2006 Preview: Picking Up Where They Left Off
Warriors Ride Five-Game Winning Streak into Season Opener

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. --- It has been almost ten months since David Person field was abuzz with excitement; stands filled watching the blue and gold dispatch of their Selinsgrove neighbors in overtime.  About 300 days have passed without a single tackle, kickoff, or touchdown-induced cannon burst.  Yet if you step inside the confines of Lycoming football's sanctuary, it doesn't take much effort to recall vivid images of a game-winning touchdown scamper, a victory-clinching defensive stand, and a legendary mentor carried off gridiron on the shoulders of his proud players.

The Warrior football team enters the 2006 season riding a season-spanning five-game winning streak capped by a 17-10 overtime victory over Susquehanna University.  The Warriors’ 30^th winning schedule in the last 31 years supplied head coach Frank Girardi with his 250^th career victory, a feat only 17 coaches at any NCAA level have accomplished.

In 34 years at the helm, Girardi has amassed an impressive 250-85-5 overall record, good enough for a .743 winning percentage.  His Warrior teams have won 13 Middle Atlantic Conference titles and made 11 appearances in the NCAA playoffs.  Twice the Girardi-led blue and gold have reached the Stagg Bowl, the Division III championship game, in 1990 and 1997.

Leading the 2006 squad on the gridiron are senior captains Matt Murdock, Greg Silenok, and Glenn Smith.  Murdock, selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference First Team, was tabbed Honorable Mention Preseason All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette.  He will man one of the starting cornerback positions in a secondary that returns all four starters from a season ago as well as serve as the primary punter returner.  Silenok, on the other hand, is the only starter reclaiming his spot in the linebacking corps.  Smith will call the shots from behind center, looking to start his second season in command much like he finished the last.

The Warrior offense looks to be the most balanced it has been in several seasons with only a few question marks yet to be solved by training camp.  Smith showed he could get the job done both in and out of the pocket after throwing for 1,271 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 215 yards and seven more scores.  He was especially dynamic in the Warriors overtime victory over nationally ranked Ithaca College.  Smith completed 24-of-32 passes for 251 yards and two scores while running for a team high 67 yards and two more touchdowns.  Junior Sean Hanna will be the top back up after gaining valuable game experience early in 2005.  The 6-foot 5-inch lefty can throw deep with the best of them, giving the Warriors a dangerous vertical passing threat when he’s behind center.

Senior holdovers Tony Kopp, Jeremy Ebert, and junior Chris Beissel highlight one of the best receiving groups in the conference.  Kopp, having lost much of last season to injury, returns for a fifth campaign in blue and gold looking to reclaim his spot going across the middle and down the seam against opposing defenses.  He caught 28 passes for 332 yards and a trio of scores two seasons ago.  Ebert provides a second set of solid hands on one side after hauling in 22 passes last year.  Beissel is the perfect compliment to his taller classmates after showcasing outstanding speed and quickness on many of his 29 receptions from a season ago.  Sophomores Bill Bulmahn and Ryan Hall add excellent depth to the outside.  Tight ends Bill Margetich and Steve Bilous give the Warriors a tandem of outstanding pass catchers roaming the flat and over the middle.  Both will line up in several different positions in an effort to exploit opposing defenses.

The running game will feature a potent two-headed attack with sophomore Jim Laky and junior Brandon Traugh combining on the effort.  Laky led the squad with 377 yards rushing, using his speed and elusiveness to get to the edge for big gains.  Traugh racked up 302 yards on the ground, using his size and power to burst through the center of the line.  Senior John Seese and sophomore Damien Scicchitano add quality depth to the blue and gold backfield.  Seese turned out an electrifying 176-yard performance against Juniata College last season.

The offensive line returns three starters from last season’s final game led by senior left guard Chris Knipe.  Junior Tom Coyne and sophomore Nathan Schrack will work to retain their right guard and tackle positions, respectively.  Senior Nate Davis, junior Keith Boyer, and sophomore Andy Marino lead a host of strong Warrior linemen looking to grab a spot in the trenches.

The Warrior defense will be led by a completely intact secondary from the conference’s stingiest pass defense from last season (167.2 yards passing allowed per game).  Murdock and junior Vreeland Wood combined for five interceptions and 16 pass breakups from their cornerback positions.  Both have the ability to guard the opposing team’s top receiving option, giving Lycoming the chance to run several different blitzes and stunts along the defensive front.  Patrolling the middle of the gridiron are seniors Tim Mahoney and Ryan Repko.  Mahoney, the strong safety, led the squad in both tackles (61) and interceptions (four) a season ago while Repko (49 tackles, one interception) kept quarterbacks and receivers honest with a hard-hitting presence down the seam as the free safety.

Preseason camp will prove crucial to the Warrior front seven as only two starters return to Lycoming’s 4-3 alignment.  Senior Dave VanNort had an outstanding 2005 campaign at defensive tackle.  Named to D3football.com’s Team of the Week once last season, VanNort made 48 total stops including 10 for a loss with three sacks.  Junior Greg Sago will get a stab at lining up beside VanNort on the interior.  Weighing in at a little more than 300 pounds, Sago could be the run stuffer the Warriors need.  Senior Leonard Loper can play both inside and out, giving the Warriors an experienced option across the line.  Junior Dustin Heintzelman will take on his second position switch in as many seasons, moving to defensive end after switching to linebacker from running back last season.

The only starting linebacker returning to the field, Silenok frequently found himself in the opponent’s backfield from his wide position last season.  He came away with 10 tackles for a loss on the way to 48 overall stops.  The middle and remaining outside linebacker positions will be filled from a young but talented corps of players that includes current “Iron Warrior of the Year” Brian Yaple (12 tackles, five TFL’s), Mike DiPlacido (nine tackles, four TFL’s), Ron James, and several other strong candidates.

Sophomore Mike Monastra returns as the place-kicker after converting 21-of-23 extra points and 2-of-4 field goals last season.  Senior Stephen Deao is the lead candidate to take over the punting chores as well as maintain his kickoff duties.  Murdock will retain his spot as the top punt returner.  Although his average slipped to 5.8 yards per return, Murdock averaged 12.4 yards per chance in 2004 to earn an All-MAC Second Team selection.  Beissel and junior Nate Hanner remain as the two deep men on kickoffs.  The duo combined for 356 yards on 19 returns for an 18.7 average last season.

The Warriors open the 2006 schedule on September 9 at Juniata College.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Knox Stadium.  Last season, the Warriors trounced the Eagles 35-0 in the campaign’s opening contest.  Lycoming came away with 465 yards in total offense including 286 yards via the ground attack.  The blue and gold defense held Juniata to only 120 yards of offense, 36 yards through the air.