Game Leaders
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Time of Poss.
READING, Pa. -- After digging themselves into an early hole with a 1-4 start to the season, the Albright football team has spent the last five weeks trying to get into position to get into position. After Saturday's victory over Misericordia the Lions are officially in position.
Freshman Chris Dawson rushed for a career-high 175 yards and scored twice leading Albright to a 30-14 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over Misericordia on Saturday on Senior Day at Shirk Stadium.
With the win, the Lions improved to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play, and are in position to earn a possible ECAC berth in next week's season finale showdown with Lebanon Valley.
Albright ran its current winning streak to four straight games behind a season-high in offensive production. The Lions accumulated a season-high 451 yard of offense including 230 yards on the ground led by Dawson.
Dawson produced the most yards by an Albright running back this season with his 175-yard performance and he also added touchdown runs of 2 and 18 yards, which brought his team-best touchdown total to seven for the year.
Following the script from last week's game against Wilkes, Albright jumped out to a big early lead. The difference this week was there would be no comeback by Misericordia.
Junior kicker Daniel Sobolewski got the Lions on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter when he capped a 12-play, 42-yard drive with a school-record tying 52-yard field goal with 7:23 to play in the first quarter.
Albright extended its lead on the next drive when Dawson capped a 7-play, 93-yard drive with a two-yard scoring run that increased the lead to 10-0. Dawson rushed for 72 yards on the drive, which included a 48-yard run on 1-and-10 from the Albright 7-yard line to start the possession.
A blocked punt by Danny Brown helped set up the Lions deep in Cougar territory on their next possession. Taking over on the Misericordia 29-yard line, Patrick Wise connected with Gerrod Gainer for 25 yards and then scampered in from four yards out to push the lead to 17-0 with 14:20 to play in the second quarter.
After stopping the Cougars on a 4-and-7 play, Albright began its longest touchdown march of the season.
Wise capped the 11-play, 97-yard drive with a 32-yard scoring pass to Gainer that increased the Lion lead to 24-0 with 6:24 left in the third quarter.
Misericordia (1-8, 1-7 MAC) answered with a 7-play, 65-yard drive that culminated with quarterback Jeff Puckett scoring on a three-yard run which cut the Lion lead to 24-7 with 3:14 left in the third.
Albright salted the game away midway through the fourth quarter when Dawson scored from 18 yards out to give Albright a 30-7 lead with 5:09 left in the game. Dawson carried the ball six times on the drive for 45 yards and Wise hooked up with Gainer for 33 yards on a 3-and-3 play.
Misericordia added a touchdown with 1:34 to play when Brandon Leap connected with Colton Pyne for an 8-yard touchdown pass.
Albright will travel to Arnold Field to face Lebanon Valley at 1 p.m. on Nov. 15.