Lycoming Football - 2019 Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Honors

2019 PLAYER of the YEAR  HONORS - OFFENSE AND DEFENSE

OFFENSE: Sr WR Stephen Toczylousky 

MR "T" CAME OUT OF THE SHADOWS
What a year this senior wide receiver had! I remember talking to his family after the Widener win asking, "Where did he come from?" I found out soon enough that injuries plagued him affecting his play. But a healthy Toczylousky in 2019 put it all together. Stephen played in all 10 games for the Warriors catching 38 passes. Amazing catches for sure. During the Misericordia game he caught a ball at mid-field and watched himself jog to the endzone on the video scoreboard. No one in his sights! Then he repeated that feat and more as he had his longest touchdown run of 83 yards.

Stephen averaged 21 yards per catch and 81 yards per game. All on only 38 catches. The reason I say "only 38 catches," is because last years famed Lyco receiver Nick Costello had 53 catches. Nick averaged 17 yards per reception and 80 yards per game. 2015 senior wide receiver Ryan Umpleby, one of our greatest, had impressive numbers. In 10 games, Ryan was 20 yards short of the 1,000 yard mark with 7 touchdowns.

Lycoming Football - 2019 Player of the Week Game 10

2019 Team Captains Together For The Last Time / John Green Photo

2019 PLAYERs OF THE WEEK - GAME 10
Lycoming Vs Stevenson

THIS IS HOW GOOD WE PLAYED!

• First Downs: Lycoming 20 - Stevenson 20
• Total Yards: Lycoming 361 - Stevenson 343
• Time of Possession: Lycoming 32min - Stevenson 28min

Lycoming actually played a very good game. In the end, we could not get the ball into the end zone. Did you ever watch Duke Basketball where every shot seemed to rim out. That was us Saturday. But that has not dampened my spirits one dang bit on "Player of the Week!"  In fact it has caused me to pick two "Players of the Week!" Lycoming Football is so proud of these guys!

Lycoming Football - 2019 Player of the Week Vs Lebanon Valley - Sr LB Sam Pawlikowski

2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - GAME 9 - SR LB SAM PAWLIKOWSKI
Lycoming Vs Lebanon Valley

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE
Week after week, Sr LB Sam Pawlikowski has been close to our Player of the Week honors. I remember a couple of times feeling a little guilty not picking him, but there were good reasons for me to wait another week. I had no doubt that he would win our award before seasons end. And this week he was the clear leader of the defense that shut down a good Lebanon Valley team. Sam led all tacklers with 8 including one for a loss. He had one breakup and assisted in causing a fumble. But the biggest thing that males Pawlikowski one of the best linebackers for the Warriors is his 2019 year-to-date statics. They are incredible. Take a look!

Sam, through nine games leads all defensive players by a wide margin in total tackles. He has 66 tackles, 24 more than the second closest player which is Fr LB Austin Rowley. Week after week Sam does one thing well and that is consistent high performance for the Wiser defensive machine. And Sam is so respected by his fellow players as a leader. Without revealing too much personal information, I have noticed that he always gets mentally set before each game wanting to play his best. And that best is not for his glory if you know what I mean.

Lycoming Football Game 8 Player of the Week - Sr OL Cody Botts

Lycoming Vs Misericordia

OFFENSIVE LINE COMES OF AGE!
It was just an amazing game. One of the best coached and played games I have had the privilege to witness as a Warrior fan. I don't know what changed. There was a different spirit with this team that defeated a very good Misericordia club. Even after the game, there was something different, a maturity that I did not recognize. Yes, as Coach Clark said to his players after the game, "I'm not taking away from FDU-Florham (who we defeated last week), but you just beat a very good team."

One reason is because of the offensive line. Check the numbers. The Warriors team rushed for 342 net yards and five touchdowns. There were 10 players that were included in that total. Yes, sophomore quarterback Elijah Shemory had almost 1/3 of that total with 114 net yards and four touchdowns. But Lycoming had two freshman (Joey Guida and Nick Breiner) a sophomore (Chase Cramer) and a senior (Keith Batkowski) all with 40 yards or more rushing. Lycoming used "fresh horses" throughout the game. And get this, the Warriors averaged 6.2 yards rushing per carry! Oh, and WE NEVER, YES NEVER PUNTED THE BALL. Not once! Never a three and out in the whole game! Unbelievable.

Lycoming Football - 2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK Game 7 SR RB KEITH BATKOWSKI

2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Game 7 - SR RB KEITH BATKOWSKI
Lycoming Vs FDU-Florham

ONE OF THE BEST CATCHES I'VE EVER SEEN
I can still visualize that unbelievable catch by Keith Batkowski at the five yard line for a touchdown. A 28 yard grab that I swear his feet were on the ground only 23 yards as Keith stretched out high in the air pulling in the pigskin. Batkowski seemed to float for five yards. My camera caught him as he levitated to the goal line for a catch that he was able to hang onto. It was amazing.

Put that catch along with the leading rusher in the and game with 97 yards. Batkowski had a 32 yard scramble and averaged almost 6 yards per carry.

As a pass receiver, he had  30 yards on two catches. His total for the day was 127 all purpose yards. Keith has become a utility player for the Warriors willing to play wherever Coach Clark asks him to play. So with his best game of the season, Keith Bartkowski is the LycomingFootball.com Player of the week for game 7.

Please Note: You can win only one POW each season.

Lycoming Football 2019 Player of the Week Game 6 vs Alvernia

2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Game 6 - FR RB JOEY GUIDA
Lycoming Vs Alvernia

HE IS A GAMER WITH 104 YARD RUSHING!
Our Game 6 Player of the Week is freshman running back Joey Guida from Allentown, PA, Parkland High School. A stood out in preseason practices, Joey has made his presents known for the Lycoming offense. Joey's numbers were impressive against Alvernia as he scrambled for a 31 yard touchdown dragging defensive players with him over the end zone. Guida had two touchdown in the game as his second touchdown was another knock down, drag out push over the goal line. When watching the Parkland high school running back, you understand why he is so good. He runs low and bursts through the holes like he was shot out of a cannon. Guida ended up with his second 100 yard game this season. Notable in this game was the fact that he never lost yardage and averaged 8.0 yards per carry.

Lycoming Football Game 5 "Player of the Week"

2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Game 5
Lycoming Vs DelVal

SACRIFICED IT ALL
On Homecoming and Family weekend, the Warriors were fired up for the big game against 13th ranked Delaware Valley. The Warrior defense were on the field of play for almost two thirds of the game. And the Warrior defense made the only score of the game. So that is what convinced us that the "Player of the Week" had to come from the defensive side of the ball. And who sacrificed more than Sr DB Jeff Coplin.

Lycoming's only points came because of the play of Jeff Coplin. In the fourth quarter, Coplin forced the DelVal fumble which was picked off in the air by Jr DB Gianni Bryant-Lopez. Gianni then maneuvered his way for the 20 yard touchdown.

On that play, Coplin punched the ball out and then hopped players trying to block for Gianni. His efforts resulted in an injury in the process. His second and third effort cost him this time, but they did not go unnoticed by usl. Unfortunately, Jeff had to leave the game with the injury. Coplin was in my camera all day long. He had the following game statistics.

Lycoming College - 2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Lycoming Vs King's

2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Game 4
Lycoming Vs King's

IN THE HARD NOSED PITS
The defense is maturing as a group averaging just 4.5 points per quarter in the last two games. Yes, that is right, they gave up a quick touchdown in less than two minutes of the first kickoff against King's. Yes, that is right, Lycoming lost! But the defense was on the playing field the bigger part of the game for the fourth week in a row! And they were put in the hole a number of times and they held. Against King's, the Wiser lead defense would bend but did not break on at least two critical occasions. Also consider the two very important horrific calls that led to 10 King's points (See: Lycoming Football SloMo - How Is This Great Interception A Pass Interference Call? and Lycoming Football - Ball, Ball, Terrible Call.) I hope you will agree with me that the "D" played an exceptional game against the Colonels and the Monarchs.

So we felt that it was the defense where the Lycoming Football "Player of the Week"  should come from. And the choice was not easy since there were a number of good candidates. We are very happy with our final choice. And that choice is Sr DL Duane Boone from Tyrone, PA, Tyrone Area High School. Consider what he did against King's:

Lycoming Football 2019 Player of the Week - Warriors Vs Colonels Game 3

2019 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Game 3
Lycoming Vs Wilkes

WHERE DID HE COME FROM
I was impressed with the Warrior defense Saturday as our offense had a sticky start out of the blocks. Yes, the defense gave up a long pass play on the Wilkes initial drive. Wilkes on their own 5 yard line, on the first snap of the game completed a Jose Tabora pass to A. Fofana for 41 yards to the Wilkes 48 yard line. After an 80 yard drive and 8 plays later the Warrior defense stiffened as Wilkes QB Jose Tabora's pass was intercepted by Lyco's Korahn Williams in the endzone. Lycomings offense had a three and out possession which used only 1 minute of time. The Warrior defense was out on the hot turf again with little rest. The Colonels used up another 5 minutes of the first quarter and scores this time for a 7-0 early lead.

Lycoming Football - Lycoming Vs Widener Player of the Week

A career day for this Southern Columbia standout.
Lycoming Vs Widener Photo Album

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Game 2 

View Lycoming Vs Widener Movie
Our pick for Lycoming Vs Widener Game 2 "Player of the Week" is Sr WR Stephen Toczylousky. What a game he had and was so instrumental in the big historic win over longtime rival Widener. As a pass receiver, you cannot catch the ball unless you get open. Stephen did all of that and more. When you are open, you have to catch the ball with the pressure on. He did all of that and more as you will see when I review his fourth quarter heroics. He had a career day as of this writing (He will probably even raise the bar before this season is over. We would love it).

So let's look at what Stephen did in this game. His total stats for the game were as follows:  Toczylousky was tops as a receiver with 7 receptions and 145 total yards. He also had one touchdown.  And he also caught the longest pass of the day at 47 yards. His total yardage was over 50% more than wide receiver Tyjah During who matched him in  touchdowns and receptions.

Lycoming Football - 2019 Player of the Week Game 1 vs Susquehanna

LycomingFootball.com's Pick For "Player of the Week"

Solid dependable play from a Sophomore
There were a number of players who I thought shined in the game against powerful Susquehanna. The wide receivers in this game were above expectations as that was an unknown position in 2019. With the graduation of standout Nick Costello, we were wondering who would step up. Well we got a good look Saturday. Eight players caught passes with Stephen Toczylousky pulling in the longest at 60 yards and a touchdown. Tyjah During had three receptions with a 37 yard grab. And don't overlook Dezmen Johnson who had the most receptions (4) with one touchdown. I looked at running backs also. I told you in the last newsletter to watch out for freshman Joey Guida who had the most net rushing yards of our running backs. Senior Keith Batkowski averaged 4.5 yards per carry with an 18 yard scamper. Defensively, Allen Martin had eight tackles in the game. Lycoming's defense only had one sack and no interceptions or turnovers. How about the freshman punter. In his first game Michael Coe had 8 punts averaging 36 yards and a 47 yarder. But my player of the week stands out as a leader and performed in this game.