Football

Iona College 14, Delaware Valley College 12

NEW ROCHELLE (NY) - Delaware Valley College quarterback Mike Isgro hooked up with Joel Foreman for a pair of scores but it wasn't enough as the Aggies opened their 2007 season with a 14-12 loss at Division I-AA Iona College.

Iona was able to get on the scoreboard first late in the first quarter. After trading punts on the first three possessions of the game, sophomore quarterback Nick Rossetti connected with wideout DeMarcus White for a 40-yard score. Chris Lofrese added the extra-point for a 7-0 Gaels' lead with 6:53 remaining in the quarter.

The Aggies answered after a short kickoff sailed out of bounds and they marched down the field for a 12-play, 65-yard drive. On fourth-and-eight, Isgro found Foreman in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown. However, Shane Toohey's kick went wide right allowing the Gaels to maintain a 7-6 lead with 2:01 to play in the first quarter.

Iona gained an eight-point lead on its next drive as Dane Samuels jumped high over the pile for a two-yard score. His running mate in the backfield Rudy Arcara set up the score with a 46-yard scamper on the first play of the drive. Lofrese's point-after made it a 14-6 ballgame just 24 seconds into the second quarter. Neither team could find the end zone for the remainder of the half on each of their four possessions.

It was a game of field position to start the third quarter. Lofrese put the Aggies on their 25-yard line with a 40-yard punt to end Iona's first possession. Delaware Valley picked up a first down on its first play but could do no more damage until rookie punter Steve Giovacchini boomed a 53-yard punt that was downed on the Iona two-yard line. The Gaels went three and out and were forced to punt. Lofrese had a scare in the end zone but slipped by a potential blocked punt and got the ball off. However, it went just 29 yards to the Iona 31.

Four plays later, Isgro found Foreman again, this time on a third-and-goal from the five-yard line. Isgro's attempt for a two-point conversion was thwarted when Reggie Dorsainvil swatted away a pass attempt at the goal line as the Gaels held on to the two-point lead with less than six minutes to go in the third quarter.
The Aggies could not get any closer than the Iona 45-yard line and the Gaels had the victory.

Iona outgained the Aggies by a 382 to 170 margin and held the ball for nearly 36 minutes. Rossetti completed 14 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown. Samuels rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries.

Isgro completed 15 of 31 passes for 140 yards and the two scores. Foreman hauled in four passes for 46 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Jimmy Smith made eight grabs for 64 yards. Delaware Valley was without the services of injured starting tailback Jake Sheffield and the team managed just 30 yards on 29 rushing attempts.

All-American linebacker John Pursell led all players with 15 tackles. Kyle Mancuso added nine stops and a forced fumble while Cesare Natale, Sean Raftery and Greg Rissinger each had one sack.