ANNVILLE, Pa. – Sophomore tailback Dion Bryant helped lead the way with two rushing touchdowns during the Lebanon Valley College football team's 45-7 victory over Eastern University on Saturday at Arnold Field.
The Dutchmen (3-1, 3-0 MAC) and the Eagles (1-3, 1-2 MAC) battled through the rain all afternoon, as LVC put on an offensive clinic to pick up its third straight win. Lebanon Valley relied heavily on the running game, rushing for 244 yards and five touchdowns. The Flying Dutchmen were also productive defensively, limiting the Eagles to 112 rushing yards and 39 passing yards.
Lebanon Valley opened the scoring with 8:02 remaining in the first quarter, taking an early 3-0 lead over Eastern. Junior Tim Kissinger got the squad on the board by sending a 33-yard field goal through the uprights. The Dutchmen then made their first trip to the end zone with 5:31 to play in the first, extending their advantage to 10-0 on a one-yard touchdown rush by Bryant. Kissinger followed this by converting the extra point attempt.
LVC wasn't done yet in the first frame, making it a 17-0 contest with 3:54 to go in the quarter. Eastern's offense faced second and 10 at its own 46-yard line, when the team's pass was intercepted by senior Erik Williams and returned to the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown. This marks Lebanon Valley's fourth pick-six of the season, which leads the country.
The defenses of both programs dominated during the majority of the second quarter, but the Dutchmen found the end zone again with three seconds left in the first half. Junior quarterback Braden Bohannon rushed up the middle for a two-yard touchdown, before Kissinger converted the PAT. LVC took a commanding 24-0 lead over Eastern into halftime.
The Flying Dutchmen picked up right where they left off at the beginning of the third quarter, extending their advantage to 31-0 just 1:10 into the frame. The Eagles fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, and a recovery by first-year linebacker Richard Chandler set up the team's three-play, 20-yard drive. Bryant ran five yards up the middle for his second touchdown of the day, increasing the team's lead.
Lebanon Valley then made it a 38-0 ballgame with 5:04 to go in the third, as Bohannon rushed towards the left corner of the end zone for another five-yard touchdown. Kissinger then remained perfect on extra point attempts, kicking the ball through the uprights to add a tally. The Dutchmen tacked some insurance points during the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 45-0 with 6:44 left. Junior tailback Reinhold Louis hustled into the left of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown, before Kissinger capped off the team's scoring with a successful PAT.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard within the final two minutes of the game, making it a 45-7 game on a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Nabb to Elijah Knowles. Neither team got on the scoreboard during the remaining 1:54, providing Lebanon Valley with a victory going into the bye week.
Inside the Box Score:
- Lebanon Valley has won three consecutive games.
- The Dutchmen lead the nation with four interceptions returned for touchdowns this year, after Williams ran a pick back to the end zone in the first quarter.
- Bryant ran for a career-high 124 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the process.
- Bohannon rushed for 81 yards, leading to two touchdowns.
- Louis scored his first touchdown of the season.
- Kissinger converted all six of his PAT attempts.
- Junior linebacker Brody Robinson led the Dutchmen with seven tackles. He also recorded a sack.
- Senior defensive end Noah Caldani registered four tackles and a sack.
Up Next
The Dutchmen have their bye week next Saturday, but the squad will return to action at 1 p.m. Oct. 7, as the program will travel to take on Widener University at Elizabeth J. Hirschmann Field at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium in Chester, Pa.
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