Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley College used a big third quarter to break open a close game and the host Flying Dutchmen defeated Gettysburg 57-42 in a non-conference season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at a hot and muggy Arnold Field.

Senior Ben Guiles had a huge day for the Valley, who led by one point at the half before outscoring the Bullets 28-7 in the third quarter. Guiles eclipsed 100 yards both rushing and receiving while scoring a school-record five touchdowns. He rushed for 143 yards and four touchdowns while catching four passes for 103 yards and an additional TD.

The Bullets, who lost six offensive starters to graduation last season, had numerous players see their first significant college action, several of whom contributed to six touchdowns that were scored five different players. Freshman wing Freddy Caruso scored two touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving – while junior tailback Ted Delia and freshman tailback Nick Ulassin ran for one TD apiece. Freshman receiver Bobby Romano and sophomore wing Jon Smoker each caught a touchdown pass. Caruso and Delia were each making their first collegiate start.

Junior quarterback Kody Smith came off the bench to throw for 167 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-34 passing for the Bullets while sophomore Aden Twer, also making his first college start, caught eight passes for 87 yards.

Ulassin enjoyed a productive all-around game, as he also made 10 kickoff returns for 206 yards.

Senior Colt Zarilla passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns for Lebanon Valley, which outgained the Bullets 547-460 and recorded all six of its sacks in the second half.

The two offenses sputtered early, combining for just one first down over the opening five drives while the two sides fumbled on back-to-back plays at one point. But the next four drives resulted in points, starting with a 9-yard touchdown run from Guiles with 7:37 left in the opening period. The extra point was missed.

The Bullets answered on the ensuing possession, as senior quarterback Kyle Whitmoyer directed a 10-play, 61-yard drive. Caruso put Gettysburg on the scoreboard, rushing 13 yards on a left pitch to make it 7-6 with 4:42 on the first-quarter clock. Senior Rob Pennella's extra point marked the first of six consecutive lead changes.

The Dutchmen went in front 9-7 on a 22-yard field goal from Sean Fakete with 55 seconds left in the first quarter. The 62-yard drive was spurred by receiver Jake Zeigler, who dropped a reverse behind the line of scrimmage before darting 39 yards to the Gettysburg-9.

Smith was then called off the bench, and he promptly guided the Bullets on a nine-play, 67-yard touchdown drive. Smith went 4-for-5 on the march, which was capped by a 10-yard scoring toss to Romano with 13:15 left in the opening half to make it 14-9. Facing a third-and-six, Smith scrambled out of pressure before dumping a short pass to Romano, who fought his way into the right side of the end zone.

Guiles struck again three minutes later, breaking free down the right sideline for a 59-yard touchdown run to give the hosts a 16-14 lead. But Gettysburg came right back with its third scoring drive of 60 yards or longer, marching 63 yards on nine plays with Whitmoyer back at the helm. Delia capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown run inside the left pylon, and the Bullets elected to go for a two-point conversion. Junior tight end Matt Brophy made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone to put the Bullets up 22-16 with 7:35 left.

After the teams exchanged punts, LVC needed just two plays for Guiles to score again. This time, he rushed up the middle and broke several tackles on his way to a 28-yard touchdown run with 3:30 left, giving the Dutchmen a 23-22 lead at the half.

The Dutchmen utilized a short kickoff and a 37-yard return to start at the Bullet-35 to start the second half. Two plays later, Guiles broke off an 18-yard run down the right side as the Valley took a 30-22 lead with just 39 seconds gone by.

After the Bullets went three-and-out, the Dutchmen went to their quick-strike offense again. On a third-and-11, Zarilla found Guiles wide-open on the left flank. Guiles hauled in a short pass and sprinted 57 yards down the left sideline as LVC pushed its lead to 37-22.

Gettysburg momentarily stopped the run when Smith tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, hitting Caruso with a beautiful 36-yard pass down the right sideline to make it 37-29 with 8:12 on the third-quarter clock. However, the Valley tacked on a pair of touchdowns to end the quarter on two Zarilla TD strikes. He found Joey Miller from 10 yards out with 5:48 on the clock and one play after an LVC interception, he connected with tight end Matt Mankiewicz over the middle to make it 51-29 with 1:14 showing.

Neither side scored again until the final five minutes of the game, when a 45-yard touchdown run from Ulassin and an 8-yard scoring pass from Smith to Smoker sandwiched around a late LVC touchdown to set the final score.

Junior linebacker Larry DelViscio made a team-high nine tackles for Gettysburg while senior safeties Peter Hak and Joe Delaney dealt eight hits each. Rob Pennella added an interception, averaged 39.1 yards on nine punts – including a career-long 58-yarder – and went 4-for-4 on extra points in his first collegiate game as a place-kicker.

Gettysburg returns to action next Saturday, when they play their Centennial Conference and home opener against Ursinus College at 1 p.m.