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| A WOLnews 2009 File Photo of Lycoming Vs FDU-Florham |
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - After a pair of close late losses, the Lycoming College football program will get back on the field today when it hosts FDU-Florham as part of the college's Homecoming activites as well as serving as Colleges Against Cancer's Pink-out game.
The Warriors (1-5 overall, 1-4 MAC) are coming off a 30-26 loss at King's. The Monarchs scored the game-winning touchdown with 52 seconds left, spoiling a game in which the Warriors racked up 343 yards of total offense.
The Devils (2-4 overall, 1-4 MAC) are coming off a 51-6 loss to 17th-ranked Albright. Freshman Joseph McCain completed 27-of-38 passing for 201 yards in the loss.
Warrior Notes
• Lycoming has won nine straight games against FDU-Florham, the longest streak in the series history.
• Senior Ryan Umpleby is second in the MAC in all-purpose yards (146.3) and junior Blake Bowman is third (133.5).
• Umpleby needs 122 more all-purpose yards to become the third player in school history to notch 1,000 three times in a career.
• Bowman became the first Warrior to score four touchdowns in a game since Jared Morris did it against Albright in 2002.
• Bowman needs two more rushing touchdowns to become the 13th player in school history to post 10 in a season.
• Junior Chase Whiteman leads the MAC with 7.64 yards per pass attempt.
• Sophomore Mike Ward is second in the MAC in passes defended with 1.7 per game.
Scouting Lycoming
Offense: Multiple/Pro-Style
Lycoming is fourth in the MAC in scoring offense (24.8), fifth in total offense (352.5), third in rushing offense (172.2) and sixth in passing offense (180.3).
The Warriors are led by a talented duo in senior wide receiver Ryan Umpleby and junior running back Blake Bowman. Umpleby is second in the MAC in all-purpose yards (146.3), fifth in receiving yards per game (67.2), fifth in receiving touchdowns (3) and third in kickoff returns (23.7). Bowman is third in the league in all-purpose yards (133.5), first in rushing touchdowns (8) and second in rushing yards per game (95.5).
Junior quarterback Chase Whiteman leads the league in yards per pass attempt (7.6) and he is third in passing efficiency (124.6).
Defense: 4-3
Lycoming is seventh in the MAC in scoring defense (32.2), fifth in total defense (374.70), fourth in rushing defense (123.0) and ninth in passing defense (251.7).
The Warriors are sixth in the nation with three defensive touchdowns this year, as junior Tyler Smith has an interception return and junior Zach Smith and freshman Wyatt Entz each have fumble returns for scores.
Sophomore Mike Ward is seventh in the league with two incerceptions and second with 10 passes defended. Junior Jon Rummel leads the defensive line, as he is sixth in the league with 0.67 sacks per game.
Scouting FDU-Florham
Offense: Multiple
FDU-Florham is seventh in the MAC in scoring offense (19.7), eighth in total offense (296.7), eighth in rushing offense (93.2) and fourth in passing offense (203.5).
The Devils are led by sophomore wide receiver Malik Pressley, who leads the MAC with eight touchdowns, 99.7 receiving yards per game and 7.7 catches per contest. He started the year with a 309-yard, four touchdown effort against The College of New Jersey.
The team has used three different quarterbacks this year and will likely use sophomore Joseph McCainagainst the Warriors, as he went 27-of-38 for 201 yards against 17th-ranked Albright last week. SeniorTyler Maurer could also see action, as he is 27-of-43 for 433 yards and six touchdowns in three games this year.
Defense: 4-3
FDU-Florham is ninth in the MAC in scoring defense (39.5), seventh in total defense (429.2), eighth in rushing defense (263.5) and third in passing defense (165.7).
Junior defensive back Chris McDonald is second in the MAC with 61 tackles and he has also added an interception and 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior defensive back Troy Scales is second on the squad with 37 tackles and he also has an interception.
Senior linebacker Nick Galletta leads the team with six tackles for loss and three sacks and junior defensive lineman Ryan Sullivan has added 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Take a Bow, man
Junior Blake Bowman became just the fifth Warrior in program history to score four touchdowns in a game on Oct. 17 at King's, as he rushed 22 times for 142 yards and added two catches for 27 yards. Bowman joined the exclusive group with two one-yard scoring rushes, a two-yard rush and a four-yard reception. He is the first Warrior to post four scores in a game since Jared Morris did it against Albright in 2002. Bowman leads the MAC with eight rushing touchdowns.
The Umpdate
Senior Ryan Umpleby continues to rise in the school's career record books. The Forest Hill, Md., native needs 50 more receiving yards to move into fourth in school history where Rich Kessler (1983-86) sits with 2,094 career yards. His 139 career receptions are already fourth in school history and his 17 touchdowns are one touchdown away from the top five. He is also just 28 yards away from third place in career kick return yards, where Ricky Lanetti (2000-03) sits with 987.
All-purpose Men
Senior Ryan Umpleby and junior Blake Bowman are both on track to surpass 1,000 all-purpose yards this season, as they both enter today's game with more than 800 on the year. It would be the third straight year that Umpleby teamed with a running back to post a 1,000-yard-plus duo, as Craig Needhammer '15 had 1,539 yards in 2013 and a record 1,867 in 2014, while Umpleby notched 1,052 in 2013 and 1,223 in 2014.
On the hunt for win 50
Head coach Mike Clark will look for his 50th career win today against FDU-Florham. In his eighth year as head coach, Clark has led the team to six winning seasons, including five in a row from 2010-14. Clark's Warriors have won eight games three times and won MAC titles in 2008 and 2013. Despite being the fourth-longest tenured head coach in Lycoming's 114-year history of football, he is second in all-time wins, behind only Frank Girardi, who won 257 games from 1972-07.
Local Produce
The Warriors have a local flair this season, especially on defense, where four young players are already making an impact. Sophomore Caleb Robbins, from Loyalsock Township High School, is a starting safety with 24 tackles. At linebacker, Jersey Shore product Dominic Loffredo has 26 tackles and South Williamsport's John Peters has 20 tackles and an interception. On the defensive line, Montoursville's Wyatt Entz has eight stops and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
