MADISON, N.J. – Junior Mike Ward (Edgewater, Md./South River) picked up his Division III-leading fifth fumble recovery of the season, but the Lycoming College football team fell victim to a fourth-quarter rally by FDU-Florham that was capped by a 19-yard field goal from Nick Maciejewski as time expired, falling 24-21 in Middle Atlantic Conference action at Shields Stadium.
 
The Warriors (2-4 overall, 1-4 MAC) scored 21 straight points over a 30-minute period from the first to the third quarters to take a 21-8 lead.
 
Lycoming started its rally with a 46-yard kickoff return by senior Zach Smith (Elliotsburg, Pa./West Perry), who scored his second career touchdown off an attempted on-side kick that he picked up and ran the distance.
 
Early in the second quarter, the Warriors took a 14-8 lead thanks to a 97-yard, 11-play drive. Senior Chase Whiteman (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area) found sophomore Mike Mulvihill (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) for a 28-yard completion to get the ball to the FDU 44 and he later rushed for 19 yards to bring the ball inside the 20. Five plays later, Whiteman found sophomore John Kim (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) for a seven-yard score.
 
In the third quarter, Lycoming took the lead with another long drive, using just six plays to go 96 yards, as Whiteman connected with sophomore Nick Costello (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) for a 63-yard score, as Costello caught the ball at the 35 and brought it in for the score.
 
The Devils (2-3 overall, 2-2 MAC) rallied, though, scoring on their next drive with a 20-yard pass from Jagger Green to Mike Panzarino to make it 21-15. After three straight Lycoming drives stalled, the Devils drove 76 yards in six plays, with a big 31-yard reception on 3-and-7 from Green to Esaun Mobley getting the ball inside the 10, where it was punched in two plays later by Robert Young to tie the game. However, the extra point was blocked to keep it tied.
 
The Warriors drove inside the FDU 35 and punted the ball to the four-yard line with its next drive, but FDU changed field position quickly, using a 43-yard rush from Steve Iannone to get inside the five before penalties ultimate ended the drive with a 40-yard missed field goal. Lycoming gave FDU the ball back at the FDU 27 after a 51-yard punt by freshman Brandon Miller (Slatington, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) with 2:59 left. The Devils embarked on a 10-play, 71-yard drive, with the Warriors stopping FDU at the goalline three straight times before Maciejewski's field goal went through as time expired.
 
Whiteman finished 17-of-26 for 228 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and he led the team with 13 rushes for 43 yards. Freshman Dante Gipson (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown) added eight rushes for a career-high 43 yards and sophomore Kyle Slivka-Fralin (Bristol, Pa./Bristol) made six catches for 59 yards. Costello added three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.
 
Greed finished 29-of-43 for 334 yards and a touchdown and Young rushed 27 times for 109 yards and a score for the Devils. Panzarino caught 17 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown and Mobley added seven receptions for 73 yards.
 
Miller again helped the Warriors keep the Devils pinned back in starting field position, as he launched seven punts for an average of 45.6 yards and he put three inside the 20.
 
Sophomore Khamari Williams (Gaithersburg, Md./The Avalon School) finished with 13 tackles and a breakup and Smith added 11 stops, one for loss. Ward posted nine stops and he recorded a fumble recovery in the second quarter and freshman Zach Kovach (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) added nine stops, a breakup and a forced fumble. Both sophomore Sam Romanofsky (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) and senior Tyler Smith (Sellersville, Pa./Archbishop Wood) each added sacks.
 
Isaiah Turner led the Devils with 12 tackles, two for loss and Liam Casey added nine stops, a sack, two forced fumbles and an interception.
 
The Warriors have now entered their bye week and will get back on the field on Saturday, Oct. 22, when they host MAC foe Lebanon Valley at 1 p.m. at David Person Field. The game will feature the Hall of Fame salute to former head football coach Frank Girardi, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December.