Lycoming Loses Shootout at Home                             Albright Prevails in Back-and-Forth Battle

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.—On a sunny, but brisk, Senior Day, the Warriors (3-5) lost a 42-35 shootout to Albright (2-6). It was first time the Lions have beaten Lycoming in Williamsport since 1977.

Like a classic heavyweight battle, the two teams traded punches the entire game. After a few failed shots, Albright drew first blood on a 51-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tanner Kelly. Kelly, known as a passer, threw for 335 yards and rushed for 82 yards on the day.

Lycoming answered on the next possession with a touchdown drive that included a 35-yard pass from Glenn Smith (Watsontown, PA) to Tony Kopp (Saint Mary’s, PA). Then, less than a minute into the second quarter, senior John Seese (Stroudsburg, PA) rambled into the end zone on a 6-yard run.

Albright wasted no time, grinding out a ten play drive, resulting in a 7-yard Kelly touchdown pass. But the Warriors came right back, mounting their own ten play drive. At the Albright 26 yard line, Lycoming tried a trick play, throwing a lateral pass to Kopp, who then passed upfield for freshman burner Brad Shellenberger (Lock Haven, PA). The pass sailed incomplete, but a pass interference call put the Warriors at the 15 yard line. On the next play, Smith found Jeremy Ebert (Hawley, PA) in the end zone, tying the score 14-14.

In the second half, Albright went back to its methodical ways with another ten play drive that ended with Keith Allen catching a short pass for six points. Again, Lycoming fought back, moving the ball 80 yards for another Seese touchdown run. 

Apparently, Lions kick returner Nate Romig couldn’t wait ten plays for another touchdown, because he ran the ensuing kickoff back 96 yards for an instant score. The Warriors were momentarily stunned and quickly punted the ball back to Albright.

Kelly then led the Lions 68 yards to paydirt again, but kicker Ryan Juisti missed the extra point, keeping the lead within two scores. On the subsequent Lycoming possession, Glenn Smith found Shellenberger in the middle of the field. The speedy receiver put on a nice move and outran several defenders on his way to the end zone. The third quarter expired with the Warriors behind by six points.

Lycoming’s defense tightened in the fourth quarter, forcing consecutive Albright punts. Unfortunately, consecutive Warrior turnovers kept the score the same. Then, after a third Lycoming turnover was erased by a pass interference call, Shellenberger took it to the house for the second time on an 8-yard end around. After the Mike Monastra’s (Havertown, PA) extra point, the Warriors held the lead 35-34 with 58 seconds left in the game.

But Kelly showed true grit by leading the Lions 74 yards in less than 40 seconds. Three completions, a 12-yard penalty and a 5-yard Vincent Andrews touchdown run delivered the knockout punch. A Kelly pass for a two-point conversion ended the scoring on a day that saw both teams combine for 917 total yards.

Lycoming closes their season next weekend at Susquehanna. Kickoff is set for 1:30 on Saturday, November 11.