Rowan threw a different look at Lycoming quarterback Joe Lyons; one the Warriors had not anticipated at practice.

But it did not fool Lyons. Facing a third-and-8, the sophomore darted a 21-yard pass to Jared Zimmerman. Four plays later Terrence Oliver was in the end zone, scoring a go-ahead 28-yard touchdown. All this after Dawson Debebe made his first catch this season a memorable one, hauling in a 35-yard Lyons touchdown pass the previous series.

Lyons settling in as a first-time starter and Debebe excelling as he returns from injury were huge positives Saturday at Frank Girardi Stadium. Rowan rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit and won, 34-23 but Lyons threw for 290 yards, Debebe caught five passes for 120 yards and Lycoming (0-4) showed why it could be a dangerous offense the rest of the season.

“I think it’s a great sign. It really shows that we’re a complete offense and not just T.O (Terrence Oliver) running for 300 yards every game. We can throw it, too,” Lyons said after completing 22 of 39 passes. “It really shows how multi-dimensional we can be once we stick together.”

“I think we’re going to keep getting better on offense. That’s a good team with what they do schematically and they really make it hard on you,” Lycoming coach Mike Clark said. “Honestly, I believe we’re good at running back, good at quarterback, and as we get healthy at wide receiver we’re going to score points, but we didn’t score enough today and that stinks because that’s all that matters is winning.”

While that is the case, what Lycoming showed against a Rowan team coming off a 56-0 thumping of Moravian could point to future success. The Warriors scored 14 second quarter points to build a 14-7 halftime lead and made it a one-possession game entering the fourth after Oliver scored on a six-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 28-23.

Debebe made his first start after playing sparingly in the first three games due to a pulled hamstring. Even on a limited play count, he displayed the added dimension he provides the offense, averaging 24 yards per catch and setting up Oliver’s six-yard third quarter touchdown with a 42-yard catch on third-and-7.

“It’s been hard sitting out these last few weeks. I’ve been itching to come back. Once they took that leash off for a few plays I played my brand of football and was just making the plays when I had the chance and just making the most of my opportunities,” Dawson said. “I’m excited to have more opportunities as I come back 100 %.”

So is Lycoming.

Zimmerman was lost with a shoulder injury and tight end Brendan Clark was out with a knee injury, but the receiving core still looked dangerous with four players catching at least three passes, including Muncy graduate Ross Eyer who had four for 46 yards. Combine that with Lyons playing his best game in his third start; Oliver being one of the Landmark Conference’s premier running backs and Lycoming has the ingredients to cook up some success going forward.

“There are a lot of positive things,” Lyons said. “We don’t want to start how we’ve started, obviously, but it’s a step in the right direction in the passing game.”

Lyons showed promise in the season finale a year ago against powerhouse Susquehanna, finding Dawson for a touchdown. He took over the starting job against Montclair State and has continued progressing over the last two games. It was not just the numbers which stood out against Rowan either, but the throws Dawson made as he accumulated them.

Despite consistently being under pressure, Lyons remained cool in the pocket and picked apart a stout defense at times. He made good decisions, accurate throws and completed crucial passes on all four scoring drives. His only interception came on a last-second Hail Mary attempt which closed out the first half.

Lyons has thrown for 472 yards and his three touchdowns the past two games and is giving defenses which focus so much attention on Oliver something else to think about, a key step in the offense’s progression.

“What Joe has to do better in time is just learn from his mistakes, but he has a lot of maturity; he’s accurate and he’s really competitive,” Clark said. “Last week we had some drops and penalties that hurt us, but I think from the last drive of the Montclair State game where we kind of took the hand cuffs off him a little bit to now, he’s done a really good job.”

“I’m getting used to the receivers and the line, but I definitely think I’m settling in,” Lyons said. “As the Montclair State game progressed, and they let me play, from going into last week and now this game, I feel like the game is slowing down for me.”

Debebe has done all he can to speed his way back onto the field. The 6-foot-3 senior caught 71 passes for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns the past two years. Even on a snap count, Debebe showcased his explosiveness against Rowan, catching that second quarter touchdown pass, helping create the next touchdown and adding two more first down catches on consecutive plays during Lycoming’s final possession.

It was just the kind of performance Debebe was hoping for and his presence could create ample opportunities for his fellow receivers as he returns to full health after working hard with Lycoming’s training staff to return Saturday.

“Dawson is a great player,” Clark said. “He probably played more than we thought he would. We got down and we said, ‘Let’s get him the ball.'”

Rowan was intently focused every time Lycoming gave Oliver the ball and with good reason. A 1,000-yard rusher last fall, Oliver gashed Dickinson for 298 yards the previous week. He scored twice and totaled 125 yards, but Rowan frequently denied Oliver chunk runs and forced Lycoming to look for other options as it frequently had it in third-and-long situations.

What makes Oliver such a difference-maker, however, is that ability to open the field for others and Lycoming took advantage. That was especially true when Lyons took a flea flicker from him on the second quarter’s first play and found a wide open Debebe streaking to the end zone for a game-tying 34-yard touchdown.

“We (the receivers) always try and be the most explosive people on the field. It’s such a heavy game plan for (slowing) Terrence that it’s up to us now,” Debebe said. “So many teams are going to bring a blitz and you have to have man coverage and you have to win your match-ups. As a receiver you’re licking your chops. It’s exciting to have the chance to make plays, so it’s amazing having Terrence back there.”

Oliver’s 28-yard touchdown late in the first half had Lycoming thinking upset, but two long kick returns set up two quick Rowan touchdowns. Rowan went ahead to stay when Nate Maier and Michael Zarfati connected for a third touchdown, this one from 31 yards out on a third-and-long roll out which made it, 21-14.

After Granitto Vasco drilled a 29-yard field goal, Nunes Bukula took the next play 60 yards. The Warriors pulled within five but two Greg Casimir field goals and 2 ½ Gerald Sanders sacks helped seal Rowan victory.

The result was not what Lycoming wanted but the offense taking another step forward provides momentum going forward. What the Warriors hope is that this performance was not the highlight in offense’s development but just the start.

“I was juiced after that one (his touchdown catch). They saw Terrence with the ball and they’re going for it, and we just take the top off,” Debebe said. “Those are the types of plays we can make because of what our line and Terrence have been able to do. It’s been awesome and we’re hoping to make plays like that in the future.”

Rowan 34, Lycoming 23

Rowan 7 0 21 6―34

Lycoming 0 14 9 0―23

First Quarter

R–Michael Zarfati 45 pass from Nate Maiers (Greg Casimir kick), 6:11

Second Quarter

L–Dawson Debebe 34 pass from Joe Lyons (Granitto Vasco kick), 14:55

L–Terrence Oliver 28 run (Vasco kick), 2:13

Third Quarter

R–Zarfati 27 pass from Maiers (Casimir kick), 14:06

R–Zarfati 31 pass from Maiers (Casimir kick), 7:26

L–Vasco 29-yard field goal, 4:28

R–Nunes Bukula 60 run (Casimir kick), 4:14

L–Oliver 6 run (Vasco kick), 1:33

Fourth Quarter

R–Casimir 33-yard field goal, 13:23

R–Casimir 36-yard field goal, 8:42

TEAM STATISTICS R L

First Downs 19 22

Rushes-yards 28-156 36-99

Passing yards 284 290

Total yards 440 389

Comp-Att-Int 15-23-1 22-39-1

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Penalties-yards 9-90 10-84

Punts-Avr. 1-46 5-36

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Rowan, Nunes Bukula 12-116, TD; Mordecai Ford 2-20; Tyshawn Bookman 9-18; Matt Welsey 1-9; Nate Maiers 2-(-2). Lycoming, Terrence Oliver 24-79, 2 TD; Spencer Ferguson 4-33; Michael VanHorn 2-9; Joe Lyons 6-(-22).

PASSING: Rowan, Maiers 15-23-1, 284 yards, 3 TD. Lycoming, Lyons 22-39-1, 290 yards, TD.

RECEIVING: Rowan, Michael Zarfati 6-133, 3 TD; Ford 1-50; Bukula 4-29; Bookman 2-27; Luke Hoke 1-27; Jamir Rowe 1-18. Lycoming, Dawson Debebe 5-120, TD; Oliver 5-46; Ross Eyer 4-46; Colin McGrory 4-39; Jared Zimmerman 3-30; VanHorn 1-9.

INTERCEPTIONS: Rowan, Ezra Williams-Thomas. Lycoming, Louie Shank.

SACKS: Rowan, Gerald Sanders 2 ½; Akil Moody ½.

Records: Rowan 2-0-1. Lycoming 0-4.