Box Score

Football
#18 Widener 40, Lebanon Valley 37 (OT)

ANNVILLE, Pa. - #18 Widener scored the last 16 points of the game, including a late interception return for a touchdown and James McFadden's 33-yard field goal to win it in overtime, to come back and stun Lebanon Valley 40-37.

The Dutchmen (3-2, 2-2 MAC) seemed to be on the cusp of upsetting the nation's top-ranked offense, up 37-21 with 5:44 left in the game, but two late touchdowns and two-point conversions by the Pride (5-0, 4-0 MAC) forced overtime.

Leo Kyte had a career day for LVC, throwing for 395 yards - the fourth-best game in program history - and two touchdowns. Joey Miller caught 11 balls for 182 yards and both touchdowns.

Widener, coming in averaging 65.2 points and 540 yards of offense per game, put up 449 yards overall as Chris Haupt was 22-for-37 for 257 yards and a score, albeit with three interceptions. Four Pride runners combined for the bulk of their 196 yards on the ground.

A pair of Evan Fink touchdowns in the fourth quarter put LVC up 37-21, but a quick-strike drive by the Pride and Colin Masterson's 64-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:11 remaining tied the game at 37-37.

LVC missed a field goal going first in overtime, and McFadden connected from 33 yards to win for the Pride.

"This was a tough one. I give them credit - they made the plays when they had to," said head coach Jim Monos. "For whatever reason we didn't finish the race."

The Dutchmen defense had ball-hawked all day long, with picks by Jerome Duncan, Derek Nye, and Zach Wierman  going with eight other break-ups. In the end, despite Widener's much-hyped offense, it was its defense that got them the game-changer they needed.

The Pride led 14-0 after early touchdowns before Kyte went deep on first down for Miller, connecting on a 75-yard touchdown to cut the lead in half. Connor Schlegel caught a 30-yard ball from Haupt to extend the advantage to 21-7, but LVC then embarked on a run of 24 unanswered points starting with Miller's five-yard leap to end the half.

Fink put his first of three in to start the third quarter, and Sean Fakete connected from 28 yards later in the quarter to put LVC on top for the first time at 23-21.

Turnovers were the key to the fourth quarter as Duncan's interception keyed Fink's second touchdown, and a fumble on the ensuing kickoff recovered by John Harsch led to Fink's third minutes later to go up by a commanding 37-21.

Things started to unravel quickly for the Dutchmen after that as Haupt marched the Pride downfield for Tyler Rank to score in a drive lasting just 1:03. LVC needed one last first down to ice the game, and on 3rd and 6, Kyte went deep for Miller, who bobbled the ball at the sideline. Masterson came down with it and ran back 65 yards to score, and Couve LaFate converted for two to tie it at 37-37.

In overtime, LVC moved the ball for a first down before stalling, and Fakete's field goal from 30 missed short and wide. Widener didn't convert a first down on their try, but got far enough for McFadden to hit from 33 to win the game.

LVC has a bye next week before hosting Wilkes Oct. 13 on Oktoberfest Weekend.