Box Score Box Score
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- Sophomore Anthony Marascio returned an interception for a touchdown with just over six minutes in the fourth quarter to keep Lycoming College football alive in a 24-21 victory over King’s College on Saturday, Oct. 3. The win was the first in the Middle Atlantic Conference for the Warriors as they begin the defense of their 2008 MAC championship.
With the win, Lycoming is now 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in the MAC. King’s slips to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Down 21-10, Marascio (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) came up with a pick six, taking the interception 26 yards to the King’s end zone. On the ensuing point after attempt, Dwyer found his receiver alone in the end zone, but he could not hold on to the pass, keeping Lycoming down 21-16.
In the two minute drill Colin Dwyer completed a pass to Josh Kleinfelter (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) for a first down. On second down and ten yards, Ryan Wagaman (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) caught an eight yard pass, allowing Kleinfelter to pick up the first down on the next down. Dwyer floated as pass that was tipped in the air before Wagaman made a diving catch. Brad Shellenberger (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) continued to advance the Warriors, getting it down to the King’s two yard line. Dwyer attempted a quarterback sneak, getting in on the second rush, putting Lycoming up 22-21.
The Warriors converted the two-point attempt, going up 24-21. Going for the end zone, Chuck Bellitto (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) picked off King’s quarterback Cory Lavin to end the game
In the first quarter, after the Warrior forced the Monarchs in to a three-and-out situation, Lycoming’s Ray Bierbach (Hunlock Creek, Pa./Northwest Area) returned the punt for 61 yards. Even with great field position, the Warriors’ TJ Chiarlonza (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) missed a field goal to the left.
Both teams slowly drove the field before either defense stepped up and forced a punt. With 2:20 left in the first quarter, Bierbach returned an interception 17 yards. After chewing up over four minutes of the clock, Dwyer (Dalton, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) and Josh Dixon (Fleetville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) connected for a 13-yard touchdown, capped off by a Chiarlonza extra point.
King’s reached the midfield on the next series before Ted Geurds (Douglasville, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Marascio made the stop and the Monarchs punted the ball away. Lycoming drove the field, picking up 75 yards before Chiarlonza hit a 24-yard field goal, putting Lycoming up 10-0.
The Monarchs completed a 27 yard pass to end the second half with Lycoming leading 10-7.
In the second half, King’s dominated the running game as Claude O’Connor made 30 attempts, covering 144 yards. The Monarchs took the lead 9:10 into the third quarter 14-10 on a two-yard O’Connor run. Early in the fourth quarter, King’s built its lead to 21-10 on a 18-yard completion.
But the Warriors battled back, and had several passes tipped by the King’s defenders fall into Warrior arms, eventually marching down the field and picking up the victory.
he passing game was the key to victory for the Warriors. Dwyer had his best game of the season, completing 28 of his 48 pass attempts for 304 yards. Wagaman was his favorite target, catching 12 passes over 127 yards. Dixon caught a touchdown and tallied 48 yards in five catches. Shellenberger had a 22 yard catch.
On defense, Bellitto was the game leader in tackles, adding six solo tackles and another six assisted. Pat McAfee (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) had eight tackles, including one and a half for a loss. The Monarch offense line played well, not allowing Lavin to be sacked.
Lycoming returns to David Person field on Saturday, Oct. 10 after a three-game road series. The Warriors will face Albright College in the homecoming game, set to begin at 1:30 p.m.
