Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Luke Rendine caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Dan Kelly late in the second quarter to lead Lebanon Valley over Gettysburg 7-3 in non-conference football action on Saturday.

Dan Stauffer made the latter of his first two collegiate interceptions in the final minutes to help the Flying Dutchmen (1-0) snap a 10-game losing streak to the Bullets (0-1) and post their first season-opening victory since 1994. Lebanon Valley’s last win against Gettysburg before Saturday was a 13-0 victory in 1979.

The loss overshadowed the breakout debut of Bullet tailback Dusty Green (Idaville, PA/Bermudian Springs), who carried 43 times – two shy of the program record – for 186 yards in his first collegiate start. The sophomore accounted for all but 74 of Gettysburg’s 260 total yards on the afternoon.

Hampered by an injury sustained on the Bullets’ second drive, senior quarterback Joe Gossweiler (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) completed just 4 of 16 passes for 45 yards and was limited to 20 yards on five carries.

After a decade of opening-day frustrations, the Flying Dutchmen began 2004 on the right foot.

Starting at the Gettysburg 46 with 6:44 left in the first half, the home squad marched 46 yards on 13 plays for the only points it would need.

Following a Lebanon Valley holding penalty, Kelly connected on an 8-yard pass to Rendine and a 13-yard toss to Adam Brossman to give the Dutchmen a first-and-10 on the Bullet 34. Kelly found Matt Hess at the 23 and five straight carries put Lebanon Valley at the 6. Two plays later, Kelly hit Rendine in the corner of the end zone to make it 7-0 with 1:15 left in the half.

The Dutchmen threatened to extend the lead after Stauffer’s first interception late in the third quarter, but the Bullet defense held on third-and-5 from the 9 before Aaron Mill hooked a 26-yard field-goal attempt to keep the margin at 7.

Following an empty Gettysburg possession, junior cornerback Jay Cage (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) set up the Bullets’ lone scoring drive with a 13-yard interception early in the fourth.

Starting from the Dutchmen 34, Green carried six times for 21 yards and Gossweiler converted a third-down with an eight-yard pass to Spencer Davidson (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) to move the ball to the LVC 7. Grant Acker (Howell, NJ/Peddie School), who also led the team with 12 tackles, kicked a 25-yard field goal to pull Gettysburg within 7-3 with 11:15 remaining.

The Dutchmen went three-and-out on their next two possessions, but the Bullets couldn’t take advantage.

Gettysburg marched to the LVC 14 in the final minutes, but Lucas Robinson sacked backup quarterback Mark Campo (Arendtsville, PA/Biglerville) to set up a third-and-15 and an incomplete pass ended the drive two plays later.

The Bullets got the ball back with 1:25 remaining, but Stauffer intercepted Gossweiler at the Dutchmen 30 to seal the victory.

Chris Weaver led LVC with 14 tackles while Mitch Nyman added nine stops and one sack. Stauffer contributed six tackles to go with his two INTs.

Dan Hogdahl (Riverdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes) made 11 tackles for Gettysburg while Ryan McGarry (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) also reached double figures with 10 stops.

The Bullets were playing their first game without head coach Barry Streeter, who is taking a leave of absence from the program in 2004 to spend time with wife, Barbara, who was diagnosed in August with a medical condition.

Gettysburg returns to action on Saturday at home against Hampden-Sydney. Game time is 1 p.m.

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