warriors pass its first test of the season and avenge last season’s defeat with a 35-0 whitewashing of Juniata College on Saturday afternoon.

Junior tailback John Seese (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) was absolutely outstanding as he burned the Eagles for 176 yards rushing including 59-yard touchdown jog in the second quarter.  But his performance was only a portion, albeit a big one, of the 286 yards gained on the ground by Lycoming.

The Warriors defense was equally impressive in holding the Eagles to only 120 total yards of offense and forcing five turnovers including four interceptions.

After finishing last season at 3-7, the first losing season in 30 years of blue and gold football, the Warriors felt they had something to prove to not only the media and their critics, but themselves.  A quick start would go a long way to helping that effort.

Almost seemingly on cue, Lycoming marched 62-yards on 10 plays on the game’s opening drive, capping it off with a seven-yard touchdown strike from Glenn Smith (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) to receiver Tony Kopp (St. Mary’s, Pa./St. Mary’s).

After missing a field goal on its third possession, Lycoming’s defense retrieved possession on the ensuing drive as linebacker Kevin LeSage (Darby, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) intercepted Juniata quarterback Jay Leonard.  Leonard would be responsible for all four passing miscues on the afternoon.

Fullback and captain Matt Mangold (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) made good use of the turnover, improving Lycoming’s margin to 14-0 with a three-yard plunge nine plays later.

As well as the Warrior’s played, they were hardly error-free.  Smith was intercepted four times and tailback Dustin Heintzelman (Herndon, Pa./Line Mountain) coughed up the ball once.  Smith threw two of his interceptions in the second, but midway through the stanza after the first of the throwing mistakes, cornerback Jim Smith (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) needed only two plays to regain control for the offense with an interception of his own setting up Seese’s 59-yard scamper to pay-dirt.

Glenn Smith made up for his earlier mistake in his next possession.  The fleet-footed thrower rolled to his right and found receiver Tim Brown (Liverpool, N.Y./Christian Brothers) behind the Eagles’ secondary for a 60-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

Defense and miscues governed the second thirty minutes of play.  Smith was intercepted twice and Leonard once in the third quarter.

Sophomore backup quarterback Sean Hanna (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) gave the Warrior faithful one more reason to cheer before the final whistle as he connected with receiver Richie Schiccatano (Paxinos, Pa./Shamokin) on a perfect 45-yard bomb to secure victory for Lycoming 35-0.

The Warriors are next in action on Saturday, September 17, as they hit the road for a 1:00 p.m. showdown with Widener University.  The game will be broadcast on WRAK 1400 featuring Ken Sawyer on play-by-play and Bill Byham with color commentary.  You can also catch the Warriors on the Internet from the Warrior football homepage (www.lycoming.edu/sports) via the MSA Sports Network (www.msasportsnetwork.com).

If you missed today’s action, the game will be replayed on Suscom Channel 2 on Sunday, September 11, at approximately 12:30 p.m. (start time depends on finish of earlier programming) and on Wednesday, September 14, at 8:00 p.m.