Lebanon Valley begins the push for a fourth straight postseason appearance, looking to move to 5-2 with a win at FDU-Florham on Saturday.
 

Game Info Game Day Central LVC Media Notes / Two Deep

Game Coverage Live Stats: FDUDevils.com Radio: Flying Dutchmen Radio Network (WMSS 91.1 FM / WWSM 1510AM) Radio Webcast: WMSSFM.com

On the Radio
The game will be broadcast on the Flying Dutchmen Radio Network on WMSS 91.1 FM in Middletown and WWSM 1510 AM in Annville. John Wilsbach and Steve Leedy will call the action. The game will be streamed live and free at WMSSFM.com and GoDutchmen.com.

Weather Forecast
[Forecast] Partly sunny, high of 70 degrees.

Going to the Game
Driving directions are available at FDUDevils.com. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

If You Only Know Five Things...
1. Lebanon Valley fullback Evan Fink leads the Middle Atlantic Conference in rushing touchdowns with 11 this season, already the fifth-highest season total in LVC history.
2. Cornerback Zach Wierman was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week and Evan Fink named to the MAC Honor Roll for their play vs. Wilkes.
3. LVC center Sam Colletts has been invited to a pair of postseason senior all-star games, and will play in the Tazón de Estrellas in Mexico on Dec. 17.
4. The Lebanon Valley secondary has been having a good year in the interception column, picking off nine passes in six games - its most since 2004.
5. LVC has won seven in a row against FDU-Florham, and is 13-5 playing in New Jersey, including a win in the trip to Montclair State earlier this season.

Series History
Today's game is the 16th meeting all-time ... LVC leads the series 10-5 ... LVC is 4-2 against FDU-Florham on the road ... This will be the 10th consecutive meeting since the series resumed in 2001 ... The first meeting was Oct. 7, 1983 in Madison, an 18-17 LVC win ... Coach Jim Monos is 8-1 against the Devils ... LVC won a game in North Jersey earlier this season, beating Montclair State 31-21 ... The Dutchmen are 21-9 against New Jersey teams all-time and 13-5 when playing in the Garden State.

Recapping Wilkes [Game Recap]
Evan Fink's three second-half touchdowns pushed Lebanon Valley past Wilkes, 21-13, in front of a standing-room-only Oktoberfest Weekend. Wilkes' two missed two field goals and another blocked by Zach Wierman proved to be decisive as the Colonels (3-3, 2-3 MAC) outgained the Dutchmen (4-2, 3-2 MAC) 448 yards to 277 overall. Fink ran just eight times, but three of them were scores as the fullback increased his MAC-leading season total to 11. Pete Panichi led the Dutchmen with 91 yards on the ground, while Leo Kyte was 10-for-18 for 149 yards. Quarterback Tyler Berntsen started the second half for Alex George and ended up the game's leading rusher, running for 102 yards and both touchdowns, while throwing for 134. LVC's defense was outstanding, led by Joey Scerbo's 13 tackles and a six-tackle, three-hurry game from Zach Halpin. Wierman had an early interception.

Noting LVC's Offense
No anticipated two-deep changes for the offense ... LVC enters Week 8 ranked third in the MAC in scoring (30.0 ppg) ... LVC had its worst half of the year against Wilkes, generating just 51 yards in the first half but responding with three second-half touchdowns ... QB Leo Kyte had a quiet day with 149 yards on 10-of-18 passing as LVC largely stuck to the ground ... Brian Murphy played a first-half series, throwing an incompletion and taking the game's only sack ... FB Evan Fink snapped off his second straight three-touchdown game, running for scores of 2, 14, and 3 yards ... RB Pete Panichi had 91 yards on 18 touches ... RB Conrad Heisey saw eight carries for 10 yards ... WR Jake Zeigler had a game-high four catches for 66 yards ... WR Joey Miller caught one pass on five targets but made it count for 44 yards ... WR Kelly Saylor and Yahya McIntyre each caught two passes, and TE Nate Luckenbill snagged another ... The LVC offensive line has allowed only eight sacks through six games despite going with four different lineups this season.

Noting LVC's Defense
No two-deep changes on defense ... The defense comes in as the MAC's best in the red zone (12-20) ... Despite having two first-time starters last week, LVC's secondary allowed 212 passing yards and no passing touchdowns ... LVC has nine interceptions this season, the most since 2004 ... The Dutchmen did not allow a first-half point for the second time this year ... CB Zach Wierman is the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week, picking off a pass and blocking a field goal vs. Wilkes ... SS Josh Borreli made his first career start and had three tackles, one for loss, and a break-up ... FS Bryan Kaspar was also starting his first game; he had eight tackles ... DE Joey Scerbo had another good game, getting a team-high 13 hits ... NT Kevin Smith made nine tackles with half for a loss and a hurry ... S Dachonn Johnson had a big day with eight tackles, a career high ... LB David Kennedy also had eight tackles, and helped stop Wilkes on their final possession with a pressure on fourth down ... DE Zach Halpin was all over the backfield, generating three hurries among six tackles ... CB Mike Pugh forced a fumble, his career first.

Noting LVC's Special Teams
No two-deep changes on special teams ... LVC remains the MAC's top kick-return unit, averaing 25.4 yards per return ... The Wilkes game was a busy one for Jake Zeigler, who punted seven times for a 34.3 yard average ... None of his punts were returned; he pinned two of his punts inside the 20 and boomed a 53-yarder as well ... Sean Fakete was 3-for-3 on PATs to move into second on LVC's all-time list, now two away from tying the record ... Zach Wierman blocked a Jordan Fredo field goal attempt from 27, and Wilkes also missed from 35 and 45 ... LVC had to take a couple of short kickoffs back, with Drew Murphy going for six yards and Trevor St. Clair 11 ... Bryan Ek had a three-yard punt return.

Wierman, Fink Pick Up MAC Honors
Sophomore CB Zach Wierman was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week and junior FB Evan Fink was named to the Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. Wierman had an interception and a kick block against Wilkes, while Fink ran for all three of LVC's touchdowns. It is the first career honors for each.

Colletts Receives All-Star Invites
Senior center Sam Colletts has received invitations to play in the Tazón de Estrellas and the D3Senior Classic all-star games, opting to head to Pueblo, Mexico to represent Team Stars and Stripes against a Mexican collegiate all-star team Dec. 17 in the Tazón de Estrellas. Colletts was a consensus preseason all-American, and a 2011 first-team all-ECAC and all-MAC selection.

Fakete Eyes PAT Record
Junior kicker Sean Fakete stands two extra points away from tying former teammate Brittany Ryan '11 for the LVC all-time record. Fakete has 80 in less than three seasons; Ryan's mark is 82.

Fink in Elite Company
With three touchdowns last week, fullback Evan Fink now has 11 this season, leading the MAC in that category. Fink's season total ranks fifth all-time at LVC; he is one of just five Dutchmen ever to surpass 10 rushing touchdowns in a season, which includes runners Ben Guiles '12, Charlie Park '10, Ken Wilson '90, and Frank Tavani '76. Fink is also only the second player in LVC history to rush for three touchdowns in consecutive games; Wilson did it three straight games in 1989.

Picking the Garden State
LVC has had a run of success playing in New Jersey, going 13-5 all-time while competing in the Garden State. LVC has won four in a row dating back to 2006 there, including a win earlier this year at Montclair State.

Secondary Steps Up
LVC has nine interceptions through six games, its highest total to this point in the season since 2004. What's more impressive is that the contributions have come from all over the field, with eight different Dutchmen making picks - only Zach Wierman has two. Two interceptions - by Josh Borreli and Zach Halpin - have been returned for touchdowns.

FDU-Florham Quick Look
The Devils are looking to snap a four-game skid that has taken them to a 1-4 MAC start since beating King's in Week 2. FDU has some offensive weapons, led by quarterback Mike Santos, who has thrown for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Favored target Anthony Frucillo has caught 27 balls for 401 yards and a touchdown, while both Craig Kimbrough and Joe Bennett have a pair of touchdowns apiece among seven different Devils to catch TD passes. Kimbrough is the feature back, rushing for 223 yards, while Bennett has run for three touchdowns. FDU's offensive line has allowed just six sacks in as many games, but turnovers have hurt them at -7 this year. The Devils have struggled defensively, giving up 41 points and 502 yards per game on average. Mike Mancino is the leading tackler with 69 stops, and Charlie Thomas (53 T, 3.0 TFL) and Troy Scales (31 T) are top players defensively.

Next Time Out
LVC returns home to host Delaware Valley on Oct. 27.