WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Jim Daley returned an interception 13-yards for a touchdown with 1:55 left in the game to seal a 23-15 win for Lycoming against Lebanon Valley on Saturday, Nov. 15. The win, coupled with an Albright loss at Delaware Valley, earned the Warriors a share of the Middle Atlantic Conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.

The MAC title and trip to the playoffs is the first for Lycoming since the 2003 season.

The Warriors finish the season in a three-way tie for the MAC title with Delaware Valley and Albright, but will receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs by way of defeating both the Aggies and the Lions earlier this season.

Josh Kleinfelter rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown, becoming the first Lycoming running back to go over the 1,000 yard mark in a single season since 2002. He currently has 1,074 yards on the season.

Colin Dwyer completed 16-of-31 pass attempts for 220 yards and Ryan Wagaman caught seven passes for 100 yards in the game.

Scott Erikson came up huge for the Warriors, connecting on three field goals in the game. He first hit from 28 yards in the first quarter, then from 24 yards in the second quarter and from 23 yards in the fourth.

Lebanon Valley scored first on a 20 yard pass from Caleb Fick to Joe Brennan in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.

Erikson’s first field goal made the score 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Lycoming took its first lead of the game at the start of the second quarter when Kleinfelter punched in a six-yard touchdown run. The extra point made the score 10-7 in favor of the Warriors.

Brennan caught a 21-yard TD pass from Fick with 9:23 left in the half but the extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score 13-10 in favor of the Dutchmen.

Erikson’s second kick tied the game, 13-13, going into halftime.

Lebanon Valley took the lead again when Colin Dwyer was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, causing a safety with 7:02 left in the third and putting the Dutchmen up 15-13.

Erikson’s third field goal put Lycoming back on top 16-15 with 12:30 to play.

Lebanon Valley took over inside its own 10-yard line with just over two minutes to play, but Fick’s pass was intercepted by Daley at the 13-yard line and returned for the score.

The Warriors defense held and caused a turnover on downs with 1:00 remaining, allowing the Warriors to take a knee and end the game.

Lebanon Valley ended the game with 340 yards of total offense to Lycoming’s 296. The Dutchmen turned the ball over three times (all interceptions) while the Warriors turned the ball over once (fumble).

Daley led the defense with 12 total tackles with seven solo stops, including 1.0 tackle for a loss and the crucial interception. Ben Rosa had 11 total tackles and one pass breakup. Ted Geurds had 1.0 sack and 1.0 tackle for a loss and Chris Tribanas had 2.0 tackles for a loss. T.J. Doyle and Travis Leonarczyk each had interceptions.

The NCAA selection show will air on Sunday, Nov. 16, on ESPNews between 3 and 3:30 p.m. eastern standard time. Lycoming will find out during that show who they will play in the opening round and where the game will be held. The first round game will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Check back to the Lycoming athletics Web site following the men's basketball tournament for complete details.

Notes: Kleinfelter becomes the first person since Jared Morris in 2002 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season ... Saturday's game was just the second time all season that Lycoming did not outgain its opponent ... Lycoming's last playoff game was in December of 2003, a 13-9 loss against Bridgewater at David Person Field ... Scott Erikson's three field goals is a career high for made attempts in a game ... head coach Mike Clark earned a MAC title in his first year as a head coach ... the Warriors were 3-7 in each of the last two seasons ... Lycoming was picked fifth in the MAC preseason poll ... Saturday was Senior Day, with all fourteen Warrior seniors being honored before kickoff.