Widener 34, Lebanon Valley 6

LVC Offensive Starters
Cottle QB, Irving RB, Lysczek FB, Saylor WR, Gaval WR, Berberick TE, Kingshill LT, Stover LG, Weller C, Werner RG, Van Horn RT

LVC Defensive Starters
McLeod DE, Maguire DT, Donlan DT, Zimmerman DE, Garner OLB, Trujillo ILB, Gallagher OLB, Moser CB, Yetter FS, Murray SS, Gilger CB

Widener Offensive Starters
Krivda QB, Harrell RB, Hicks-Taylor WR, Warren WR, Sapp WR, Price WR, Domonos LT, Anderson LG, Phillips C, Quinones RG, Viereck RT

Widener Defensive Starters
Kerschner DE, Char DT, Rendle NT, Stewart DE, Bundy OLB, Gozur ILB, Behornar OLB, Hardy CB, Lowery FS, Barnes SS, Powell CB

How It Happened
For the second week in a row, Lebanon Valley's offense struggled to produce against one of the Middle Atlantic Conference's (MAC) top defensive units. The Flying Dutchmen dropped a 34-6 decision to Widener in front of a Homecoming crowd at Arnold Field on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 8.

The Pride (4-1, 4-0 MAC) made an early statement when linebacker Steve Gozur jumped in front of a Tyler Cottle pass on the LVC side of midfield and raced 41 yards down the right sideline for the game's first touchdown at the 8:46 mark of the first quarter.

Widener's offense flexed some muscle early in the second quarter when the unit drove 58 yards to paydirt in just 1:57, culminating with a Montrell Taylor-Hicks two-yard touchdown run that doubled the Pride advantage with 14:33 remaining in the first half.

Insult was added to injury when Cottle was strip sacked and knocked from the game by Casey Kerschner midway through the second quarter. Widener made the Dutchmen (1-5, 1-4 MAC) pay on the team's ensuing possession, converting the turnover into points when Chris Randle finished off a seven-play, 62-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run.

LVC's best drive of the day came early in the third quarter when the offense marched to the Widener 34-yard line. Unfortunately, the momentum was halted when Justin Hardy picked off Tim Pirrone's third-down pass at the 14-yard line.

The Pride put the finishing touches on the scoring by adding a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns before LVC avoided being shut out for the second week in a row when Pirrone hit a leaping Travis Saylor in the back corner of the end zone with 34 seconds remaining.

Turning Point
The Lebanon Valley defense held its own during the first quarter and allowed no points to a dangerous Widener offensive unit. When the Pride finally broke through in the opening moments of the second quarter, however, the flood gates began to crack. A 37-yard pass from Alex Krivda to Connor Schlegel set up Widener at the LVC two yard line. Montrell Hicks-Taylor rushed across the goal line on the next play to put the visitors up 14-0. From there, the Dutchmen defense slowly wore down throughout the game, while the offense struggled to offer the unit any respite.

Inside the Numbers
- Saturday's loss was LVC's sixth in a row to Widener dating back to 2011.
- Widener's league-best rushing defense held the Dutchmen to a season-low 142 yards on the ground.
- Lebanon Valley managed just 182 yards of total offense on the day.
- Tyler Cottle was 2-3 for 22 yards and an interception before exiting the game due to injury. Tim Pirrone spelled him and finished 4-15 for 45 yards, a touchdown, and a pair of picks.
- After a slow start, Brendon Irving got going late in the game and finished the day with 25 carries for 73 yards. Ryan Fink added 22 rushing yards and Pirrone racked up 20 yards on the ground.
- Travis Saylor's late-game touchdown reception was his first score of the year. The senior captain is just the second LVC wide receiver to catch a TD this year.
- Saylor's touchdown catch ended a nine-quarter scoreless drought for the Dutchmen.
- Alex Krivda had a strong day for Widener, finishing 18-29 for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
- Donte Harrell racked up 128 yards on the ground on 16 carries, while Chris Randle and Montrell Hicks-Taylor each tallied a rushing touchdown for the Pride.
- Harrell also added a touchdown reception on a screen pass, while Collin Wilson recorded a TD catch on a 23-yard jet sweep.
- Spencer Moser and Kyle Murray were the game's leading tacklers, making eight stops apiece on the day. Each player added one pass breakup.
- Guy Zimmerman and Ryan Johnson combined for LVC's only sack. Zimmerman also added a quarterback hurry.
- Tim Schumacher and Wyett McLeod each recorded a tackle for loss.
- Mike Gilger broke up a pair of passes in his first start of the season.
- For the second week in a row, the Dutchmen registered an extra-point block. Anthony Jenkins denied the point after try.
- On special teams, Michael Gaval averaged more than 20 yards per attempt on his three kickoff returns.
- Saturday's loss ended LVC's streak of nine straight wins on Homecoming Weekend.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen have their bye coming up next weekend. LVC is next in action at Lycoming on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22.