Online Video
The game will be streamed live and for free via LVCtv.
 
Weather Forecast
On Saturday, the forecast shows mixed sunshine and clouds with a high temperature of 42.
 
Going to the Game
(Directions) Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for non-LVC students. LVC students receive free admission.
 
The Rivalry
Saturday's meeting between the Flying Dutchmen and Lions will be the 98th all-time. It is the most-played rivalry in LVC history, and the oldest continuous, having been played every year since 1947 (excluding World War II years, it has been going on every year since 1924). The first meeting was a 10-3 LVC win in Myerstown in Lebanon County. Albright holds a 61-33-3 overall mark, and in the past two years, the two squads have traded wins. LVC won a thrilling 28-25 decision back on Nov. 12, 2016, while the Lions downed the Dutchmen 28-14 back on Nov. 11, 2017.
 
The Tradition
Tradition holds that if LVC beats Albright, its oldest rival, then the LVC student body is to march up to the home of President Lewis Thayne, Kreiderheim, and request the day before Thanksgiving (Nov. 21) off from class. That day is scheduled to be a half-day of classes. 2016 was the first year since 2011 that an orderly mob of Dutchmen, led by the football team and Annville fire and police personnel, marched from Arnold Field up the hill to Kreiderheim, where they were granted the day off by President Thayne.
 
Last Year
Going into last season's finale at Albright, Lebanon Valley held an outstanding plus-16 advantage in turnovers. In the 97th meeting of The Rivalry, however, miscues reared their ugly head as three fumbles and a pair of interception proved the difference in LVC's 28-14 loss to the Lions at Shirk Stadium. Albright scored every one of its points off turnovers, including 21 in the first quarter. The Flying Dutchmen moved into Lions' territory twice in the opening 15 minutes but came away empty due to fumbles on back-to-back-to-back possessions. On LVC's second offensive play, Albright's Isaiah Baylor jarred the ball loose and set up the home team at the Dutchmen 25-yard line. Five plays later, Kyle Dickerson jaunted into the end zone from yard out to put the Lions on the board less than four minutes into the contest. The visitors looked poised to respond when they marched into the Albright red zone, sparked by a 36-yard catch and run from quarterback Tyler Sterner to wide receiver Tim Pirrone. But another fumble provided a 14-point swing as Kyven Jones ripped the ball from Pirrone at the two-yard line and scampered 98 yards down the home sideline to paydirt to double the advantage at the 7:26 mark. It was like a bad dream when the Dutchmen gave it right back to Albright on their very next drive. Sterner completed four passes in a row to move his squad to the Lions' 21-yard line but wideout Tyeair Diggs was stripped by Kali Boyce before any points could be put up. Quarterback Jimmy Lahay connected with wide receiver Mike Jordan to convert a 3rd-and-16 on Albright's ensuing possession and the Lions added their third touchdown of the first quarter when Lahay hit Milton Cordero for a six-yard touchdown to cap the 10-play, 79-yard scoring drive. LVC hit a wall in the second quarter, as the offense failed to pick up a first down and turned it over for the fourth time. The third quarter was a different story entirely. Lebanon Valley moved 60 yards in 4:41 and punched it into the end zone for the first time when Sterner hit Pirrone for a 14-yard touchdown early in the second half. The defense held, forced a punt, and got the ball back for an offense that put together its second sustained drive of the quarter. The Dutchmen marched 82 yards in 15 plays and took 6:10 off the clock before running back Steve Salerno banged through the middle of the line and into the end zone for a six-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-14 with 1:37 left in the third. LVC looked poised to add more points midway through the fourth quarter following a Sterner scramble and 14-yard pass to tight end Dylan Berberickon consecutive plays. Looking to continue the march on the Albright side of midfield, the momentum shifted when Sterner was picked off across the middle with 8:24 left to play. A defense that answered the call all day despite precarious circumstances finally broke when quarterback Alec Vignola launched a perfectly-placed, 37-yard touchdown pass down the Dutchmen sideline to Jordan to put the game out of reach with 6:11 remaining.
 
Last Time Out
Lebanon Valley rushed for six touchdowns en route to its first win of the 2018 season after dominating Alvernia University 55-7 this past Saturday afternoon, Nov. 3. With 10:50 remaining in the first quarter, LVC got a defensive spark it needed when Tyler Gerhart recovered an Alvernia fumble and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown. The youngster also returned a fumble for a score last week at FDU-Florham. Then, after a Golden Wolves three-and-out, Hunter Wilson took over, rushing for nine yards, 18 yards, and 28 yards on consecutive plays to move LVC into Alvernia's territory. Several plays later, Wilson capped the Dutchmen's impressive drive with a three-yard touchdown to put LVC ahead 14-0 with five minutes left in the first. On Alvernia's ensuing drive, the Dutchmen forced another three-and-out, capped by Anthony Jenkins' sack. The Dutchmen took advantage of solid field position and on their first play of the drive, Ryan Fink rushed for 16 yards to the Golden Wolves' 17-yard line. After a clipping penalty put LVC on Alvernia's eight-yard line, Fink rushed it home for another TD that put the Dutchmen on top 21-0 with two minutes left in the first, and that score line held up going into the second quarter. In the second quarter, LVC defense continued to dominate, as did the offense, particularly the running game. With 7:05 remaining in the second, the Dutchmen began a drive at Alvernia's 47-yard line and rushed the rock six consecutive times, capped by Fink's 12-yard touchdown to take a 27-0 advantage. In the final minutes of the first, Steve Salerno added a one-yard rushing TD and LVC took a commanding 34-0 lead heading into halftime. Similar to the beginning of the game, LVC's defense forced a turnover at the beginning of the third quarter when Brandon Brubaker forced a fumble and Zachary Adams recovered it at Alvernia's 30-yard line to set up the Dutchmen offense with good field position. As was the theme today, LVC ran the ball with ease and Salerno hit pay dirt for the second time after his 12-yard run to put the Dutchmen up 41-0. Later in the third, on 2nd and 13 for LVC, Tyeair Diggs rushed for 18 yards into Alvernia territory. Several plays later, on third and goal, Wilson rushed it home to put the Dutchmen up 48-7. Then, LVC scored its final touchdown on its first drive of the fourth quarter when Keegan Corwell rushed for seven yards for the TD, as the Dutchmen went on to win the game 55-7.
 
Previewing with Coach Buehler
Head Coach Joe Buehler '89 sat down to discuss LVC's 55-7 win over Alvernia last week and previewed the team's upcoming season finale.


 
It's Not Goodbye, It's See You Later
Before Saturday's game, the Dutchmen will honor their seniors: Dallas Arner, Chance Atkins, Tyler Hodges, Nick Sweitzer, Gary Wise, Tyler Melhorn, Adam Domovich, Jared Kramp, Ryan Fink, Alec Soltys, Zachary Adams, Derrec Robinson, Teddy Denver, Bret Hertzog, Steve Salerno, Adam Wagaman, Cooper Fiadino, Jacob Harder, Scott Werner, Lee Amarose, Brett Mars, Evan Shiley, Ryan Johnson, Trent Donlan, Jacob Whitfield, Austin Maguire, and Alex Trujillo.
 
LVC's Special Teams
LVC continues to lead the MAC in kickoff coverage with a 38.5 net average. The Dutchmen are second in the conference with a .958 PAT percentage (23-for-24). Tyeair Diggs leads the MAC with a 23.2 average in kick returns, while Dre Burch sits in fourth at 22.2.
 
LVC's Offense
Tailback Ryan Fink has seven touchdowns this season, tied for fifth in the MAC. Last week against the Golden Wolves, the Dutchmen's offense exploded, particularly the running game, as the Dutchmen ran past Alvernia with six touchdowns on the ground. Fink rushed nine times for 84 yards and two TD's, while Steve Salerno had 10 rushes for 54 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Finally, Hunter Wilson rushed 11 times for a team-high 100 yards and added two scores. In the game, LVC's offense racked up 363 total yards, which included 332 yards on the ground.
 
LVC's Defense
On the defensive side of the ball last week, Brandon Brubaker finished with a team-high seven tackles and forced a fumble. Jacob Whitfield chipped in six tackles, including three for a loss. Anthony Jenkins, Whitfield, Josh Skotek, and Austin Magure each recorded a sack. Tyler Gerhart provided LVC with a defensive spark early in the first quarter against the Golden Wolves last week when he recovered a fumble and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown after recording a defensive touchdown the week before at FDU-Florham.
 
Scouting Albright
Albright comes into Saturday's action without a win in 2018, but the Lions' offense is certainly capable of breaking out. QB Jimmy Lahay ranks fourth in the MAC with 18 touchdowns and 1,926 passing yards. The passing game is the bulk of their offense, however, as Albright ranks second-to-last in the conference with 20.9 points per game. The Lions' defense also struggles, allowing a MAC-high 53.1 points per contest.
 
Season Recap
The Dutchmen will end the season of their 121st campaign in program history on Saturday. The matchup with Albright wraps up Coach Buehler's third season as LVC's head coach.
 
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