WARRIOR FOOTBALL DEFEATS MORAVIAN

BETHLEHEM, PA – The Lycoming College football team picked up a 26-14 victory over Moravian College, Saturday afternoon, in Middle Atlantic Conference action. Phil Mann (Jr./Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain) led the Warriors with 315 yards of total offense, while Lycoming’s defense limited the Greyhounds to just 132 yards of offense. The Warriors improve to 5-1 both overall and in the conference. Moravian falls to 3-4 and 3-4.

Lycoming carried a 12-0 lead into halftime and withstood a third-quarter rally by the Greyhounds to hold on for the two-score victory. Mann completed 20-of-33 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown, while also running for 50 yards and a score on 13 carries. Ricky Lannetti (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Father Judge) led all receivers with seven catches for 172 yards. Sean Hennigar (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Father Judge) added six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Drew Corsilli (Jr./Manville, N.J.; Manville) and Robert Miller (Sr./New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) each added rushing touchdowns for the Warriors. Corsilli carried the ball 16 times for 48 yards, and Miller toted the rock 17 times for 44 yards.

Lycoming’s defense turned in a dominating performance led by Tim Schmidt (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Roman Catholic) with seven tackles and Garrett Zoschg (Sr./Emporium, Pa.; Cameron County) with five tackles, including two sacks. The Warriors secondary held the Greyhounds to just 31 yards passing as sophomore quarterback Jerry Venturino completed only four passes in 22 attempts. He was also picked off twice by Lycoming freshman Matt Murdock (Elysburg, Pa.; Southern Columbia).

Following a scoreless first quarter, the Warriors opened the scoring on their first possession of the second period. Lycoming went 79 yards on eight plays capped by a two-yard run by Miller on an option play. The key play of the drive was a 62-yard pass from Mann to Lannetti. The extra-point attempt sailed wide left, leaving the Warriors with a 6-0 advantage.

Lycoming appeared to be in business again when Murdock intercepted a Venturino pass and returned it 12 yards to the Moravian 22. A penalty on the Greyhounds advanced the ball to the nine, giving the Warriors a 1^st-and-goal. Lycoming, however, went backwards when Mann was sacked on third-down. The hold on the ensuing field goal attempt was bobbled and the Warriors gave the ball up on downs as Chris Schrader (Fr./Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) was unable to run for the first down.

Lycoming finally was able to extend their lead on their next possession, marching 72 yards on 14 plays for their second touchdown. The drive culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Mann to Hennigar. Mann’s rush attempt for the two-point conversion came up inches short keeping the score at 12-0.

Moravian attempted to cut into the deficit prior to the half, but Murdock’s second interception of the game ended the threat in the Warriors’ endzone.

Lycoming appeared to take total control of the ballgame on their first possession of the second half. The Warriors turned to their running game and powered their way through a 54-yard drive that consisted of seven rushes and one pass. Mann capped the drive himself scoring from 15 yards out on a bootleg call on fourth-down-and-two. Schrader’s point-after extended the visitors’ lead to 19-0 with 9:51 to play in the third quarter.

The Greyhounds, however, needed just 15 seconds to answer with their first score of the contest. Tyler Chomik gathered in Lycoming’s kickoff at the four-yard line and raced 96 yards up the sideline for the touchdown. Josh Miller extra point closed the gap to 19-7.

Moravian kept the momentum by forcing the Warriors to go three-and-out on their next possession. A 19-yard return on the ensuing punt gave the Greyhounds great field position at Lycoming’s 45. Aided by a personal foul call against the Warriors, Moravian needed just four plays to find the endzone again and cut Lycoming’s lead to 19-14.

The momentum seemed to shift back in the Warriors favor as the Greyhounds fumbled a punt following Lycoming’s next possession, giving the Warriors the ball at the Moravian 35. Lycoming, however, gave the ball right back on a fumble of their own on second-and-five. The Greyhounds could not capitalize, however, going three and out and punting back to the Warriors.

Starting from their own 16, Lycoming mounted another long drive to put the game out of reach. A pair of first downs moved the ball out to the 39-yard line, where Mann decided to go for the homerun. On first-and-10, Mann looked for Lannetti down the sideline and the senior wideout made a spectacular catch, taking the ball away from his defender and stumbling down to the Moravian five-yard line for a 56-yard gain. Two plays later, Corsilli went in from five yards out to extend the Warriors’ lead to 26-14.

The Greyhounds never really threatened again as they were unable to move the ball into Lycoming territory.

The Warriors will be on the road again next week as they travel to Juniata College. Moravian will host Widener University.