RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lycoming's Terrence Oliver picks up yardage around Wilkes Kai Stiansen (16) during a college football game on Oct. 7 this year.

Following Lycoming’s early blowout loss to Cortland, Lycoming freshman running back Terrance Oliver mentioned that he hoped fans would get to see the team that was “here since August 9th working. That’s what I hope.”

“You can see it,” said Oliver on Wednesday. “It’s more than just team play. You see these individuals, everybody’s on their P’s and Q’s, giving us their all. My goal is to not have regrets in the season. If everybody gives their all, we’re shining.”

The Warriors have effectively operated under a win-or-go-home mentality for the past three weeks.

A bitter home loss against Wilkes to open October left the Warriors one misstep away from implosion. If a sixth loss occurred, it’d be all she wrote. That’s become mathematically true since then, as Susquehanna won its fifth conference matchup on Saturday.

But it’s still an if.

Rather than giving up after an 0-5 start, Lycoming weathered three straight must-win scenarios, keeping its chances of being crowned co-conference champion alive. With its latest 56-10 victory over Juniata – it’s third in conference play, it’s now in a three-way tie for second in the Landmark, with the lone team at the top being the River Hawks.

“I give our kids a lot of credit. They’re resilient. They’ve hung in there and done what we’ve asked them to do and they keep showing up,” said Lycoming coach Mike Clark on the team’s recent success. “You always come into the season with unbelievably high expectations. It’s nice to get results now.”

A commendable feat, for sure, as it not only put together a string of wins, but also endured the added pressure of each sequential contest. In the Landmark conference’s inaugural season for football, the Warriors currently stand two wins away from a league title.

Three down, two to go.

Like Mario traversing through World 8 with one life remaining in Super Mario Brothers, beating a few levels doesn’t make the road any easier. You might have bolstered confidence and assurance, but the princess is in that final castle for a reason.

Lycoming’s upcoming matchups come against Moravian (4-4, 3-1 Landmark) and No. 11 Susquehanna (9-0, 5-0 Landmark). Obviously, the perennial top-ten team sticks out, but the River Hawks aren’t the focus at the moment.

“Susquehanna doesn’t matter yet. If it’s really going to matter, we have to have this week,” said Clark. “We’re in a better place than we were but Moravian is a good football team and we’re glad to have them here (at home).”

As it stands, Moravian is one of the three teams tied for second in the Landmark, along with Lycoming and Wilkes.

Neither non-conference schedule was kind to the trio, with the Greyhounds beginning 2023 with a 41-point loss to No. 22 Muhlenberg. However, Moravian was able to pick up a non-conference victory and has posted a positive record since its opening loss, unlike the other two. It’s also the only team in the Landmark to lose to Susquehanna by less than 20 points.

“They played hard. It was homecoming and they executed pretty well,” said Clark on Moravian holding its own against Susquehanna. “They certainly had opportunities.”

It’s bolstered by a proficient offense, which places second in the Landmark in most categories, including yards per game, passing yards per game, offensive efficiency and passing efficiency. Starting quarterback Jared Jenkins leads the Landmark in passing yards and touchdowns while standout receiver Jordan Bingham leads the conference in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

“Their quarterbacks and receivers are probably the best group of quarterbacks and receivers we’ve faced since Cortland,” said Clark on Moravian. “That’s certainly a concern and they’re ranked where they’re ranked for a reason. You’ve got to be aware of what they want to do, they spread the ball around.”

The Lyco defense still ranks at the bottom of the conference in opposing passing yards per game but has displayed notable improvements there in recent weeks. They held the Catholic offense — which passes the ball more than any team in the Landmark — to 25 points and allowed a combined completion percentage of 40-percent against Keystone and Juniata.

Defensively, the Warriors have given up an average of 14 points through their last three victories. Senior linebacker Kevin Gianoni — who’s tied for fifth in the Landmark in tackles for loss — believes the key to the unit’s recent success has been its heart.

“The biggest thing has been the guys not giving up on the season from the start,” said Gianoni. “We knew it was going to be a tough season when you start out with a couple of top teams in the nation. We’ve had confidence in our guys since day one. So that’s really been key, just having confidence.”

The offense has seen similar improvements in recent weeks, averaging nearly 40 points in its last three wins thanks to improved efficiency in both the run and the pass.

On top of improved efficiency from starting quarterback Will Fish, freshman backs Quasim Benson and Terrance Oliver have been largely impactful throughout this stretch. They each rank in the top-seven in the Landmark in yards per game despite splitting carries, with Benson averaging nearly six yards per rush. Their combined output would be good for second in the conference despite each back missing multiple games.

“We both work hard. I feel like all the hard work helped in what we’ve accomplished,” said Benson on the backfield’s success. “We’ve both worked hard all summer during camp. Now here, still working hard.”

The test will be whether or not each unit’s improvements will hold up against the team’s toughest opponent since Wilkes. If it can successfully overcome its highest hurdle of conference play since then, it will be in position to earn a share of the Landmark crown come next Saturday.

The mentality remains the same. Win, or go home.