Box Score Chester, Pa – The Lycoming College football team opened the Middle Atlantic Conference schedule with a 21-17 win against Widener on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Pride were selected as the preseason favorites to win the MAC.
Widener opened the game with a seven play 65-yard drive that was capped by a seven-yard Salah Hawkins touchdown run.
Lycoming was forced to punt on its first possession but got the ball back when the defense stopped the Pride offense on a fourth-and-short.
The Warriors capitalized with a 12 play 71-yard drive finished by a Josh Kleinfelter (Bellwood, Pa.) one-yard touchdown run. Scott Erikson's (New Providence, N.J.) extra point tied the game at 7-7.
The defense, ranked eighth in the nation in total defense entering the ganme, forced punts on each of Widener's next two posessions before Warrior quarterback Colin Dwyer (Dalton, Pa.) connected with Brad Shellenberger (Lock Haven, Pa.) on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Erikson's kick put the Warriors up 14-7.
Senior safety Nick Reese (Shenandoah, Pa.) forced and recovered a fumble on the first play of Widener's next drive and the Warriors would capitalize on the turnover with another touchdown. Dwyer hit Mark Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.) on a 10-yard pass for the score. Erikson's kick put the Warriors up 21-7 with just under four minutes remaining in the half.
Widener put together another scoring drive to end the half, this time capped by a Dan Lagomarsino three-yard run, to send the game to halftime with Lycoming leading 21-14.
Both defenses held strong in the third quarter with each team being forced to punt three times. On Lycoming's fourth possession of the quarter, Dwyer was intercepted by Fred Ferro, who returned the pick 19 yards to set up a Widener scoring drive. Matt Breslin kicked a 24-yard field goal to bring Widener to within four points, 21-17, with just under 10 minutes to play in the game.
Lycoming ran six minutes off the game clock before attempting a 45-yard field goal. Erikson's kick was no good, giving the ball back to Widener with 3:39 to play.
The Warrior defense held Widener to a three-and-out by not giving up a single yard, forcing the Pride to punt the ball back to Lycoming with 2:24 to play. The offense picked up a first down and was able to run out the clock to secure the 21-17 win.
Dwyer completed 25-of-42 attempts for 236 yards and two touchdowns while being intercepted once. Shellenberger was the leading receiver, catching seven passes for 85-yards and one touchdown. Kleinfelter caught five passes for 58 yards and also had 41 rushing yards and a touchdown. Mark Ryan caught five passes for 28 yards and one score.
Ben Rosa (Honesdale, Pa.) led the defensive effort with 11 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss. Ted Geurds was second on the team in total tackles with seven, including 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for a loss. Reese had four solo tackles to go along with his forced fumble and recovery.
For the first time this season, Lycoming was held under 300 yards of total offense, finishing the game with 297. The defense continued to hold opponents under the 300 yard mark as Widener finished the game with 244 yards.
The Warriors return home to David Person Field for a Homecoming showdown with Albright on Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Notes: Saturday's win was the third-straight for the Warriors ... Widener was last season's MAC champion ... the Warriors have outgained their opponents in all four games this season ... Colin Dwyer returned to his starting quarterback role after sitting out the Bridgewater game ... Saturday's game was the headline event of Widener's Homecoming.
