Football

Delaware Valley 45, Albright College 30

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Sophomore tailback Taylor Ramos carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 197 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard score with 4:28 remaining to seal Delaware Valley College's 45-30 victory over visiting Albright College in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game.

The Aggies, who were 2-8 overall, 1-8 and tied for last place in the MAC, continued their amazing turnaround as they improved to 6-1 overall and remained in a first place tie with Lycoming College with a 5-1 mark in the conference. However, Delaware Valley has the tiebreaker edge thanks to its 38-27 victory over the Warriors last week.

The Aggies control their own destiny and can win their first-ever MAC title and a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs with victories in their last three games. Delaware Valley has also assured itself of a winning season for the first time since 1985. Albright fell to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the MAC with the loss.

Trailing 38-30, the Lions drove down to the Delaware Valley 16-yard line where they faced a fourth-and-1 situation. Quarterback John Port tried a sneak for the first down, but the Aggies' Anthony Silver stripped the ball away then fell on it at the 15. On Delaware Valley's first play, Ramos got to the right sideline and went the distance for a 45-30 lead with 4:28 left on the clock.

Ramos' big run helped the Aggies notch 536 yards of total offense, including a season-best 378 on the ground, and a school-record 31 first downs. Fellow sophomore Steve Cook also went over the 100-yard mark as he carried the ball 24 times for 127 yards and two scores. Quarterback Adam Knoblauch ran for 74 yards on 14 carries and also threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Abright's no-huddle offense recorded 460 yards on the afternoon, including 352 yards in the air. Port completed 28 of 51 passes for 339 yards, but no touchdowns. Nick Cushman caught 10 of the passes for 93 yards.

Delaware Valley took the opening kickoff and went 59 yards on seven plays, capped by Cook's two-yard touchdown run for an early 7-0 lead. It stayed that way until 43 seconds into the second quarter when a poor snap on an Aggie punt, led to the ball being fumbled into the end zone. Albright's Bill Rogers fell on top of it for the touchdown and a 7-7 ballgame.

The two teams then traded touchdowns in the second quarter as Knoblauch hit Rob Wallace for a 24-yard scoring pass and Albright's Adam Hubley scored on a five-yard run. However, Dustin Kaplan's extra-point attempt for the Lion sailed wide left and the Aggies held a 14-13 lead with 1:06 to go in the half. Delaware Valley took the final possession of the half and drove 52 yards on six plays before Bill Miller drilled a 35-yard field goal for a 17-13 advantage.

In the third quarter, Cook and Ramos scored on touchdown runs of three and six yards respectively with a Tom Fitzpatrick 32-yard field goal for Albright sandwiched in between as the Aggies built a 31-16 lead.

The Lions came back with 3:59 remaining in the third as Hubley's 10-yard touchdown run capped a seven-play, 52-yard scoring drive and made it 31-23. Hubley finished with 104 yards on 27 carries.

Delaware Valley upped the lead back to 15 early in the fourth quarter as Knoblauch hit fullback Chase Lauth for a 13-yard touchdown pass, but Albright roared right back and Port scored on a one-yard touchdown run for a 38-30 score with 10:19 remaining. It stayed that way until Ramos broke free for the big run.

Defensively, junior linebacker Andrew Erby paced the Aggies with a season-high 15 tackles. Silver made 12 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries. Jesse Leonard and DeWaine Whetstone added 10 tackles apiece.