Football

Delaware Valley College 49, Lebanon Valley College 13

ANNVILLE (PA) -- Delaware Valley College racked up 599 yards of total offense and put together seven scoring drives of 60 yards or more as the Aggies defeated host Lebanon Valley College, 49-13, in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game.

The win was the second straight for Delaware Valley as it improved to 2-3 overall and a perfect 2-0 in conference play. The Flying Dutchmen fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the MAC.

The Aggies dominated all aspects of the game, especially the offensive side of the ball where they netted 319 yards on 55 rushes and added 280 yards in the air. They controlled the ball for just over 40 minutes (40:03), were a perfect 6-for-6 in the red zone and were 16-for-20 on third down conversions.

Defensively, Delaware Valley allowed just 162 yards with 56 yards coming on Lebanon Valley's opening drive of the game and held the Flying Dutchmen to a 2-for-11 effort on third downs. The unit also held the conference's leading rusher, Charlie Parker, to just 24 yards on 10 carries.

Lebanon Valley took the opening kickoff and the eight-play scoring drive was capped by Parker's two-yard touchdown run. The score ended a shutout streak of 253 minute and 38 seconds by the Aggie defense in MAC games that dated back to last season. Andrew Brandt added the extra point for an early 7-0 Flying Dutchmen lead with 11:41 remaining in the first quarter.

However, the Delaware Valley defense buckled down after that drive and allowed just 30 yards of total offense on Lebanon Valley's remaining 16 plays of the first half.

The Aggies stalled on their first drive but forced a punt by the Flying Dutchmen and Adam Brossman's 60-yard boot put the ball at the Delaware Valley 9. The Aggies marched downfield and put together a 16-play, 91-yard drive that took 7:43 off the clock. Matt Cook capped the effort with a one-yard dive over a pile of defenders for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Steve Giovacchini's extra-point tied the game at 7-7 three seconds into the second.

Cook's 48-yard run on the next Delaware Valley drive put the ball at the Flying Dutchmen 30-yard line. The Aggies then faced a third-and-29 from the Lebanon Valley 49. Mike Isgro threw deep on the next play and wideout Joel Foreman outleaped two defenders for a 47-yard reception down to the two-yard line. Jake Sheffield ran it into the end zone on the next play to complete the six-play, 81-yard drive and give the Aggies the lead. Giovacchini's kick clanked off the right goalpost leaving the score at 13-7 with 10:49 left in the first half.

Delaware Valley upped the lead to 19-7 with 3:22 to go before the intermission as it went on a seven-play, 79-yard drive. The Aggies faced a third-and-12 from the Lebanon Valley 43 when Isgro scrambled away from trouble and raced 43 yards for his first rushing touchdown of the season. Matt Mariano came out to try the extra-point and it was blocked.

On Lebanon Valley's ensuing drive, quarterback Caleb Fick was intercepted by safety Kyle Mancuso and the senior returned it 12 yards to the Flying Dutchmen 49. The Aggies drove to the 13 and, with one second left in the half, Shane Toohey hit a 30-yard field goal for a 22-7 Delaware Valley lead.

The Aggies continued their offensive domination to start the second half as they took the opening kickoff and drove 78 yards on 13 plays and took 6:09 off the clock. Sheffield ended the drive with a two-yard scamper for his second touchdown of the day. Toohey's point-after made it 29-7.

Cook then got his second touchdown of the game as he got to the outside and bulled over a defender for an eight-yard score. It capped a five-play, 62-yard drive for a 35-7 advantage with 1:43 remaining in the third.

Lebanon Valley got back on the board with 12:26 left in the game on a one-yard sneak by Fick. The extra-point attempt was blocked by Travis Albanesius for a 35-13 score.

Delaware Valley responded touchdowns in its last two drives for the 49-13 final. The first was a
63-yard march that culminated with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Isgro to Foreman on a third-and-seven with 7:43 left. The Aggies then went 74yards on seven plays with Adam Smith finishing it up with a 14-yard scoring run with 41 seconds to go.

Cook finished with 113 yards and two scores on 17 carries while Sheffield added 71 yards and two touchdowns on 19 rushes. Smith racked up 64 yards and a touchdown on six carries on the last drive of the game.

Isgro completed 23 of 30 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown and also rushed nine times for another 57 yards and a score. Foreman grabbed seven passes for 107 yards and one trip to the end zone.

Defensively, Mancuso led the charge with eight tackles and an interception. Kyle Gesswein and John Pursell added six stops apiece.