Box Score Football
Lebanon Valley 21, Wilkes 13
ANNVILLE, Pa. -
Evan Fink's three touchdowns pushed Lebanon Valley past Wilkes, 21-13, in front of a standing-room-only Oktoberfest Weekend crowd.
Wilkes' two missed two field goals and another blocked by
Zach Wierman proved to be decisive as the Colonels (3-3, 2-3 MAC) outgained the Dutchmen (4-2, 3-2 MAC) 448 yards to 277 overall.
Fink ran just eight times, but three of them were scores as the fullback increased his MAC-leading season total to 11.
Pete Panichi led the Dutchmen with 91 yards on the ground, while
Leo Kyte was 10-for-18 for 149 yards.
Quarterback Tyler Berntsen started the second half for Alex George and ended up the game's leading rusher, running for 102 yards and both touchdowns, while throwing for 134.
LVC's defense was outstanding, led by
Joey Scerbo's 13 tackles and a six-tackle, three-hurry game from
Zach Halpin. Wierman had an early interception.
"There's no question that it was nice to win, but our offensive performance in the first half was disappointing," said Head Coach
Jim Monos. "Our defense kept us in the game and gave us a chance, and we played more like a team in the second half."
The game was scoreless at the half as LVC managed just 51 yards overall and Wilkes missed two field goals, and Wierman blocked Jordan Fredo's attempt to open the third quarter. It was Fink that finally got on the scoreboard, finishing off a two-yard run after a 44-yard
Joey Miller catch set the Dutchmen up.
"It was a great team win. Our offense came out flat, but we really picked it up in the second half," Fink said. "Coach came in [at halftime] and challenged our offense, and I think we responded to the challenge."
Fink scored again on the next drive, surging with a terrific second effort from 14 yards out, but Berntsen answered with a tricky play fake end-around to cut the lead to 14-7.
Fink's third came early in the fourth quarter, capping a 65-yard, 10-play drive with a two-yard plunge to go up 21-7. Berntsen's second came on the next series, but Fredo missed the PAT.
Wilkes threatened to tie it late, including a Tyler Schmitt touchdown called back on offensive pass interference, but pressure from
David Kennedy on fourth down led Berntsen to throw it away, handing LVC victory with just over a minute to go.
LVC will visit FDU-Florham on Oct. 20.
Game Notes
LVC's senior class became the third in program history, along with the classes of 1977 and 2012, to win all four of their Oktoberfest homecoming games ... Each of the last seven games in the Wilkes series has been decided by a touchdown or less, with this year's eight-point margin the most since 2005 ... Sean Fakete was 3-for-3 on extra points, bringing his career total to 80. He is two behind the program record of Brittany Ryan '11 ... Jake Zeigler punted a career-high seven times, averaging 34.3 yards per punt with two inside the 20 and a long of 53 ... Fredo booted five punts for the Colonels, two inside the 20 ... LVC had its worst day with penalties since 2010, drawing 10 flags for 95 yards including three in a row on an early series ... LVC made its plays count, running just 60 to Wilkes' 86 ... Mike Pugh forced a fumble that Wilkes recovered ... Fink ended up with 32 yards overall, including a critical first-down run on the final series to set up victory formation ... Berntsen was Wilkes' third different 100-yard rusher in three games.
