The Lycoming swarming defense shut down Misericordia in the second half. |
Note: The Warriors (5-5 overall, 4-4 MAC) will find out who they play on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the MAC-Centennial Bowl after the NCAA selects its field of 32 teams for the NCAA Division III Championship.
It will be on the road…
DALLAS, Pa. – A gutsy second-half performance by the Lycoming College football team’s defense, which never let Misericordia University inside the 19-yard line helped it to a 21-14 MAC win in the regular-season finale at Mangelsdorf Field on Saturday, Nov. 10, clinching a spot in the MAC-Centennial Bowl Series and denying Misericordia a share of the conference title in the process.
The Warriors (5-5 overall, 4-4 MAC) will find out who they play on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the MAC-Centennial Bowl after the NCAA selects its field of 32 teams for the NCAA Division III Championship.
Fr QB Elijah Shemory found senior Mike Mulvihill (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) who pounded extra yards setting up Fr RB Justin Joseph (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) for the Warrior touchdown. |
After Misericordia (8-2 overall, 7-1 MAC) tied the game with 2:29 left in the second quarter, the Warriors responded by driving 45 yards on eight plays, being aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct foul to get onto the Cougars side of the field. Freshman Elijah Shemory (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) found senior Nick Costello (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) to get the ball to the 10-yard line and after spiking the ball, Shemory found senior Brock Zollicoffer (Owings Mills, Md./Owings Mills) for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 at the break.
In the third quarter, the Lycoming defense forced a pair of punts and just 22 yards. In the fourth quarter, the Warrior defense was able to make a pair more big stops, with senior Joe Pinzka (Perkasie, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) picking off a pass at the Lycoming 32 with 11:24 left and junior Jeff Coplin (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) picking off a pass at the Lycoming 20 with 6:55 left after the Cougars had driven inside the 20.
Jr DB Korahn Williams and Jr LB Tyler George tame this Cougar. |
The Cougars had two more opportunities, driving inside the 35 on each of its last two drives, but each time, the Warriors were able to force turnovers on downs, with the last one coming with 1:00 left on the clock.
Misericordia took a 7-0 lead after forcing a fumble at the Lycoming 20-yard line off the first play from scrimmage in the game. Lycoming tied it, though, as freshman Matt Stankiewicz (Olyphant, Pa./Mid Valley) picked off a pass at the Lycoming 34. Lycoming drove 66 yards on 11 plays, with freshmanJustin Joseph (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) taking the ball six times on the drive for 23 times, including a two-yard score after Shemory found senior Mike Mulvihill (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) to get the ball to the doorstep.
Lycoming took the lead in the second half when senior Sam Romanofsky (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) forced a fumble that senior Ahmad Curtis (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) fell on at the 35. On the next play, Shemory found sophomore Tyjah During (Accokeek, Md./Surrattsville) for a 30-yard pickup and Shemory found the end zone two plays later to make it 14-7 with 5:48 left.
Shemory finished 11-of-22 for 148 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted three times. Zollicoffer caught four passes for 43 yards and a score. Junior Jacob Fimbres (La Habra, Calif./Sonora) led Lycoming’s running game with 13 rushes for 39 yards and Joseph had eight carries for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Dominic Loffredo (Linden, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) led the Warriors with 11 tackles, one for loss. Pinzka had seven tackles and an interceptions, senior D.J. Boyd (Seat Pleasant, Md./District Heights) had six tackles and a breakup and both junior Trey Smith (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) and Stankiewicz had five stops.
Aaron Berry completed 19-of-43 for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted three times. Isaiah Williams caught eight passes for 120 yards and a score. Jamal Dallas rushed 12 times for 76 yards. Garrett Murray posted 11 tackles, 2.0 for loss, 0.5 sacks, an interception and a breakup.