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LVC Football Edges Widener in Double Overtime Thriller

More news about: Lebanon Valley

CHESTER, Pa.– Tim Kissinger kicked a 20-yard field goal in double overtime to send Lebanon Valley College to a 27-24 victory over Widener University on Saturday, October 9, in Middle Atlantic Conference action. The Dutchmen improve to 4-1 overall and stand at 4-0 in the MAC for the second straight season. Widener falls to 3-2 and 2-2 in the MAC.

Kissinger's game-winning field goal was set up by a 15-yard run up the middle by quarterback Braden Bohannon. Before the winning score, the Flying Dutchmen defense held Widener scoreless on its possession. A combined sack by Jake Marcus and Noah Caldani backed up the Pride who were forced to attempt a 41-yard field goal that went wide. 

In the first overtime, Bohannon found the end zone on a 25-yard run on LVC's first play. Widener tied the game on a Shawn Thompson 17-yard scamper. 

How the Game Unfolded

After a Widener field goal early in the game, Tanner Lewis orchestrated a 15-play, 89-yard touchdown drive. He connected on 8-of-10 passes to four different receivers and capped the stretch with a 25-yard strike to Alex Vassallo.   

The LVC defense set up the next score. Evan Kutzler made the first of his two interceptions in the game, picking off Diehl deep in the Widener zone. Kissinger drilled a 45-yard field goal to give the Dutchmen a 10-3 halftime lead.

Widener trimmed the lead to 10-6 with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter before the Dutchmen defense proved clutch again later in the period. Jacob Horton intercepted Diehl at the Widener 11. On a third-and-three from the four, Dion Bryant delivered a highlight-worthy run, breaking tackles on his way into the end zone and a 17-6 advantage.

Widener answered back with 11 points as Diehl engineered a nine-play, 71-yard drive that included a touchdown pass to Bryce Casey and a two-point conversion by Thompson with just over nine minutes left in the game. LVC had to punt the ball back to Widener with two minutes to play, and Diehl and Thompson led the Pride down the field for Ryan Pattison to tie the game with a 40-yard field goal and send it to overtime.

Inside the Box Score

  • The defense finished with three interceptions and now has 10 this season, which leads the MAC and ranks among NCAA Division III leaders. 
  • Vassallo set career highs with eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. He now ranks fifth in the MAC for receiving yards this season.
  • Marcus led multiple defenders who spent time in the Widener backfield, finishing with three total sacks and seven total tackles. The Dutchmen sacked Diehl—the leading passer in the MAC—six times in the game.
  • Bohannon finished the game with 94 yards passing and another 56 on the ground.
  • Caldani led LVC with 10 total tackles, including three for loss.
  • Kissinger has made three field goals of 40 yards or more this season. He leads the MAC with 37 points and seven made field goals through five games.

Up Next
The Dutchmen host King's College (4-1, 3-1 MAC) for Homecoming next Saturday, Oct. 14. Kickoff is set for noon. 
 
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Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
Box Score Recap Recap Recap Photos
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