DOYLESTOWN (PA) –Delaware Valley College forced four turnovers in the second half as the Aggies earned a share of its third Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship in the last five years with a 34-9 victory over visiting Albright College.
The win lifted Delaware Valley to 7-3 overall (7-2 in Division III games) and 5-2 in the conference. The Lions, who had a chance to win the outright title and the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs, slipped to 7-3 and 5-2. Lycoming joined the two squads atop the MAC – which recognizes multiple champions in case of a tie - with its 23-15 home victory over Lebanon Valley. The Warriors also took home the NCAA berth because of wins over both Albright and Delaware Valley during the season.
The MAC crown is the first for the Aggies since 2005 when they won the title with an undefeated record and reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the second straight year. The season is probably not over for the squad as they are a likely candidate for a spot in of the three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Championship Games. That announcement is on Monday with the games scheduled for Saturday, November 22. It would be Delaware Valley's fifth postseason berth in the last six years (NCAA in 2004 and 2005 and ECAC in 2003 and 2006).
The Aggies held Albright to just 235 yards of total offense with 65 coming on the Lions' opening drive of the game. They allowed just nine yards in the second quarter and 27 in the fourth while racking up a season-best eight sacks on the afternoon.
Albright started out strong as it took the opening kickoff and marched downfield for a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive. It converted a pair of third-down plays, including one a play before quarterback Tanner Kelly hit a wide-open Nate Roming for a 36-yard touchdown pass. John Whelan's extra-point was blocked by Kyle Gesswein, leaving the score at 6-0 with 10:58 to go in the first.
Delaware Valley responded with a long scoring drive of its own on the ensuing kickoff. The Aggies had moved 62 yards on 11 plays and faced a fourth-and-six from the Lion 12-yard line. Quarterback Mike Isgro then drilled a scoring strike to Chad Peterman in the middle of the end zone. Peterman was called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the celebration and moved the extra-point attempt back 15 yards. However, Shane Toohey booted it through the wind for a 7-6 Delaware Valley advantage with 5:23 left in the opening quarter.
The Aggies stopped Albright on the next possession, but a running into the punter call gave the Lions a first down and new life. They drove down to the Delaware Valley 14-yard line and settled for a 33-yard field goal by Whelan and a 9-7 lead just three seconds into the second quarter.
It was all Delaware Valley from there on as the Aggies scored the game's final 27 points with seven coming on the ensuing possession. A 35-yard pass from Isgro to Peterman on a third-and-five play kept the drive alive and Isgro scrambled for six yards on a third-and-four to put the ball at the Albright six. Matt Cook followed with a pair of three-yard runs with the latter putting him in the end zone. Toohey's extra-point gave Delaware Valley a 14-9 advantage with 9:36 left in the half.
The Aggies forced a punt on Albright's next possession and took over on their own 24. They had a third and a fourth-down conversion on the drive and later faced a second-and-18 from the Lion 30. Isgro scrambled to buy time and threw into the right corner of the end zone for Dan Heiland, who made a leaping catch and came down with one foot in for the touchdown. Toohey added the extra-point for a 21-9 lead with just 72 seconds to go before the intermission.
Albright's first possession of the second half saw the squad drive down to the Aggie 21-yard line where it faced a fourth-and-two. The Lions brought out Whelan and the field goal unit, but tried a fake as holder Chris Kovensky tossed a forward pass over his shoulder in an attempt to hit Whelan in stride. However, Peterman stepped in front of the pass and returned it 72 yards for the touchdown. Toohey's point-after extended the lead to 28-9 midway through the third.
Delaware Valley's final touchdown was set up by its defense as Kyle Reuter sacked and forced a fumble by Kelly that was recovered by the Aggies' Garrett Wooters at the Albright 45-yard line. Eight plays later, backup tailback Adam Smith found an opening for a 21-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt was wide for the 34-9 final.
The Aggie offense racked up 348 yards, including 236 on the ground. Cook notched his sixth, 100-yard game of the year as he lugged the ball 24 times for 107 yards and one score. Isgro rushed for 53 yards on six carries while also completing 12 of 18 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
Gesswein had a monster day on defense as the sophomore linebacker tallied 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks and the blocked extra point. Linebacker Zach McCann led the way with 12 tackles while fellow linebacker Phil Blazejewski added nine stops and two sacks. Junior cornerback Charles Squitiere finished with two interceptions.
Kelly, the 2007 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, completed 22 of 33 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Romig hauled in seven catches for 66 yards and trip to the end zone while Josan Holmes led the Lion ground attack with 49 yards on 13 carries. Joseph Baciotti paced the defense with seven tackles.
