Lyco looks to snap losing skid
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The Lycoming College football team's season has been a bit of a roller coaster so far, with highs and lows, but the Warriors are well-positioned to take control of their own fate moving forward.
Delaware Valley -- one of the top five Division III football programs in the country along with Central College of Pella, Iowa, The University of Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio, Hampden-Sydney College of Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, and North Central College of Naperville, Illinois -- was the latest opponent for the Warriors after two difficult losses.
The disheartening loss against Delaware Valley, 21-0, made the Lycoming offense appear sub-par at times. With the game in hand, Lycoming ultimately coughed it up with a turnover, a few missed field goals, and two major plays that went uncovered by the Warrior defense, losing to King's 28-23 in heartbreaking circumstances.
This weekend's contest between the Warriors and Stevenson, who have also lost their last two games, is intended to be a get right game for one team as the Lycoming squad hopes to return to the win column.
The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff this afternoon.
"This year has been different, we don't know where we are as of now, we're two and three currently so it's hard to say that you feel good about yourself and where you are," said Lycoming coach Mike Clark.
"We lost to two teams that are in the top 25, both of them have a lot of guys that are fifth-year guys and that are also really good players that are in the top of their class, Susquehanna University is probably easily one of the best offenses that we've played, Delaware Valley's defense is well no disrespect to Susquehanna and King's but their defense is really good too," he added.
Lycoming lost to Susquehanna, 45-16, in its season opener before posting back-to-back wins against Lebanon Valley (21-20) and Albright (45-0). Lycoming then dropped its last two to King's (28-23) and Delaware Valley last week.
"As it stands our three losses are to teams that are 13-1, so I don't really know, I think we're in an OK spot but you never know, I feel as though in the King's game we could have won that one," he said.
Stevenson enters today's game with a 4-2 record. Brandon Walker leads the team with 242 rushing yards and four touchdowns and Maurice Hammond has 188 rushing yards and four scores.
"They lost their last two games just like we lost our last two games," Clark said. "Ed Hoddle is their coach and he's done a really nice job there and has built a nice program."
Stevenson has a solid quarterback in addition its backfield as Ryan Sedgwick has thrown for 1,062 yards on 106 for 12 passing. In addition to his 61.6% completion percentage, Sedgwick has eight touchdown passes.
"We both are in similar spots but ultimately we both lost two games in a row so somebody has to win this weekend, they lost to King's last weekend and Del Val a week before, so I think we're comparable teams," Clark said. "I think a lot of the teams in our league are us, King's, Stevenson, Wilkes a number of us are pretty similar so we're very excited about the challenge, the physicality and the opportunity for this game this weekend."
After the Mustangs the Warriors will face Alvernia at home, Wilkes away, Widener at home, and finish the season against Misericordia away.
Team leaders for Lycoming thus far include Heath Jones (a Montoursville graduate) in rushing with 236 total rushing yards and quarterback Elijah Shemory (a Jersey Shore graduate) in passing with 636 total passing yards.
Receiver Brandon Timothy has 192 total receiving yards, Cole Senior leads the defense with 39 tackles. Both Austin Rowley and Hunter Campbell lead Lycoming with two interceptions each.