RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lycoming’s Tyler Marshall (28) carries the ball during a football game against Keystone College at David Person Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Lycoming won 31-28.

It may not have been as easy as some might’ve expected, but Lycoming football got back on track last Saturday, erasing a 21-point deficit to defeat Keystone, 31-28, and improve its record to 3-4. That win not only granted it its first conference win of the season, but it also ended its second two-game skid, replenishing its diminishing momentum.

Riding the tailcoat of the previous week’s heartbreaker, to win in that fashion worked wonders for the team’s morale. While the season has had its fair share of low points, there’s still an avenue to making it meaningful.

“I do think emotionally, the loss to Catholic hurt us, which led to a little bit of a slow start (against Keystone),” said Lycoming head coach Mike Clark when discussing the past few weeks. “But we found a way to respond, and our guys are happy about it. Practice this week has been pretty good.”

Now, the hope is that the team can carry that momentum into another victory, one which would get it back to .500 and earn it its first win streak of 2024. Though its upcoming bout comes with the added challenge of playing on the road, where the Warriors are 0-3, it also comes in what should be a manageable matchup against Juniata (1-6, 0-3 Landmark).

Through the past two seasons, the Eagles have garnered just two wins, both coming against a team dealing with similar struggles in Hartwick (2-5). In last year’s matchup, Lycoming achieved its most lopsided win of the season, defeating Juniata 56-10 in the midst of a four-game win streak.

Nonetheless, the players and coaches are treating the matchup with urgency.

While one loss wouldn’t technically eliminate it from playing in a bowl, it would put it in a win-or-go-home scenario heading into arguably its two toughest Landmark matchups, with no additional chances to pull off wins.

“We have to beat Juniata,” said Lycoming head coach Mike Clark when discussing the team’s closing stretch of games. “If we don’t beat Juniata, nothing else is going to matter anyway.”

Last season’s matchup proved to be a breeze, but despite their record indicating otherwise, the Eagles do have more going for them this time around, particularly on offense. Through seven games, they rank as the third best offense in the Landmark in yards per game, coming into Saturday’s outing with an average above 400.

They’re led by senior running back Hunter Wolfley, who kicked off the season with back-to-back 200-yard performances against Gettysburg and Alfred. Although his numbers have tapered off through conference play, he still currently ranks as the second-best runner in the conference based on yards per game (107.9) and touchdowns (9) and also ranks third in yards per carry (7.6).

Coupled with arguably the third best passing attack in the conference, instilled by senior quarterback Calvin German, Juniata’s offense has proven balanced and formidable. Its defense has held it back, giving up just under 600 yards and 53.1 points per game, but the Warriors could have issues if they end up in a shootout.

With that in mind, the team’s biggest focus heading into the matchup is to do what it can to limit Wolfley. It feels that if it can manage that, along with remaining wary of German, it should be able to keep Juniata’s offense at bay.

“We always want to try to make people one-dimensional,” said Clark. “Against the run, we did a pretty good job against Keystone, Widener certainly didn’t run it and in the second half against Catholic, we did a better job and gave ourselves a chance. If we can limit Wolfley and contain the quarterback, who extends some plays with his feet, then hopefully we’ll limit them that way.”

There are plenty of additional focuses, like limiting mistakes and continuing to develop its new look passing attack under sophomore quarterback Jay Huber. Penalties have plagued it throughout the season, turnovers have recently emerged as a consistent problem and Huber has struggled to find his footing through his first two starts.

But first and foremost, the goal is clear: win at any cost.

The game is set to take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Knox Stadium in Huntingdon. Following that matchup, the Warriors will continue their road stint against Moravian (5-2, 3-0 Landmark) before capping the regular season at home against No. 7 Susquehanna in the Stagg Hat Trophy game.