Game Notes vs. Rowan (PDF)
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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - In the 1990s, both the Lycoming College football team and Rowan won more than 90 games, firmly entrenching both programs amongst the elite in the NCAA Division III. Lycoming head coach Mike Clark was a part of both dynasties, first as an offensive lineman for the Warriors before graduating in 1991, then as a graduate assistant at Rowan before returning to Lycoming as an assistant coach in the late ’90s.

Now, both programs appear ready to maintain that level of excellence, as Lycoming was listed as one of The Sporting News’ Teams to Watch and Rowan was ranked 12th in Lindy’s and 24th in The Sporting News’ College Football previews. The Warriors are coming off a 6-4 season and return 17 starters and the Profs finished 9-1 and claimed a piece of the NJAC title in 2010.

Warrior Notes
• Between the two programs, Lycoming and Rowan have appeared in 25 NCAA Division III Tournaments and seven national title games.
• The Warriors were picked to finish second in the Middle Atlantic Conference preseason coaches’ poll.
• Junior Zach Klinger needs seven completions to become the 15th player in school history to post 150 in a career.
• Junior Parker Showers is 122 yards from reaching 1,500 all-purpose yards in his career.
• Senior Chris Kish is nine tackles away from reaching 100 in his career.
• The Warriors have five assistant coaches on staff who graduated from Lycoming: head coach Mike Clark ’93, assistant head coach Steve  Wiser ’73, linebackers coach Mike Weber ’89, running backs coach Pat Taylor ’09 and offensive line coach Matt Landsiedel ’11.

Scouting Lycoming
Offense: Multiple/Pro-Style
Much like the defense, the Warrior offense will start with a strong frontline that features five linemen with at least one year of starting experience. However, the offense will have to answer several key questions in its skill positions, including key ones at running back and wide receiver.

The offensive line returns all five starters injuniors Cody Moyer and Andrew Wagner and seniors Jared Strayer, Tim Okken and Glen Hughes.

The team also will have solid experience behind the center, as junior Zach Klinger enters his second year as a starter for the Warriors. A solid decision-maker, Klinger tossed 13 touchdown passes and threw just nine picks in 10 games. He completed 55 percent (143-of-259) of his passes and tossed for 1,770 yards.

Defense: 4-3
After finishing 2010 in the top 25 percent in Division III in scoring defense (19.4) and top 33 percent in total defense (315.6) while finishing second in the MAC in both categories, the Warriors return nearly every starter and mixed in with several newcomers, the defensive unit may be as strong as any during Clark’s four-year tenure.

Led by two-time First Team All-MAC defensive lineman Anthony Marascio, the line will serve admirably as the team’s first line of defense. In 2010, that line held opponents to 100 yards or less in rushing yards five times.

Even with the loss of all-region safety Chuck Bellitto, the Warriors will return a very strong secondary, led by consensus preseason All-American senior Ray Bierbach and featuring two other starters who finished amongst the MAC leaders in passes defended: juniors Matt Talerico and Ryan Fenningham.

Scouting Rowan
Offense: Multiple Spread
Rowan enters the season with a lot of uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position. The Profs will have to fill the void left by the departure of NJAC All-Conference second teamer Tim Hagerty.

Competing for the starting job are veterans Louie Bianchini, Frank Giardina and Sean Mangold, and rookie Andy Martin. Bianchini is the only one in the group with game experience. Last season, he was two for two for 22 yards in his only appearance.

Rowan returns running backs Keith Corcoran and Steve Hevalow. In 2010, Hevalow led the Profs with 728 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 158 carries. Corcoran followed with 158 touches for 679 yards and four TDs. He added 13 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Hevalow was a NJAC All-Conference second team selection, while Corcoran received honorable mention.

Defense: Multiple Front
The Profs biggest question mark is replacing defensive end Kyle Hoffman, who was named the NJAC and D3football.com East Region Defensive Player of the Year.  Junior Steve Williams will see time at end and tackle this year. He was an first-team all-conference selection, posting 53 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.

Rowan brings back a strong group of linebackers. Senior Dean Hammel will start in the middle and veterans Patrick Ruley and Geno Raman will line up on the outsides. Hammel finished second on the team with 64 tackles. He added eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

Senior safeties Eric Sharkey and Jack Buckley also bring a lot of experience, combining for 59 tackles and three pickoffs in 2010.
Everyone’s All-American
Senior Ray Bierbach has earned six Preseason All-American nods. He was placed on the honorable mention portion of Consensus Draft Services NCAA Division III Preseason All-American Team, the USA College Football Network preseason All-American team, the D3 Senior Classic North team’s second squad as well as earning First Team honors from D3football.com, Lindy’s National College Football and the Sporting News College Football preseason football publications. As a junior, Bierbach earned Second Team All-MAC honors, First Team D3Football.com All-East Region honors and honorable mention All-American honors.

Okken, Marascio also honored
Seniors Tim Okken and Anthony Marascio were also placed on the USA College Football Network Preseason All-American team along with Bierbach. Okken, an offensive lineman, was a second-team all-conference selection in 2010 and Marascio has earned back-to-back first-team accolades.

Anthony’s antics
Senior Anthony Marascio earned his second straight All-MAC First Team accolades as a junior. The 6-2, 257-pound lineman led the team with 68 tackles (13th in the MAC) while playing at every position on the line, from defensive end to defensive tackle. He also posted a team-high 4.5 sacks (eighth in the MAC) and added 6.5 tackles for loss, which was tied for the team lead. He forced two fumbles and recovered one. Marascio was the first defensive lineman at Lycoming to earn back-to-back first-team honors since Cameron Coleman did it in 1998-99.

Back on ‘D’
The Warriors return one of the strongest corps of defenders in the conference, thanks to nine returning starters, including three all-conference players. Senior Anthony Marascio was a first-team defensive lineman in each of the last two years, senior Ray Bierbach was a second-team all-conference safety and junior Roger Jayne was a second-team lineman. The team also returns all three starting linebackers and both cornerbacks.

A new running back
For the first time in four years, the Warriors first-string tailback won’t be all-time leading rusher Josh Kleinfelter. However, junior Parker Showers should be a capable replacement, as he ran for 177 yards on 31 carries in the last two games of 2010 while Kleinfelter struggled with an injury.