READING, Pa. - Lebanon Valley College mounted a late comeback charge, but fell short as it lost to Albright College, 27-20, in the annual Pretzel Bowl rivalry game at Shirk Stadium.
The Dutchmen (2-6, 1-4 MAC) received big performances from both of their primary offensive weapons, as sophomore Charlie Parker rushed for 140 yards and senior Adam Brossman caught six passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
with the win, Albright (7-1, 5-0 MAC) stayed atop the MAC and will clash with the conference's other undefeated team, Widener, next week.
Freshman kicker Brittany Ryan made history as she came into the game to boot an extra point on LVC's final touchdown, becoming the first female player in program history to see game action.
The game stayed close in the first quarter, and LVC countered Josh Whelan's 22-yard field goal with Patrick Weiss' 26-yard strike to Brossman with 1:15 to go in the quarter.
Albright answered at the start of the second, however, when Tanner Kelly capped a 12-play drive with a 14-yard TD pass to Keith Allen. Whelan added a 36-yard boot to increase the Lion lead to 13-7.
It was Brossman again that put points on the board for the Dutchmen as the senior hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 to go in the half. Dan DiBona's kick sailed wide, however, and the game appeared to be headed to the break tied at 13.
The Lions had other ideas, driving 59 yards on 10 plays in the span of 1:16 for Kelly to find Nate Romig on a two-yard touchdown completion with four seconds left. The score would give Albright the lead, 20-13, and more importantly, the momentum heading into the half.
Neither side would score again until the fourth quarter, when again it was the Kelly-to-Romig connection, this time for 39 yards, that put Albright in the lead, 27-13.
The Dutchmen wouldn't quit, however, and came back to score on Sean Donovan's 21-yard run with 9:53 left in the game. Ryan's kick made it a one-score game.
LVC needed a defensive stop on the next drive, and it got it. With Albright on the LVC 1 with first and goal, Nate Romig tried to run in but was hit and lost the ball. Junior Brian Cottone came up with the fumble recovery in the end zone and gave the Dutchmen a glimmer of hope with five minutes left in the game.
The drive by the Dutchmen stalled at midfield, however, and Weiss couldn't find Brossman on three consecutive plays as LVC turned it over on downs.
Needing two first downs to essentially end the game, Albright got one, but was stopped by the Dutchmen. On third and six at the LVC 33, Romig tried to get out but was stuffed for a four-yard loss by Kyle Sylvester and Cottone, and the Lions were forced to punt.
LVC got one final crack at the end zone, taking the ball at their own 24 with 1:04 left. On first down, Weiss completed a 44-yard pass to Brossman to move the Dutchmen into Lion territory and within striking distance. But after an incompletion, Weiss threw an interception to Brett Gaul, and LVC's chances at a comeback ended.
The Dutchmen will travel to FDU-Florham for a 1 p.m. start next Saturday.
