Saturday’s game is being broadcast by ESPN Radio WLYC 1050 AM and 104.1 FM. There will also be a live Internet feed at www.espnwilliamsport.com.
Mike Clark is in his second season as Lycoming’s head football coach. His career record stands at 10-9 overall and 7-5 in the MAC. During his rookie campaign, he led the Warriors to a 7-4 overall record, 5-2 mark in the Middle Atlantic Conference and a berth in the 2008 NCAA Division III playoffs. He also led Lycoming to a share of the 2008 conference title. He is a 1993 graduate of Lycoming, where he played and coached under former coach Frank Girardi.
Entering his 18th season at the helm of the Dutchmen program, Jim Monos carries an overall record of 71-94-2. He holds the school record for number of games coached at 167. Monos’ 71 career wins mark him as the all-time winningest coach in the program’s history.
The Series
Saturday’s game will be the 25th time the Warriors and Dutchmen have squared off, with Lycoming holding a 22-2 advantage.
Last season, the Warriors clinched a Middle Atlantic Conference co-championship and earned a spot in the NCAA playoffs after downing the Dutchmen 23-15. Lycoming placekicker Scott Erikson hit three field goals in the game, including a 28-yarder. With Lycoming up by a narrow 16-15 margin, sophomore Jim Daley intercepted a pass and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown with 1:55 on the clock to seal the victory.
Junior running back Josh Kleinfelter carried the ball 29 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Senior signal caller Colin Dwyer threw for 220 yards, completing 16 of his 31 pass attempts. Daley led the Warriors on defense, making 12 stops, seven of which were solo. Besides Daley, junior Travis Leonarczyk and TJ Doyle picked off the Dutchmen quarterback.
Special Teams Battle
Saturday’s game will feature the top two special team units in the MAC. In kickoff returns, Lebanon Valley paces the conference, averaging 24.6 yards per return while Lycoming is in second, picking up an average 21.4 yards per return.
On kickoff returns, the Warriors carry a one-two punch, with freshmen Dre Purdy and Parker Showers emerging as the threats on kickoffs. Purdy averages 25.7 yards per return, picking up 360 yards on 14 returns while Showers picks up 24.5 yards per return, including one run-back for an 85-yard touchdown.
Lycoming’s Last Game
Lycoming scored on both its trips to the red zone, but could not get the ball down the field often enough, falling 17-13 to Wilkes University.
Dwyer finished the game 14 of 26 for 120 passing yards with one for a touchdown. Kleinfelter picked up 61 yards on 13 attempts, averaging 4.7 yards a carry. Brad Shellenberger was the team-high receiver, hauling in four catches for 43 yards.
On defense, Chuck Bellitto had a standout game, registering 15 tackles, including nine solo. Anthony Marascio totaled 11 tackles, with eight coming assisted. Defensive end Ted Geurds chipped in a solid defensive effort with nine tackles, five of which were solo. He also forced a fumble.
A Look at Lycoming
Lycoming heads to Lebanon Valley with an overall record of 3-5 and a 2-3 mark in the MAC. The Warriors have had success away from home, traveling to Annville, Pa. with a 3-1 road record.
On offense, Dwyer has completed 50.8 percent (130 of 256) of his passes, picking up 1,398 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averages 174.8 yards per game, ranking him fifth amongst the conference’s quarterbacks. Kleinfelter also is ranked fifth in the conference in yards per game, averaging 75.6. Wide receiver Ryan Wagaman sits third in the conference in receptions per game with an average of 5.6.
Defensively, Bellitto is fifth in the league in total tackles, registering 64 this season, including 41 solo stops. He anchors a secondary that is currently third in the MAC in pass defense, allowing just 201.6 yards per game through the air. Opponents have completed only 122 of their 239 pass attempts.
A Look at Lebanon Valley
The Dutchmen host Lycoming with a 7-1 overall record and are currently 4-1 in the Middle Atlantic Conference, with the only loss coming to Delaware Valley. Last time out, Lebanon Valley blanked Widener University 24-0.
Caleb Fick leads the offense, completing 59.1 percent (81 of 137) of his passes, including eight for touchdowns. A run-heavy offense, the Dutchmen have taken 390 rush attempts, with Charlie Parker setting the pace with 136 attempts. He has amassed 618 yards, averaging 88.3 per game, with the team picking up 220.4 yard on the ground per contest.
On defense, Will Keylor has made 56 tackles, 37 of which have been solo. He has tackled opponents for a loss of 29 yards, including 2.5 sacks for 16 yards. Zach Beiler and Alex Gilchrist have each recorded 42 tackles, Beiler with 23 solo and 19 assisted and Gilchirst with 29 solo and 13 assisted.
