Ready to Start Another Streak
2005 Season Preview

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The 2005 Lycoming College football team looks to make amends for a heartbreaking 2004 season that saw one of college sports longest records come to an end.  For the first time since 1974, the Warriors suffered a losing season after finishing 3-7.  But head coach Frank Girardi expects his team to begin a new era of winning football.

“There’s no doubt about it, last year hurt,” mentioned Coach Girardi.  “The number one goal of any team is to win.  As a testament to that, our players worked extremely hard in the off-season hitting the weight room and running.  And we as coaches know we have a lot of talent on this team.  Anytime you have a group like we do returning, you have to feel good.”

Coach Girardi has ample reason to believe that last season was just a fluke.  The Warriors finished the 2004 season with a resounding 35-7 drubbing of Susquehanna University.

“The win at the end of the year (against Susquehanna) helped us because it was so decisive.  And with that said, we expect to win and expect to challenge for a championship this season.  Can I guarantee you a championship?  No, but I’ll tell you this…we’re going to be right in the thick of it this year.”

Coach Girardi has four strong captains in place to add fuel to his optimism about the upcoming season.  Leading on the field will be junior Lucas Baltz, and seniors Mike Kozak, Matt Mangold, and Luke Sterling. 

Baltz, a Second Team All-MAC selection, leads an offensive line that struggled at times last season, but the unit put it all together at the end of the season against Susquehanna as the Warriors rushed for 233 yards providing a strong performance to build from this season.  At 6’4" and 297 pounds, Baltz is an imposing figure for any defensive lineman to battle in the trenches.

Kozak made the switch to defensive tackle last season and really came into his own near the end of the campaign.  He accounted for 29 total tackles (21 solo) and four sacks giving the Warriors a solid combination of run-stopping and pass-rushing from the middle of the line.

Mangold missed the majority of the 2003 season due to injury, but took over the fullback duties when the same misfortune fell upon Dan Snee last season.  Mangold carried the ball only 17 times for 48 yards last year, but his importance as a quality lead-blocker for Lycoming’s tailbacks far outweighs the need for his own rushing output.  He also proved to be an adept outlet option for the Warriors quarterbacks after hauling in nine passes for 35 yards.

Sterling, a 2003 honorable mention All-American, is the heart and soul of the defensive unit.  After shifting between several positions last season, Sterling will lead all efforts from middle linebacker this year.  He led the team in tackles for a second time in 2004, accumulating 53 total stops (36 solo) including four sacks and an interception.

“Last year was disappointing for the ball club and really unfortunate,” explained Sterling.  “But we worked hard in the off-season to make sure last season is left in the past.  We don’t even talk about last year anymore.  As far as we’re concerned, our last season was 2003.  Everybody is taking shots at us this year, thinking we’re out of it.  I’m pretty excited to prove everybody wrong.”

One position everyone seems to be talking about is quarterback, and rightly so when a player like Phil Mann graduates.  But Coach Girardi insists there is nothing to worry about.

“Graduation happens every four years no matter what, so you’ve always got to have somebody ready.  I feel very comfortable with our quarterback situation going into the season.”

Calling out the first cadence of the season will be junior Glenn Smith.  Smith finished last season as the number two quarterback and assumes the starting role this year.  Smith performed well when given the opportunity, completing 31 of 73 passes for 313 yards and three touchdown passes.  He dedicated this off-season to improving every aspect of his game, from footwork and rushing ability to throwing mechanics and defensive recognition.  His work has Coach Girardi feeling good about his new signal caller.

"Going into camp, Glenn is our guy.  I’m looking forward to see what he can do.  I feel very good about him.”

Vying for the backup role this season will be senior David Hall, junior Kevin Crane, sophomore Sean Hanna, and a host of other underclassmen.  In limited time last season, Hall threw for 283 yards and a score.

Running back is a position of great depth for the Warriors in 2005, but a pair of hard-nosed, downhill runners top the depth charts at tailback.  Sophomores Dustin Heintzelman and Brandon Traugh will both see time as the feature back.  Heintzelman, slated to start last season before injury slowed his progress, carried the ball 48 times for 153 yards and a touchdown.  Traugh took over the bulk of the load and finished as the team’s leading rusher.  He racked up 390 yards and one score on 82 carries.  He capped 2004 on a high note, ripping off 145 yards and a 28-yard touchdown run on 18 carries.

Returning to the field in 2005 and joining Mangold at fullback will be junior Snee.  Snee and Mangold provide the running backs with a pair of strong lead blockers willing and able to take on any block to grind out a few extra yards.  Both have had strong camps and look to help improve the consistency of the rushing attack.

Seniors Tim Brown and Tony Kopp headline an exciting group of wide receivers that includes junior Chris Beissel and sophomore Rick Schiccatano.  Brown (6’5") and Kopp (6’2") provide the Warriors with a pair of tall targets that have the ability to dominate cornerbacks in the air, especially in the red zone.  Brown and Kopp both caught 28 passes last year combining for 717 yards and five touchdowns.  Beissel (5’9") and Schiccatano (5’9") make for a very promising pair of quick interior receivers that could prove to be mismatches if defended by linebackers or safeties.

Sophomores Steve Bilous and Bill Margetich open the season as the top two tight ends.  Both have the ability to catch the ball while Margetich (6’3", 225 pounds) has more size for blocking on running situations.

Although the unit struggled at times in 2004, the offensive line returns all five starters from the end of last season for a chance at redemption.  Seniors Jim Crompton and Sean Murphy bookend the line at the tackle positions while guards Baltz, Chris Knipe, and center Dan Mulgrew fill the interior of the line.  This group isn’t without depth as junior Nate Davis and sophomores Tom Coyne, John Johnston, and Greg Sago can step in and perform well across the front.  As a unit, the top nine linemen coming into camp boast a combined average size of 6’2" and 282 pounds.

Once solidified near the middle of the season, the Warriors’ defense started to perform like units of old, holding opponents to just over nine points a game covering the final three contests of 2004.  The play of the defensive front will be crucial to that continued success.  Joining Kozak as leading options in the interior will be junior Dave VanNort and sophomore Uriah Aviles.  VanNort looks to regain his form from two seasons ago in which he registered 14 tackles for a loss including five quarterback sacks.  Aviles recorded five tackles behind the line and a sack last season.

Senior Damien Burton moves to defensive end where he could be a dominating force.  Burton made 28 tackles (21 solo) last season and recovered two fumbles spending the majority of his time at defensive tackle.  The leading candidates to join him on the outside are junior Leonard Loper and sophomore Rob Girling.

Sterling’s move to middle linebacker improves an already strong unit.  Battling for time on the strong side are sophomore Ryan Yaple and senior Greg Silenok.  Silenok accumulated 21 tackles (10 solo) and one interception last season.  The weak side position will be manned by senior Kevin LeSage.  LeSage finished fifth on the team in tackles with 44 (26 solo) and added one interception and a fumble recovery.

The secondary will again be a strength for the Warriors in 2005.  Junior Matt Murdock and sophomore Vreeland Wood are slated to start at cornerback with sophomore Jim Smith not far behind as the third corner.  Murdock, Second Team All-MAC as a return special last year, was fourth on the team with 45 tackles (36 solo) and added a pair of interceptions.  Wood, a running back coming into camp last season, intercepted one pass, recovered a fumble, and recorded five passes defended in 2004.  Smith, possibly the best all-around athlete on the squad, made 23 tackles (16 solo) including one sack and intercepted two passes.

Juniors Ryan Repko and Tim Mahoney will be the starting safeties coming out of camp.  Repko intercepted two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles in addition to his 37 total tackles (24 solo) last season.  Mahoney contributed nine tackles (seven solo) a year ago.  Sophomores Don Burton and Nate Hanner provide solid backup options when needed.

Both punting and kicking jobs are up for grabs in camp.  Junior Stephen Deao and freshman Mike Monastra lead the battle for first string place-kicker while Deao and senior Tim Eskridge compete for primary punting duties.  Murdock is the incumbent return specialist after averaging 19.8 yards per kickoff return and 12.4 yards per punt return in 2004.

Lycoming enjoys a ten game regular season schedule for the second time in as many years opening the 2005 campaign against Juniata College on Saturday, September 10, at David Person Field.