WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College football team scored 34 points in the first half en route to a 34-17 win against Bridgewater College (Va.) on Saturday, Sept. 27, at David Person Field. The game was the final non-conference contest for the Warriors, who open the Middle Atlantic schedule Oct. 4 at Widener.

The Lycoming defense recorded a season-high eight sacks and held the Eagles to just 163 yards of total offense in the game. The Warriors posted their third-straight game with over 300 yards of total offense, finishing with 339 in the game.

“We really wanted to carry momentum into our first drive and put points on the board early,” said head coach Mike Clark, who recorded his second career win. “Scoring 34 in the first half allowed us to rest some guys in the second half.”

Lycoming carried a 34-0 lead into halftime.

After stopping Bridgewater on the opening drive, the Warriors marched down the field on a six-play 63-yard drive, headlined by a 46-yard rush by starting quarterback Tim Hook (Harrisburg, Pa.). The drive stalled and Scott Erikson (New Providence, N.J.) put Lycoming on the board with a 21-yard field goal.

Chris Tribanas (Lansdale, Pa.) and Dan Cassidy (Downingtown, Pa.) each recorded solo sacks on the Eagles’ next possession to force a punt.

The Warriors mounted their second-straight scoring drive, this time an eight-play 82-yard effort capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by Josh Kleinfelter (Bellwood, Pa). The Erikson extra point made the score 10-0 with just under three minutes to play in the first quarter.

Tribanas and Kyle Murren (Hughesville, Pa.) combined to sack Bridgewater quarterback Hagan Driskell on the Eagles’ next drive, forcing a third punt in as many drives.

Bridgewater managed to stop the Warrior offense on the opening drive of the second quarter and then took over at the Lycoming 23-yard line after a snap got away from punter Jake Lamphere (Monroeton, Pa.).

The Warrior defense held strong, tackling running back Brad Jones in the backfield for a two-yard loss on the first play. Matt Licci (Drexel Hill, Pa.) broke through the line and sacked Driskell on the second play for a loss of another four yards. After an incompletion, Murren and Ted Geurds (Douglassville, Pa.) combined to sack Driskell on fourth down to turn the ball back to the Lycoming offense.

The Warriors capitalized on the momentum created by the defense when they mounted a five-play 65-yard scoring drive. Kleinfelter recorded his second 13-yard touchdown run of the day and Erikson kicked the PAT to put Lycoming up 17-0.

On the next Bridgewater drive, linebacker T.J. Doyle (Douglassville, Pa.) forced a fumble that was recovered by Chris Smith (Philadelphia, Pa.) at the Lycoming 49-yard line.

Again the offense would capitalize on the momentum created by the defense, this time scoring on a three-play 51-yard drive. Hook broke free on a quarterback draw and rushed 40-yards for the score. Erikson’s PAT made the score 24-0 with eight minutes to play in the half.

Lycoming’s defense forced a three-and-out on the Eagles next possession. Ray Bierbach (Hunlock Creek, Pa.) fielded the punt and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. Erikson remained perfect on extra point attempts to make the score 31-0 with just under seven minutes to play.

The Warrior defense created another turnover on the next Bridgewater possession when Scott Kish (Phillipsburg, N.J.) forced a fumble that was recovered by Ben Rosa (Honesdale, Pa.).

Hook guided the offense back down the field, this time on an 11-play 63-yard drive that was capped by a 38-yard Erikson field goal, putting Lycoming up 34-0 with just over two minutes left in the half.

The Warriors got the ball back one final time in the first half, but Hook was intercepted to end the half.

Lycoming dominated the half, putting up 310 yards of total offense and holding Bridgewater to just 35. The Warriors defense managed seven sacks in the first half.

“We had a really explosive first half,” said Hook, starting for Colin Dwyer (Dalton, Pa.), who sat out Saturday after leaving the previous game with an injury. “I don’t think we were really ready for a half like that but it showed how explosive we can be.”

Bridgewater managed three scoring drives in the second half and was able to hold Lycoming to 29 yards of total offense.

“I think we were a little tired after the first half,” said Hook. “Now that we know what it is like to have a big first half like that, we can be better prepared.”

The Eagles first scored on a 21-yard pass from Driskell to Leigh Bradley with 2:24 to play in the third quarter. The scoring drive was set up by Hook’s second interception of the day, which was returned 35 yards by Ben Manis.

Bridgewater forced another turnover when Mike Clements broke through the line and got an open look at Hook. The hit knocked the ball loose and it was recovered by Travis Marks, setting up Bridgewater’s second scoring drive.

The Lycoming defense held the Eagles out of the end zone, but Tyler Kelly converted a 37-yard field goal to bring the score to 34-10 with just over eight minutes to play in the game.

After a Lycoming punt, Bridgewater managed one final scoring drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Vince Reese to Ryan Richmond.

The Warriors got the ball back with 3:20 remaining in the game and were able to run out the clock.

Lycoming dominated the box score, holding advantages in nearly every category. The Warriors posted 18 first downs to Bridgewater’s nine. A balanced attack of 177 rushing yards and 162 passing yards led to 339 yards of total offense for the Warriors while the Eagles managed 55 rushing yards and 108 passing yards for 163 total yards.

Bridgewater was called for 10 penalties for a total of 129 yards while Lycoming was charged with four penalties for 42 yards.

For the third-straight game, Lycoming converted more than 50 percent of its third-down conversions, going eight-of15 on Saturday.

Hook led the ground attack and the passing game, finishing with 103 rushing yards and one touchdown and throwing for 162 yards on 10-of-24 passing.

Kleinfelter carried the ball 19 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns, his fourth and fifth of the year.

Mary Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the receiving corps with five catches for 77 yards. Brad Shellenberger (Lock Haven, Pa.) caught four passes for 66 yards. Bierbach returned four punts for 86 yards, including the 59-yard score. Erikson was 4-for-4 on extra point attempts and 2-for-2 on field goal attempts.

The win improves the Warriors to 2-1 on the year and drops the Eagles to 1-3 overall.

Lycoming will open the MAC schedule on the road next Saturday, Oct. 4, at Widener. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Notes: Saturday’s win was the fifth in row at home for Lycoming, dating back to the 2007 season … The win was the 255th in the career of Steve Wiser, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator … Saturday marked the first time in over a year that the Warriors had back-to-back 100-yard rushers, with Kleinfelter against Susquehanna and Hook against Bridgewater … Since having a PAT blocked at Ithaca, Erikson is a perfect 8-for-8 on extra point attempts … Nate Robley (Williamsburg, Pa.) made his first career reception in the game (19 yards) … Lycoming scored on its opening drive for the second-straight week … Bierbach took over the kick return duties for an injured Josh Dixon (Fleetville, Pa.) and had his second-straight week with more than 80 return yards … The only previous meeting between the two teams was the NCAA quarterfinals in 2003, when Bridgewater defeated Lycoming 13-9 after the game was moved to a Sunday following a snow storm … that game was played less than 24 hours after the death of the Warriors star receiver, Ricky Lanetti.