Live Audio (ESPN Williamsport) | Live Stats | Game Notes vs Widener

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Something will have to give on Saturday when the Lycoming College football team heads to Widener for both teams’ Middle Atlantic Conference opener.

The Warriors (2-0 overall) have profiled one of the best defenses in college football early in the season, allowing just 102.0 yards per game, which is the second-best mark at any level in the NCAA. The defensive line has paced the defensive 11, posting 10 sacks and allowing just eight yards per game on the ground.

Widener (2-0 overall) has been led by its dynamic offense, which is averaging 44 points per game after scoring 44 each in wins over Moravian and Thiel. The Pride have racked up more than 1,000 yards of offense in just two games, led by junior quarterback Chris Haupt, who has six passing touchdowns this year.

Warrior Notes
• The Warriors are looking to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2003.
• Sophomore Warren Oliver set a school-record with 215 receiving yards against Westminster, breaking the mark of 214 set by James O’Malley against Susquehanna in 1986. He was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week and a Beyond Sports Network Athlete of the Week for the effort.
• Junior Zach Klinger threw for a career-high 294 yards against Westminster.
• Junior Anthony Marascio is tied for the league lead with three sacks. He was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week after posting 2.5 sacks against Rowan.
• The Warriors’ defense was named the  Beyond Sports Network’s Division III Athletes of the Week after allowing 89 yards to Westminster.

Scouting Lycoming
Offense: Multiple/Pro-Style
After posting just 185 yards in the season-opener against No. 22 Rowan, the Warrior offense lengthened out to the tune of 463 yards in a 41-3 rout of Westminster on Sept. 10.

In the game with the Titans, junior Zach Klinger refound the footing that helped him finish third in the MAC in quarterback efficiency in 2010, as he passed for a career-high 294 yards and three touchdowns.

The game also saw a pair of breakout stars, as sophomore Warren Oliver set a school-record with 215 receiving yards and freshman Craig Needhammer added 91 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. With the addition of junior Parker Showers, who ran for 94 yards in the season opener before being held out of the Westminster game with an injury, the Warriors are still developing a solid ground attack.

Defense: 4-3
So far this season, the Warrior defense has been just about perfect for the Wizard, defensive coordinator Steve Wiser. If not for a fumble and a blocked punt deep in the Warriors’ territory, neither No. 22 Rowan or Westminster would have scored on the team.

The Warriors lead the MAC in nearly every defensive category, including scoring defense (4.5), total defense (102.0), rushing defense (8.0), sacks (10) and opponent third-down conversion (7.1 percent). They are also second in passing defense (94.0) and pass defense efficiency (80.6).

It has been a team effort for the defense this season, as just three players are in the top 25 in the league in tackles, with none in the top 10. Sophomore Kabongo Bukasa is 11th with seven tackles per game, junior Corey Schuster is 16th at six tackles and sophomore Dwight Hentz is 21st at 5.5 tackles per contest.

Scouting Widener
Offense: Multiple
While the Lycoming College defense has led the conference in the first two weeks, it has been the Widener University offense that has paced the league on the other side of the ball.

The Pride lead the league in scoring offense (44.0), total offense (503.5), passing offense (302.0), first downs (25.0) and sacks against (3). They are also second in rushing offense (201.5).

Junior Chris Haupt has been unstoppable behind center for the Pride early in the season, throwing for 597 yards and six touchdowns while completing 56-of-95 passes. Senior Cedrick Clayton has been his favorite option, averaging 90.0 yards and 6.5 yards per game. Sophomore Anthony Clayton is also amongst the top five in the league in catches per game, averaging 4.0 receptions and 42.5 yards per game.

Defense: 4-3
While the offense was red-hot in wins over Moravian and Thiel, the defense didn’t slouch either, allowing just 10.0 points per game. The Pride have allowed 227.5 yards per game, which is fourth in the league.

In the first week against Moravian, junior defensive end Chad Gravinese had a team-high seven tackles, three sacks and four tackles for a loss Saturday in Widener’s 44-6 rout of Moravian.  Five of his tackles were solos.

Freshman Anthony Davis, a wide receiver, was also key on the team’s special teams against the Greyhounds, as he ran back two punts for touchdowns.  His first was a 52-yard burst down the right sideline.  Davis’ second was on the next punt as he backtracked to the 21-yard line and ran 79 yards for another score.

The votes are in
The Warriors continued to climb in the D3Football.com poll after week two, jumping from 12 votes to 19 after the 41-3 win over Westminster. If the poll were continued, the Warriors would be ranked 31st after placing 35th in the Week 1 poll. This is the second time in as many years that the Warriors have earned votes in the poll, as the 2010 squad picked up a vote after a 5-1 start.

Czapped
Sophomore kick specialist Zach Czap has gotten out to a strong start this season, as he is currently leading the Middle Atlantic Conference in punting average (40.33), field goals made (2.00) and he has hit the longest field goal in the MAC this season (38). Czap is also currently seventh in the nation in field goals made per game.

Defensive honors
After allowing just 89 yards and posting four sacks to go with three takeaways, the Lycoming defense picked up some national recognition, as it was named the Beyond Sports Network’s Division III Defense of the Week. The Lycoming defense, led by a frontline that has racked up 10 sacks in just two weeks, has allowed just 102.0 yards per game through the first two weeks against No. 22 Rowan and Westminster.

Club 2000
Junior Zach Klinger became the 14th player in school history to reach 2,000 passing yards  as he posted a career-high 294 yards at Westminster. He continues to move up the career charts, entering Saturday’s game needing 207 yards to pass Domenic Pacitti (2,316, 1980-83) for 13th on the all-time passing yardage chart. He also needs three completions to reach 13th in career completions, where Steve Miller (1967-69) currently stands with 172.

Everybody loves Ray
Senior Ray Bierbach 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.