BY JEFF FALK

ANNVILLE – Turns out script writing is just another one of Jim Monos’ many duties as the head of the Lebanon Valley College’s football program.

Yesterday, Monos authored the perfect homecoming script. And the Flying Dutchmen’s troupe of characters performed the turn perfectly.

On Saturday afternoon at Arnold Field, very few things didn’t go its way, as LVC battered FDU-Florham 56-14. The Flying Dutchmen unleashed an unrelenting run game, threatened to pitch a shutout and tallied the first 42 points of the contest.

The Flying Dutchmen’s second significant victory in as many weeks lifted them to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The result made FDU-Florham 2-3 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.

With 338 rushing yards, Lebanon Valley out gained the Devils 471 total yards to 295.

“We could’ve made that field goal,” said Monos. “Other than that, we played good football. Coming in, they (the Devils) were a good football team. But I thought we were a better football team. We talked about getting off to a good start, and we did. Overall, our special teams were good.

“The way we played today, we were pretty methodical,” continued Monos. “We went about our business. We told our guys after the game last week, ‘Remember this feeling. You’re going to want to feel it again’.”

Taking advantage of two takeaways, Lebanon Valley scored on three of its first four possessions.

A mere 6:44 in, Ryan Fink gave the Flying Dutchmen a 7-0 lead with a one-yard plunge. Then 4:43 later, Jon Jones ripped off a 41-yard jaunt for LVC’s second touchdown.

And a minute and seven seconds into the second stanza, another back, starter Brendon Irving hauled in a 61-yard touchdown toss from quarterback Tim Pirrone to make it 21-0 LVC.

“Tim (Pirrone) is getting better and Jon Jones have us a lift,” said Monos. “And don’t forget about up-front. For us to run the ball like that, someone is blocking someone. The thing I liked about our football team, we put the pedal to the metal and we kept it there.

“We felt like we were controlling the line of scrimmage,” added Monos. “If you don’t have people blocking up front, you’re not going to get anything going.”

Lebanon Valley all but settled the outcome with a pair of touchdowns late in the first half.

Jones capped an eight-play, 58-yard march with a short burst. The Flying Dutchmen defense got into the act, in the form of linebacker Kevin Antol’s 56-yard, pick-six, which pushed their advantage to 35-0, 4:17 before the halftime festivities.

Lebanon Valley removed all doubts by marching the second-half kickoff 65 yards in 11 plays, the last of which was Irving’s one-yard touchdown blast.

“I’m really pleased with where we are as a football team,” said Monos. “We’re a different football team than we were at the beginning of the season, in a good way.

“I think we’ve played our best football the last couple of weeks,” Monos continued. “Last week (a 41-38 overtime victory over Lycoming) was big, and it carried over to today. We just executed so well.”

FDU-Florham short-circuited Lebanon Valley’s shutout bid on the first play of the fourth quarter, against a combination of Flying Dutchmen starters and reserves.

“I used to care about shutouts,” said Monos. “I didn’t like to give them up. You always want the shutout. The young guys were playing, and they deserved the opportunity. We played a lot of guys. They got an opportunity to show their stuff.

“I think the players get the credit,” Monos added. “The coaches have stayed on course. But the players have made a commitment. If we don’t win last week, I don’t know. We’re a 3-3 football team headed into a bye-week. But I think we’re hitting it at the right time.”

With 65 rushing attempts, the Flying Dutchmen threw the ball only ten times. Irving had yet another 100-yard rushing game, picking up 130 yards on 23 carries.

“There were two messages,” said Monos of his post-game address to his players. ” ‘There are a lot of alum around and you’ve got to be on your best behavior’. And we want to get healthy and get sharp. But it’s a great day. It was a great day for LVC.

“We want to beat Wilkes (on Oct. 24),” concluded Monos. “That’s our next goal.”

To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to see more go to www.http://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/gallery-nine/.

 

 

 

 

2015 Lebanon Valley Schedule

DATE		OPPONENT	LOCATION	Result
9/3/2015		Franklin & Marshall College	Annville, Pa.	L 37-42
9/12/2015	*	Misericordia University	Dallas, Pa.	W 37-7
Coach To Cure MD Game
9/19/2015	*	Stevenson University	Annville, Pa.	L 14-17
9/25/2015	*	Widener University	Chester, Pa.	L 17-27
Pink Game
10/3/2015	*	Lycoming College	Annville, Pa.	W 41-38 (OT)
Homecoming
10/10/2015	*	FDU-Florham	Annville, Pa.	W 56-14
10/24/2015	*	Wilkes University	Edwardsville, Pa.	1 p.m.
10/31/2015	*	Delaware Valley University	Doylestown, Pa.	1 p.m.
Senior Day
11/7/2015	*	King’s College	Annville, Pa.	1 p.m.
11/14/2015	*	Albright College	Reading, Pa.	1 p.m.

 Middle Atlantic Conference Standings