Blown coverage
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From one overtime contest, and two down to the wire finishes I was able to pull ONE quote.
Lycoming has been virtually an institution in the Williamsport, Pa., area for years. They are still recovering from the untimely death of Ricky Lannetti during their 2003 playoff run. But they ripped off a 30-year winning streak (1974-2003) before having a bad 2004 season. With a nationally ranked Ithaca coming to town you’d think someone from Williamsport’s Sun-Gazette might have covered the game.
There are two regional papers Syracuse’s Post Standard and The Ithaca Journal that rarely cover Cortland. First place in the NJAC was on the line and the Ithaca football team was out of town, you’d think more than a few random lines from a school press release would be in order. Or does Cortland only get coverage when they play Ithaca in the Cortaca Jug game?
I thought there were more reciprocal agreements between newspapers. For example, a Lycoming reporter or other Williamsport writer could write for The Ithaca Journal when the Ithaca team heads to Williamsport, then the Ithaca reporter writes for the Sun-Gazette the next year when Lycoming heads to Ithaca. I’ve seen it happen, but not often enough. I urge the ATR readers to write the various sports editors of your newspapers and suggest more reciprocal coverage of your teams.
Playoff picture
Things are starting to take shape in the race for playoff spots. The No. 1 seed in the East region might be up in the air.
->Ithaca lost claim to the No. 1 seed by dropping an overtime contest to Lycoming. Ithaca is in the driver’s seat in the E8 for the Pool A. Alfred looks like the biggest test left in league play on Nov 5. Alfred has to beat both Ithaca and St. John Fisher on Nov 12 for the E8 title. If St. John Fisher wins out they’ll be a good Pool C candidate.
->Rowan (5-0) may have strengthened their hold on the top seed and Pool A in the NJAC race, at least temporarily, by beating Cortland. The win may have come at a price as quarterback Mike Orihel was injured early in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Orihel is out for a few weeks as he might have might have a broken wrist. At this writing medical tests are inconclusive. Cortland, Montclair, and Western Connecticut are still lurking with one NJAC loss each. It remains to be seen if there is a Pool C candidate out of the NJAC.
->Hobart (6-0) and Union (6-0) will probably battle for the Liberty League title.
->Delaware Valley could be the top seed in the East if it runs the table, but is not part of this column's coverage area.
->ACFC showdown between Salisbury and Wesley on Oct 29 for the Pool B bid. Loser is a good candidate for Pool C and either one could end up in this bracket, though the NCAA classifies these eastern seaboard teams in the South Region.
Ithaca shocked in OT
The “mystique” of Lycoming football returned to the sidelines of David Person Field on Saturday afternoon as the Warriors put together an outstanding team effort to upend No. 8 Ithaca 33-30 in overtime. The victory improves Lycoming’s record to 2-4 on the season while the Bombers fall to 5-1.
Lycoming quarterback Glenn Smith scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard scamper on the Warriors’ first overtime possession after the defense had previously forced Ithaca to settle for a field goal during its overtime drive. The overtime win marks only the second time the Warriors have won a game in an extra period with its other victory coming against East Texas Baptist in the 2003 NCAA playoffs.
Smith had his second straight impressive outing for the Warriors. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 251 yards and pair of scores. The junior signal-caller was equally if not more dangerous running the football. Throughout the contest, Smith proved an enigma for the Bombers with impressive runs from a shotgun formation. For the game, he ran 17 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Lycoming and Ithaca combined for 827 yards of total offense and 48 first downs as both offenses were equally explosive and efficient. Bombers' quarterback Josh Felicetti was nearly as good as Smith with 23 completions in just as many attempts for 289 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw one interception.
Union outlasts F&M
Facing fourth-and-10 from the Franklin and Marshall 47-yard line, wide receiver Andrew Reigle pulled in a 47-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Anthony Marotti with 42 seconds left on the game clock as Union (6-0, 3-0 Liberty League) rallied from a late 10-7 deficit to defeat Franklin & Marshall (2-4, 1-1 Centennial Conference) 14-10 in non-conference action at Sponaugle-Williamson Field.
The touchdown capped a five-play, 65-yard scoring drive by Union as the Dutchmen started from their own 35-yard line and moved to the F&M 47 on the first play from scrimmage as Marotti connected with wide receiver Steve Angiletta for an 18 yard pickup.
The Diplomats’ defense stiffened as linebacker Joe LoCastro and Chris Stepien broke up passes to bring up third-and-10. Defensive back Ryan Sychterz then broke up a pass attempt to Ryan Twitchell to bring up fourth down. Union took a timeout with 50 seconds left on the clock before Marotti’s desperation heave settled into the arms of a diving Reigle in the left front corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Place-kicker Ben Rapple added the extra point for the 14-10 victory.
“I’m speechless,” said F&M defensive back J.C. Capote in the Lancaster, Pa., Sunday News. “It’s such a shame that had to happen. I’m still in shock.”
Rowan holds off Cortland
Junior quarterback Mike Orihel completed 18-of-29 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a score as Rowan, ranked fourth nationally by D3football.com, defeated Cortland, 24-16, in a battle of the New Jersey Athletic Conference's top two teams. The Profs improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in NJAC play with the victory. Cortland is now 4-2 and 3-1.
 Sakeen Wright looks for an over-the-shoulder catch at Cortland. Photo by Dan Padavona, Cortlandfootball.com |
Cortland was led by sophomore quarterback Alex Smith, he completed 17 of 35 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown and ran for 30 yards on 10 carries. Junior Anthony Morat made five catches for 66 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown, and sophomore Dustin Bowser ran 18 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Bill Hauser recorded a game-high 16 tackles and junior safety Chuck Eich recorded 11 tackles.
Rowan jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half before holding off the Red Dragons in the second half. Cortland was within 24-16 and had the ball at the Rowan 25-yard line with 2:28 left, but the Profs stopped Cortland on four plays and were able to run out the clock for the victory.
Games of the Week
No. 13 St. John Fisher at Springfield, 1:30 p.m., Springfield, Mass.: At 0-2 Springfield appears to have fallen from the playoff level that they’ve been at the past few years. St. John Fisher is the heavy favorite.
No. 22 Wesley at Brockport State 1 p.m., Brockport, N.Y.: Like Springfield, Brockport has been experiencing an off year. Wesley is the heavily favored.
No. 4 Rowan at Kean 1 p.m., Union, N.J.: Normally this wouldn’t be a game of consequence, but Rowan will be starting its second string quarterback and Kean is improved over last year.
Notes
Freshman quarterback Jason Boltus completed 15 of 22 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns to lead Hartwick to a 42-13 win over Becker. He threw touchdowns to three receivers and led the Hawks to touchdowns on their first five possessions.
Defensive end Keith Heimerl earns NJAC Special Teams honors after contributing to Rowan's 24-16 NJAC road win at Cortland which moved the Profs into sole possession of first place in the NJAC. In the win, he blocked two punts, both of which led to Prof scores. His first block landed in the Cortland end zone where Rowan recovered to extend its lead to 14-0. His second block gave the Profs the ball on their own 30-yard line where they began a drive that led to their third touchdown of the game. Heimerl, who currently ranks second in the NJAC in sacks with an average of 1.10 per game, also notched four tackles and two sacks in the victory.
Salisbury’s running back Leroy Satchell earned his first ACFC Player of the Week honor after tying a conference record with five touchdowns (14,19,7,46,65 yards) in a 66-20 victory over Buffalo State.
Linebacker Kevin Flike led a Union defense that prevented Franklin & Marshall from converting any of its 14 third-down conversions. He had a team-high nine tackles, including four solo, and also helped hold the Diplomats to 124 rushing yards, 272 total yards and three second half points.