Klinger throws for career-high 256 yards, but turnovers cost Warriors against Dutchmen

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Sophomore quarterback Zach Klinger (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) threw for a career-high 256 yards and senior Ryan Wagaman (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) caught nine passes for 149 yards to go past 100 yards for the second game in a row to lead the Lycoming College football team, but Lebanon Valley scored 14 points off turnover in the first quarter to take momentum and go on for a 28-14 Middle Atlantic Conference win on Saturday, Nov. 6 at David Person Field.

"We are the same group of people that were a touchdown away from being undefeated through week six," Lycoming head football coach Mike Clark said. "We're not a bad football team. We're in a tough spot right now. We're not where we'd like to be."

Klinger completed 20-of-33 passes for 256 yards and a score as well as running for 24 yards on 11 carries. Wagaman posted 149 yards, the second-most in his career, as he extended his games with a catch streak to 37.

Senior Josh Dixon (Fleetville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) caught four passes for 60 yards and one score and sophomore Parker Showers (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) also had four catches for 32 yards and he led the Warriors (5-4 overall, 3-3 MAC) with 14 carries, 73 yards and a touchdown.

The Dutchmen (5-4 overall, 4-2 MAC) got on the board with an 11-play, 71-yard drive after a Warrior fumble at the Lebanon Valley 29-yard line. Ben Guiles capped the drive with a one-yard run. The Dutchmen capitalized on another Warrior turnover on the next drive, as Matt Lillis picked a pass at the 10-yard line and brought it back 90 yards for the score to take a 14-0 lead.

When the Warriors next drive stalled near midfield, the Dutchmen used a 14-play, 80-yard drive to take a three-score lead on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Fick to Tim Picerno.

The Warriors cut into the lead as Klinger administered an eight-play, 60-yard drive after the Dutchmen's ensuing kick-off went out of bounds. Showers posted a 27-yard run to the LVC 22 and Klinger added a nine-yard rush before Showers dove in from 13 yards out to make it 21-7.

In the third quarter, the Dutchmen got on the board once more with a nine-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by a 47-yard completion from Fick to Picerno and capped by another one-yard rush from Guiles.

The Warriors made it a two-score game early in the fourth quarter, as Klinger started a drive with a 40-yard post to Wagaman, who reeled it in as a Dutchmen defender nearly dragged him to the ground at the 30-yard line. From there, the Warriors quickly moved the ball towards the end zone, with Dixon catching the 10-yard scoring pass in the right corner of the end zone.

The Warrior defense, which had hunkered down to force three punts, a turnover on downs and an interception in the second half, quickly got the ball back after just five plays and the Warrior offense again quickly moved the ball, with Klinger finding Wagaman for a 46-yard strike to the LVC 34 start the drive. However, after getting the ball to the 14, a holding call aided another interception by Lillis on the next play.

The Warriors got the ball back with 3:17 left at their own 23-yard line after a turnover on downs and moved the ball across midfield, but Nic Shirey picked off a pass to seal the Dutchmen win.

Freshman punter Zach Czap (Phillipsburg, Pa./Phillipsburg-Oscelola) had a solid game, punting four times for 45.2 yards, landing two inside the 20 with another going into the end zone. He had a long of 54 yards.

Showers posted a career-high 160 all-purpose yards, as he added 55 kickoff return yards to his 73 rushing and 32 receiving.

Sophomore linebacker Corey Schuster (Moosic, Pa./Riverside), junior linebacker Chris Kish (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and junior defensive end Anthony Marascio (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) each posted a game-high 13 tackles for the Warriors and junior safety Ray Bierbach (Hunlock Creek, Pa./Northwest Area) added 12 stops. Senior Chuck Bellitto (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) added eight tackles, including 0.5 for loss and a breakup. Senior Mike Tucker (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) added four tackles and one for a loss.

Guiles led the Dutchmen with 110 yards and two touchdowns as he broke Lebanon Valley's single-season school-record for rushing yards, as he finished the game with 1,143. Fick finished 13-of-20 at quarterback, throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown. Ed Tobin posted four catches for 59 yards and Picerno added three for 64 yards and a score.

Jur'ey Fowlkes and Cory Homer led the Dutchmen with eight tackles and Alex Gilchrist posted five stops and 1.5 sacks. Lillis added two interceptions and two tackles.

The Warriors wrap up their 2010 campaign on Saturday with a 1 p.m. kick-off at FDU-Florham.