By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The mighty in the MAC flexed their muscle Saturday, as Widener and Lycoming each took control of their respective league title chases.
But they did it in opposite ways.
The Warriors beat Freedom League foe Wilkes 21-6 without scoring an offensive touchdown. Widener celebrated Homecoming with 592 yards of offense and a 42-21 win against Susquehanna, its main Commonwealth League rival.
Both victorious head coaches were particularly impressed by the play of one of their units.
"Well, obviously our defense certainly put on one of the best shows of the year," said Lycoming coach Frank Girardi. His defense tallied 12 sacks, including five each by defensive linemen Mark Seagraves and Zach Latsha. They also scored twice and had a 91-yard interception return to the 1-yard line called back. His special teams got in on the act, scoring on a blocked punt but getting a 94-yard punt return TD nullified.
Bill Zwaan’s Pioneers scored on six plays of 20 yards or longer en route to 592 yards of total offense and handing Susquehanna its first defeat.
"I think it was probably one of the better offensive performances we’ve seen around here," said Zwaan.
Junior wideout Michael Coleman continued his phenomenal year, scoring 65- and 73-yard touchdowns. Fellow junior Jim Jones scored on a 92-yard pass play.
Though they win in different ways, Widener and Lycoming have proved themselves the MAC’s best so far, and each could be headed to the playoffs.
The Pioneers (6-0, 3-0 MAC Commonwealth) are in the driver’s seat for the MAC’s automatic qualifier by virtue of its 50-49 double overtime win over the Warriors.
Lycoming is a candidate for one of four pool C bids given to second-place teams in conferences with an AQ.
But first, each has to take care of business.
Widener has King’s, Western Maryland, Lebanon Valley and Juniata – no cakewalks – left on its slate. Victories against Commonwealth foes Juniata and Lebanon Valley would earn the Pioneers the MAC AQ.
Should they slip up against one of those teams, they still hold tiebreaker edges over Susquehanna and Lycoming, their closest competitors. An inter-conference battle with Western Maryland, the likely Centennial Conference champion, could be key in readying the Pioneers for a playoff run.
But the Pioneers don’t want to look ahead to the playoffs with four games left.
"That’s one of the concerns," said Zwaan. "This is the first time we’ve been in this position, for a while at least. For the young kids, this is their first time."
Zwaan said he doesn’t worry about his kids being ready to play in big games like Saturday’s.
"You know they know how important [Susquehanna was]."
"Now the concern," he says, "is do they start looking past the teams ahead? I think our seniors have done a good job of stressing that this week. We’re in new territory and we don’t want to screw it up."
The Pioneers still have a way to go, Zwaan says.
"If [the playoffs are] on the horizon, for us to be successful, we’ve got to get better. If we get the opportunity to go to the playoffs, we want to be playing our best. There is no thought here of we’re a good football team. We’ve got to keep getting better."
Lycoming (4-1, 2-0 Freedom) is used to being in the driver’s seat, having gone to the playoffs five straight years and making it to the Stagg Bowl in 1997, during the second-to-last season only 16 teams were invited to the playoffs.
Girardi recognizes the uncertainty of his team’s Pool C chances.
"We’ve been in the national playoffs a number of times," he said, "and I don’t have to tell you how hard it is to get in."
The Warriors’ mission is clear: win the rest of their games.
"If Widener runs the table, we know we have to run the table… That’s our goal. We know that we can’t slip up."
Their remaining games include battles with Albright, Delaware Valley, FDU-Madison and a Nov. 4 showdown with 5-1 Susquehanna. If Widener loses to Lebanon Valley (2-4, 1-2) and Juniata (1-5, 1-3), the winner of that game likely would receive the MAC’s AQ.
Doing it defensively
Lycoming wasn’t the only team playing incredible defense Saturday. Wilkes (4-2, 2-1) allowed the Warriors only 31 total yards, including minus-16 rushing.
"To hold their offense to no points and lose," said Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock, "I mean, [it] is real difficult to deal with. We always talk about the best defense wins, and I thought our defense played more than well enough to win today."
Sheptock’s defense set up the only offensive score of the game when freshman Steve Rogers knocked the ball out of Lycoming running back Tim Deasey’s hands in the third quarter. Former Warrior Mike Verton recovered at the 33.
Seamus Geddis caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Marshman on the ensuing drive.
Wilkes missed some early offensive opportunities that could have changed the game, Sheptock said.
Verton intercepted a pass at the Lycoming 42 on the game’s second play. The Colonels missed a 47-yard field goal on the next drive and then punted on fourth-and-28 after recovering a Joe Feerar fumble at the Warrior 30.
"When you’re playing one of the top defenses in Division III, which Lycoming is, you have to take advantage of your chances," Sheptock said.
The only big play of the first half came with 6:15 left when Adam Allen blocked a Wilkes punt and Chris Roantree recovered in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
At the half, the teams had combined to run 62 plays for 60 yards. Each had two first downs.
"I thought both defenses dominated the game," said Sheptock. "For a defensive enthusiast, this was the game to be at."
"I thought it was two great defenses getting after each other," Girardi said. "Both offenses struggled. We [just] came up with a couple of big plays."
The two that sealed the game came within a minute of each other in the third quarter.
Linebacker Matt Staffroni intercepted Jeff Marshman’s low pass out of his own end zone and returned it four yards for a touchdown. On third-and-5 after the kickoff, Ryan Rupprecht intercepted Marshman and went 36 yards untouched for a 21-0 lead.
It almost got worse. On first-and-goal from the 4 on Wilkes’ next drive, John Scanlan stepped in front of a Marshman pass and raced down the sideline. A hustling Frank McCabe caught Scanlan at the 1 as he struggled to make it to the end zone. The entire play was called back for a Lycoming personal foul, and Wilkes scored three plays later.
Sheptock didn’t say it, but after playing the Warriors close for the past five seasons and being less than a yard away from victory last year, losing again to the Warriors is getting to him.
"The thing about Lycoming," Sheptock said. "They just have this will that they are going to win. They just find some way. Today they found it through the kicking game. That’s why they’re a championship-caliber program."
Meanwhile, Sheptock hasn’t lost faith in his.
"If we’re the type of program I think we are, we’ll bounce back," he said.
Around the Region
A school-record 16 receptions for an ODAC-record 211 yards by senior Michael Becker and 470 yards of total offense by quarterback Hunter Price wasn’t enough to lift Randolph-Macon over Emory & Henry. The Wasps, 24-17 winners, were led by Ernest Cheatham’s 176 rushing yards and two scores. Cheatham says he’s at home now with the Wasps, with whom he played his freshman season. He was Hampden-Sydney’s leading rusher last year before returning to Emory for his junior season… Becker now has 253 career receptions for 3,384 yards. Both are ODAC bests… Other milestones approached and passed: Juniata senior Matt Eisenberg caught his 36th career touchdown pass, tying a school and MAC record, in leading Juniata to its first win of the season. Eisenberg caught three TD passes in the 27-20 win against Moravian… Damon Saxon of King’s has gained 966 yards in six games. Thirty-four more will make him the second back in school history to pass 1,000 yards in a season. Muhlenberg’s Michael McCabe surpassed 6,000 passing yards with 350 against Johns Hopkins. The senior is also nine TD passes away from tying Ron Sermarini‘s (Western Maryland) Centennial Conference record.
Title Chases
Things are just as cloudy as they were last week in the ACFC, where five of its seven teams played out-of-conference opponents this week. Frostburg nearly knocked off unbeaten Brockport State, losing 18-17. Ferrum beat Chowan in the only conference game… Catholic held on to edge Methodist 13-9. The Cardinals are looking like the only team that can challenge Emory & Henry for the ODAC title. The two meet at Fullerton Field in Emory on Oct. 28… Western Maryland’s Centennial title chances are as solid as ever. The Green Terror extended its conference winning streak to 25 with a 27-0 win against Dickinson. In the chase to keep pace, Johns Hopkins' 33-20 win over Muhlenberg was a mild stunner. The Blue Jays, whose lone conference loss came at Ursinus last week, host the Green Terror on Nov. 11. The Blue Jays can still win the Centennial, but first have to deal with Bridgewater, a team that beat Western Maryland 19-7, on Saturday.
Games to watch
Frostburg State (2-4, 2-1) at Ferrum (4-2, 2-1): It’s a big week in the ACFC, as the four strongest title contenders go head-to-head. Frostburg State has played one of the region’s toughest schedules and their record is deceiving. They should be prepared for this matchup. Ferrum finished strong last season, winning its last five. The Panthers are clicking on defense this year, allowing just six points and 150 yards per game. One of these teams will get its second ACFC loss, a huge setback in a tight title race.
Methodist (4-2, 3-1) at Wesley (4-1, 2-0): This is a make-or-break ACFC game for both teams. Methodist finishes its conference slate with this game and a trip to Greensboro next week. The Wolverines are just getting started, with games against Salisbury State, Chowan and Ferrum to follow. The Wolverines are the conference’s only unbeaten, but four teams have just one conference loss and as many as four could emerge this week with just one. Wesley needs to win to hold on to its game edge in the conference standings. A second ACFC loss for Methodist could dash its title hopes.
Johns Hopkins (4-2) at Bridgewater (5-1): The Blue Jays and Eagles are both chasing respective conference front runners and trying to stay in the playoff hunt. The Eagles, 37-24 winners last season, need to keep winning to keep their Pool C playoff berth hopes alive. Their chances of winning the ODAC grow slimmer with each Emory & Henry win. But the Eagles could get their sixth win, a milestone not reached since its ODAC-title season in 1980. Johns Hopkins lost 32-19 to Washington & Lee, one of Bridgewater’s most bitter rivals, in its season opener.
No. 15 Widener (6-0) at King’s (3-3): The Pioneers need this interleague MAC win to stay on top of their playoff chances. King’s is coming off a 42-point first half against Delaware Valley and will use Damon Saxon to run right at the Widener defense. The success of freshman running backs Mike Ambrose and Michael Gandy has made the Pioneer offense nearly unstoppable. There is a chance for a Monarch upset following Widener’s big win over Susquehanna.
Catholic (3-3, 1-1 ODAC) at Hampden-Sydney (3-3, 2-2): Marty Favret leads the Tigers against his old team. Tom Clark’s Cardinals trying to stay on track for a showdown with Emory & Henry next week. Favret, their former offensive coordinator, will try to derail them.
Also keep an eye on teams with out-of-region games: Ursinus (5-1)at Wooster (4-2) and Wilkes (4-2) at Ithaca (4-2).
