Misericordia 25, Lebanon Valley 21
 
LVC Offense
QB Kegarise, RB Fink, FB Robinson, WR Wise, WR Diggs, TE Clark, LT Amarose, LG Fiadino, C Shiley, RG Werner, RT Heft
 
LVC Defense
DE McLeod, DT Donlan, DT Whitfield, DE McGuire, LB Hodges, LB Trujillo, LB Lutz, CB Okomba, FS Adams, SS Jenkins, CB Gaumer
 
MU Offense
QB Williams, RB Cromwell, WR Williams, WR Dieter, WR Gillison, TE Scher, LT Hendershot, LG Colonno, C Watson, RG Stephan, RT Burke
 
MU Defense
DE Anderson, DT Nagle, DE Conway, LB Grasso, LB Murray, LB Pearson, LB Becke, CB Orzell, SS Skids, FS, Yeager, CB Diaz
 
How It Happened
Lebanon Valley suffered a hearbreaking 25-21 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) loss to an up-and-coming Misericordia program in front of a tremendous Homecoming crowd of nearly 5,000 at a packed Arnold Field on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 13.
 
The Flying Dutchmen (0-6, 0-4 MAC) appeared to be in complete control late in the third quarter when Ryan Fink's second rushing touchdown of the game put them ahead 21-10. The defense forced an MU three-and-out but a fumble on the ensuing punt return allowed the Cougars (5-1, 4-0 MAC) a short field that led to a touchdown and two-point conversion just 54 seconds into the fourth quarter.
 
The team's traded possessions three times in the final quarter before Misericordia put together what proved to be the game-winning nine-play, 85-yard drive that was capped with a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brady Williams to a tackle-breaking Isaiah Williams. The extra point put the visitors out in front for the first time in the second half at 25-21, leaving just 1:16 for LVC to work with.
 
The Dutchmen moved into MU territory when quarterback Kody Kegarise connected with tight end Patrick Clark for an 11-yard gain but Kegarise was picked off when he tried to connect with wide receiver Zeke Wassell in the end zone after rolling out on a broken play. The Cougars took over at their own 10-yard line with 28 seconds remaining and used two kneel downs to escape with the narrow victory.
 
Fink was the team's sparkplug in the second half, rushing eight times during LVC's methodical opening drive of the third quarter and capping the scoring march with a 14-yard touchdown run that put the Dutchmen ahead 14-10 at the 7:18 mark.
 
Things got even better when cornerback Tyler Okomba demolished MU running back David Cromwell on the ensuing possession, forcing a fumble that was recovered and returned by safety Anthony Jenkins to the Cougars' 13-yard line. Two Fink touches later and Lebanon Valley was in the end zone again, now with a 21-10 lead at the 2:22 mark of the third quarter.
 
LVC opened the game with an impressive four-play, 50-yard drive that ended when running back Steve Salerno broke a tackle and scampered 11 yards to paydirt just 1:31 into the contest. Misericordia responded with a field goal on the team's first drive of the day and eventually took a 10-7 lead into halftime thanks to a five-play, 74-yard scoring drive midway through the second quarter.
 
Inside the Numbers
- Lebanon Valley's run game was dominant, racking up 237 yards and three touchdowns on 53 attempts.
- The Cougars were strong through the air, posting 295 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game.
- The offenses were fairly even, with MU recording 357 yards and LVC racking up 322 yards of total offense.
- Misericordia won the turnover battle 2-1.
- Ryan Fink had his best game of the season, rushing for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts.
- Kody Kegarise racked up 54 yards on the ground, while Steve Salerno rushed for 45 yards and a score.
- Tight end Patrick Clark was LVC's top receiver, pulling in two catches for 41 yards.
- Safety Zachary Adams led the way with eight tackles for the Dutchmen.
- Defensive lineman Adam Wagaman and linebacker Alex Trujillo each recorded a sack.
- Cornerbacks Tyler Okomba and Grant Gaumer each broke up two passes, as did linebacker Dillon Estes.
 
Who's Next?
Things don't get any easier for the Dutchmen when they host No. 22 Delaware Valley, the defending MAC champion, at Arnold Field next weekend.
 
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