DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Lycoming College quarterback Tyler Jenny threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another score while the Warrior defense notched six sacks as they posted a 24-14 road victory over 22nd-ranked Delaware Valley College in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opener for both teams.
It was the first time that Lycoming won at Delaware Valley since 2002 (0-4 since then) as it improved to 1-1 overall. The four-time defending MAC champion Aggies fell to 0-2 on the young season.
Delaware Valley forced a turnover on the first drive of the game as linebacker John Eberly forced and recovered a fumble at the Aggie 49-yard line. They then needed just six plays to find the end zone, with the final two yards coming on a touchdown run by Kyle Schuberth. One play before the run, quarterback Aaron Wilmer hit Lewis Vincent for a 33-yard pass on a third-and-seven. Brandon Snyder added the extra-point for a 7-0 lead just 3:35 into the game.
Delaware Valley appeared to have notched another turnover as Chris Vega intercepted a Matt Atkinson pass and returned it to the Lycoming 40. However, the Aggies were called for roughing the passes and the Warriors maintained possession. They regrouped and drove to the Delaware Valley 32 before punting to the five-yard line.
Lycoming forced a three-and-out and took over at the Aggie 48-yard line following a punt. It moved the ball inside the 20 before settling for a 31-yard field goal by Zack Czap and a 7-3 score with 1:30 left in the opening quarter.
Two sacks on the next Delaware Valley drive forced a punt deep in its own territory and the Warriors took over at the Aggie 47-yard line. Seven players later, they were in the end zone with Jenny capping it with a one-yard sneak on a fourth-and-goal. Czap added the extra-point and the Warriors had a 10-7 advantage with 11:53 to go in the first half.
The Warriors added to that advantage later in the half as they produced an eight play, 80-yard drive. A 20-yard pass from Jenny to Ryan Umpleby put the ball at the eight-yard line. After no gain on first down, Jenny hit Matt Atkinson for a pass. Atkinson broke a tackle and appeared headed for a score when he lost the ball at the one-yard line. It rolled into the end zone and Lycoming's Jarrin Campman recovered it for the touchdown (Jenny is still credited with a touchdown pass and Campman a touchdown reception in the individual statistics). Czap's point-after made it 17-7 with 5:13 left before the intermission.
It remained a 10-point game despite the Aggies threatening twice inside the Lycoming 30 in the third quarter. The first drive of the second half saw them drive to the Warrior 27-yard line before Tanner Troutman intercepted a Wilmer pass. Later in the third, Delaware Valley moved the ball to the Lycoming six and sent out the field goal unit, but Snyder's 23-yard attempt was blocked by Roger Jayne.
Delaware Valley did move the ball to the Lycoming two-yard line as the third quarter came to an end and Schuberth scored on a run on the first play of the fourth. Snyder's kick made it a 17-14 contest.
The Aggie defense forced a three-and-out and the team took over at their own 26-yard line. Seven plays later, they faced a fourth-and-six from the Lycoming 39 and elected to go for it, but Troutman broke up a Wilmer pass to change possession.
Lycoming converted a third-down pass early in the ensuing drive and later faced a third-and-eight from the Delaware Valley 17-yard line. Jenny scrambled away from the pass rush and found Campman in the back of the end zone for a touchdown and a 24-14 lead with just 5:52 remaining. Delaware Valley drove to the Warrior 20 on its next drive, but turned the ball over on downs and the game was Lycoming's.
Jenny was making just his second collegiate start and the sophomore completed 12 of 20 passes for 134 yards while also adding 32 yards on seven rushes. Craig Needhammer rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries while Parker Showers added 54 yards.
Defensively, Nate Oropollo led the Warrior charge with seven tackles and four of the team's six sacks with all four coming in the first half. Troutman finished with nine tackles and one interception while Dwight Hentz added eight stops and 1.5 sacks.
Wilmer completed 17 of 37 passes for 255 yards for Delaware Valley. Schuberth finished with 22 carries for 84 yards and two scores. John Robinson was credited with eight tackles and one interception.