Lebanon Valley (3-0) vs. Delaware Valley (2-1)
Saturday, Oct. 3 - 1 p.m. - Arnold Field - The 27th Meeting
Live Stats: GoDutchmen.com
Radio: WMSS 91.1 FM
Webcast: WMSSFM.com
Media Notes In PDF Format (includes two-deep)
Trying to equal its best start in program history, Lebanon Valley hosts Delaware Valley in both teams' MAC opener. The Dutchmen are 3-0 for the first time in 30 years; the Aggies, the preseason favorite in the MAC, come in at 2-1 after losing to #5 Wesley.
On the Radio
All of this season's games will be heard live in the capital region on WMSS 91.1 FM, with the exception of next week's Wilkes game, which will be on WWSM 1510 AM in Lebanon County.
John Wilsbach and
Brian Keyser will call the action for the fourth consecutive season. Every game will be streamed live and free at
WMSSFM.com and
www.GoDutchmen.com.
If You Only Know 5 Things...
1. A win would equal LVC's best start in program history. The Dutchmen went 4-0 to start the 1961 and 1979 seasons.
2. Senior RB
Charlie Parker needs 66 yards rushing to become LVC's second 3,000-yard rusher, and 172 yards to top
Rick Coleman '78 for the program record.
3. Delaware Valley committed five turnovers and ran for just 59 yards in its 31-13 loss to #5 Wesley. The Aggies average over 140 yards rushing per game.
4. LVC has two of the MAC's top four rushers in
Charlie Parker (96.5 yds/gm) and
Ben Guiles (88.7 yds/gm). They have a combined five touchdowns.
5. Lebanon Valley has scored 14 or more points in the first half of each of its first three games. Combined, the Dutchmen have outscored opponents 76-17 in the first half, including 35-3 in the first quarter.
“Take A Kid To The Game” Day
The LVC-DVC game is “Take A Kid to the Game” Day at Arnold Field, with all kids 14 and under getting in free of charge. The day will be full of children's activities run by LVC student groups, as well as a visit from the Dutchman mascot and a chance for young fans to be on the field during pre-game. Before the game all kids wearing youth football jerseys will be invited onto the field to watch warm-ups and cheer on LVC as they come out onto the field.
Moravian Recap
Lebanon Valley moved to 3-0 for the first time since 1979 as it handled Moravian, 32-3, on Sept. 19. The Dutchmen didn't have a problem without starting tailback
Charlie Parker, racking up 221 yards on the ground, including 135 yards and a score by
Ben Guiles and two touchdowns from fullback
Bryan Lynch. More importantly, LVC avoided the second-half letdowns it had produced in its previous two victories, holding Moravian without a touchdown and limiting the Greyhounds (1-2) to just 132 yards of total offense, including 14 yards rushing on 25 carries.
Caleb Fick (15-of-19) and
Colt Zarilla (3-of-5) combined for 277 yards in the air. Steve Panasuk was sacked three times by the Dutchmen, going 12-of-23 for 118 yards.
Cory Homer caused and recovered a fumble while pressuring Panasuk on Moravian's first drive, setting LVC up in Moravian territory for Guiles to break loose on a 23-yard touchdown run 1:15 into the game.
Starting Off
With a win Saturday, Lebanon Valley would equal its best start in program history at 4-0. The Dutchmen went 4-0 to start the 1961 and 1979 seasons, winning the MAC title in 1961.
Quick Strikes
Lebanon Valley has scored 14 or more points in the first half of each of its first three games. Combined, the Dutchmen have outscored opponents 76-17 in the first half, including 35-3 in the first quarter. LVC has scored on its first drive in two of three games this year.
No Parker? No Problem
Although he dressed for the game, senior RB
Charlie Parker was held out against Moravian with an injury. Sophomore
Ben Guiles had no trouble filling in, thankfully, averaging 8.4 yards per carry with 136 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. LVC also mixed in Mike Scott,
Bryan Lynch,
Blair Ransom, and
Cruz Mannherz as the Dutchmen racked up 221 yards on the ground. Guiles was named to the MAC Honor Roll for his efforts in the game.
Lynch Breaks Through
Twice at Moravian, LVC faced an inches-to-the-goal line situation, and twice, a bit of trickery ended in senior FB
Bryan Lynch's first career touchdowns. On his first score, in the second quarter, LVC lined up in the Power-I with Lynch and
Nick Bowne blocking tailback Mike Scott on first-and-goal from the 1, but
Caleb Fick handed off to Lynch, the lead blocker, for a quick flop over the pile. His second touchdown, in the third quarter, came on the same play call, but in a dicier fourth-and-inches situation after two
Blair Ransom attempts didn't get in. Lynch's touchdowns were not only the first of his collegiate career, but were the first of his playing career; the senior was a lineman all through high school.
Homer Honored by d3football.com
Sophomore DE
Cory Homer had the game of his career against Moravian, racking up seven tackles, including 4.0 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. His fumble recovery in the first quarter set up LVC's first touchdown. He helped LVC hold Moravian to just 14 yards rushing on 25 attempts and 132 yards of total offense. For his efforts, Homer was named to the d3football.com Team of the Week, and was also named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21.
Parker Nears 3,000 Yards, Records
Senior RB
Charlie Parker started the season chasing after three LVC career rushing records, and now owns one of them. His two touchdowns against Gettysburg put him in the lead for career rushing TDs with 25, breaking
Ken Wilson '90's 20 year-old record. Now, Parker will bid to become LVC's second 3,000-yard rusher (he needs 66 more yards) and will go after a pair of records held by
Rick Coleman '78 - career yardage (3,106; Parker needs 172 more) and touches (673, Parker needs 40 more).
Everybody Scores!
LVC has had nine different players involved in scoring points this season, including five different players with rushing touchdowns.
Joe Brennan (4 TDs receiving) is the only receiver to score, with all four passes from
Caleb Fick;
Ben Guiles (3 TDs),
Charlie Parker (2 TDs),
Bryan Lynch (2 TDs),
Blair Ransom (2 TDs), and
Colt Zarilla (1 TD) have all scored on the ground.
Dan DiBona (1 FG) and
Brittany Ryan (11 PATs) have also scored points this season.
Two Under Center
In preseason, coach
Jim Monos indicated that he would have several packages ready for back-up quarterback
Colt Zarilla, a more mobile option than pocket passer
Caleb Fick. Zarilla has certainly shown why he can make life difficult for opposing defenses; this season, he has completed 8-of-13 passes for 146 yards, while also running five times for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Special Teams Shine
LVC's special teams have been outstanding so far this season, averaging 57.5 yards per kick-off behind the boot of freshman
Nate Fehr; 30.1 yards per kick-off return with
Ben Guiles and
Sean Donovan; and 42.3 yards per punt thanks to
Colt Zarilla; each is the best in the MAC.
Stingy Run Defense
LVC possesses the MAC's top-ranked rushing defense, allowing just 63.3 yards per game and 1.9 yards per carry. After allowing 196 yards to Gettysburg's high-octane offense in Week 1, the Dutchmen held Ursinus to -19 yards and Moravian to 14 yards.
Taking on the Centennial Conference
LVC went 3-0 against the Centennial Conference, marking the first time that has happened since the formation of the Centennial in 1992. LVC's wins came over Gettysburg, Ursinus, and Moravian; if LVC were a member of the conference, it would be one of just two undefeated teams left, along with Dickinson (4-0).
Delaware Valley Scouting Report
The Aggies, last year's MAC tri-champions and preseason favorites, are 2-1 after a loss to #5 Wesley before their bye last week. Del Val owns convincing wins over Johns Hopkins and Kean. Offensively, the Aggies have struggled to put up the big numbers they had last year, with senior QB Mike Isgro going 44-for-79 for 598 yards and four TDs, with three interceptions. Junior RB Matt Cook is the MAC's second-ranked rusher at 98.3 yards per game, but has yet to score a touchdown this season. Isaiah Hall has two rushing touchdowns on seven carries. Isgro has spread around the catches, completing to Chad Peterman (10 rec., 2 TDs, 132 yds), Brandon Fox (4 rec., 135 yds), and Dan Heiland (6 rec., 1 TD, 110 yds) most often. The Aggies' offensive line has allowed five sacks on Isgro, which could be good news for LVC's sack-happy front seven, which has 12 sacks in three games. Defensively, DVC has held opponents to 301.3 yards of total offense per game, led by Chris James (33 tackles) and Kyle Gesswein (27 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.0 S). The Aggies have been tough on the ground, allowing just 105 yards rushing per game.
LVC-DVC Series History
Today's game is the 27th meeting all-time between LVC and DVC ... Delaware Valley leads the series, 15-11 ... The first meeting was on Nov. 13, 1965, a 34-18 LVC win ... This will be the 25th consecutive year they have met ... DVC has won six in a row in the series dating back to a 36-24 win in 2003 ... LVC is 7-6 against the Aggies at home ... LVC had won three in a row from 2000 to 2002 ... LVC has failed to score more than 18 points in each of the last five meetings, and has been held to 14 or fewer points in four of those games ...
Jim Monos is 6-10 against the Aggies ... The two teams have played to overtime twice, in 1997 and 2002, with each winning at home (DVC, 40-27, in 1997, and LVC, 33-26, in 2002) ... LVC is 4-4 coming off the bye week since 2001, with two of those wins coming over Delaware Valley, in 2001 and 2002.
Next Time Out
LVC faces another tough game, visiting Wilkes Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
