GAMES — Phil Peterson Snapping at Lycoming College

For 21-year-old Phil Peterson it’s all about staying in the game.
The former Lower Cape May Regional standout linebacker and fullback is a junior at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa.
The Division III Warriors compete in the Mid-Atlantic Conference and won the league in Peterson’s freshman year before tailing off to a 4-6 record in 2009.
This year the squad is riding high on a 5-1 record with the only blemish an opening-day loss to Rowan University.
Peterson, at six-foot, 210 pounds, is a back-up fullback and handles the special teams’ long-snapping duties. So what’s he do to avoid sailing the ball over the punter’s helmet?
“I did long-snapping in high school so it wasn’t new to me,” said the business major. “It’s all about focusing and practicing it every day.”
Peterson, a Villas resident, stays busy with academics and the gridiron. Aside from Monday’s off from practice, the team lifts twice a week and hits the field for rehearsals each day from 3 to 6 p.m.
“Most classes are finished by 3 p.m. but there’s a constant need to stay in the books or else you’ll fall behind,” said Peterson, who also enjoys surfing and fishing.
Peterson’s father, Phil Sr., travels to each game, including some of the longer trips such as Bridgewater, Va., and Ithaca, N.Y.
“We really liked Lycoming after we searched a bunch of schools,” said Phil Sr. “We sent them tapes of Phil in action. We liked their solid history with football.”
Peterson echoed his father’s sentiment about his choice of higher education institutions.
“I liked the program here and I liked the school,” he said of Lycoming. “It’s a smaller school.”
Dad has watched son play football since the early days on the fields of Lower Township.
“I go to every game,” said Phil Sr. “My boss is good about it. Phil has worked hard and I want to be there to support him.”
Phil Jr. is unsure of what type of business he wants to pursue.
“My primary goal is to graduate,” he said. “I want to play the best that I can and stay healthy. We’ll see what happens after that.”
As for differences between his high school and collegiate football experiences, Peterson noted that the Lycoming coaches “push you pretty hard, they push everybody real hard.”
Even at Division III, Peterson referred to football as “more of job.” He said it was “a big jump” from high school competition.
“You didn’t have to go to football practice in high school,” he said.
“Here, you have to go to football practice.”
Peterson considers himself as a “well-rounded” football player who can run, tackle, block and, of course, snap the ball. “I like to consider myself as a solid player,” he said.
As for advice to up and coming high school players looking ahead to college, Peterson said, “Even if you don’t start at first, keep your head up. And keep up with the books or you’ll fall behind fast.”
Dad put it into perspective when talking about how collegiate competition can impact a young athlete.
“The whole idea of playing football is that it shows you that you have to work hard to achieve what you want,” said Phil Sr. “And you achieve it with the help of others.”
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net
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