Box Score
ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley did its part. Unfortunately, the Dutchmen didn't get the help they needed from around the conference.
LVC won eight games for the first time since 1902 with a 31-21 win over Lycoming, but was shut out of the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by #20 Delaware Valley's 45-16 romp over Albright on Saturday.
While the Dutchmen (8-1, 5-1 MAC) can still win a share of the title with a win over Albright next week and a Del Val loss to Widener, more than likely LVC will have to try to win out and hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament with a 9-1 record.
On Senior Day, it was only appropriate that LVC's senior class make all the big plays, and they did just that as the Dutchmen overcame a slow start to dominate the Warriors (3-6, 2-4 MAC) in the second half.
Charlie Parker scored three touchdowns and racked up his 16th career 100-yard rushing game with 126 yards on 33 carries, and
Joe Brennan and
Sean Donovan each caught five passes, including Brennan's 34-yard touchdown haul.
Defensively, seniors
Matt Lillis,
Bruno Iozzo, and
Will Keylor all came up with interceptions in key situations, and Ju'rey Fowlkes added a fourth pick on Colin Dwyer.
LVC spotted Lyco an early 14-3 lead after a great Warrior start saw them score on a 51-yard pass to Ryan Wagaman on just their second offensive play. LVC had to settle for a 23-yard
Brittany Ryan field goal to end a 19-play, 8:39 drive in the middle of the first quarter, and Lycoming capped their first drive of the second quarter with a one-yard Mark Rosa touchdown.
But the Dutchmen crept back into the game, finishing another long drive with Parker's punch up the middle to end the scoring for the first half.
The momentum swung firmly in LVC's favor in the second half. After a deep LVC drive resulted in
Nate Fehr's missed field goal from 25, Lycoming took over at the 20, and Dwyer was immediately picked off by Iozzo on a tipped ball that the senior took to the Warrior 15. Six plays later, Parker dove over a defender and went end-over-end to score on fourth-and-inches to take a 17-14 lead.
The Dutchmen then pulled a signature big pass out of the playbook after forcing a Lyco three-and-out.
Colt Zarilla went for a play-action fake reverse on first down, and hit Brennan in the end zone to go up two scores.
In the fourth, LVC extended the lead with Parker's final touchdown of the day, a two-yarder to finish a nine-play, 62-yard drive.
Keylor came up with his interception on Lycoming first play of the fourth quarter, and after LVC couldn't make anything out of the drive, the Warriors took over and also stalled. However, Jake Lamphere's punt was taken by
Nic Shirey, who was stripped by Ben Twardzik, and Lyco's Pat McNamera fell on the loose ball to give the Warriors a chance on the LVC 15 with 8:23 left in tthe game.
The LVC defense stepped up and stopped the comeback bid, holding Josh Kleinfelter on first and second downs before
Tim Ridewood batted a pass down on third down to set up a missed 32-yard field goal try by TJ Chiarlonza.
The Warriors finally got a consolation touchdown late in the quarter on Wagaman's 19-yard catch, but Brennan recovered the on-side kick for LVC, and after turning the ball over on downs with 31 seconds left, Lillis grabbed his fifth interception in three games as time expired to punctuate the win.
Game Notes
LVC was 8-5 in 1902, the only other season they have won eight games ... LVC has never been 8-1 ... Delaware Valley holds all potential tiebreakers over Albright and LVC, even with a loss to Widener next week. At best, the winner of the LVC-Albright could tie them and be co-champions ... LVC received serious in-region help for a pool C bid as two teams ahead of them in the regional rankings - #1 Alfred and #4 Springfield - both lost. LVC was #6; #5 Kean won, and #2 Del Val beat #3 Albright ... A very chippy game saw 11 penalties for a combined 194 yards, including Jeff Ochoa's ejection for a chop block after Keylor's interception ... LVC's four interceptions were its most since a four-pick game against King's on Oct. 25 of last year ... LVC has had multiple interceptions in three straight games and four overall this season ... The Dutchmen dominated titme of possession, 34:21 to 25:39 ... Lycoming had just 89 yards rushing and 298 yards overall ... LVC did not allow a sack ... Ryan was four-for-four on PATs with a field goal, putting her 10 points shy of becoming the NCAA's all-leading female scorer.
Key Offensive Performer...
Charlie Parker, playing his final regular-season home game, rolled out 126 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries.
Key Defensive Performer...
Will Keylor had five tackles, an interception with a 31-yard return, and another pass broken up to lead a host of Dutchmen defenders with big games.
The Big Play...
Colt Zarilla faked the reverse and then went long for
Joe Brennan, finding the senior in the end zone on first down for a 34-yard TD to go up 24-14.
It Was Over When...
Keylor picked a tipped ball out of the air at the start of the fourth quarter, stopping a potential Lycoming comeback drive as LVC led 31-14.
