Lycoming Overpowers FDU-Florham 23-14                Smith to Kopp Spells the Difference

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.-- Lycoming (3-1) rallied from a 14-3 deficit to defeat FDU-Florham (0-4) 23-14 on a drizzly Saturday afternoon at David Person Field. Dodging two early bullets, the Warriors grew stronger as the game wore on and overcame the Devils with outstanding passing and the big leg of kicker Mike Monastra (Havertown, Pa.).

Lycoming took the opening kickoff and immediately flashed its weaponry. Quarterback Glenn Smith (Watsontown, Pa.) unleashed a 45-yard completion to senior receiver Jeremy Ebert (Hawley, Pa.) on the first play from scrimmage. Five plays and a penalty later, the Warriors settled for a 22-yard Monastra field goal.

FDU-Florham answered with a 65-yard kickoff return by Brandon Matano which set up an Adam LaValley rushing touchdown. On Lycoming’s next possession, the Devils blocked Stephen Deao’s (Houtzdale, Pa.) punt and recovered the pigskin just 12 yards from the Warrior’s goal line. However, Lycoming’s Vreeland Wood (Hamburg, Pa.) fell on an FDU fumble at the four yard line. This was the first of four FDU fumbles on a wet afternoon in Williamsport.

After a Deao punt, FDU again charged into the red zone, but again coughed up the football at the Lycoming two yard line. The fumble was recovered by the Warriors’ Tim Mahoney (Southampton, Pa.) in the end zone for a touchback. The Devils eventually scored on their next series when quarterback Dan Huff ran five yards for a touchdown, just 56 seconds into the second quarter.

Eight minutes before halftime, Glenn Smith connected with his favorite target, wide receiver Tony Kopp (Saint Mary’s, Pa.), on a 64-yard touchdown pass that revved up the home crowd and started Lycoming’s 20 point scoring run. Just before the half, Smith ran 12 yards for another touchdown to put the Warriors up 17-14 at the break.

On their first possession of the second half, the Warriors put Monastra in range for a 24-yard field goal. But it was Monastra’s 43-yard kick with nine minutes left in the game that put Lycoming up by two scores, a deficit which FDU-Florham could not lessen.

Glenn Smith logged another solid game, passing for 218 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 47 yards and another touchdown. But it was senior Tony Kopp whose numbers were truly remarkable. Kopp had six catches on the day for 122 yards and a touchdown. Kopp was nominated for MAC Player of the Week along with Mike Monastra, whose 11 point day was capped by a career-long field goal.

The Warriors travel to Wilkes next Saturday, October 7, for a 1:00 start. Lycoming then returns to David Person Field on October 21 for a Homecoming match up versus Lebanon Valley.