LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT AS WILKES FOOTBALL FALLS 21-13 AT LVC

10/13/2012 4:55:00 PM

Box Score

LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT AS WILKES FOOTBALL FALLS 21-13 AT LVC

ANNVILLE, PA – After falling behind 14-0 after three quarters of play, visiting Wilkes University began a comeback scoring two touchdowns in the final frame, but host Lebanon Valley stopped one last Colonel game-tying drive to escape with a 21-13 Middle Atlantic Conference win Saturday afternoon at Arnold Field.

Wilkes slips to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in MAC play. Lebanon Valley improves to 4-2 and 3-2 in league games.

After the teams went scoreless in the first half with each defense gaining the upper hand, both teams' offenses came out in high gear to start the second half. LVC was first to strike as Evan Fink finished off a seven play, 75-yard drive with a two yard rushing score to give the Flying Dutchmen a 7-0 lead with 6:68 left in the third.

Just four minutes later, LVC extended the lead to 14-0 as Fink went in from 14 yards out capping a seven play, 77-yard drive lasting just over two minutes. LVC took its 14-0 lead to the final frame, but Wilkes was far from calling it a game.

The Colonels began the fourth on a scoring drive of their own. Starting at its own 23, Wilkes used its conference-leading ground game to do most its damage on the drive. Calvin Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) rushed for four yards followed by a Tyler Berntsen (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) eight yard gain. Another five yard rush from Garvin moved the ball into LVC territory at the 15 following a personal foul penalty on the defense. A first down, eight yard scamper from Berntsen followed by a Garvin five yard dash put Wilkes at the LVC 2. From there Berntsen finished off the drive going in from two yards out to bring Wilkes to within a score after the Jordan Fredo (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) extra point, 14-7.

The LVC offense continued to have its way in the second half putting together a promising drive with 12:45 on the fourth quarter clock. Fink and Pete Panichi moved the Flying Dutchmen into Wilkes territory trading carries off tackle. Fink scored his third touchdown on the afternoon when he darted in from three yards out to push the LVC lead back to double digits at 21-7 with 10:55 left in the game.

Wilkes responded with a scoring drive on its next possession to keep the Colonels within striking distance. Berntsen found tight end Drew Devitt (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) over the middle for 17 yards moving the ball to the LVC 36. A 14-yard run from Berntsen and 17-yard completion to Tim Bousson (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) gave the Colonels a first and goal from the LVC 7.

Berntsen added his second rushing score on the afternoon going in from five yards out behind a strong Colonels offense line. Fredo's extra point attempt failed as Wilkes trailed 21-13 with 6:50 left.

Needing a stop the Colonels defense did just that, limiting LVC to a three and out forcing a punt. With 3:53 remaining, Wilkes had one last chance to mount a game-tying drive.

The drive started with an 18-yard hookup from Berntsen to Justin Pellowski (Mt. Carmel, PA/Mt. Carmel) moving the ball to the Wilkes 41. Eight yards on the ground followed by another long pass, this time a 16-yard completion from Berntsen to Bousson put Wilkes at the LVC 35. The Colonels kept with the pass as Berntsen found Johnathon Conklin for a 19-yard completion to the LVC 16.

Facing a second and five, Wilkes went to the air again but Tyler Schmitt (Gap, PA/Pequea Valley) was called for offensive pass interference negating an 11-yard completion and moving the Colonels back to the LVC 27. Three straight incomplete passes ended the hopes of a Wilkes comeback as LVC ran out the clock after Wilkes used all of its remaining timeouts.

Berntsen was outstanding under center in his first major minutes in three weeks. He finished with 102 yards on 17 carries and two scores. Through the air he went 9-for-15 for 134 yards. Alex George (York, PA/West York) stared and finished 9-for-22 for 78 yards and one interception.

The Colonels had no problems on the ground punishing the LVC defense for 236 yards on 49 total carries. Patrick Ingulli (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) posted 49 yards while Garvin finished with 35 yards on 10 attempts.

Bousson had his best effort of the season finishing with four catches for 65 yards. Pellowski contributed with four catches for 43 yards.

Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) led the defense with eight tackles, one tackle-for-loss. Jason Ugwu (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) remained strong on the end posting seven stops and one sack. DJ Shuttleworth (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) also added seven tackles (2.0 tackles-for-loss).

Panichi led the LVC ground game with 91 yards, while Fink added the three touchdowns on eight carries (32 yards).

Wilkes will look to rebound on the road next Saturday with a visit to Stevenson University for a MAC matchup at 1:00 p.m. It will mark the second meeting between the schools and the first for Wilkes in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Print Friendly Version