Box Score
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The MAC title slipped away from Lebanon Valley College Saturday as Lycoming College's Jim Daley returned a late interception for a touchdown to seal a 23-15 win and secure a share of the title and an NCAA Tournament berth for the Warriors.
With Delaware Valley's 34-9 blowout win over MAC leader Albright, the door was open for the winner of the LVC-Lycoming game to win a share of the title with Del Val and Albright. LVC was bidding for its first MAC title since 1969.
Things fell just the right way for the Warriors (7-3, 5-2 MAC), and via head-to-head tiebreakers, they claimed the NCAA berth as well. The Dutchmen (6-4, 4-3 MAC) will finish in second place behind Lyco, Albright, and Del Val in first, and turn in two winning seasons in three years, the first time that has happened since 1992.
LVC was pinned inside their own 10 with a chance to tie the game on the final drive, but quarterback Caleb Fick was intercepted by Daley on first down, and the Lycoming cornerback raced up the sideline and dove for the pylon for the game-sealing score.
Fick ended up 15-for-31 with 193 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Joe Brennan was his favored target with 112 yards and both scores, and the Dutchmen tacked on a safety that game them a lead in the third quarter.
Colin Dwyer went 16-of-31 for 220 yards in the air, and Josh Kleinfelter had 101 yards and a score for the Warriors.
LVC looked to be in trouble early, facing a fourth down situation at the Lycoming 20. Monos elected to go not just for the first down, but for the end zone as Fick lofted a ball to the corner of the end zone. Brennan made a fantastic over-the-shoulder basket catch to go up 7-0.
Lyco threatened on the next drive, moving inside the LVC 10 before Zach Bleiler came up with a four-yard tackle for a loss on second down and Dwyer threw incomplete on third-and-goal. That held the Warriors to a 28-yard field goal from Scott Erikson.
The Warriors got the ball right back as Fick was intercepted by TJ Doyle on first down, setting up Josh Kleinfelter's six-yard touchdown run eight plays later.
As the rain began to pour down, LVC, driving into a stiff wind, moved the ball and Fick capped it with another over-the-top pass to Brennan, a 21-yarder, to retake the lead. Brittany Ryan's PAT try was blocked however, making it a 13-10 lead.
Lycoming stalled again on the ensuing drive and had to settle for a 24-yard Erikson kick to tie the game at 13.
LVC caught a huge break to open the third quarter. Punting from midfield, Lycoming fumbled the reception and Brian Cottone fell on the loose ball to regain possession just inside the 20. Two
plays later, however, Fick's pass was tipped and fell into the arms of Travis Leonarczyk at the Lyco 8 yard-line.
But the Dutchmen defense came up big two plays later. Dwyer rolled out in the end zone and Bleiler pressured him, forcing Dwyer to throw the ball into open space. Lycoming was tagged with intentional grounding from the end zone and the safety was awarded to the Dutchmen.
Lycoming drove again inside the 10 to start the fourth quarter, but consecutive batted balls by Cottone and Nick Bowne forced Lyco into a 23-yard field goal to take a 16-15 lead.
Both sides traded possessions before LVC got the ball back on their own 32 with 5:41 to go, but the Dutchmen went three-and-out with a trio of incompletions, and had to punt.
Lebanon Valley forced the punt, but not until there was 2:03 left, and the Dutchmen were pinned at their own six with no timeouts. Fick rolled left on first down and threw it right into the arms of Daley, who raced up the sideline for the game-sealing touchdown.
LVC had one last shot at midfield, but Parker failed to convert on a fourth-and-one to keep the game going, setting off a wild celebration in Williamsport.
