BY JEFF FALK
Taking a program to the next level is a process, one that involves opportunities. Perhaps the best thing about it is that if you miss an opportunity, another one will come along shortly.
On Saturday afternoon in Lycoming, the Lebanon Valley College football team missed out on a chance to move into the upper echelon of the Middle Atlantic Conference when it fell 21-13 at Lycoming. The Warriors parlayed a Flying Dutchmen fumble into two touchdowns in a matter of 5:22 early in the second, and a 14-3 lead they would never relinquish.
After two inspiring wins to open 2012, the Flying Dutchmen fell to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the MAC. Lycoming improved to 2-1 on the year and 2-0 in the conference.
Lebanon Valley’s turnover provided the Warriors a short field at the LVC 25, and the home team capitalized for a one-yard plunge that gave them an 11-point cushion 9:31 before halftime. Lycoming had assumed a 7-3 adavantage on a 47-yard scoring play just seven seconds into the second quarter.
The Flying Dutchmen pulled to within 14-10 with 4:15 of the second quarter remaining, on a Leo-Kyte-to-Joey-Miller nine-yard scoring strike.
Lebanon Valley managed just 90 yards on the ground and a total of 284 yards. After being knocked out of the game in the first quarter, Kyte returned to the game and completed 14 of 26 aerials for 169 yards. Miller caught nine balls for 107 yards.
Craig Needhammer gave Lycoming a 21-10 lead with a 61-yard jaunt to the paydirt with 3:18 left in the third quarter. The Warriors chewed up 9:49 of the fourth-quarter clock with a 14-play, 41-yard possession.
Lebanon Valley got to within eight points with 2:16 remaining on a 28-yard Sean Fakete field goal. It was Fakete who had given the Flying Dutchmen a 3-0 lead with 1:05 left in the opening period.
LVC will get three more chances to prove its worth against MAC elite this season, all at home – September 29th versus Widener, October 27th versus Delaware Valley and November 10th versus Albright.