WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – After the first five-game winning streak for the Lycoming College football team since 1999, the team is ranked ninth in the initial NCAA East Region rankings, the NCAA regional rankings committees announced on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 5.
The Warriors (6-2 overall, 5-2 Middle Atlantic Conference) have lost to two teams in the poll, which includes top-ranked Delaware Valley and third-ranked Widener. Hobart, the other undefeated team in the region is third, while St. John Fisher sits fourth ahead of Framingham State, St. Lawrence, MIT and Montclair State. Lycoming and Ithaca round out the poll.
Lycoming has been led by senior running back Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), who has racked up 909 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns through the first eight games. Senior quarterback Tyler Jenny (Glasgow, Pa./Glendale) has been just as good, completing 149-of-232 passing for 1,868 yards and 18 touchdowns while being intercepted just four times.
Defensively, the team is led by a strong defensive line, which includes three players in the league’s top 10 in sacks in juniorCole Welham (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown Area), who leads the league at 1.0 sack per game, senior Jimmy Nottingham(Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown), who is seventh with 0.57, and junior Tyler O’Connell (Ogdensburg, N.J./Jefferson Township), who is ninth with 0.50.
The East Region Top 10 is as follows (Division III record, overall record, strength of schedule)
1. Delaware Valley (8-0, 8-0, .532)
2. Hobart (8-0, 8-0, .471)
3. Widener (8-0, 8-0, .479)
4. St. John Fisher (6-1, 7-1, .572)
5. Framingham State (7-1, 7-1, .528)
6. St. Lawrence (7-1, 7-1, .538)
7. MIT (7-0, 7-0, .425)
8. Montclair State (6-1, 7-1, .542)
9. Lycoming (6-2, 6-2, .534)
10. Ithaca (6-2, 6-2, .527)
The East Region Top 10 is as follows (Division III record, overall record, strength of schedule)
1. Delaware Valley (8-0, 8-0, .532)
2. Hobart (8-0, 8-0, .471)
3. Widener (8-0, 8-0, .479)
4. St. John Fisher (6-1, 7-1, .572)
5. Framingham State (7-1, 7-1, .528)
6. St. Lawrence (7-1, 7-1, .538)
7. MIT (7-0, 7-0, .425)
8. Montclair State (6-1, 7-1, .542)
9. Lycoming (6-2, 6-2, .534)
10. Ithaca (6-2, 6-2, .527)
The Warriors wrap up their home slate on Saturday, Nov. 8, with Senior Day against Lebanon Valley. The MAC contest begins at 1 p.m. at David Person Field.
