WARRIOR FOOTBALL GROUNDS EAGLES

HUNTINGDON, PA – The Lycoming College football team scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and hung on to defeat Juniata College, 28-14, Saturday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference action. The Warriors possessed the ball for more than 12 minutes in the opening period, scoring on each of their first three drives en route to building a 21-0 advantage. The Eagles scored two touchdowns in the second half, but it was not enough. Lycoming improves to 6-1 on the season, while Juniata falls to 2-6.

Phil Mann (Jr./Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain) led the Warrior offense, completing 19-of-33 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. Robert Miller (Sr./New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) added 125 yards rushing on 23 carries, including one score. Ricky Lannetti (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Father Judge) was Lycoming’s top receiver with six catches for 99 yards.

Defensively, Sean McGinley (Sr./Croyden, Pa.; Conwell-Egan) led the Warriors with 10 tackles, including his team leading seventh sack. Luke Sterling (So./Lehighton, Pa.; Lehighton) added nine stops and 1.5 sacks. Matt Greim (Sr./Morton, Pa.; Cardinal O’Hara), Brian Kaspick (Jr./Clearfield, Pa.; Clearfield), and Tim Schmidt (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Roman Catholic) each intercepted a pass for Lycoming.

The Warriors opened the game with an impressive 14-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a seven-yard pass from Mann to Sean Hennigar (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Father Judge) for the touchdown. The key play on the drive was a three-yard run by Miller on a fourth-and-two from the Juniata 10-yard line. Chris Schrader (Fr./Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) added the extra-point to make the score 7-0.

After a three-and-out series by the Eagles, Lycoming marched another 67 yards on 13 plays for their second score of the game. The Warriors converted three third downs on the drive, including a 15-yard screen pass to Miller on a third-and-10. Miller finished the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run. The point-after was blocked leaving Lycoming with a 13-0 advantage.

Juniata again went three-and-out on the ensuing possession. A 33-yard punt return by Lannetti gave the Warriors a first-and-10 from the Eagle 45-yard line. Lycoming wasted no time adding their third touchdown of the quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, Mann found Tim Brown (So./Liverpool, N.Y.; Christian Brothers Acad.) down the sideline for a 40-yard pass play. Freshman Dan Snee (Montrose, Pa.; Montrose) then recorded his first collegiate touchdown, rushing for four yards on first down and diving over the goal line on second down. Mann found Hennigar on an out-pattern for the two-point conversion and a 21-0 lead.

A scoreless second quarter left the lead at three touchdowns at halftime. The Warriors held the Eagles to just 60 yards of total offense and less than 10 minutes of possession in the first half of play.

Lycoming extended their advantage to 28-0 on their first possession of the third quarter. The Warriors went 52 yards on six plays keyed by a 13-yard run by Miller and an 18-yard run by Drew Corsilli (Jr./Manville, Pa.; Manville). Corsilli capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Schrader added the extra-point.

Juniata showed their first signs of an offense on their next possession, moving the ball 67 yards to the Lycoming seven-yard line. The drive ended without a score, however, when Greim intercepted a pass in the endzone for a touchback.

But three plays later, the Eagle defense would put Juniata’s first points on the board. On a third-and-five from the Lycoming 25-yard line, D.J. Dunmire intercepted a Mann pass and raced 32 yards untouched for the defensive touchdown. The point-after made the score 28-7.

The Eagle offense added another touchdown on their final possession of the game. Juniata moved quickly down the field, driving 94 yards on eight plays for the score. Kurt Engle broke a 21-yard run and Jared Lucas caught a 25-yard pass during the drive. Quarterback Micheal Meadows found Allan Barch from six yards out for the touchdown.

The Warriors will return home for their final two games of the regular season, beginning with Widener University on Saturday, November 8. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.