Looking to build off last year’s win over Lycoming College, the repeat champions “MJ’s of Flag Football” reloaded their roster in hopes of knocking off their rivals for the second year in row. Unfortunately, Lycoming had other plans.
The night didn’t start off well: Penn College turned the ball over on downs on its first possession and Lycoming cashed in on a quarterback keeper and the extra point for an early 7-0 lead. Penn College calmed down and Jalile Best completed a touchdown pass to Dylan Bennett to get Penn College on the board; the extra point was unsuccessful and the returning champs trailed 7-6.
Lycoming scored on its next possession on a fourth-and-long touchdown pass. The extra point was good for a 14-6 lead. Penn College then turned the ball over with an interception, but the defense persevered and forced Lycoming to punt.
On the next Penn College possession, Best found Kyle Mostik on a long touchdown pass to bring the team within two. The two-point conversion failed and the score stayed 14-12. Hoping to expand its lead before halftime, Lycoming took the ball and threw an interception. Matt Klock intercepted the pass and set Penn College up with a chance to score before the half ... and that is exactly what happened. Best dumped the ball off to Rantz Mahaffey, who outran the entire Lycoming team 80 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Penn College again missed the extra point again and went into halftime with a 18-14 lead.
Lycoming scored on its opening possession of the second half on a touchdown pass, but missed the point-after for a 20-14 lead. The Penn College offense went as cold as the night, failing to score and watching as Lycoming scored again to take a 26-18 lead. The extra point was no good and the score remained 26-18.
Penn College was determined to get back into the game and Best connected on a touchdown pass to Jared Mahaffey to get within two points. This time, the two-point conversion was good and the game was tied at 26-26 with nine minutes left. Lycoming scored on a quarterback keeper to go up 32-26, the extra point was no good and Penn College still had a chance. Unfortunately, Best threw an interception in the end zone and Lycoming ran it back 100 yards to go up two scores. The extra point was missed again and Penn College found itself down 38-26 with two minutes left in the game.
Not willing to give up, Best found Steven Moon in the end zone to get within a score. Going for two, Penn College converted and found itself down four with just under a minute to go. Lycoming could have taken a knee to end the game, but wanted to score again. After four straight incompletions, Penn College took possession with 15 seconds remaining. Penn College moved the ball, but ran out of time and lost 38-34.
On the Penn College roster were Mahaffeys, Best, Bennett Moon, Klock, Mostik, Zane Britton and Brandon Ciocco; the team was coached by Tyler Cooklin.
The night didn’t start off well: Penn College turned the ball over on downs on its first possession and Lycoming cashed in on a quarterback keeper and the extra point for an early 7-0 lead. Penn College calmed down and Jalile Best completed a touchdown pass to Dylan Bennett to get Penn College on the board; the extra point was unsuccessful and the returning champs trailed 7-6.Lycoming scored on its next possession on a fourth-and-long touchdown pass. The extra point was good for a 14-6 lead. Penn College then turned the ball over with an interception, but the defense persevered and forced Lycoming to punt.
On the next Penn College possession, Best found Kyle Mostik on a long touchdown pass to bring the team within two. The two-point conversion failed and the score stayed 14-12. Hoping to expand its lead before halftime, Lycoming took the ball and threw an interception. Matt Klock intercepted the pass and set Penn College up with a chance to score before the half ... and that is exactly what happened. Best dumped the ball off to Rantz Mahaffey, who outran the entire Lycoming team 80 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Penn College again missed the extra point again and went into halftime with a 18-14 lead.
Lycoming scored on its opening possession of the second half on a touchdown pass, but missed the point-after for a 20-14 lead. The Penn College offense went as cold as the night, failing to score and watching as Lycoming scored again to take a 26-18 lead. The extra point was no good and the score remained 26-18.
Penn College was determined to get back into the game and Best connected on a touchdown pass to Jared Mahaffey to get within two points. This time, the two-point conversion was good and the game was tied at 26-26 with nine minutes left. Lycoming scored on a quarterback keeper to go up 32-26, the extra point was no good and Penn College still had a chance. Unfortunately, Best threw an interception in the end zone and Lycoming ran it back 100 yards to go up two scores. The extra point was missed again and Penn College found itself down 38-26 with two minutes left in the game.Not willing to give up, Best found Steven Moon in the end zone to get within a score. Going for two, Penn College converted and found itself down four with just under a minute to go. Lycoming could have taken a knee to end the game, but wanted to score again. After four straight incompletions, Penn College took possession with 15 seconds remaining. Penn College moved the ball, but ran out of time and lost 38-34.
On the Penn College roster were Mahaffeys, Best, Bennett Moon, Klock, Mostik, Zane Britton and Brandon Ciocco; the team was coached by Tyler Cooklin.
Game summary and photos by Jeremy R. Bottorf, coordinator of intramural sports and campus recreation