WARRIORS DECISIVE WINNERS IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

HUNTINGDON, PA – The Lycoming College football team closed out their regular season with a decisive 42-14 win over Juniata College Saturday afternoon. The victory came in Head Coach Frank Girardi’s 300^th career game and kept the Warriors’ hopes alive for a bid to the NCAA playoffs.

The Eagles had “upset” on their minds early, scoring the first two touchdowns of the game to jump out to 14-0 lead. Freshman quarterback Greg Troutman connected with Nate Leach from six yards out and Josh Chubb from seven yards out for the two scores.

On the kickoff following their second touchdown, Juniata tried to catch Lycoming off guard with an on-sides kick. The plan backfired, however, when the ball went harmlessly out of bounds at the Eagles’ 45-yard line. The Warriors took advantage of the momentum shift and marched 45 yards in six plays for their first score. Tim Deasey (Sr./Norwood, PA; Interboro) capped the drive with a 12-yard run for the touchdown.

Jon Neve (Jr./Norristown, PA; Germantown Academy) tied the game at 14 on the Warriors’ next possession with a two-yard run to paydirt. Lycoming’s second drive covered 80 yards on 14 plays.

The Warriors took complete control in the second half holding Juniata to 90 yards of offense while scoring four touchdowns of their own. Deasey tallied all five scores in the second half to break the Lycoming record for rushing touchdowns in a game.

Deasey also tied the record for carries in a game, rushing the ball 39 times for 242 yards in the contest. He now holds Warrior rushing records for yards in a single game (253), yards in a single season (1,247), and career yards (2,868). Neve added 56 yards on eight carries in the game.

Joe Feerrar (Sr./Jersey Shore, PA; Jersey Shore) completed 16-of-30 passes for 163 yards. Sean Hennigar (So./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) caught four of those passes for 29 yards. Chris Dauber (Sr./Jersey Shore, PA; Jersey Shore) hauled in two passes for 33 yards.

Defensively, Ryan Rupprecht (Sr./Southampton, PA; Archbishop Wood) led the Warriors with seven tackles and a pass break up.

Lycoming finishes the 2001 regular season with a mark of 8-1 – the program’s 27^th consecutive winning campaign. The Warriors are hoping to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The playoff field of 28 teams will be announced starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. Word on whether or not Lycoming has been selected for the playoffs will be added to the Warrior Sports Hotline at 570-321-4188 or will be able to be found online at www.lycoming.edu/sports.