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Football Takes Down Lebanon Valley, 24-23 on Homecoming
MADISON, N.J. (October 27, 2018) - The FDU-Florham football team defeated Lebanon Valley College 24-23, Saturday afternoon during Homecoming weekend.
The Devils improve to 5-3, 3-3 in the Middle Atlantic Conference while the Dutchmen remain winless.
Senior Jagger Green completed 16 out of 26 pass attempts for 159 yards and an interception. Freshman Frank DiMattina led all receivers with six catches for 60 yards. Sophomore Alnazir Blackmon rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown and junior Robert Blakely added 45 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Isaiah Turner had a game high 17 tackles and forced a fumble.
After both teams punted on their first possessions of the game, however on the Dutchmen's punt the Devils muffed the punt and LVC recovered the ball on the home 11. LVC would capitalize on the field position and go up 7-0 with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter.
The Devils responded with an 11 play 75-yard drive, capped off by a 14-yard run by Blackman. On the six-minute drive, senior Mike Panzarino had three catches for 21 yards and an 11-yard run.
After forcing another Dutchman punt, the Devils went on their longest drive on the season. The 17 plays drive went for 90 yards and took 6:29 off the clock. The drive finished with an eight-yard run by Blakely to push the score to 14-7 with 4:37 remaining in the first half. On the next LVC possession, Turner stripped the ball from the Dutchmen running back which was then recovered by junior Javanughn Wright. However, on the Devils third play, Green threw an interception which was returned for a touchdown.
On the first drive of the second half, LVC drove 31 yards into the redzone but an endzone interception from Deandre Carterended that drive. The Devils offense would then drive 80 yards in nine plays to pull ahead 21-14 with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter. The Drive was dominated by 60 passing yards including a 33-yard completion to DiMattina to set the Devils up inside the redzone. Blakely ran in his second touchdown of the afternoon from nine yards out after picking up a first down on a two-yard run.
The Dutchmen responded with a 14 play, 74-yard drive which resulted in a rushing touchdown to tie the score at 21 with 14:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. On the next Devils possession, a quick three and out forced the Devils to punt from their own endzone. On the punt, the snap was mishandled and went through the back of the endzone for a Dutchmen safety. Following the free kick, the Devils defense came up with a Stewart Saharic 16 yard sack to give their offense the ball near midfield.
The Devil's took advantage of the great field position and drove 40 yards to set up the go-ahead 28-yard field goal by junior Nick Maciejewski with 3:20 remaining in the game to take a 24-23. The Devils defense held LVC to a four and out and the offense held onto the ball for the remainder of the game.
