DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Senior Josh Kleinfelter (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) became the second player in the Lycoming College football program's history to post two 1,000-yard rushing seasons on Saturday, but the Warriors fell victim to one of the best defenses in the Middle Atlantic Conference, as the team gained just 196 total yards to fall in the battle of the conference unbeatens, 36-0, at No. 9/11 Delaware Valley on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 23, at James Work Memorial Stadium.
"We made way too many mistakes," Lycoming head coach Mike Clark said. "We had no rhythm on offense. We didn't score in the red zone and those are reasons you lose to a team that should be undefeated. We didn't control the things you need to win a game like this."
Kleinfelter ran for a season-low 27 yards to finish the game with 1,022 on the season, just five yards shy of Tim Deasey's total in 2000, the fifth-best in school history. Incidentally, Kleinfelter, who ran for 1,123 yards in 2008, joined Deasey as the only backs at Lycoming (5-2 overall, 3-1 MAC) to post two 1,000-yard seasons. Kleinfelter also added a 21-yard reception to move within a yard of breaking the school record for career all-purpose yardage, tying Brian Thompson's mark of 4,281 yards set from 1995-98.
Down by 20 points near the end of the first half, the Warriors benefitted from an Aggies' penalty and sophomore Parker Showers (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) returned a kickoff to the 49-yard line. On the first play of the drive, sophomore Zach Klinger (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) went deep and despite a pass interference call and what looked like an interception, senior tight end Adam Paulhamus (Turbotville, Pa./Warrior Run) came down with the reception at the 12-yard line. However, again the drive stalled at the six-yard line and a fourth-down pass to an open receiver was batted down by 2009 All-American Kyle Gesswein.
The Warriors posted a solid drive that ate much of the third quarter, but the Aggies (6-1 overall, 4-0 MAC) stood tall on a fourth-and-two from within the 10-yard line. The Aggies drove 22 plays for 80 yards, eating more than 10 minutes, resulting in a 21-yard field goal from Jake Sobchak.
An offsides call on the opening kickoff negated a Warriors' fumble recovery and the Aggies capitalized, as Mark Hatty completed a 45-yard pass to Dan Heiland, setting up a 32-yard field goal from Sobchak. Delaware Valley posted another touchdown from Matt Cook, who broke the school's career all-purpose yardage record during the drive and the Aggies capped the win with a 42-yard run from Kyle Schuberth.
After a Warriors' drive stalled, the Aggies drove 84 yards to score a touchdown on a 15-yard pass to fullback Vincent Lochetto. After a 3-and-out, the Aggies again drove 83 yards, ending with Sobchak hitting a 26-yard field goal to take a 13-0 lead with 10:37 left in the quarter.
The Warriors' offense got going, sparked by a kickoff return to the 45-yard line by sophomore Parker Showers (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville). On the first play of the drive, Klinger stepped back and found senior Ryan Wagaman (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) for a 27-yard game on a curl. However, a penalty and a sack ended the drive, setting up a punt.
After the teams traded stalled drives, the Aggies got a key special teams play when a punt was blocked at the line and picked up by Gesswein at the two-yard line and he took it in for the score, giving the Aggies a 20-point lead.
The Warriors posted just seven net yards rushing while posting 189 yards in the air, as Klinger finished 14-of-29 with one interception. The receiving corps was led by Wagaman, who posted 61 yards on three receptions and Paulhamus, who posted 55 yards on three catches. Freshman Warren Oliver (Beverly, N.J./Palmyra) added four catches for 30 yards.
Showers led the team with 116 all-purpose yards, as he returned seven kicks for 110 yards and added six rushing yards.
Senior Chuck Bellitto (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) posted 11 tackles to lead the Warriors and junior Anthony Marascio (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) added nine tackles, half a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Junior Ray Bierbach (Hunlock Creek, Pa./Northwest Area) added eight tackles and sophomore Roger Jayne (Harvey's Lake, Pa./Lake Lehman) added six tackles and a pass breakup.
Mark Hatty led the Aggies, as he tossed for 271 yards and a touchdown, completing 24-of-27 passes. Heiland was his favorite target, catching eight passes for 125 yards and Matt Cook added 24 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown, as the Aggies posted 475 yards of offense. Sobchak also scored nine points as he hit all three field goal attempts.
Gesswein posted nine tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss to lead the Aggie defense. Mike Jaskowski also posted two of the Aggies' five sacks and Troy Green posted an interception.
The Warriors stay on the road next week, as they head to Wilkes for another key upper-division MAC matchup. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.