LYCOMING FOOTBALL TOPS WILKES IN EARLY SEASON SHOWDOWN

EDWARDSVILLE, PA – The Lycoming College football team traveled to Wilkes University, Saturday afternoon, for an early season match-up of Middle Atlantic Conference title contenders. The Warriors controlled the game defensively and methodically dismantled the Colonels for a 29-13 victory. Lycoming improves to 2-0 overall, while Wilkes falls to 1-1.

Phil Mann (Jr./Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain) led the Warriors with both his arm and his legs. Mann completed 12-of-25 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 41 yards and a score on seven carries. Sean Hennigar (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Father Judge) was Mann’s favorite target with five catches for 26 yards. Ricky Lannetti (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Father Judge) had three receptions for 60 yards, and Brandon Johnson (Sr./Franklin, Pa.; Franklin) caught two passes for 72 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown. Robert Miller (Sr./New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) accounted for Lycoming’s third touchdown on a one-yard run. He totaled 29 yards on 11 carries for the afternoon. Freshman placekicker Chris Schrader (Glenolden, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) tied a Warrior record with three field goals in the game – connecting from 32, 26, and 22 yards.

The Colonels were led by Brett Trichilo who rushed for 98 yards on 28 carries. He also caught two passes for 35 yards to lead the Wilkes receivers. Quarterback Matt Kaskie completed 9-of-19 passes for 65 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked three times.

Lycoming opened the scoring on their very first possession marching 59 yards on 12 plays to the Colonels’ 15 yardline. The drive stalled there, however, setting up Schrader’s first field goal of the day from 32 yards out.

Wilkes answered later in the first quarter following a Warrior turnover. On a second and five for Lycoming, Mike Fox pressured Mann and caused a fumble as he made the sack. Steve Rogers recovered on the Warrior seven to set up a first-and-goal for the home team. Three plays later, Kyle Gallagher slammed through the line for a two-yard touchdown and a 7-3 Colonel lead.

Lycoming pulled within one early in the second quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Schrader. The Warriors started in Wilkes territory and moved the ball 32 yards on six plays before settling for the field goal.

Lycoming kept the momentum forcing the Colonels to go three-and-out on their next possession. A 24-yard punt return by Lannetti gave the Warriors great field position at the Wilkes 27. Mann then scampered 27 yards up the middle on the very first play of the drive for the go-ahead touchdown. Schrader’s extra-point made the score 13-7 in favor of Lycoming at the half.

The Colonels opened the second half with the ball, but were again forced to go three-and-out. The punt snap, however, hit the up-man and was recovered by Kevin LeSage (So./Darby, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) at the Wilkes 25 – again giving the Warriors prime field position.

Lycoming wasted no time capitalizing as Mann hit Tim Brown (So./Liverpool, N.Y.; Christian Brothers Acad.) for a 24-yard reception to the Colonels one yardline. Miller then dove into the endzone to give the Warriors a 19-7 advantage. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

Lycoming put the game out of reach midway through the third period when Mann found Johnson streaking down the sideline for a 67-yard touchdown. The play came on a third-and-six from the Warriors 33 yardline and capped a short three-play drive. Schrader’s extra-point made the score 26-7 with 4:43 to play in the third.

The 19-point deficit forced Wilkes to abandon their power running attack and throw the ball in an effort to get back in the game. The result was two stalled drives and two interceptions in four possessions. The first interception set up an 11-play, 39-yard drive by Lycoming that culminated in a 22-yard field goal by Schrader.

The Colonels did find the endzone one more time on the final drive of the game. Quarterback Duran Porrino moved Wilkes 80-yards on 12 plays, eventually finding Sean Sholtes in the endzone for the eight-yard touchdown as time expired. The drive was aided by two pass interference penalties on the Warriors.

Lycoming’s defense held the Colonels to 214 yards of total offense on 80 plays for an average of just 2.7 yards per play. Sean McGinley (Sr./Croydon, Pa.; Conwell-Egan) led the unit in tackles for the second consecutive week with nine stops, including two sacks. Tim Schmidt (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Roman Catholic), Luke Sterling (So./Lehighton, Pa.; Lehighton), and Nick Pinto (Jr./Philadelphia, Pa.; Archbishop Ryan) each added eight tackles. Sterling also recovered a fumble. Matt Murdock (Fr./Elysburg, Pa.; Southern Columbia) and Nick Finn (So./Waldorf, Md.; Thomas Stone) each recorded interceptions for the Warriors.

The Colonels defense was led by Jason Mitkowski with 15 tackles and a forced fumble.

Lycoming returns home for their next contest, hosting Albright College on Saturday, September 27, at 1:30 p.m. at David Person Field.