LYCOMING FOOTBALL BOWS TO WILKES

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College football team dropped their third game of the season, Saturday afternoon, falling to Wilkes University, 23-14. The Colonels dominated the line-of-scrimmage on both sides of the ball, rushing for 265 yards while holding the Warriors to just 62 yards on the ground. Wilkes improves to 5-3 overall and 4-3 within the MAC with the win. Lycoming drops to 5-3 with the loss.

The Colonels, without the services of their leading rusher, Brett Trichilo (So./Dunmore, PA; Dunmore), were led by the two-headed backfield of Maleek Mills (So./Elkins Park, PA; Abington) and Kyle Gallagher (So./Coopersburg, PA; Southern Lehigh). Mills carried the ball 12 times for 97 yards, while Gallagher rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries. Both backs scored a touchdown for Wilkes. Quarterback Matt Kaskie (So./Paxinos, PA; Southern Columbia) added 51 yards on the ground while completing 6-of-12 passes for 130 yards.

The Warriors were led offensively by sophomore quarterback Phil Mann (Mill Hall, PA; Central Columbia) who completed 18-of-30 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the rushing attack with 31 yards on six attempts. Ricky Lannetti (Jr./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) led the receivers with eight catches for 85 yards. Ray Withelder (Jr./Aston, PA; Sun Valley) added four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Lycoming was led by Matt Henrich (Sr./Huntingdon, PA; Huntingdon) with a game-high 13 tackles. Luke Sterling (Fr./Lehighton, PA; Lehighton) added nine stops and Zach Latsha (Sr./Sunbury, PA; Line Mountain) chipped in eight. Mike DaRe (Sr./Mifflinburg, PA; Central Columbia) led the Colonels defense with eight tackles and an interception that sealed the game. Kris Fayock (Jr./Bloomsburg, PA; Central Columbia) added seven stops for Wilkes.

The Colonels dominated the play in the opening quarter, possessing the ball for 11 minutes, but were unable to score on two trips inside the redzone. They finally put the first points of the game on the board early in the second quarter when Will McLaughlin (Sr./Liverpool, NY; Wyoming Seminary) connected for a 34-yard field goal. The play capped a seven-play, 41-yard drive.

Two possessions later, Wilkes stretched their lead to 10-0 mounting a 70-yard drive in just four plays. The key play came on third-and-13 from the Colonels 27-yard line when Kaskie rolled to his right to avoid the rush and found Tony Verbitsky (Fr./Auburn, PA; Blue Mountain) downfield for a 68-yard completion. Gallagher carried the ball into the endzone from five yards out on the next play.

Wilkes would score on their next possession as well. On a third-and-seven from near midfield, Mills broke a 54-yard touchdown run on a draw play to put the Colonels ahead 17-0 with just 53 seconds to play in the half.

The Warriors went to the air in the second half and quickly found success to get back in the game. Starting at their own 33-yardline, Lycoming picked up a pair of first down to move the ball into Wilkes territory. Mann then hooked up with Withelder for a 47-yard touchdown on a play-action pass. Dave Christensen’s (Sr./Yardley, PA; Pennsbury) point after made the score 17-7 with 11:46 to play in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, Brian Kaspick (So./Clearfield, PA; Clearfield) intercepted a Kaskie pass on the Colonels’ first play from scrimmage. Mann wasted no time moving the Warrior offense again, completing three consecutive passes to set up a second-and-eight from the Wilkes’ 42. He then found Jon Neve (Sr./Norristown, PA; Germantown Academy) on a swing pass that ended up going 42 yards for a touchdown. The successful extra point pulled Lycoming within three at 17-14.

The Colonels, however, answered the Warriors’ comeback attempt with an impressive 19-play, 77-yard drive that ate up 9:49 off the game clock. The drive ended in a 24-yard field goal by McLaughlin that stretched Wilkes’ lead to 20-14.

Lycoming moved the ball again on their next possession driving 42 yards to the Colonel 20-yardline. The drive included two third-down conversions and a fourth-down conversion, but the Wilkes defense held their ground at the 20 regaining possession when a Mann fourth-down pass was batted down by DaRe.

The Warrior defense forced the Colonels to punt  and gave the offense one more chance, starting on their own 38-yardline. But on their first play, Mann’s pass intended for Lannetti was intercepted at the Lycoming 43. Six plays later, McLaughlin connected on a career-long 45-yard field goal that sealed the Colonels first victory over the Warriors since 1994.

Lycoming will play their final game of the 2002 campaign on Saturday, November 16, when they host Juniata College. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.