Four Warriors named to Academic All-MAC football squad

Sr WR John Sibel (Image: John Green)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Adding to the growing list of accolades for the 2014 Lycoming College football team, senior running back Criag Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), senior wide receiver John Sibel (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury), senior linebacker Kyle Sullivan (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and junior wide receiver Ryan Umpleby (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) have all repeated on the Academic All-Middle Atlantic Conference squad, the conference office announced on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Sr RB Craig Needhammer
(Image: John Green)

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. The award is voted on by the conference's18 sports information departments.

Needhammer, a physics major that was named a Second Team Capital One Academic All-American last week, was named to the D3football.com All-East Region second team yesterday. Needhammer finished third in the MAC with 1,242 rushing yards and second with 13 touchdowns. His 186.7 all-purpose yards per game led the conference and are sixth nationally. He posted the first two 300-all-purpose-yard games in program history as a senior. The team captain rushed for a school-record 299 yards in his last game at FDU-Florham, breaking Josh Kleinfelter's record of 3,664 career rushing yards with his final rush – that 50-yard touchdown that made it 45-27 with 2:47 remaining – giving him 3,713 career yards.

Sr LB Kyle Sullivan
(Image: John Green)

Sibel, a history major, appeared on the verge of a breakout senior campaign, but an injury took him off the field in week seven. Still, he caught 26 passes for a career-high 370 yards and three touchdowns. A great possession receiver, Sibel finished his career with 95 catches for 1,094 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the 21st player in school history to notch 1,000 receiving yards in a career.

Sullivan, a business marketing major, picked up honorable mention all-conference honors for the second time in his career, as he finished with 51 tackles and three tackles for loss. He also notched an interception against Susquehanna and posted a career-high 13 tackles against Widener.

Jr WR Ryan Umpleby
(Image: John Green)

Umpleby, a business administration major, enjoyed a breakout year as a junior en route to First Team All-MAC and D3football.com All-East Region third team honors. He finished second in the MAC and 24th nationally with 1,022 yards. He was third with 66 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He became the first Warrior in school history to post two 200-yard receiving games in a career, as he notched 203 against Widener and a school-record 228 against Lebanon Valley.

The Warriors finished 8-2 and in third place in the Middle Atlantic Conference under seventh-year head coach Mike Clark.

Warrior player returns wallet with over $2,000 in cash to police

Sr K Zach Fannin

Williamsport, PA - Lycoming senior kicker Zach Fannin was at a Williamsport night club and upon leaving with a friend found a wallet on the ground with over $2,000 in cash.

The owner wrote Zach a thank you card and according to Fannin, "That meant the world to me."

“I went out with some buddies to the Cell Block. It was probably about 1:00am, 1:30am we were walking back,” Fannin recalled. “I was walking by and my friend, she was walking in front of me, and just happened to notice that there was a purse on the ground, a little hand bag.”

Lycoming Football: Warriors Needhammer, Umpleby earn all-region accolades

Junior wide receiver Ryan Umpleby
(Forest Hill, Md./Fallston)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Senior running back Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) repeated on the D3football.com All-East Region team, earning second-team honors after a record-breaking season, while junior wide receiver Ryan Umpleby (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) picked up third-team accolades for the Lycoming College football team, as the website announced its all-region teams on Monday afternoon, Dec. 8.

Needhammer, a physics major that was named a Second Team Capital One Academic All-American last week, is only the fifth Warrior to earn repeat all-region honors since the D3football.com program began in 2005. Needhammer finished third in the MAC with 1,242 rushing yards and second with 13 touchdowns. His 186.7 all-purpose yards per game led the conference and are sixth nationally.

Needhammer becomes Lycoming’s 22nd Academic All-American

Image: John Green

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The last time senior running back Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) touched the football, he ran to the left, waited just a second for a block to take shape, danced right to avoid a tackle and then he was gone. Fifty yards later, he had secured a Lycoming College football team win and he broke the school’s all-time rushing record.

“Craig is everything you hope for in a student-athlete,” seventh-year head football coach Mike Clark said.

One of the best careers in the history of the Lycoming College football team’s history added another chapter to it on Tuesday, Dec. 2, as Needhammer was named Lycoming’s 22nd Capital One Academic All-American, earning a spot on the NCAA Division III football squad’s second team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Lycoming Football - Needhammer named to D3football.com Team of the Week

Sr RB Craig Needhammer (Image: John Green)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – With the final rush of his career, senior Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) cemented his legacy in the Lycoming College football team’s record book and it also helped him earn his first career D3football.com Team of the Week award, the website announced late Thursday, Nov. 20.

Needhammer finished his career with a school-record 42 touchdowns, 39 rushing touchdowns and 5,291 all-purpose yards

Lycoming Football - 13 Warriors earn All-MAC accolades

Sr RB Craig Needhammer (Image: John Green)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lycoming College seniors running back Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and offensive lineman Garrett Hartman (Jacobus, Pa./Dallastown Area) and juniors wide receiver Ryan Umpleby (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) and defensive end Cole Welham (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown Area) earned First Team All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors to highlight a group of 13 players who earned all-conference honors, the conference office in Annville, Pa., announced on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Three players – seniors offensive lineman Casey Strus (Glenolden, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and defensive back Tanner Troutman(Hegins, Pa./Tri-Valley) and junior Mike Gentile (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) – earned second-team all-conference accolades. Six earned honorable mention all-conference honors - seniors quarterback Tyler Jenny (Coalport, Pa./Glendale), fullback Nick Mongiello(East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown), defensive lineman Zack McMenamin (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) and linebacker Kyle Sullivan(Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and juniors offensive lineman Matt Patterson (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) and linebacker Brian Campbell (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area).

Lycoming Football Video - Sr FB Nick Mongiello scores

Tyler Jenny to Nick Mongiello for touchdown that sealed the victory for Lycoming.

Lycoming Football Video - Great defense by Ryan Mihoci and Matt Malecki

Great defense stops FDU-Florham drive.

Lycoming Football Video - Craig Needhammer Scores another TD

Record breaking running back scores another touchdown to add to his legacy. Also, check out the downfield blocking.

Lycoming Football Video - Ryan Umpleby posts 1,000 receiving yards this year

Junior Ryan Umpleby(Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) became the third player in school history to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season, finishing the season with 1,022 yards on 66 catches. Also watch where Sr QB Tyler Jenny places the ball with tight coverage on Umpleby, Incredible!

Lycoming Football Video - Mike Clark surely loves this senior class

In a real personal interview that reveals the sensitive side of Head Coach Mike Clark, we find out what he really thinks of this football team and the senior class. Mike reveals some inside information about Craig Needhammer and tells about the Tyler Jenny's quote that may surprise you, "I Really Hate This!" Coach Clark also talks about his future plans for Lycoming football.

Lycoming College - Needhammer named MAC Offensive Player of the Week

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – He saved the best for last. In the final game of his collegiate career, senior running back Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) posted a school-record 299 rushing yards to lead the Lycoming College football team to a 45-27 win over FDU-Florham on Friday, Nov. 14, and earn himself his fourth career Middle Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week award.

Needhammer’s 299 yards helped him level a bevy of records in his final collegiate game, smashing the school's career record for rushing yards with his last run, a 50-yard touchdown with 2:47 left to seal the win over the Devils. Needhammer smashed the school record for rushing yards in a game of 253 set by Tim Deasey in 2001, doing it on 30 carries. He also broke Josh Kleinfelter's record of 3,664 career rushing yards, finishing with 3,713 yards in his career with that rush.

Lycoming Football Video - Final chat with "The Hammer" Craig Needhanner

Under the Friday night lights, Needhammer shined for the Warriors (8-2 overall, 7-2 MAC), smashing the school record for rushing yards in a game of 253 set by Tim Deasey in 2001, doing it on 30 carries. He broke Josh Kleinfelter’s record of 3,664 career rushing yards, finishing with 3,713 yards in his career.

In the end, Needhammer finished his career with a school-record 42 touchdowns, 39 rushing touchdowns and 5,291 all-purpose yards. He set single-season records for rushing touchdowns (13), all-purpose yards (1,867) and kick return yards (482). He also set the single-game all-purpose yardage record of 339 yards, breaking his own record of 305 set against Misericordia.

Lycoming Football - Needhammer hammers down records in 45-27 win over FDU

Sr RB Craig Needhammer becomes one of the greatest running backs (Image: John Green)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Senior Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) ran for a school-record 299 yards to level a bevy of records in his final collegiate game, smashing the school’s career record for rushing yards with his last run, a 50-yard touchdown with 2:47 left to lift the Lycoming College football team to a 45-27 win over FDU-Florham in Middle Atlantic Conference action on Friday, Nov. 14, at Shields Field.

“It’s been a pleasure,” Needhammer said. “All the guys I’ve played with, before, the seniors especially, and the guys now, it’s been a fun ride."

Lycoming Football Video - Joe Lumbis, Equipment Manager

I have known Joe Lumbis since 1996. I always remember him putting on his "Playoff Hat" and his dry sense of humor. I had a chance to finally talk to him about National championship games, Penn State turf shoes and more.

Lycoming Football Video - Ryan Mihoci on his 2nd and 3rd interception of the year

Ryan Mihoci interception (Image: John Green)

Team congratulates Ryan Mihoci after his second interception (Image: John Green)

Sr DB Ryan Mihoci has been a solid performer for the Lycoming defense and he had two interceptions in the Lyco Vs Lebanon Valley game Saturday the turned the tide for the Warriors.

Lycoming Football Video - We talk to Kick Blocker and Sr WR Cam Kriner

Sr WR Cam Kriner can get in the air and pull down passes
(Image: John Green)

It was fun to watch the development and maturity of Cam Kriner as a valuable WR for the Warrior offense. Cam also was key to the Lycoming win over Lebanon Valley as he blocked a PAT giving Lycoming 30-29 victory over Lebanon Valley.

Lycoming Football Video - Defensive Captain Kyle Sullivan talks about the year and the future

Defensive captain and Sr LB Kyle Sullivan has been a steady rock solid performer for the Warriors defense for his entire career. He talks about FDU, the past and the future.

Lycoming Football Video - Mike Clark's Final Wednesday Comments about team and FDU-Florham

2014 Lycoming Football Head Coach Mike Clark (Image: John Green)

Head Coach Mike Clark talks about the FDU game and this graduation class.

Lycoming Football Video - We talk to Fr DB Michael Ward about interception

Fr DB Michael Ward is becoming a solid defensive secondary team member for Defensive Coordinator Steve Wiser
(Image: John Green).

Freshman Michael Ward started against Lebanon Valley and recorded his first interception as a Warrior.