Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Football Moves Up In Polls, Burkholder Adds National Award

Lebanon Valley Photo by Tim Flynn '05
D3football.com Top 25
AFCA Top 25
Beyond Sports Network Players of the Week


ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley has moved up in a pair of national polls, and linebacker Andrew Burkholder has been named to a national team of the week.

The Dutchmen (8-1, 7-1 MAC) are ranked 22nd in the newest D3football.com poll, moving up from #25 in last week's edition, and have broken into the AFCA coaches' poll for the first time ever, debuting at #21. LVC also remained at #3 in this week's ECAC Lambert Meadowlands poll, a regional ranking of teams in the northeast.

Meanwhile, Burkholder has been named to the Beyond Sports Network national team of the week for his play in LVC's 30-6 win over Stevenson on Saturday. Also the MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Burkholder picked off two of LVC's five interceptions to lead a defense that did not give up a point to Stevenson, whose lone score came on a defensive touchdown. Burkholder had a second-quarter interception and also made one on the final play of the game to seal the win. The senior captain had four tackles and another pass break-up, and leads the team with four interceptions this season.

LVC will end the regular season Saturday at Albright in the 93rd meeting of the rivals. A win would clinch the MAC championship outright and earn the Dutchmen their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.