RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock graduate Brendan Clark was injured in the fourth game of 2024 with Lycoming’s football team, but he’s glad to be back on the field this year with the Warriors.

Getting back onto the football field has been on Lycoming senior Brendan Clark’s mind for nearly an entire year now. It was just the fourth game of the year when Clark started to have his breakout he felt.

In the first half against Hilbert, the former Loyalsock standout caught four passes for 60 yards and was having a solid game. Then, disaster struck.

Clark suffered a season-ending injury that game and wasn’t able to get back onto the field to play in a Lycoming uniform. This entire past offseason, he’s been motivated, grinding and working out to suit up and redeem himself.

“Motivated is an understatement, but more than anything I’m excited. I feel like a kid again almost,” Clark said. “I haven’t played football since the first half of Week 4 last year, so I’m excited. I’m very, very excited.”

That excitement could be seen at the Landmark Conference media day when Clark spoke to those in attendance and when he smiled talking about this upcoming season.

And sure, he may have smiled just a little bit larger when talking about himself being able to get back on the field since that unfortunate injury.

“I think when I got hurt, I was finally having my breakout. Like 60 yards in the first half, I’m finally getting the ball and enjoying it then boom, just like that,” Clark said. “It was the first true injury I ever had in the sport, so it kind of stunk, but I worked really hard this offseason and I’m ready to go.”

Clark will be part of a Warriors offense that has plenty of weapons. That includes a standout running game and passing weapons for quarterback Jay Huber, who threw for 1,369 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall.

“I think it’s no question our running back Terrance Oliver is our best player,” Clark said. “Expect No. 7 to score a lot, expect No. 7 to get the ball a lot. Expect Dawson Debebe to get the football. I think all of our pass catchers are really good. I think we can be explosive.”

The team has the ability to be above .500 this year after a disappointing 4-6 campaign last fall, and Clark noted the team had plenty of positives to take away from last year.

“I think we were really hurt as a team last year, physically. So last year, we had a lot of dudes play that in the most honest way, shouldn’t have been playing yet. So I think we built a lot of depth,” Clark said. “We have a lot of goals, I don’t want to lay them out there … I think we can be really good offensively.”

Last year, Susquehanna reached the NCAA Division III playoffs and were ranked No. 2 in the country and reached the Final Four. That run by the River Hawks showed that the Landmark Conference has talented players and teams that can do a lot of things. But, more importantly, it also brought everyone up.

Susquehanna playing at a high level meant the rest of the league was also playing at a high level to match the River Hawks. Everyone is playing up to that competition level.

“I think it’s going to be a pretty competitive (league) this year. Susquehanna was great last year, everyone knows that, they were a Final Four team. No discredit to them, but it’s 2025 and I think Moravian’s going to be a really good team this year. I think we can be a really good team this year. I think Wilkes can be really good this year,” Clark said. “I look at our schedule and I don’t see anything like ‘OK, this week we can take a little off the brakes.’ We play a real team every single week, so we have to come prepared and obviously Susquehanna is at the top of the throne, everybody knows that. There’s no argument.

“I’m just excited to be the best version of Lyco every week,” Clark added.

And that starts Saturday with TCNJ at home.