Football

Delaware Valley 36, Lebanon Valley College 24
Aggies Remain Unbeaten, Improve To 4-0 For First Time Since 1957

ANNVILLE (PA) -- Sophomore quarterback Adam Knoblauch threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-28 passing as Delaware Valley College spoiled Lebanon Valley's homecoming with a 36-24 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) victory Saturday afternoon at Arnold Field.

With the win Delaware Valley improved to 4-0 (3-0 MAC) for the first time since 1957. It is also the Aggies' first five-game winning streak (including a win over FDU-Florham in last year's season finale) since an eight-game streak over the 1982 and 1983 campaigns. Lebanon Valley lost its third straight game and slipped to 1-4 (1-3 MAC).

The Delaware Valley offense, which set a school-record with 616 yards of total offense in last week's 48-19 victory over Susquehanna, was at it again with 536 yards this week. A balanced attack saw the squad net 267 yards on the ground as well as Knoblauch's 269 yards in the air.

Lebanon Valley led 3-0 after one quarter of play before the Aggies scored 21 straight points in the second quarter for an 18-point lead. The first touchdown came on a 95-yard touchdown bomb from Knoblauch to freshman Don Marshall. It was the second-longest passing play in school history - missing the record by just one yard. Bill Miller added the extra point for a 7-3 lead with 13:05 left in the half.

Midway through the second quarter, sophomore tailback capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run and a 14-3 advantage. On Lebanon Valley's next possession, senior safety Carlo DeAngelo intercepted his second pass of the day and team-best fifth of the season and returned it 35 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.

The Flying Dutchmen made it a 21-10 ballgame with just 33 seconds to go before intermission as Zach Buffington hit Luke Rendine from 17 yards out.

Delaware Valley recorded a safety early in the third as freshman cornerback Jesse Leonard blitzed through the line and sacked Buffington in the end zone for a 23-10 score. However, Lebanon Valley got the ball back shortly after and Buffington hit a streaking Dave McCullough for a 63-yard touchdown and a 23-17 ballgame with 10:09 left in the third quarter.

Late in the third, a Flying Dutchmen punt trapped the Aggies at their own two-yard line. Delaware Valley responded with a nine-play, 98-yard drive and a 29-17 lead. The first 76 yards came on eight rushing plays before Knoblauch hit senior Nick Brady for a 22-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

Lebanon Valley rallied to pull to within five, 29-24, as Jarrod Way returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown with 13:31 remaining in the game. But the Aggies put the game away when Knoblauch threw a pass to Brady who made a leaping catch and dive into the end zone from 31 yards out with 9:36 left in the game.

Brady led all players with five receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Senior tight end Kevin Moloney hauled in three passes and moved into sole possession of eighth place on the Delaware Valley all-time list with 80 receptions.

Knoblauch's 269 yards helped make him just the fifth player in school history - and the fastest to reach the mark - to throw for more than 3,000 yards (3,156 yards) in a career. Ramos ran for 98 yards on 12 carries to pace the Aggies while freshman wideout Lenzie Davis accumulated 95 yards on six rushes. Sophomore Steve Cook added 67 yards on 18 carries.

Defensively, Leonard and junior nose guard Clint LaStella led Delaware Valley with nine tackles apiece. Senior linebacker Nick Sabean added eight tackles and two sacks while freshman cornerback Matt Murphy recorded his fourth interception on the year.