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| 2012 WOLnews File Photo |
Online Video
The game is being videostreamed for free on LVCtv at GoDutchmen.com/lvctv.
On the Radio
The game will be broadcast on the Flying Dutchmen Radio Network on WMSS 91.1 FM in Middletown and WWSM 1510 AM. John Wilsbach and Bryan Keyser will call the action. The game will be streamed live and free at WMSSFM.com and GoDutchmen.com.
Weather Forecast
[Forecast] A warm afternoon for football with a high of 84 and partly cloudy.
Going to the Game
[Driving Directions] Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for students. Children under 6 free and LVC students are free.
If You Only Know Five Things
- Lebanon Valley is trying to bounce back from a close 35-28 loss at #24 Widener last week. King's is coming off an early bye week after being edged by William Paterson, 21-19, in Week 1.
- Brian Murphy has thrown for 350 yards and three touchdowns over his first two games, with seven different receivers seeing catches and all three touchdowns going to different players.
- King's had a solid debut despite their loss, allowing just 54 yards rushing to William Paterson while Kyle McGrath ran for 94 yards and a touchdown.
- Lebanon Valley is looking for its seventh straight win over the Monarchs, the longest active winning streak against any opponent. LVC's margin of victory during the six-game streak is an average of +20.3 points per game.
- LVC will wear pink wristbands and shoelaces as part of their third annual Pink Game, encouraging female fans and family members to get screened for breast cancer.
The LVC-King's Series
The game is the 15th meeting all-time ... LVC leads the series 8-6 ... LVC has won six in a row ... King's had won four straight before that ... They have met every year since 2003 ... The first meeting was Sept. 30, 1995 at King's, an 18-11 LVC win ... Coach Jim Monos is 8-4 against the Monarchs ... This game is the 998th in LVC football history. The Dutchmen will play the 1000th game in program history in two weeks at Wilkes.
Widener Recap
A fourth-quarter comeback was not in the cards as Lebanon Valley fell at #24 Widener, 35-28, in the Middle Atlantic Conference opener last weekend. The Dutchmen (1-1) couldn't find an answer for the Pride's (1-1) quick-strike offense as Seth Klein threw for 392 yards on a MAC-record 40 completions.Darryl Sweeper and Joey Miller had receiving touchdowns for the Dutchmen, while quarterbacks Brian Murphy and Jeremy Franck each ran for scores. Widener ran a frantic first-half pace, getting off 50 plays before the break as they jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead. The Pride linked together four scoring drives - two in each half - sandwiched around Sweeper's first career touchdown catch for LVC's only score. LVC's defense adjusted in the third quarter, holding the Pride scoreless as Murphy scrambled out for a five-yard score to cap a 50-yard drive late in the quarter. Ryan O'Hara made his second field goal of the game to start the fourth quarter, a 42-yarder, but Murphy hit Joey Miller on a 70-yard touchdown on the very next play to cut the lead to 27-21. Widener answered back with a long drive, but LVC marched back within a touchdown when Franck - replacing an injured Murphy - converted a critical fourth-down pass to Sweeper before scoring on a sneak with 1:30 left. LVC's defense got them the ball back, but there wasn't enough time as the Dutchmen were backed up against their own end zone with less than 30 seconds left.
Last Year vs. King's
Lebanon Valley scored 27 straight points in the first half to take control and beat King's, 34-19, in Week 10 last season. The Dutchmen got it done in the air, as Leo Kyte '13 and Brian Murphy combined for 275 yards and three touchdowns as King's defense held LVC to 92 yards rushing. Joey Miller (96 yards) and Jake Zeigler (91 yards) each caught touchdowns, as did Pete Panichi '13, who broke for a 39-yard touchdown on a screen pass. LVC's defense controlled the game, limiting King's to 209 total yards and 10 first downs. David Kennedy led LVC with eight tackles, and the Dutchmen hit Tyler Hartranft four times with sacks from Josh Borreli, DJ Poligone '13, Zach Halpin, and Drew Murphy.
Noting LVC's Offense
LVC's offense had a solid outing at Widener, with 395 total yards and 28 points, but couldn't get past their fast-paced counterparts ... Brian Murphy was 16-for-28 for 222 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 35 yards and a touchdown ... Murphy was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter, givingJeremy Franck three series' worth of work ... Franck threw for 69 yards on four completions and also ran for a touchdown on a sneak ... Joey Miller caught a 70-yard touchdown, leading all receivers with 78 yards on two catches ... Jake Zeigler had a team-high seven receptions for 68 yards ... Darryl Sweeperhad a career game, catching his first collegiate touchdown and a critical fourth-down conversion to rack up 65 yards ... LVC's run game was stymied for just 104 yards, led by Brendan Irving's 34 yards on six carries ... Senior Brendan Kozub is expected to make his 25th career start at left guard today, leading all Dutchmen ... One two-deep change with Nate Myers taking over as the full-time starter at tight end with co-starter Nate Luckenbill out; Seth Miller will back him up.
Noting LVC's Defense
Safety Bryan Kasper continued his great season at Widener with nine tackles and a fumble forced and recovered in the second half ... Kasper leads the team with 20 tackles through two games ... LinebackerFrank Gaffney also had another big outing with nine tackles - three of them for a loss - and a sack ... Gaffney was named to the MAC Weekly Honor Roll after Week 1 against Montclair State ... Andrew Burkholder also added a sack for LVC among his seven stops ... Josh Borreli had a pair of pass breakups, and Kevin Antol had one with seven tackles ... Zach Wierman recorded a pair of tackles for loss ... LVC allowed only 126 yards rushing but Widener quarterback Seth Klein had a record-breaking day in the air, going for 392 yards passing on a MAC-record 40 completions ... Widener averaged only 9.8 yards per completion (well below LVC's 14.6) but ran 96 offensive plays to LVC's 80 ... Adam Soltyshas moved into the depth chart to back up Joey Scerbo at defensive end.
Noting LVC's Special Teams
Jake Zeigler punted nine times last week for a 37.2-yard average, being very careful around Widener's all-America return man Anthony Davis ... LVC's special teams did well containing Davis, holding him to three punt returns for just 20 total yards, and 17.8-yard average on kickoffs ... Matt Richmond returned four punts for a 7.3-yard average and six kickoffs for a 21.8-yard average ... Bryan Ek also had a punt take for six yards ... Sean Fakete was 4-for-4 on PATs at Widener ... Fakete has had good success against King's in the past two years, going 3-for-3 with field goals of 20, 34, and 40 yards and 11-for-11 on PATs ... LVC will be without injured tight end and long-snapper Nate Luckenbill this week. Trent Marswill handle extra points/field goals and Ricky Feggins will snap punts.
Instant Impact
LVC got some immediate help from its four transfers in the first two weeks of the season. Wide receiverTyler George (Muhlenberg), running back Austin Hartman (Shippensburg), outside linebacker Frank Gaffney (Stevens Tech), and free safety Kevin Antol (East Stroudsburg) have all played and made significant contributions. Gaffney leads LVC with two sacks and four tackles for loss, and Antol has 10 tackles. George has a pair of catches, while Hartman has seen 19 carries for 48 yards.
Freshmen Get In the Game
It isn't often that freshmen get significant playing time in coach Jim Monos' system, but several newcomers have quickly made names for themselves. Freshman tailback Brendan Irving has impressed as the third man on the depth chart, carrying the ball 11 times for a 5.1-yard per carry average, the best on the team. On defense and special teams, Fernando Almonte has seen plenty of time and has racked up three tackles.
Dutchmen Go Pink
LVC players will be wearing pink wristbands and shoelaces against King's ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in an effort to remind the women in their lives to get screened for breast cancer. This is the third consecutive year the Dutchmen have taken up the initiative.
Fakete Nears PAT Milestone
With four extra points last week at Widener, senior kicker Sean Fakete now has 96 for his career, and would become the first player in program history to reach 100 PATs. He is the career record holder in that category, and is 96-for-105 in his career. Fakete is also five field goals shy of that career mark.
1,000th Game Coming Up
When the Dutchmen travel to Wilkes in two weeks, it will be a special occasion in the history of the program - the 1,000th game for LVC football. The Valley made their debut on Oct. 16, 1897, with a train trip to face the Carlisle Indian School.
MAC Beats NJAC
The last two weeks represented the second leg of the two-year MAC-NJAC Challenge, an interlock series between members of the two conferences. After a 4-4 split in 2012, MAC teams went 5-2 in 2013 to claim the series 9-6, including Week 1 wins by LVC, Albright, Delaware Valley, and Wilkes. FDU-Florham capped the series last week with a win over TCNJ.
Scouting King's
The Monarch are coming off an early bye last week after suffering a close 21-19 loss to William Paterson in Week 1. The Monarchs are led by quarterback Tyler Hartranft, who threw for 213 yards and a touchdown in that game, and running back Kyle McGrath, who went for 94 yards and a score. Dan Kempa had 105 yards receiving in the opener. Defensively, the Monarchs allowed only 54 yards against William Paterson and racked up five sacks, including two by Chad Curtice. Nick Kaijala led the team with nine tackles.
Next Time
LVC will host FDU-Florham next Saturday at 1 p.m.
