Online Video
The game will be streamed live and for free on LVCtv.
 
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 Lebanon County. John Wilsbach and Brian Keyser will call the action. The game will be streamed live and for free on the TuneIn app, as well as WMSSFM.com and on GoDutchmen.com.
 
Weather Forecast
(FORECAST) Saturday is looking like a terrific day for football with sunny skies and a high temperature of 77, making for a very comfortable early-September football matchup.
 
Going to the Game
(DIRECTIONS) Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for non-LVC students. LVC students receive free admission.
 
Series History
This is the 40th meeting after the mid-state rivals renewed the series in 2014 for the first time since 1982. F&M leads the series 30-8-1. The last time the Dutchmen beat the Dips came in 1981 when LVC claimed a 30-20 victory, while LVC's first victory in the series came in 1923 when the Dutchmen defeated F&M 7-6. At 24 miles, F&M is geographically LVC's closest rival in NCAA Division III football, compared to 36 miles for Albright and 44 miles for Dickinson. It's one of the oldest rivalries in LVC football, dating back to the first meeting in 1899, a 28-0 F&M win in Lancaster.
 
Last Year vs. F&M
Lebanon Valley's electric start wasn't enough to keep nationally-ranked Franklin & Marshall at bay in the team's 44-21 season-opening loss at F&M's Shadek Stadium back on Sept. 1, 2018. Kody Kegarise impressed in his first career start and wasted little time making his impact felt when he capped LVC's opening drive with a 44-yard jaunt to the end zone that put the Flying Dutchmen out in front at the 11:22 mark of the first quarter. Later, with the score tied, LVC got a jolt in the form of a 61-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by Tyeair Diggs. For the now-senior, it was the first of a number of memorable plays on the day. But another miscue negated the team's exceptional starting field position, as a third-down fumble turned the ball back over to F&M. One snap later, the Dips had the lead for the first time. Quarterback Tanner Erisman connected with wide receiver K.J. Pretty for a 65-yard touchdown strike and just like that, F&M led 14-7 early in the second quarter. From there, F&M took control, adding a field goal and another touchdown before the end of the first half. The Dips' defense also came to life, holding LVC to just one first down in the final 13 minutes of the second quarter. After surrendering 38 consecutive points, LVC managed to get something going midway through the third quarter. Kegarise and Diggs played pitch and catch for 59 yards on the team's second drive of the half before the duo connected for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:26 remaining in the period. F&M responded with an impressive 62-yard touchdown scamper by tailback Keshon Farmer on the first play of the next drive but Diggs had one more highlight-reel worthy play left in him, as the return man took the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the house on the very next play, giving the visitors something to cheer about during a game that got away.
 
Team Captains
All three of LVC's captains in 2019 are first timers, including C.J. Steinhilber, Patrick Clark, and Tyler Lutz.
 
Meet the 2019 Team
Here's Lebanon Valley's 2019 football squad.


Previewing with Coach Buehler
Fourth-year head coach Joe Buehler '89 recently sat down for an interview that hit on a number of topics, including his team's preseason progress, this season's schedule, and his thoughts heading into this weekend's opener with the Diplomats.

 
Dutchmen Pegged 10th
In the 2019 edition of the Middle Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, Lebanon Valley was picked 10th. LVC garnered 26 points in the poll. Delaware Valley was picked to win the conference with 99 points and nine first-place votes, followed by Stevenson, who was awarded 90 points and a pair of first-place votes. Lycoming (72), Widener (69), and Misericordia (72) rounded out the top-5.
 
Structure Changed for Centennial-MAC Bowl Series
The Centennial Conference and the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) will continue with its postseason bowl series in 2019 for a fifth-straight year with a structure change to the matchups. The conferences also revealed a brand new visual identity for the annual Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.

The Fifth Annual Centennial-MAC Bowl Series will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23.
 
The conference administrators and coaches agreed on a few changes to the bowl series heading into the fifth edition. The top-three teams from each conference that do not make the NCAA Division III Championship will continue to get a bid, but the match-ups have changed.

Like the first three years of the bowl series, the top-seed from each conference will now have hosting rights and will face the other conference's second-seed (same structure from 2015 to 2017 before the third game was added). The third seeds from each conference will match-up in the third game with the conferences rotating hosting duties. The MAC will host the third-seed game in odd years, while the Centennial Conference will host in even years. Below is the 2019 bowl series structure:
 
MAC No. 2 Seed at Centennial No. 1 Seed
Centennial No. 2 Seed at MAC No. 1 Seed
Centennial No. 3 Seed at MAC No. 3 Seed
 
LVC's Offense
The offense faces a tough task ahead in replacing six of the unit's starters from 2018, including tailback, fullback, left tackle, left guard, center, and right guard. Once again under center will be Kody Kegarise who looks to build off his first season as a starter in 2018. He'll alleviate some pressure by handing the ball off to senior Hunter Wilson and senior captain C.J. Steinhilber, and Tyeair Diggs returns for his senior season at the wide receiver position. Tight end Patrick Clark should provide a combination of athleticism and sure-handedness at the pass catcher position, while Walker Klinger, Dakota Johnson-Ortiz, George Thompson, Nick Redmon, and Jack Heft look to be a formidable unit for the offense.
 
LVC's Defense
Heading into 2019, the defense will replace just five starters from last season. Several returns who shined late in the season hope to build off LVC's two-game winning streak that it ended last year's campaign on. Veteran Wyett McLeod looks to hold down the defensive tackle position, while Brandon Brubaker is poised to break out as a defensive end. Another captain, Tyler Lutz, is back for his junior year at the linebacker position, and veteran strong safety Anthony Jenkins will hold down the position. Physically-gifted Tyler Okomba hopes to shut down the opposition's top wide receivers in his final season, while Grant Gaumer hopes to help the Dutchmen on the other side of the field as a cornerback in his sophomore season.
 
LVC's Special Teams
Second-Team All-MAC honoree Nick Bentz is back for his senior season after an impressive junior campaign as the Dutchmen's kicker. When fielding punts, Diggs, Dre Burch, and Cameron Niemeyer will shoulder the responsibility after LVC finished as one of the top teams in the conference in return yards a season ago.
 
Scouting F&M
The Diplomats are coming off another successful season after going 8-3 in 2018 and 6-3 in Centennial Conference action. F&M took down Lycoming 21-20 on Nov. 17, 2018 in the Centennial-MAC Bowl. Lycoming connected on a 39-yard play and a 17-yard play and was set up on the F&M five-yard line with 18 ticks on the clock, but Bobby McDevitt came away with a sack on the next play and the Warriors had to settle for a 32-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Brendan Kilkenny with 13 seconds left to secure the Diplomats' one-point victory.
 
Who's Next?
LVC will travel to Wilkes-Barre to battle the Colonels of Wilkes University on Saturday, Sept. 14. Kickoff is set for noon.
 
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