Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- In a game that had touchdowns scored on special teams and defense for both teams, the Lycoming College football team fell 32-29 to Bridgewater College on Sept. 26. Three out of the first four touchdowns in the game were scored by non-offensive players.
The loss slips Lycoming to 1-2 on the season before heading into Middle Atlantic Conference play. Bridgewater improves to 3-1 overall in its final non-conference game.
Junior running back Josh Kleinfelter (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) picked up 99 yards on the ground, averaging 4.0 yards a carry. In the passing game, senior Colin Dwyer completed 15 of his 29 attempts, and threw two touchdowns and one interception.
On defense, Kevin Hoben (Summit Hill, Pa./Panther Valley) made a game-best 12 tackles, six each of unassisted and assisted. Chuck Bellitto was second on the day with 11, seven of which were unassisted. He also had one interception which he returned for 14 yards. Freshman Matt Talarico picked up two fumbles, one he took for a 22-yard touchdown.
Freshman Dre Purdy (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) opened things with a 35 yard kickoff return at the start of the game, but Lycoming could not convert the first down and went three and out. Lycoming’s defense held the Eagles to a three and out in their first series, and Lycoming punted the ball away in its second possession.
That’s when the Eagles scored their first touchdown of the day, following a 52-yard punt return, five minutes into the game. But not to be out-done by a punt return, freshman running back Park Showers (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) returned the ball 85 yards on the ensuing kickoff. The Warriors point after attempt was blocked, making the score 7-6 Bridgewater.
Bridgewater’s Thomas Tate carried the ball for three straight plays, picking up 60 yards and a touchdown to go up 14-6 with 8:44 left in the first quarter.
Lycoming drove the field with nine plays and 46 yards, chewing up almost four minutes off the clock before punting, ending the first quarter down 14-6.
With 9:26 on the clock, Lycoming’s junior defensive back Bellitto forced a fumble on the Bridgewater 22-yard line. Freshman cornerback Talarico (Moosic, Pa./Riverside) scooped up the fumble and took it to the end zone. Kicker TJ Chiarlonza (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) attempted a rush for the two-point conversion, but was stopped short of the goal line.
After both teams punted the ball, Bridgewater took a 21-12 lead into the halftime break with 29 seconds left on the clock, capping a nine play, 82-yard series.
In the third quarter, the Warriors got another spectacular special teams play from Talarico with another fumble recovery at the Bridgewater six-yard line. Junior punter Jake Lamphere (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) kicked a 36 yard punt that was muffed by the Eagles returner, and scooped up by Talarico.
Senior quarterback Colin Dwyer (Dalton, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) and Sean Saylor connected for a six yard touchdown and a Chiarlonza PAT got the Warriors to within two, 21-19.
Lycoming used a mix of passing and rushing to spark a 13 play, 70 yard series that took six minutes off the clock. Dwyer used four different receivers in the drive, including a 13-yard catch from senior tight end Adam Paulhamaus (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run). Chiarlonza knocked in a 36 yard field goal to give the Warriors a 22-21 lead at the end of the third.
The Eagles jumped out to another seven-point lead 29-22 at the start of the fourth quarter after going 10 plays and 69 yards in just under five minutes. Both teams punted away their next possessions, before Bridgewater hit a 35 yard field goal to take their final score of the day and go up 32-22.
Using a hook and ladder play, Dwyer completed a 38 yard pass to Wagaman, who tossed it behind himself for Kleinfelter to continue the play, picking up an additional 19 yards before being tackled at the Bridgewater three-yard line. After an illegal procedure call against Lycoming, Dwyer completed a four-yard pass to Paulhamaus to finish the days scoring, 32-29 Bridgewater.
The Warriors return to action in their conference schedule next week on Saturday, Oct. 3. They will complete their three game road series at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with a 1 p.m. start time in the opening weekend for Middle Atlantic Conference play.
