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| #23 Jr RB Craig Needhammer scores against FDU-Florham |
Offense: Multiple/Pro-Style
Lycoming enters today's game ranked sixth in the MAC in scoring (25.4), eighth in rushing (142.6), sixth in passing (211.3) and fifth in total offense (353.9).
The team does have one of the most accurate passing attacks in the MAC, though, as junior quarterback Tyler Jenny is second in completion percentage (64.6) and fourth in passing efficiency (146.5). His favorite target is senior Matt Atkinson, who has posted two 100-yard games this year. Atkinson is fifth in the league with 709 yards and his 55 catches are third.
The running game is led by junior Craig Needhammer, who has rushed for more than 100 yards six times this year. He is second in the MAC with 1,022 rushing yards and his 12 touchdowns are third in the league, just one behind the league leaders of Austin Hartman of Lebanon Valley and Jeff Puckett of Misericordia.
Defense: 4-3
The Warriors are ranked second in scoring defense (18.1) and first in total defense (301.2) and rushing defense (96.4). The team is also sixth in passing defense (204.8), sixth in sacks (20) and third in interceptions (12).
The Warriors are looking to lead the MAC in total defense for the second time in the past three years, as they enter the final Saturday with the league lead at 301.2 yards. The team has also led the league in rushing defense in each of the last two years and enter today's game with a league-best 96.4 yards.
Two Warriors are in the top 25 in the league in tackles, with senior Tyler Denike 10th at 7.4 stops per game, and junior Tanner Troutman tied for 24th at 6.2 tackles per contest. Senior Dwight Hentz is a force inside, sitting tied for second in the league with 12.5 tackles for loss.
Scouting Stevenson
Offense: Multiple
Stevenson enters the game ranked seventh in the MAC in scoring (25.1), sixth in total offense (347.7), fourth in rushing (169.0) and seventh in passing (178.7).
Two Mustang running backs are ranked in the top 10 of the league, with Marcus Holley seventh in the league at 73.2 yards per game and Trey Lee eighth at 72.2 yards.
Behind center, John Gazparovic is eighth in the league with an average of 145.1 passing yards per game and his 11.1 completions per game is seventh.
Former Warrior Charlie Cornell is enjoying a fine season as the Mustangs' kicker, as he has posted a perfect 9-for-9 effort in field goals.
Defense: 4-4
The Mustangs are ranked fifth in scoring defense (22.9) and sixth in total defense (369.6). The team is also eighth in rushing defense (188.2) and second in passing defense (181.9). Five of the Mustangs' nine opponents have scored at least 30 points this season.
The Mustang defense is ranked in the top 10 all across the league, with Donnell Brown fifth in the league with 8.1 tackles per game and Razonte Dunn sixth at 7.7 stops per game.
Billy Lewis is fourth in the league with 0.4 picks per game and Shane Clough is right behind with 0.3. Moses Anoh is ranked 11th in the league with 4.5 sacks and Ethan Hornbager is 12th with four sacks.
The hammer report
By any standards, junior Craig Needhammer is enjoying one of the finest seasons ever for a Warrior running back. Already sixth in program history with 1,022 rushing yards, he is 101 yards from the top five in school history. His six 100-yard rushing games is tied for second, behind only Brian Thompson (8, 1997), who rushed for 100 yards three times in the NCAA Playoffs. Needhammer's 1,295 all-purpose yards is tied for seventh in program history and his 12 touchdowns are tied for fifth, just two from the school-record of 14 set by Tim Deasey (2001) and Thompson (1998).
All A's
Senior Matt Atkinson has quietly racked up some impressive receiving numbers this season. Junior quarterback Tyler Jenny's favorite target, Atkinson has caught 55 passes this season, just three from the top three in school history. His 709 receiving yards this season leaves him just 41 from becoming the 12th in school history to reach 750.
A tough road
FDU-Florham was the first MAC opponent for the Warriors that has not been either tied for first in the MAC (Wilkes, 0-0; Widener, 2-0; Delaware Valley, 3-0) or one game behind (Misericordia, 0-1; Lebanon Valley, 3-1; Albright, 3-2; King's, 4-2) in the conference standings.
Czapped one more time
Entering his final regular-season game, senior Zack Czap has left one of the strongest legacies in school history for a member of the special teams. As a kicker, Czap started for three seasons and has hit 25-of-35 field goals in his career. The 71 percent rate is best in school history. As a punter, Czap has earned two First Team All-MAC accolades and one second-team. He is fourth in school history with 6,595 career yards punting and his average of 38.0 yards per boot this season is the best of his career. Czap will also leave the program with a school-record eight MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
More honors for Wise
Lycoming College assistant head football coach Steve Wiser '74 was inducted into the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday night, Nov. 10, at the 40th annual awards banquet. Wiser was a standout linebacker and wrestler for the Warriors before moving to the sidelines, where he has assisted the Warriors for 40 seasons, including the last 37 as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Perfect at Person
The Warriors finished the 2013 campaign 5-0 at David Person Field. It was the first perfect home slate since 2008 and the 11th in school history.
