LYCOMING FOOTBALL SHUTOUT BY WIDENER

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Lycoming College suffered their first regular-season shutout since 1994 on Saturday when Widener University defeated the Warriors 35-0. The Pioneer offense possessed the ball for more than 36 minutes in the game, while their defense held Lycoming to a total of 176 yards of offense.

Tim Deasey (Sr./Norwood, PA; Interboro) led the Warriors with 77 yards rushing on 17 carries. Ryan Rupprecht (Sr./Southampton, PA; Archbishop Wood) led all defenders with 14 tackles, including one sack for a loss of 13 yards.

Widener ran the ball for 256 yards on the afternoon. Austin Martin led the attack with 66 yards on 14 carries and a pair of scores. Jim Jones added 50 yards on five carries; and Michael Gandy and Mike Ambrose each tallied 47 yards on the ground. Quarterback Mike Warker threw for 147 yards on 13-of-26 passing with one touchdown and one interception.

The Pioneers built a 14-0 lead early in the first half on two touchdown runs by Martin. His first score came midway through the opening period to cap a 62-yard, 14-play drive. His second score completed a 44-yard, 6-play drive with 13:51 to play in the second quarter.

Widener dealt Lycoming a fatal blow just before the half, when T.J. Hess picked off a Joe Feerrar pass attempt and scampered 34 yards to the endzone to give his team a three touchdown cushion.

The Warriors almost got back into the game at the start of the second half. After holding the Pioneers to a three-and-out on their first possession of the half, Ricky Lannetti (So./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) returned the ensuing punt 42 yards to the Widener 32-yardline. The Pioneer defense, however, came up with a huge stop on 4^th-and-3 at the 13 to end the threat and shift the momentum back their way.

Widener went on to score twice in the second half on a tired Lycoming defense. Ambrose caught a 14-yard pass from Warker early in the fourth quarter to put the Pioneers ahead 28-0. Jones finished the scoring with an 18-yard run around end with 7:21 to play in the game. Paul Ragan’s fifth extra point of the afternoon made the final 35-0.

Widener out-rushed the Warriors 256 yards to 64 yards. They held control of the ball for 36:17 to Lycoming’s 23:43.

The Warriors fall to 3-1 with the loss. The Pioneers remain unbeaten at 4-0. Lycoming travels to FDU-Madison next weekend, while Widener will travel to Susquehanna.