The Aggies and the Warriors are each 3-0 in conference play and coming off wins over teams that were previously unbeaten in league action. Delaware Valley, which has won four MAC titles in the last five years and is ranked as high as 16th in this year’s polls, earned a 41-23, come-from-behind triumph over Stevenson University. Lycoming notched a 16-14 victory at defending champion and nationally-ranked Widener University.
The Aggies are the lone MAC team to have an undefeated overall record (4-0) as they scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 35-27 triumph over 2012 NCAA playoff qualifier Rowan University in their season-opening, non-conference match-up.
Last week, Delaware Valley trailed 17-7 to Stevenson midway through the second quarter. The squad then went on to score 34 of the game’s final 40 points for the victory. Thirteen of the points for the Aggies came off turnovers as their defense forced four miscues, all in the second half.
Delaware Valley is ranked first in the MAC in total offense with an average of 437.7 yards per game and second in scoring with an average of 34.5 points per contest. The team’s rushing attack is a big reason why as it is averaging 226.0 yards per game.
Leading the ground attack is senior tailback and preseason All-American Kyle Schuberth (Darby, PA/Monsignor Bonner), who missed the first two games of the year with an injury but has come back with a flourish since then. In week three, Schuberth netted 148 yards and a touchdown at Albright College. He followed it up with his best performance in an Aggie uniform as he carried the ball 37 times for 214 yards and a school record-tying four touchdowns against Stevenson. The rushing touchdown total matched the mark that was set five previous times while his yardage total was the fourth-highest in school history. Schuberth was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Schuberth is looking to become the just the second player in school history (former teammate Matt Cook was the other) to record three straight, 1,000-yard seasons. He netted 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2011 and added 1,056 yards and another 14 scores last year.
Two-time all-conference quarterback Aaron Wilmer (Philadelphia, PA/George Washington) has started all 27 games of his collegiate career with the Aggies and the team is 23-4, including a win at Lycoming two years ago when, as a freshman, he scored the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds. This season, Wilmer has completed 59 of 104 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for 154 yards and a score. Last week against Stevenson, he was 17-for-30 for 174 yards and one scoring toss.
Wilmer’s favorite targets are fellow junior Rasheed Bailey (Philadelphia, PA/Roxborough) and senior Lewis Vincent (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem). Bailey has hauled in 17 passes for 322 yards and three trips to the end zone this season, including four receptions for 39 yards last week. Vincent, an all-conference honoree last season, had four grabs for 58 yards against Stevenson and that upped his season figures to 13 catches for 205 yards (two touchdowns).
Defensively, Delaware Valley ranks third in the MAC in scoring (21.0 avg) and fourth in total yardage (355.3 avg). The unit is tops against the pass as it allows 174.8 yards per contest in the air. Last week, the Aggies permitted just 116 total yards in the second half with 65 coming on one play.
Sophomore safety Danny Wynne (Hatfield, PA/North Penn), who is in his first year as a starter, paces Delaware Valley with 45 tackles (26 solo). Twelve of his stops came against Stevenson last week. Senior John Marcelline (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) and junior Bernard Avery (Philadelphia, PA/Roxborough) follow with 34 and 30 tackles respectively from their inside linebacker positions. Both were credited with six tackles last Saturday.
Senior Pete O’Hara (New Hope, PA/Council Rock North) and Chris Vega (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) lead the secondary with two interceptions apiece. O’Hara had one of his picks against Stevenson and he has added 18 tackles this season. Vega, who got his first collegiate start at Lycoming two years ago and intercepted two passes in the win, had both of his picks in 2013 come last week. He is tied for fifth on the team in tackles with 19.
Junior placekicker Brandon Snyder (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) had the game-winning field goal as time expired two weeks ago at Albright College. He followed it up with 11 points (2-for-2 on field goals, 5-for-5 on extra-points) against Stevenson and was named to the MAC Honor Roll. For the year, Snyder is 4-for-5 on field goal tries and a perfect 18-for-18 on extra-point attempts for 30 points.
LYCOMING COLLEGE
The Warriors opened the season with a tough, 30-2 home loss to Brockport College, but have followed it up with three straight wins over MAC foes Wilkes (34-18), Misericordia (52-14) and Widener (16-14). Last week’s contest with Widener was yet another memorable battle between the two. Lycoming took a 13-0 lead only to fall behind, 14-13, in the fourth quarter. Zack Czap hit a 33-yard field goal with 2:24 to go (his third of the game) and the Pride missed a field goal in the closing seconds as the Warriors held on for the win.
The Lycoming offense is ranked fifth in the conference in scoring with an average of 25.5 points per game. The unit is seventh in rushing (152.0 avg), passing (208.8 avg) and total yardage (360.8 avg). The Warriors have one of the top running backs in the MAC in junior Craig Needhammer. Needhammer has netted 506 yards and four touchdowns on 81 carries, including 108 yards on 26 attempts at Widener.
Junior Tyler Jenny is the team’s signal-caller and he has completed 65 of 99 passes for 804 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. At Widener, he was 18-for-29 for 176 yards and one score. Jenny’s favorite targets are senior Matt Atkinson and sophomore Ryan Umpleby as they have combined for 42 catches for 579 yards and six trips to the end zone. Atkinson has 22 receptions for 271 yards and four scores, including a four-catch, 33-yard effort last week. Umpleby hauled in eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown at Widener and it improved his season totals to 20 catches for 308 yards and two scores.
The Warrior defense leads the conference in both scoring and total yardage allowed with per-game averages of 19 points and 318 yards allowed respectively. They are third in passing (193.3 avg) and fifth in rushing (124.8 avg).
Senior linebacker Tyler Denike leads the unit with 27 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He had seven stops, one interception and the fumble recovery in last week’s win. Junior safety Tanner Troutman and senior tackle Dwight Hentz follow with 24 and 21 tackles respectively. Troutman, who had eight stops at Widener, also has four pass breakups and one interception on the year. Hentz leads the squad with four sacks and 3.5 came against Widener as he was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Kabongo Bukasa is another player to watch. The senior linebacker has played in three games this year and has 19 tackles, including a team-best 10 at Widener.
