LYCOMING FOOTBALL DOMINATES LEBANON VALLEY IN SEASON OPENER

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Most questions surrounding the 2001 version of the Lycoming College football team were centered around a defense that returned just three starters from last season. Those questions were answered on Saturday afternoon, when the Warriors’ defense held Lebanon Valley to just 12 yards of total offense en route to a 40-0 opening day shutout. Lycoming’s offense proved their merit as well, piling up 546 yards of total offense and scoring six touchdowns.

Tim Deasey (Sr./Norwood, PA; Interboro) led the way for the Warrior offense, rushing for a single-season school record of 253 yards on 34 carries. Jon Neve (Jr./Norristown, PA; Germantown Academy) added 61 yards on 14 carries, and Jared Morris (Jr./Canton, PA; Canton) chipped in 57 yards on five rushes, as Lycoming totaled 381 yards of offense on the ground. Joe Feerrar (Sr./Jersey Shore, PA; Jersey Shore) went 12-for-25 on the day with touchdown tosses to Tom Zulkowski (Sr./Frackville, PA; Cardinal Brennan) and Chris Dauber (Sr./Jersey Shore, PA; Jersey Shore).

Despite fumbling the ball inside the Dutchmen’s five-yard line on their second possession, Lycoming drew first blood late in the first quarter when Feerrar found Zulkowski in the back of the endzone from 10 yards out. The three-play, 10-yard drive was set up by a 25-yard punt return by Ricky Lannetti (So./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge).

The Warriors added to their advantage midway though the second quarter. Matt Henrich (Jr./Huntingdon, PA; Huntingdon) intercepted Roger Poorman at the Lycoming 46-yard line with 8:25 to play in the first half. Just five plays and two-and-a-half minutes later, Neve took the ball across the goal-line from two yards out. Brian Tonkin’s (Fr./Carbondale, PA; Carbondale) point after made the score 14-0.

The Warriors threatened to score again just before the half, but Feerrar was picked off in the endzone by Dutchmen cornerback Brian Oberdick.

The second half began much like the first, with Lycoming turning the ball over in the red-zone early in the quarter, only to have the Warrior defense get the ball back with good field position and eventually score. Oberdick stripped the ball from Jon Neve, giving Lebanon Valley the ball at their own four. Three plays later, a 23-yard punt gave Lycoming possession at the Dutchmen 29-yard line. The Warrior offense then used seven plays and nearly four minutes off the clock before Neve plowed into the endzone for his second score of the afternoon.

In the fourth quarter, Lycoming added to their lead with touchdowns by Dauber and Morris. Dauber scored on a 10 –yard pass from Feerrar, following a fumble by Lebanon Valley. Morris scored on runs of 11 and 40 yards. But the highlight of the final period came when Deasey broke a run for 46 yards to break Lycoming’s single-game rushing record.

Defensively Ryan Rupprecht (Sr./Southampton, PA; Archbishop Wood) led the Warriors with seven tackles including four behind the line of scrimmage. Chris Roantree (Jr./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) added six tackles, including one sack. Henrich led the secondary with an interception, four pass breakups and two tackles.

Oberdick was the Dutchmen’s top performer, making 13 tackles, forcing two fumbles and recording one interception. Pat Clarke added 11 stops, and Brian Andrewsky and Malou McIntire each tallied 10 tackles. Steve Roberts led Lebanon Valley’s offense with 24 yards on 13 carries.

For the game Lycoming had 31 first downs to the Dutchmen’s three. The Warriors possessed the ball for 37:19 to Lebanon Valley’s 22:41. Lycoming turned the ball over four times inside the Dutchmen 20-yard line. This was the Warriors’ 19^th straight win over Lebanon Valley, bringing the series record to 19-0.

Lycoming will be on the road next weekend, when they travel to Susquehanna University for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.