Williamsport, Pa. (Oct. 22, 2022) - Lycoming College (3-4, 2-3) jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back as the Warriors defeated Alvernia University (2-5, 1-4) 42-10 on Saturday afternoon in MAC football action at Lycoming.
The Warriors forced four interceptions on the game, including three on three straight offensive drives in the first half, while scoring on its first three drives of the game. Alvernia was held to under 200 yards of total offense for the first time this season.
With the loss, Alvernia drops to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in MAC play.
The Warriors won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Golden Wolves received the ball on its own 25-yard line, and picked up a first down following a 4-yard pass to Neeko Scurlock and three yard rushes by both Lorenzo Green and EJ Lee. Alvernia's progress stalled on its next set of downs and the Golden Wolves were forced to punt it away.
Lycoming got the ball on its own 36-yard line and got to work. After working their way into Alvernia territory, the Warriors nearly got on the board with a trick play as wide receiver Will Fish received the flea flicker with a man wide-open in the end zone. Fish overthrew his target to keep the Warriors off the board. Alvernia made the stop on the ensuing third down and forced the Warriors to go for it on 4th and 4 at the 18. The Warriors converted with a 13 yard Elijah Shemory pass to Dawson Debebe across the middle. That set-up a five yard touchdown run by Health Jones. The Warriors converted the PAT for the early 7-0 lead with 6:39 to play in the first quarter.
Alvernia went three and out on its next drive, with a completed McMorris pass to Owen Morton coming up just short of the line to gain. Lycoming was called offsides on the punt to bring the Alvernia offense back on the field. With its fresh set of downs, Alvernia's first play was a pass for no-gain to Neeko Scurlock. The next play saw Alvernia rush to snap as the play clock expired. McMorris attempted a pass to EJ Lee that was high and tipped, and the Warriors came down with the interception and nearly 20 yards of better field position than the punt would have given if the offsides did not occur.Â
Lycoming needed just three plays to find the end zone. After a 16 yard completion and four yard scramble by Shemory, Shemory then connected with Aaron Wolcott on a 20-yard touchdown pass across the middle to tack six onto Lycoming's lead. The Warriors converted the PAT to take a 14-0 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Alvernia got its next drive started with an end-around reverse to Kyle Stanton to pick up six yards and set up a 2nd and 4 on the Alvernia 31 yard line. McMorris attempted a deep pass across the middle intended for Jacob Montalto, but McMorris was again picked off with Lycoming taking over on its own 44 yard line.
Lycoming got back to work again, and after the Warriors worked their way down to the Alvernia 21-yard line, the Golden Wolves forced the Warriors to a 4th and 1. The Warriors opted to go for it with a quarterback keeper Shemory picked up three yards and a first down. An 11 yard rush on 2nd and 6 put the Warriors on the Alvernia 3-yard line. They needed just one more play - a Michael Van Horn rush - to get into the end zone for its third straight scoring drive and bring the Warrior lead to 21-0 with 11:51 remaining in the second quarter.Â
The ensuing kickoff was the first of the day Alvernia had the opportunity to return, and Ka'More Gill took it up the 30-yard line. Lycoming was called for a personal foul on the kickoff to give Alvernia its best starting position so far with a first down on its own 45-yard line. On the second play of the drive, McMorris went deep down the Alvernia sideline looking for Stanton, and Lycoming was called for pass interference to move Alvernia another 15 yards down the field. Facing a 3rd and 14 after two rushes for a loss, McMorris went deep middle for Morton, but he was picked off for the third time.
Lycoming did not hold onto the ball long as Jamel Fleming was able to force a fumble and Jyleen Neals was able to come away with the recovery to give Alvernia the ball back at the Lycoming 34-yard line. After a 1-yard loss on first down, McMorris called his own number and ran for 10 yards out of bounds. Lycoming was then called for a late hit to add ten yards onto the run and put Alvernia at a 1st and 10 on the Lycoming 13-yard line.
Alvernia's efforts stalled, and with the Golden Wolves facing a 4th and 19 on the Lycoming 22-yard line, Alvernia sent out its field goal unit for a 39-yard attempt. Louie Sepe was able to get the snap down and Brett Conrad's kick went through the uprights to get Alvernia on the board, 21-3, with 6:38 to play in the half. The 39-yard field goal marked the longest made field goal in Alvernia history - bettering a 37-yard make by Henry Garton in 2021 against Lebanon Valley.
After the Warriors received the ball back, Lycoming again worked its way down the field. But, Alvernia was able to make a stop on 4th and 4 at the Alvernia 26-yard line with Neals making a great open field tackle.
Alernia took over on its own 26-yard line. The Golden Wolves found success in the air with four completions - three of which went to Scurlock - to work their way into Lycoming territory. The drive stalled with a sack by the Warriors and a false start as Alvernia was forced to punt it away.Â
Lycoming took over with 1:12 left in the half, and the Warriors opted to run out the clock and take their 21-3 lead into the break.
The Warriors received the second half kickoff, and, after picking up a first down, Alvernia stalled the Warrior drive with Neals sacking Shemory for a 5-yard loss and shaking up Shemory on the play. Shemory stayed in and completed a short pass, but it was still a fourth and long as the Warriors punted away for the first time on the day.Â
Alvernia got to work with a three yard rush by Lee and a 13 yard completion to Morton for a first down. Facing a 3rd and 11, McMorris went deep and he was intercepted for the fourth time. Lycoming had a 40-yard return to start its next drive up at the Alvernia 31.
With Lycoming facing a 3rd and 3, Alvernia's Christian Lawton got to Shemory and appeared to force a fumble, but it was called an incomplete pass. The Warriors converted a 4th and 3 to move into the red zone. Later in the drive, Alvernia was called for roughing the passer, but the Warriors were called for a dead ball personal foul. What should have been a long 1st and goal was instead called a 1st and 10 at the 24. As the Warriors continued to work, they faced a 3rd and 13 and Shemory's pass attempt was tipped by Fleming but ultimately caught by Brandon Timothy for 18 yards and a fresh set of downs instead of a fourth and goal. After Shemory was sacked on 1st and goal, he found Aaron Wolcott on a fade to the corner to give Lycoming the 28-3 lead.
Following the kickoff, Alvernia took over on its own 30 following a 19-yard return by Stanton. Following a holding call on first down, Alvernia had to work from behind the chains. On a 3rd and 12, McMorris called his own number and lowered his shoulder to pick up the first down. On 2nd and 8, Alvernia moved into Lycoming territory on a 9-yard completion to Scurlock. McMorris followed that with a quick hit to Joseph Perkins for eight yards for a 2nd and 2. McMorris then had Lee wide open on a go route down the Lycoming sideline, but he overthrew his target to bring up 3rd and 2. Alvernia then ran a direct snap to Stanton for three yards to pick up the first down. As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Alvernia faced a 3rd and 3 and McMorris went for Scurlock down the Alvernia sideline. The Warriors were called for pass interference to move Alvernia 15 yards down the field and give the Golden Wolves a fresh set of downs. With the Golden Wolves on the 18-yard line, McMorris threw across field to a wide open Stanton waiting in the end zone for an Alvernia touchdown. Conrad converted the PAT to make it a 28-10 game with 14:11 to play.
The Golden Wolves defense forced its first three and out of the game as the Alvernia offense took over on the Alvernia 22-yard line following a 50 yard punt.
Following a rush for a loss and a sideline penalty on Alvernia, the Golden Wolves faced a 2nd and 31. McMorris threw a screen to Stanton who took it 22 yards up the Alvernia sideline. McMorris then kept the ball on 3rd and 9, but slid two yards short of a first down. Alvernia went for it on fourth down, but Lee was stopped in the backfield for a turnover on downs.Â
A slew of penalties on Alvernia kept the next Lycoming drive alive with the Warriors taking time off the clock. An 11-yard rush by Will Fish set up the Warriors with a 1st and goal on the 1-yard line. Alvernia made line-of-scrimmage stops on first and second down on the one. Shemory was then called for a false start to move the Warriors back to the 6-yard line. The Warriors did not skip a beat following the penalty, with Shemory finding Fish for a 6-yard touchdown to give Lycoming the 35-10 lead.
After Alvernia could not get anything going on its next drive, the Golden Wolves punted out of their own end zone and gave the Warriors a short field. The Warriors needed just one play - a 33-yard rush - to add on to its lead, 42-10 with a rushing touchdown, with just under three minutes to play.
The final Alvernia drive ran out the clock as the Golden Wolves fell to Lycoming, 42-10.
Alvernia finished the game with 190 yards of total offense, but won time of possession with 30:26 to Lycoming's 29:34.
McMorris finished the game going 17-for-32 for 136 yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions. He was also sacked three times. Fleming led Alvernia's defense with nine tackles and a forced fumble. Neals had two tackles for a loss with a sack and a fumble recovery.
Lycoming's Shemory finished with 17 completions on 25 attempts for 157 yards and three touchdowns.Â
Alvernia returns home next week to host King's at 12:00 PM.
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