Oil change help

One would have to do it at least half way back on the filter to avoid the stem on the engine.
I have been there on the destroyed filter housing.

One of the best solutions to that I have found so far is to palm smack the filter side to side before attempting to remove it.

I would not stick the screwdriver through the filter. It will make a mess for one. Plus, I have tried it several times only to be stuck with a filter still stuck on and just torn slam the hell up. Not to mention the screwdriver can damage the oil filter tube on the engine. And all of this is on the side of the engine that's not real easy to get to. I would wait and get a filter wrench.