Watch post-game comments by coach Jim Monos
Box Score
ANNVILLE, Pa. - For the second straight week, Lebanon Valley raced out to a big lead before overcoming second-half mistakes, this time holding on to defeat Ursinus, 27-20, in the 2009 home opener at Arnold Field.
With the win, the Dutchmen move to 2-0 for the second straight season for the first time since 1969. The Bears (0-2) pressed for 20 fourth-quarter points after LVC worked up a 21-0 lead.
Joe Brennan and
Ben Guiles both scored a pair of touchdowns, with Guiles helping put the game away with a big 77-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
The LVC defense held Ursinus to 285 yards of total offense (including -19 yards rushing) while sacking quarterback Justin Decristofaro eight times.
Zach Bleiler (3.5 sacks, 7 tackles),
Will Keylor (2 sacks, 7 tackles), and
Jeff Ochoa (2 sacks, 6 tackles) terrorized the Ursinus offense, while corners
Matt Lillis and
Tim Ridewood each grabbed an interception.
Caleb Fick was 19-of-28 for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but was picked off three times in the second half, while Decristofaro aired it out to the tune of 304 yards and three TDs on 21-of-41 passing.
Brennan caught both of his touchdowns in the first half, opening with a 14-yard catch in the second quarter to cap off a 74-yard drive that saw two LVC touchdown passes called back on penalties, then making it a 14-0 game with a 28-yard catch from Fick later in the second quarter.
Guiles punched up the middle on a delayed draw in the third to put the Dutchmen up 21-0, and after a few deep stops, Ursinus finally broke through early in the fourth on Nick Garratano's nine-yard catch.
LVC then went out on their next drive, but a low snap on the punt forced
Colt Zarilla to fall on the ball, giving Ursinus possession on the LVC 26 to start. Five plays later, Decristofaro completed to Kahlil Pittman to cut the lead to 21-13, and it was game on.
"We've got to do something different, we can't keep hanging on like that," said Head Coach
Jim Monos. "I'm disappointed we didn't finish this time, again. But we're 2-0, and that's what counts."
Fick was intercepted by Dave Queroli on the next drive, and the Bears went for the score before Decristofaro was picked off by Ridewood in the end zone. With LVC reeling and staring down a long field, Guiles found a seam on second down and broke loose, winning a 77-yard footrace to the house to put LVC up 27-13.
"He hit that thing, made some good blocks up front, but once he got in the secondary, he went the distance," Monos said. "That was big."
With 4:29 to make up the difference, Ursinus went to work, but the LVC defense forced a turnover on down, and after the LVC offense couldn't produce, Zarilla bombed a 55-yard punt to back the Bears up inside the one.
But Al Desiderio made a 20-yard grab to give the Bears some room, then stunned the crowd with a 79-yard touchdown catch on the next play to put them within striking distance with 2:17 left.
However, that would be just enough time for the Dutchmen, who recovered the onside kick and managed to work the clock and end the game without the ball getting back to the Bears.
Game Notes
LVC held Ursinus to 50 yards of total offense in the first half, including -1 yards of rushing ... Brennan went over 1,000 career receiving yards in the first half ... Ursinus had two big returns called back on flags ... Lillis broke up a big 4th-and-13 pass by Ursinus as the Bears were in the red zone in the third quarter ... LVC did not allow a sack ... Despite the constant drizzle and wet field, there were only two fumbles in the game, both by LVC, and neither resulted in a turnover ... The LVC secondary broke up nine passes, including a punishing hit by Jur'ey Fowlkes on Kahlil Pittman in the second quarter ... Zarilla averaged 39.5 yards per punt and put all three he got off inside the 20 ... Sean Donovan caught a team-high eight passes for 108 yards, and had five returns for 83 more yards ... LVC allowed 300+ yards of passing for the second straight week ... Desiderio ended with 140 yards receiving.
Big Offensive Performer...
Ben Guiles racked up 96 yards and two touchdowns on the ground despite just eight touches.
Big Defensive Performer...
The entire front seven was dominant, but
Zach Bleiler came up biggest with seven tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for a loss.
The Big Play...
With the Dutchmen needing a boost,
Ben Guiles busted loose for a 77-yard touchdown to put LVC up 27-13.
It Was Over When...
Joe Brennan, for the second straight week, grabbed an onside kick in the final moments to preserve the lead.
