Williamsport, Pa. – The “mystique” of Lycoming football returned to the sidelines of David Person Field on Saturday afternoon as the Warriors put together an outstanding team effort to upend nationally ranked Ithaca College 33-30 in overtime.  The victory improves Lycoming’s record to 2-4 on the season while the Bombers fall to 5-1.

Lycoming quarterback Glenn Smith (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) scored the winning touchdown on a nine-yard scamper on the Warriors’ first overtime possession after the defense had previously forced Ithaca to settle for a field goal during its overtime drive.  The overtime win marks only the second time the Warriors have won a game in an extra period with its other victory coming against East Texas Baptist in the 2003 NCAA playoffs.

Smith had his second straight impressive outing for the Warriors.  He completed 24 of 32 passes for 251 yards and pair of scores.  The junior signal-caller was equally if not more dangerous running the football.  Throughout the contest, Smith proved an enigma for the Bombers with impressive runs from a shotgun formation.  For the game, he ran 17 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

Lycoming and Ithaca combined for 827 yards of total offense and 48 first downs as both offenses were equally explosive and efficient.  Bombers' quarterback Josh Felicetti was nearly as good as Smith with 23 completions in just as many attempts for 289 yards and two touchdowns.  He did throw one interception.

Although the offensive numbers are quite gaudy, Lycoming’s defense proved its mettle in holding Ithaca well below its 44.2 points per game average.  Defensive tackle Dave VanNort (Montrose, Pa./Montrose) and end Zachary Rupp (Dalmatia, Pa./Line Mountain) had monstrous afternoons in the trenches.  VanNort registered 14 total tackles (three for a loss) and a pair of quarterback sack assists to go along with a critical forced fumble late in the game.  Rupp was continually in Felicetti’s facemask as he had a hand in all four Lycoming sacks (two solo, two assists).  He finished with five total tackles with four coming behind the line of scrimmage.

Ithaca shed a dark cloud over Person Field in the early going when running back Alex Baez capped-off a nine-play, 81-yard opening drive with a seven-yard run to give the Bombers a 7-0 lead.

Ithaca nearly followed suit on its second drive, but Lycoming’s defense had other thoughts inside the red zone.  Felicetti sent a lofted pass into the corner of the end zone in search of a second score, but safety Tim Mahoney (South Hampton, Pa./Williams Tennent) was the only one in its path as he intercepted the ball for a touchback.

The Bombers committed a second turnover in the red zone on its first drive of the second quarter.  Running back James Davis seemed was a yard away from giving Ithaca a 14-0 lead when he lost control of the ball.  The fumbled continued into the end zone and out of bounds for a change of possession and touchback for the Warriors.

Lycoming evened the score with 0:44 remaining in the half when Smith connected with running back Jim Laky (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) for a six-yard score.  Laky, making his first start of the season, had quite a productive day.  The freshman tailback carried the ball 17 times for 66 yards and touchdown, and also caught six passes for 25 yards and a score.

Special teams’ mistakes nearly cost Lycoming the game as the Bombers turned two of the miscues into 10 points.  A short squib kick on the kickoff following Laky’s touchdown run gave Ithaca possession starting at its 43-yard line with 0:39 left in the half.  The Bombers moved quickly into field goal range and converted a 27-yard kick off the right boot of Brett Kitenplon as time expired to go into the intermission up 10-7.

It was the first of three field goals on the day for Kitenplon.

The kicking game bit the Warriors again at the start of the third quarter when a muffed punt gave Ithaca the ball at the Lycoming 40-yard line.  Eight plays later, Felicetti connected with flanker Jeff O’Hara for a five-yard touchdown pass for a 17-7 lead.

Lycoming cut the advantage to three points just before the end of the quarter on Smith’s second touchdown pass.  Smith found receiver Chris Beissel (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) completely uncovered on the far sideline for a 35-yard scoring strike.  Beissel had a huge day for the Warriors finishing with nine catches for 126 yards, both game highs.

After a Kitenplon 20-yard kick increased Ithaca’s lead to 20-14, Felicetti collected his second touchdown pass, this one of 11 yards to Davis.

Smith brought the Warriors to within six points at 27-21 with an eight yard run with 6:46 left in the regulation.

Lycoming’s defense recorded its third takeaway of the game on the Ithaca’s next drive when VanNort stripped Davis and cornerback Matt Murdock (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) covered up the pigskin at the Lycoming 42-yard line.

Laky intensified the sting of the turnover when he sprinted 19 yards and flipped head-over-heels over a Bomber defender to tie the score at 27-27.  The point-after attempt sailed wide left to force overtime.

Kitenplon added his third field goal, a 28-yarder, when Lycoming stopped the Bombers on their only overtime possession.  Smith followed with his game-winning run to give Lycoming a 33-30 victory.

Lycoming is next in action on Saturday, October 22, at Lebanon Valley College.  Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Henry and Gladys Arnold Field.