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.
Meet the Coaches:
Mike Clark will be coaching in his second game versus Susquehanna. Clark’s overall record at Lycoming is 7-5, and 1-0 against Susquehanna after a 28-16 win in 2008.
Steve Briggs enters his 20th season at the helm of the Crusaders program. He has a 104-90 overall record after opening the 2009 season 2-0.
The Series:
The two teams, just 45 minutes apart, will be competing for local bragging rights and the Alonso Amos Stagg Felt Hat Trophy. Always a fierce rivalry, Lycoming and Susquehanna have played against one another 48 times, with the Warriors holding a 27-20-1 advantage. Since 1996, Lycoming is 11-2 against the Crusaders.
On the Line:
The Felt Hat is actually a fedora worn by Alonso Amos Stagg, Sr., and given to Rich Young, a Susquehanna graduate and former assistant, who had the hat bronzed and made into a trophy. Previously part of another tradition, the Warriors and the Crusaders began battling for the trophy in the 1993 season, with Lycoming holding an 11-5 advantage in the series. The first time Lycoming claimed the prize was in 1996, winning 27-14 and stopping Susquehanna’s trophy streak at three.
Going on Hiatus:
Next season, Susquehanna will be switching from the Liberty League to the Centennial Conference. With that change, Susquehanna will only have room for one out of conference game on its schedule, putting a hold on the series for at least two seasons.
Coming to play:
Three of Lycoming’s biggest milestone victories have come at the hands of Susquehanna. The Warriors won their 300th game with a 35-7 victory against Susquehanna in 2004. One year later, legendary head coach Frank Girardi picked up his 250th career win, 17-10. In the second game of the 2008 season, head coach Clark picked up his first victory as Lycoming’s head coach, 28-16.
Big Time Players in a Big Time Rivalry:
The last two seasons, Warrior signal caller Colin Dwyer has thrown for 284 yard against Susquehanna. Running back Josh Kleinfelter has rushed for 313 yard in the last two Lycoming vs. Susquehanna games, including 229 yards and three touchdowns in 2008. Last season, Brad Shellenberger caught two of Dwyer’s passes for 110 yards, one for a 60-yard touchdown strike.
Road Warriors:
Saturday’s game will be the first of three straight road games for Lycoming. They will travel more than 400 miles in the next three weeks, including 286 miles to Bridgewater (Va.) College on Sept. 26. The Warriors return home for their Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 10, against Albright.
Lycoming’s Last Game:
On Saturday, Sept. 12, Lycoming opened its 2009 season with perennial NCAA qualifier Rowan University, falling 29-7. The Warriors had a difficult time getting the run game going, gaining just 34 yards for the game. A stout Rowan defense held the Warriors 70 yards in the air and just 104 total offensive yards on the day.
Junior wide receiver Ryan Wagaman was the lone scorer for the Warriors, coming up with a 21-yard touchdown reception from senior Colin Dwyer. The play was set up by a 45-yard punt return by sophomore Ray Bierbach. Wagaman was the leading receiver for the Warriors against Rowan, catching three passes for 43 yards and the touchdown.
Defensively, Lycoming’s Anthony Marascio was the game’s sack leader, picking up 1.5 and dropping the quarterback for 15 yards, 10 of which came in one sack. He also was the game-high tackler with nine. Junior defensive back Jim Daley was second in tackles with eight, with one for a loss of three yards. Chuck Bellitto recorded on interception.
In the kick return game, Bierbach took two punts back for 45 total yards. Josh Dixon pulled double duty, returning three kickoffs for 43 total yards, taking one for 24 yards.
A Brief on Susquehanna:
The Crusaders won their second straight game of the year by a 43-13 mark against Juniata College. Susquehanna gained 246 yards on the ground, including 143 from Dave Pavletz, who also rushed for two touchdowns. In the air, Rich Palazzi threw for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
Susquehanna played a balanced offensive game, scoring three rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns. The running game is one of the Crusaders strongest points, gaining 236 rushing yards per game for 5.2 yards per carry with five touchdowns.
On defense, Susquehanna held Juniata to 92 rushing yards. Pete Johnson made five solo tackles, 3.5 of which were for a loss of 16 yards. The Crusaders have registered eight sacks so far this season, dropping the opposing quarterback for 40 yards.
