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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - For the Lycoming College football team, there has rarely been a tougher start to a football season. After taking on a Brockport team that has gone on to earn a spot in the nation’s top 25 in the opening week, the Warriors beat No. 22 Delaware Valley in the second week and a Lebanon Valley team that was receiving votes in the third week. The road gets no easier this week when Lycoming heads to Albright to face the undefeated Lions, who are also receiving votes in a national poll, in the Pretzel Bowl.

The Warriors (2-1 overall, 2-0 MAC) are coming off a 21-13 win over Lebanon Valley, as they used big plays to turn the game around, getting a 47-yard touchdown reception from senior Jarrin Campman and a 61-yard touchdown rush from sophomore Craig Needhammer.

Warrior Notes
• Each of Lycoming’s first four opponents have received votes in the D3Football.com poll this year.

• Senior Nate Oropollo is tied for eighth in the nation and leads the MAC with 1.7 sacks per game. He also leads the league with 2.33 tackles for loss per game.

• Oropollo needs one more sack to become the 43rd player in school history to reach 10 in a career.

• Senior Parker Showers had two kickoff returns for 52 yards against Lebanon Valley, as he passed Ricky Lanetti (2000-03, 987) for the top slot in the school’s career record book, finishing with 990.

• Sophomore Craig Needhammer posted his second career 100-yard game against Lebanon Valley, finishing with 101 yards on 15 carries.

• Sophomore Tyler Jenny completed 15-of-23 (65 percent) passing against Lebanon Valley, marking the highest completion percentage for a Warrior in a game since 2007.

Scouting Lycoming
Offense: Multiple/Pro-Style
Against Lebanon Valley, the Warriors showed off the kind of offense it hopes to have - one that moves the ball consistently through runs and short passing routes, but also one that has big play potential.

The big plays led to two touchdowns against Lebanon Valley, with sophomore quarterback Tyler Jenny finding senior wide receiver Jarrin Campman on a deep fly pattern for a 47-yard second quarter score and sophomore running back Craig Needhammer scoring on a 61-yard third quarter dash.

However, the team also proved it could move the ball effectively, rolling up 375 yards and 21 first downs, including nine each rushing and passing. The offense also played well on third down, converting 10-of-17 chances.

Defense: 4-3
The Warrior defense posted its most consistent effort of the season against Lebanon Valley, as they allowed 284 total yards, but just 90 on the ground.

Junior Kabongo Bukasa led the team with seven tackles and one for loss and the group of senior Matt Talerico, sophomore Tanner Troutman and senior Corey Schuster each posted six tackles. Senior Nate Oropollo notched his fifth sack of the season and senior Roger Jayne added two tackles for loss, as the team enjoyed a very balanced defensive effort.

Sophomore Ryan Mihoci posted two of the biggest defensive plays of the day, forcing a second-quarter fumble that led to a Warrior touchdown and diving to grab the game-clinching interception with just more than a minute left in the fourth quarter.

Scouting Albright
Offense: Multiple
One of the most prolific offenses in the MAC under head coach John Marzka, the Lions feature a unique offense that includes two very good quarterbacks and the top receiver in the conference.

Senior Adam Galczynski and junior T.J. Luddy make up one of the most unique quarterback tandems in the country. Galczynski offers a change of pace for the Lions, as he has the ability to run (three rushes, 22 yards) and throw (16-of-23, 177 yards, two touchdowns). Luddy is a pocket passer that is one of the most effective in the MAC, as he has completed 47-of-73 for 528 yards and four touchdowns through the first three games.

Both quarterbacks, though, have a favorite target in senior Scott Pillar, who has made a MAC-leading 27 catches through the first three games for 273 yards and three scores. He is the defending MAC Offensive Player of the Week after making 14 receptions for 156 yards and two scores in the Lions’ 27-13 win over Wilkes.

Defense: Multiple
So far this season, the Lions’ defense has bent but not broken, helping them win three games by a margin of just a combined 24 points. The defense had its best performance of the season against Wilkes, holding the Colonels to just two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Junior safety Drew Peterson led the Lions in the game, making 10 tackles, two for a loss, and picking off two passes, both in the first half, to help pace the team to the win over the Colonels, helping him earn both the MAC Defensive Player of the Week and Beyond Sports College Athlete of the Week honors.

Junior linebacker Paul Hobbs leads the Lions with 27 tackles and junior defensive end Mark Capetola has 3.5 sacks.

Jen-erating Numbers
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Jenny has made quite the impact through his first three starts with the Warriors, posting wins over a nationally-ranked opponent in Delaware Valley and another receiving votes in Lebanon Valley. In fact, his 15-of-23 performance against Lebanon Valley marked the highest completion percentage (65.2 percent) for a Lycoming quarterback since Tim Hook went 22-of-31 (71.0 percent) against Widener in 2007. His 115.87 quarterback rating is the highest through the first three career starts for a Warrior quarterback since Phil Mann had a 162.74 rating through his first three starts in 2002.

Returning to the record book
Senior Parker Showers used two kickoff returns against Lebanon Valley to break a school record that last year it appeared he would never approach. Showers was the team’s top kick returner as a freshman and a sophomore, reeling in 765 yards, good for third in the school record book. However, for his junior year, the team handed kick returning duties to Warren Oliver and sophomore Craig Needhammer. With the transfer of Oliver, though, Showers returned to the kick returning role and he has excelled in the first three games of the season, notching nine returns for 225 yards, helping him pass the school record of 987 career return yards set by Ricky Lanetti from 2000-03, as his last return against the Dutchmen went for 19 yards.

Slash
One of the most memorable players in recent Pittsburgh Steelers’ history was Kordell Stewart, the venerable quarterback that started his career as both a running back, wide receiver, punter and returner. Lycoming has its own version of the slash in junior Matt Atkinson, who has filled in the roles of both option quarterback and the team’s top wide receiver. As the team’s wildcat quarterback, Atkinson provides a distinctive change-up, and his running has netted 53 yards on 13 carries through the first three games. As a receiver, he leads the team with an average of 13.3 yards per catch and he has a current streak of five games with at least two receptions.

Breaking Up
After losing an All-American safety in Ray Bierbach and an all-conference one in Ryan Fenningham due to an injury, the Warriors have turned to a young secondary to step into an expanded role. They have, as sophomores Tanner Troutman and Kody Flail top the MAC in passes defended with Troutman first with six (four breakups, two interceptions) and Flail second (five breakups).