• November 11, 2006: Lions fall in a shootout to Lebanon Valley 55-33
• November 4, 2006: Albright rallies to win a thriller over Lycoming 42-35
• October 28, 2006: Wilkes tops Albright 30-6
• October 21, 2006: Last-minute touchdown gives FDU-Florham a 39-35 win over Albright
• October 14, 2006: Albright falls just short against Delaware Valley 21-13
• October 7, 2006: Widener stops Albright 33-12
• September 30, 2006: Lions roll over Juniata 48-14
• September 23, 2006: Albright falls to King's 38-14
• September 16, 2006: Susquehanna edges Albright 24-21
• September 9, 2006: Turnovers doom Albright as Ursinus tops the Lions 32-13

November 11, 2006: Lebanon Valley 55, Albright 33

Reading, PA - Albright lost a shootout to Lebanon Valley 55-33 Saturday afternoon in Shirk Stadium. The teams combined for 1162 yards of total offense in the game. The loss closes out Albright's season at 2-8, 2-7 in the MAC. Lebanon Valley finishes with a record of 6-4,. its first winning season since 1992. The win also snaps a 12-game losing streak to the Lions.

It took all of 38 seconds for the offensive fireworks to begin. On the first play from scrimmage, Albright freshman quarterback hit freshman receiver Nate Romig deep over the middle, and Romig out-raced the defense for a 74-yard touchdown. Ryan Juisti's extra point gave Albright the early 7-0 lead.

Lebanon Valley responded in kind on its first chance with the football. The Dutchmen went on a 15-play, 76-yard drive, with 14 of the plays coming via the run, to put the ball in the end zone. Freshman tailback Charlie Parker carried 11 times on the drive for 61 yards, including a three-yard touchdown run to cap the drive. The extra-point attempt hit the right upright, however, as Albright held on to a 7-6 lead.

Albright's offense struggled after the opening play, and LVC took advantage with a pair of scores early in the second quarter. Dan Kelly hit Adam Brossman with a six-yard touchdown pass, then hooked up with Brossman again for a two-point conversion to give the Dutchmen a 14-7 lead four minutes in to the second quarter. After a Lion punt, the Dutchmen put together another drive, this time with Kelly running 18-yard for a touchdown and a 21-7 LVC advantage with 4:17 left in the half.

Albright got the quick strike offense back in gear on its next possession. Starting from the Lion 35, Kelly hit Asay over the middle for 23-yards to the LVC 42. One play later senior Raymond Keshel ran around the right end and down the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown run to pull Albright within seven at 21-14. Albright thwarted another LVC drive late in the half when Kelly fumbled on the Lion 14 and junior Mike Ciccimaro recovered, sending the teams to the locker room with the score remaining 21-14.

The second half started the same way the game started, but with a different team on offense. The Dutchmen took the kickoff to start the half, and on the first offensive play, Kelly and Brossman hooked up for a 68-yard touchdown pass to put LVC on top 28-14. That would be just the beginning of a wild third quarter.

Albright needed just a minute and 40 seconds to answer the Dutchmen. After losing two yards on first down, Kelly found Romig for 29 yards to the LVC 32. That was followed by a 17-yard run by senior Vinnie Andrews, then a swing pass to Andrews for 15 yards and the touchdown. The extra point was wide right, leaving the Lions trailing 28-20.

Just over a minute later it was Dan Kelly's turn again. And again Brossman was his target, catching a deep ball and then breaking a tackle on his way to a 67-yard touchdown that put the Dutchmen ahead 34-20 with still 11:25 left in the third quarter.

The Lions slowed a little on the next possession, needing a full two minutes to score. The Lions needed just four plays to cover 58 yards for a touchdown, with the big play coming on a Kelly to Andrews 29-yard pass to the LVC 15. Kelly then hit sophomore Keith Allen for the touchdown on the next play to again pull the Lions within seven, 34-27, with 9:14 to play in the third quarter.

Unfortunately, Albright's defense had no answer for the LVC attack. The Dutchmen again marched right down the field, using seven plays to travel 80 yards for their third touchdown in just under 10 minutes. This time it was Kelly to Dave Zimmerman from six yards out, with the extra point putting LVC up 41-27 with 5:45 left in the period.

What may have been the turning point in the game came on Albright's next series. After Keshel opened the drive with a 28-yard run to put the ball in LVC territory, Kelly looked deep for Asay. Dutchmen defensive back Keith Comrey came down with the football on the Albright one-yard line, however, stopping the Lions for the first time in the half. Despite being 99 yards from pay dirt, LVC needed just four plays to score. Kelly completed four straight passes to four different receivers to again put the ball in the end zone, this time using a shovel pass to Parker for the touchdown, from 16-yards out. The extra point attempt was good, giving LVC a 48-27 lead late in the third quarter.

The Lion offense was not about to stop on the final game of the season. Tanner Kelly led Albright on a 72-yard dive, but faced fourth and goal from the LVC two-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Kelly was able to find Asay open in the end zone, though, cutting the deficit to 15, 48-33, with 12:21 remaining in the game. A bad snap scuttled the extra point attempt, keeping the margin at 15 points.

The Lions tried an on-side kick, but the ball went out of bounds, giving the Dutchmen good field position. LVC went back to the run, using up five minutes until David Ochoa scored on a one-yard plunge to take a 55-33 lead with 7:18 left on the clock.

That would be the final score of the game, as the Lions next possession ended on downs, ending any hopes of a comeback. Tanner Kelly finished the day 24-31 for 328 yards and four touchdowns for Albright with just one interception. Romig had a huge day, catching seven passes for a career-best 175 yards and a touchdown, while Andrews had seven catches for 75 yards and a score. Keshel ran six times for 96 yards and a score to lead the Lions on the ground.

For the Dutchmen, Kelly was 21-26 for 430 yards and five touchdowns, and also carried six times for 25 yards and a score. Brossman caught 14 balls for 337 yards and three scores. Parker was the leading rusher for LVC with 99 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.

November 4, 2006: Albright 42, Lycoming 35

Williamsport, PA - Trailing by one point with 1:06 remaining in the football game, Albright drove 75 yards in 47 seconds to score the go-ahead touchdown on a Vinnie Andrews five-yard run with 19 seconds remaining on the clock and take a thrilling 42-35 win at Lycoming Saturday afternoon. The win is Albright's first in Williamsport since 1977, and just the second against the Warriors in the last 27 meetings. The Lions are now 2-7 on the season, 2-6 in the MAC, while Lycoming falls to 3-5, 3-5.

Andrews' touchdown capped a wild affair that saw Lycoming take its first lead of the ball game on an eight-yard Brad Shellenberger run with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter. Following a squib kick covered at the 25, Albright's offense trotted on to the field with 1:06 to play and a pair of time outs. Freshman quarterback Tanner Kelly hit sophomore Keith Allen over the middle for 17 yards to open the drive, but the next two play netted just two yards, and Albright faced a third down and eight. Kelly found freshman Justin West on the far sideline for 12 yards and a first down, keeping the drive alive. Kelly then put the Lions in scoring position with a 27-yard strike over the middle to freshman Nate Romig, giving Albright a first down at the Lycoming 17. A pass interference penalty on Lycoming on the next play gave Albright a first and goal from the five, and Andrews scored on the next play to complete the comeback for the Lions. Kelly and junior tight end Rich Maunz hooked up for the two point conversion, giving Albright a 42-35 lead. Ryan Juisti intercepted a last-ditch pass as time expired to seal the win for the Lions.

Albright drew first blood on its second possession. After a Kelly to Andrews pass on third and six gave Albright a first down, the Lions faced second and eight from their own 49. Kelly dropped back to pass, then spied a seam and outraced everyone to the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown run. Juisti's extra point was good, giving Albright a 7-0 lead with 1:21 left in the opening quarter.

The Warriors answered immediately. Starting from its own 33, Lycoming drove into Albright territory early in the second quarter. Warrior quarterback Glenn Smith then found Tony Copp behind the Albright secondary for a 35-yard gain, giving Lycoming a first-and-goal from the Albright six. Tailback John Seese finished the drive, running off left tackle for the touchdown to even the score at seven with 14:04 remaining in the half.

Albright's offense continued to roll, with a little help from a key Warrior penalty. On second down from midfield, Kelly went for six, but the pass was intercepted by Lycoming's Vreeland Wood. The play was wiped out by a Lycoming face mask penalty, however, keeping the drive alive. Six plays later Kelly hit West for a seven yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 Lion lead midway through the second quarter.

Lycoming's next possession continued the offensive show. The Warriors drove to the Albright 26, but faced third and 15 after Smith was sacked and forced to leave the game with an injury. Lycoming used some trickery, pulling out a reverse pass that resulted in a pass interference penalty on Albright, giving the Warriors a first down on the Lion 11. Smith returned on the next play and found Jeremy Ebert in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Mike Monastra's extra point was good, tying the score at 14 with 3:36 left before the half.

Albright drove deep into Warrior territory late in the half, but turned the ball over on downs at the three, and the teams went to the half tied at 14.

A 20-minute halftime break did not slow down the Albright offense. The Lions took the second half kickoff and drove 80 yards in 10 plays to again find the end zone. Andrews carried much of the load on the drive, carrying four times for 39 yards. Kelly to Allen from five yards out finished the drive, giving Albright a 21-14 lead just under five minutes into the third quarter.

Lycoming's offense showed little rust after the break as well. The Warriors followed Albright's drive with a scoring march of its own. Using the run exclusively, Lycoming moved down field for the tying score, as Seese capped the drive with a 16 yard run to knot the score at 21 midway through the third quarter.

Albright did not need the offense to retake the lead. Freshman Nate Romig fielded the ensuing kickoff on the four-yard line, headed right, made one cut, then turned up field and turned on the jets, racing 96-yards for a touchdown. Juisti's extra point put Albright on top 28-21. Romig's return is the first kickoff return for a touchdown since Jeff Rogers went 100 yards against William Paterson in 1998. It is the fourth-longest kickoff return in school history.

Albright's defense came up with a stop on Lycoming's next possession, forcing a Warrior punt. A 36-yard pass from Kelly to Asay put the ball in Lycoming territory, but the Lions appeared stalled from there, as they faced a fourth and six from the 29. Albright elected to go on fourth down, and Kelly threw a rope to West, hitting him in stride between two defenders for a Lion touchdown. The extra point was wide left, and Albright led 34-21 with 2:38 to go in the third quarter.

The Warriors were not about to go away in their final home game of 2006. Smith found Bill Margetich for 14 yards on third and eight to keep the drive alive, then connected with Brad Shellenberger on a 51-yard catch and run for a Lycoming touchdown. The extra point was good, as the Warriors pulled within six, 34-28, with just over one minute left in the quarter.

After an Albright punt, the Lions appeared to come up with the first big break of the game when Andrew Kibler stripped Margetich and David Harig recovered on the Lyco 35. Margetich was ruled down, however, and the Warriors retained possession. Later in the drive Albright's defense did come up with a turnover, as Juisti intercepted Smith at the Albright 34-yard line to give the ball back to the Lions.

Albright was unable to capitalize on the turnover, however, and punted the ball back to Lycoming. Smith quickly put the Warriors in scoring position, mixing short passes with Seese runs to move the ball down field. A 23-yard pass to Margetich put the ball on the Albright three, first and goal. Smith called his own number and ran to the one on first down, setting up second and goal from the one. Smith again tried to score on the sneak on second down, but the Lions stacked him up, and senior linebacker Rich Sbarra stripped away the football, giving Albright the ball on their own one with 3:13 remaining in the ball game.

Albright was able to move the ball only to the five-yard line, and after a Kelly punt, Lycoming took over on the Albright 36 with 2:38 showing on the clock. Lycoming moved the ball to the Albright 12, where they faced a fourth down and four. Ryan Juisti intercepted Smith's pass and returned the ball 95-yards for a touchdown, but a defensive pass interference penalty negated the score and gave the Warriors a first and goal at the eight-yard line. One play later Shellenberger scored on an end around, and Monastra's point after put Lycoming on top for the first time in the game, 35-34, with 1:12 left in the football game.

That would set the stage for Albright's game-winning drive, as the Lions were able to snap a four-game losing skid. Albright finished with a season-best 506 yards of offense on the day. Kelly had his best day in an Albright uniform, completing 21 of 33 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also ran for a team-high 82 yards and a touchdown, giving him 416 yards of total offense. Andrews ran for 81 yards and the biggest touchdown of his career, and caught three passes for 10 yards. Asay had three catches in the game for a team-high 112 yards, while Allen caught seven balls for 100 yards. On defense, Sbarra had a career day, as he led all players with 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and broke up a pass. Freshman Jonathan Linn had seven tackles, including a sack, and Juisti picked off a pair of passes for the Lions.

For the Warriors, Smith threw for 265 yards and a pair of scores, and ran for another 17 yards. Seese led the ground game with 88 yards and a pair of scores, while Kopp caught five balls for a team-best 88 yards.

October 28, 2006: Wilkes 30, Albright 6

Reading, PA - Nationally-ranked Wilkes University used a balanced offensive attack and a stingy defensive effort to remain unbeaten with a 30-6 Middle Atlantic Conference win at Albright College on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels, ranked 11th in the AFCA Top-25 and 15th in the D3football.com Top-25, improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the MAC. Albright sees their records fall to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in the conference.

Albright took the opening kickoff and drove deep into Wilkes territory to put the first points of the game on the board. The key play in the drive was a 39-yard scramble by quarterback Tanner Kelly on a third-and-eight play from the Lions' 25-yard line. Albright would pick up a first down at the Wilkes 17 on a ten-yard pass from Kelly to Rich Maunz. However, they were unable to advance past the Colonels' 12, and Ryan Juisti came on to kick a 28-yard field goal that made it 3-0 with 11:30 left in the first stanza.

Wilkes responded two-possessions later. A 25-yard pass completion from Al Karaffa to Matt Pizarro would help advance the ball to the Albright 29. After two Karaffa runs gained another first down at the 17, the Colonels faced a third-and-6 from the 13. Karaffa found fullback Drew Letcavage in the flat for an eight-yard gain to set up a first-and-goal from the five. Tailback Tom Andreopoulos would go around right end for the touchdown on the ensuing play to get Wilkes on the board. Ryan Yurewicz added the point after to give the Colonels a 7-3 lead with 3:51 remaining in the first period.

The Albright special teams came up with a big play early in the second quarter when freshman Brett Gaul broke through and blocked a Wilkes punt at the 20-yard line. Senior Vinny Andrews would pick up the loose ball and return it 5 yards to the Colonels 16. The Lions were unable to gain a first down, however, and Juisti connected on his second field goal of the game, this time a 25-yard attempt, to cut the deficit to 7-6 with 10:27 left in the second quarter.

The Wilkes defense would pin Albright at their own one-yard line late in the second period and after the ensuing punt took over at the Lions' 24. A 14-yard pass from Karaffa to Jordan and a two-yard run by Karaffa helped off-set a Wilkes penalty and give them a first down at the 13. On third-and-seven from the ten-yard line, Jordan took a handoff on a reverse play and found his way into the end zone at the 1:59 mark. Gaul would block his second kick when he batted down Yurewicz's extra point attempt and Wilkes would head to the locker room with a 13-6 lead.

The Colonels would add to their lead on their second drive of the third quarter. Wilkes started at their own 31-yard line following a punt and used a pair of runs by Jason Nabba that picked up nine yards, and an 11-yard rush by Karaffa to pick up a first down at midfield. Karaffa then went to the air and hit Jordan with a 46-yard toss to move the ball to the Lions' four. Karaffa again dropped to pass, rolled out and found tight end Matt Pizarro alone in the endzone for the touchdown. Yurewicz converted the point after to up the Wilkes lead to 20-6 with 11:14 left in the quarter.

On the second play of the fourth quarter the Colonels would score again. This time they put together a short drive after starting on the Lions' 38 following a punt. A 20-yard pass to B.J. Fusco helped give Wilkes a first down at the eight. The Lion defense stood strong, holding Wilkes out of the end zone on three tries. On fourth down from the two, Yurewicz drilled a 19-yard field goal to make it 23-6 with 14:17 left in the game.

The Wilkes defense set up the final Colonels score when Justin Friedel stepped in front of a Kelly pass and returned it 75-yards for what appeared to be a touchdown. An illegal block on the return eliminated the score and placed the ball at the Lions' 37. Wilkes covered all 37 yards on the ground, including a one-yard scoring run by Nabba. Yurewicz connected on the extra point to make it 30-6 with 9:33 left.

Albright could not muster much offense against a Colonel defense that leads the MAC in just about every category. The Lions entered the game averaging 373.1 yards per game, but managed just 181 against Wilkes. Kelly was 12-29 for 100 yards and was intercepted two times. He also led the Lions with 31 yards rushing on 10 carries. Defensively, Gaul and freshman linebacker Andrew Kibler each had nine tackles, while sophomore defensive end had two tackles for loss.

For the Colonels, Andreopoulos finished with 118 yards on 22 carries to lead a ground attack that totaled 192 yards on the afternoon. Karaffa completed 12 of 20 passes for 179 yards and a score, while Jordan caught six balls for 107 yards.

Albright will travel to Willilamsport next Saturday to face Lycoming in an MAC showdown at 1:00.

October 21, 2006: FDU-Florham 39, Albright 35

Madison, NJ - Dan Huff hit Mike Smeja for a 17-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give FDU-Florham a 39-35 win over Albright in a wild MAC contest Saturday afternoon. The loss is the third straight for the Lions, who fall to 1-6 on the season and 1-5 in the MAC, while the Devils improve to 1-6, 1-5.

On a day when offenses would run wild, the Devils took advantage of good field position on their opening possession. Starting from its own 46 after a short punt into the wind, the Devils drove right down the field for the first score of the game. Tailback Dan Harrison did much of the work on the drive, and finished it with an eight yard run for the touchdown and a 7-0 Devil lead just 5:48 into the contest.

Albright's offense had an answer, putting together a long scoring drive to knot the score at seven. The Lions drove 70-yards, mixing run and pass well, setting up a first and goal on the one. Senior Vinnie Andrews was met and the goal line on the first down carry and lost the football, but freshman Tyrell Drumgo recovered in the end zone for the Albright touchdown. Freshman Todd Hower's extra point was good to tie the score at 7-7.

FDU-Florham need just two plays to regain the lead. After quarterback Dan Huff picked up six yards on first down, Harrison went right up the middle for 59-yards and a touchdown to put the Devils back on top 14-7 with 1:42 remaining in the opening quarter.

After trading punts, Albright put together a a drive deep into Devil territory midway through the second quarter. The FDU defense came up with the big play, however, forcing an Albright fumble and recovering on the 15-yard line.

The Lions returned the favor two plays later. On second and nine, Huff rolled left looking for Mike Smeja, but freshman safety David Harig intercepted the pass at the Devil 33-yard line. Albright did not waste this opportunity, as sophomore Jason Heintzelman capped a six play 32-yard drive with a two yard run for the touchdown to pull the Lions even at 14 with 2:43 remaining to play in the first half.

FDU was able to retake the lead just before the half. Starting from their own 38, Huff drove the Devils to the Albright 12-yard line, where they faced third down and nine with 16 seconds on the clock. Huff ran right in a keeper, slipped a tackle, and ran into the end zone for the touchdown with eight seconds to play in the half. The extra point was no good, and FDU took a 20-14 lead at halftime.

FDU-Florham had 217 yards of offense in the half, 192 coming on the ground. Harrison picked up 152 yards on 16 carries to lead the way for the Devils. Albright had 211 yards of total offense, rushing for 82 yards and throwing for another 129. Kelly was 12-15 in the half for 129 yards, while Andrews led the rushing attack for the Lions with 51 yards on nine carries.

FDU's offense picked up right where it left off to open the second half. The Devils took the second half kickoff and moved quickly into Lion territory. The big play on the drive came on third and nine from the Albright 26. Huff dropped back to pass and appeared to be hemmed in for a sack, but he managed to wiggle free and scampered 15 yards to the 11 for a first down. Three plays later Huff ran in untouched from the five for a touchdown. Freshman Brett Gaul blocked the extra point, making the score 26-14 five minutes into the second half.

The Devils attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Albright recovered and took over on the FDU 40-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, however, the Lions fumbled the football and FDU recovered to end the Lion threat. The Devils again drove into Albright's end of the field, but the defense held, and Mike Barnard's 43-yard field goal attempt was no good, keeping the Lions within 12 at 26-14.

Albright needed a big play from its offense, and didn't have to wait long to get it. After a two-yard run and a 15-yard face-mask penalty on the first play from scrimmage, Kelly hit Stephen Asay around the FDU 35-yard line. Asay broke one tackle, and streaked down the sideline for a 57-yard touchdown. Hower's point after attempt hit the left upright, and the Lions trailed 26-20 with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter.

FDU's ground game wasted little time in restoring the Devil lead to double figures. FDU drove 72 yards, all on the ground, to once again reach the end zone. Once again it was Harrison finding pay dirt, running for his third touchdown of the afternoon from 18 yards out. The Devils attempted two-point conversion was no good, as FDU held a 32-20 lead just over three minutes into the final quarter.

The Lions wasted little time getting that score back. Starting from its own 35-yard line, Albright needed just two minutes and 40 seconds to find the end zone. Kelly hit Nate Romig from 13-yards out for the touchdown, and Hower's extra point pulled Albright within five, 32-27, with 8:55 left in the ball game.

Albright defense was able to come up with a big stop on FDU's next possession, forcing just the second Devil punt of the afternoon. Taking over on its own 19-yard line with 6:04 showing on the clock, the Lions began driving down field. After marching into Devil territory, Andrews ripped off a 24-yard run to the FDU-14. The Lions got the ball to the one-yard line, where, on third and goal, Kelly found Asay in the back of the end zone to put the Lions on top for the first time all afternoon. Kelly then found a diving Asay for the two-point conversion, giving Albright a 35-32 lead with 2:14 left on the clock.

That would prove to be plenty of time for the Devils. Starting from their own 38, Huff drove the Devils 62 yards in 1:41, hitting Mike Smeja from 17-yards out for the go-ahead score with 24 seconds left on the clock. Barnard's extra point gave FDU a 39-35 lead. The key play on the drive was a fourth and nine completion to Ray Kwiatkowski that appeared to hit the turf but was ruled a completion, keeping the drive alive.

The Lions got that ball back on their own 30 with 15 seconds left, but were unable to move the football as the Devils came away with their first win of 2006.

Kelly finished the day completing 22 of 29 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Asay caught five balls for 90 yards and two scores, while Romig had a team-high six catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Andrews led the ground game for the Lions with 89 yards on 14 carries. Defensively, freshman corner Brett Gaul led Albright with 10 tackles, while senior defensive end Jim Rowland added nine stops.

For the Devils, Harrison rang up a school-record 253 yards on 29 carries as FDU totaled 503 yards of offense on the day. Huff was 11-19 passing for 124 yards and the touchdown, and also ran for 86 yards and two scores.

Albright will host unbeaten Wilkes next Saturday at 1:00 in Shirk Stadium.

October 14, 2006: Delaware Valley 21, Albright 13

Reading, PA � Albright fell just short of upsetting 23 rd ranked Delaware Valley on Saturday, falling 21-13 to the Aggies on homecoming day in Shirk Stadium. The loss drops Albright to 1-5 on the season and 1-4 in the MAC, while Delaware Valley improves to 5-1, 4-1.

The first half was a defensive battle, as neither offense was able to get untracked. After punting on its opening possession, Albright forced the first of four Aggie turnovers on the day when freshman Brendan Bresnahan intercepted Mike Isgro's first pass of the day and returned it 13 yards to the Lion 45. Albright was unable to capitalize on the field position, however, and punted the ball away.

The Lion defense came up big for a second straight possession, as senior Josh Kosinski forced an Antonio Fernanders fumble that Marc Hunsberger recovered at the Aggie 49-yard line. This time Albright would cash in on the opportunity. After two runs netted �5 yards, freshman quarterback Tanner Kelly found freshman split end Nate Romig for 20 yards and a first down to the 34. A Delaware Valley personal foul and an 11-yard run from senior Vinnie Andrews gave the Lions first-and goal on the seven. On third and goal from the two, Kelly hit freshman Tyrell Drumgo for the touchdown and a 6-0 lead. The extra point attempt was no good, keeping the Albright lead at six.

Delaware Valley was unable to put anything together in the first half, as the Lions, led by junior defensive tackle Mike Ciccimaro, stuffed the Aggies repeatedly. Ciccimaro had two and a half sacks and four tackles for loss in the game, and was all over the Aggie backfield in the half.

Albright got another golden opportunity early in the second quarter, starting a drive from the Delaware Valley 23-yard line after a penalty on the punt return by the Aggies. The Delaware Valley defense rose to the occasion, however, stopping Albright for no yardage on the drive to keep the score 6-0.

It stayed that way until late in the first half when the Aggies took over on their own 20-yard line with 2:16 remaining until the break. Delaware Valley, which had just 19 yards of total offense on 22 plays heading into the possession, went on an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive that was capped by Isgro's 42-yard touchdown pass to John Kiphorn. Bill Miller added the extra point and Delaware Valley took a 7-6 lead with just 39 seconds remaining in the half.

Delaware Valley received the opening kickoff of the second half, but the Lions stopped the Aggies around midfield and forced a DVC punt. The Lions, however, were whistled for an illegal substitution penalty on the punt formation, giving Delaware Valley a first down at its own 46-yard line. Isgro went deep on the very next play and Don Marshall made the catch in tight coverage for a 54-yard touchdown. Miller added the extra-point for a 14-6 advantage with 12:27 left in the third quarter.

The Aggies looked ready to put the game away after forcing an Albright punt and driving deep into Lion territory, but again the Albright defense refused to give in. On a second and two play from the Albright 12, senior linebacker Rich Sbarra drilled Fernanders, causing him to lose the football. Kosinski recovered for the Lions on the nine yard line, ending the threat and keeping the Lions within one score.

Albright began the fourth quarter with a long drive that was keyed by a 28-yard run by sophomore Jason Heintzelman and a 15-yard Delaware Valley facemask penalty that put the ball on the Aggie 27-yard line. The Lions reached the Aggie 11-yard line and faced a fourth-and-five when Kelly's pass was broken up, turning the ball back over to Delaware Valley on downs.

Two possessions later Delaware Valley appeared to put the game away when it took advantage of a short field and scored on an Isgro one-yard sneak to make the score 21-6 with 1:34 remaining.

Albright was not finished, however, as Romig returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to the Aggie 37. Six plays later, a seven-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to Stephen Asay and Ryan Juisit's extra-point pulled the Lions back to within eight, 21-13, with 43 seconds to go. Albright's onside kick attempt was recovered by Delaware Valley, however, who took a knee to run out the clock and escape with the win.

Kelly finished the day completing 22-40 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Asay led the Lion receivers with six catches for 59 yards and a score. Heintzelman was the leading rusher for Albright with 37 yards on eight carries. Defensively, Sbarra, Bresnahan, sophomore Matt Christ, and freshman Michael Levy all had seven tackles, while Ciccimaro finished with six stops, including the four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

For the Aggies, Isgro finished 15-24 for 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns while running for 79 yards and another score. Jake Sheffield carried 14 times for 64 yards and caught seven passes for another 63 yards for the Aggies, who finished with 346 yards of total offense to 277 for Albright. John Pursell and Anthony Silver each had nine tackles to lead the DVC defense.

October 7, 2006: Widener 33, Albright 12

Chester, PA � Widener ran out to a 23-0 halftime lead on its way to a 33-12 win over Albright Saturday afternoon at Quick Stadium. The loss drops Albright to 1-4 on the season and 1-3 in the MAC, while the win is the third straight for the Pride, who improve to 3-2 overall and in the MAC.

Widener's first play from scrimmage was a 49-yard run by Khalee Prothro to the Albright 16-yard line. The Lions dug in from there, however, pushing the Pride back six yards before Tom Laurich connected on a 39-yard field goal to give Widener an early 3-0 lead.

The Pride increased their lead to 10-0 late in the opening quarter. Starting from its own 45-yard line, Widener drove to the Albright 15. On first and ten from the Lion 15, Prothro appeared to be hemmed in after a few yards, but free of a tackle and darted into the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point made the score 10-0 Widener with 39 seconds left in the quarter.

The Albright offense struggled to get anything going in the first quarter, and for the third straight possession punted the ball away to the Pride. Widener's offense was finding its stride, however, driving 71 yards in six plays. Matt Campbell connected on a 36-yard pass to Mike Schmidt for the score, giving Widener a 17-0 lead just over three minutes into the second quarter.

The Lions' offense got untracked on their next possession. Albright strung together four first downs, driving into Pride territory. Faced with a fourth and one from the Widener 21, however, Vinnie Andrews was stopped behind the line of scrimmage, and the Pride took over on downs.

Widener took the ensuing possession and drove deep into Albright territory. The Pride converted a pair of fourth downs on the drive, but lost Campbell to a leg injury on the drive, bringing Adam Parcell in at quarterback. Widener didn't miss a beat, as Purcell found Schmidt for an 18-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left in the half. Freshman Brett Gaul blocked the point after attempt, leaving Widener with a 23-0 lead.

Widener out-gained Albright 275-145 in the half. The big difference came on the ground, as the Pride ran for 135 yards compared to just 23 yards rushing for the Lions.

Widener got the first score of the second half late in the third quarter. Parcell finished a xx-play, xx-yard drive with a five-yard keeper to put the Pride on top 30-0 with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter.

The Lions responded with their first scoring drive of the afternoon. Albright converted a key fourth and 10 when Tanner Kelly found Nate Romig for 13-yards and a first down at the Pride 36. Two plays later Kelly completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to get the Lions on the board as the third quarter came an end. Ryan Juisti's extra point attempt was blocked, making the score 30-6 at the end of three quarters of play.

Widener recovered an Albright onside kick to give the Pride great field position on the next drive. The Pride took advantage, driving to the Albright six before settling for a 27-yard Laurich field goal and a 33-6 lead three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Kelly led Albright on another scoring drive the next time the Lions got the football. Mixing a short passing game with Raymond Keshel runs, the Lions drove down field. A diving catch by West off a deflected pass gave Albright the ball in the Widener three, and on the next play Kelly again hooked up with West for his second touchdown reception of the afternoon. A two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 33-12 midway through the final period.

That would be as close as the Lions would get on the afternoon. One final Albright drive ended on downs late in the fourth quarter, and the Pride ran out the clock to finish off the 33-12 win.

Kelly finished the day completing 32 of 47 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Romig had 11 receptions for 117 yards, both career highs, while West finished with four catches for 61 yards and the two scores.

Prothro rushed for 164 yards for Widener, who finished with 202 on the ground for the game.

Albright will host Delaware Valley Saturday at 1:00 in Shirk Stadium.

September 30, 2006: Albright 48, Juniata 14

READING, Pa. � Albright spotted Juniata an early 7-0 lead, then responded with 48 unanswered points to defeat the Eagles 48-14 Saturday afternoon in Shirk Stadium. The win is the first of the season for the Lions, who raise their record to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the MAC, while Juniata falls to 0-5 overall, 0-4 in conference play

Redshirt-freshman quarterback Tanner Kelly, making his first career start for the Lion, had a banner day, completing 16-24 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns while running for a fifth score. .

Juniata opened the game with a seven-play, 54-yard drive to take an early lead. Senior running back Duane Ehredt gained 50 yards on the drive, including a four-yard scoring run that gave Juniata a 7-0 lead just 3:31 into the contest.

Juniata had a chance to add to the lead when after an Albright three-and-out Tyler Hall returned the punt 44 yards deep into Albright territory. The Lion defense held Juniata without a first down, however, and David Nicklaus' 32-yard field goal attempt missed just wide right.

Albright's got going on its third possession as a 39-yard completion from Kelly to Stephen Asay moved the ball deep into Juniata territory. A two-yard scoring run from Vincent Andrews capped the 62-yard drive, and Ryan Juisti's extra point tied the game at seven with 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Momentum was already swinging in Albright's favor when the defense another Juniata punt on its next possession. Freshman Justin West took the Eagle punt at the Albright 24, and proceeded to run 76 yards for a touchdown. To give the Lions a 14-7 lead with 13:51 remaining in the first half.

After another Juniata three-and-out, Albright added to its lead with a 12-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a three-yard scoring pass from Kelly to Asay. Juisti's extra point gave the home team a 21-7 lead with 8:24 left in the first half.

Albright would add to the lead with just a minute remaining in the first half. The Lions put together a nine-play 58-yard drive, which ended with Kelly throwing his second scoring pass of the game, this time to freshman Nate Roming for 11 yards that made it 27-7. The extra point brought Albright's lead to 28-7 with 1:04 left in the half.

The offensive surge continued for Albright to open the second half as the Lions took the ball and moved 56 yards for another score. Kelly did the honors himself as he came around on a bootleg from two yards out for the Lions' fifth touchdown. Another Juisti kick made the score 35-7 with 9:47 remaining in the third quarter.

Juniata's offense found its footing on the next drive, moving inside Albright's five-yard line. Quarterback Jay Leonard fumbled the football, however, and Juisti came away with the ball for the Lions on the three-yard line. The Lions took advantage, turning the ball around and moving all the way down for another touchdown. The score came on a long 45-yard pass from Kelly to Romig that raised Albright's advantage to 42-7 late in the third quarter.

Albright's final score came on its next possession, with Kelly finding sophomore Michael Heppler down the right sideline for a 74-yard completion. Juisti's extra point was blocked, making the score 48-7 with just over 10 minutes left in the game.

Juniata picked up a final touchdown no Ehredt's nine-yard run with 6:28 left to cap the scoring for the afternoon.

Kelly finished the afternoon with 294 yards passing and four touchdowns, and ran for another 29 yards a score. The Lions ran for 173 yards on the afternoon, led by Raymond Keshel's 49 yards on 10 carries. Romig and Asay each had four catches for Albright, leading the nine Lions who caught passes on the day. Overall, Albright finished the afternoon with 497 to 217 for the Eagles.

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September 23, 2006: King's 38, Albright 14

Wilkes-Barre, PA - King's jumped out to a 31-0 half-time lead and then cruised to a 38-14 win over Albright Saturday afternoon in Wilkes-Barre. With the loss the Lions fall to 0-3 in 2006 and 0-2 in the MAC, while King's improves to 3-1, 3-0.

King's got on the board on its second drive after Bob Cirko intercepted Lion junior quarterback Derek Dubbs' first pass of the day and returned it 29-yards to the Albright 22. The Lions stuffed King's on three plays, but Tim Lust drilled a 39-yard field goal to give the Monarchs a 3-0 lead.

Albright went three-and-out on the next drive, and the Monarch offense went right back to work. After converting a fourth-and-two at the Albright 25, Jeff Searfass found Mike Verbitski for a 21-yard touchdown and a 10-0 King's lead.

The Lion offense could not generate much of anything in the first quarter, and again was forced to punt after just three plays. King's had no such problems, marching 60 yards on six plays, culminating with a John Ortiz seven-yard run to put King's on top 17-0 two plays into the second quarter.

King's had a short field to work with on its next possession following a partially blocked Albright punt. Starting from the Albright 32, the Monarch's picked up nine yards on three plays and faced a fourth and one from the 23. Searfoss found a wide-open Chris Maloney for 21 yards to the two, and two plays later it was Searfass to Mike Sheil for a one-yard touchdown and a 24-0 lead with 9:32 to play in the half.

The Lions forced a punt on King's next possession, and took over on the Monarch 41-yard line. Albright gave the ball back to King's, however, when Jason Heintzelman fumbled reaching for more yardage and Tom Tulaney recovered at the 31 for the Monarchs. King's cashed in on the chance, as again the Monarchs drove down field, with Searfass hitting Maloney for a four-yard touchdown 55 seconds before the half, making the score 31-0 King's.

King's continued to move the ball in the second half. The Monarch's used five minutes to drive 49 yards on their first possession of the second half, with Ortiz scoring from the nine for his second touchdown of the afternoon and a 38-0 King's advantage with 8:18 left in the 3rd quarter.

Albright finally was able to put a drive together late in the third quarter. The Lions drove 64 yards in 11 plays, and got on the scoreboard when Heintzelman scored on a 14-yard run with 12:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Ryan Juisti's extra point was good, and the Lions trailed 38-7 early in the fourth quarter.

Albright struck again the next time it got the ball. After the Lion defense stopped King's on downs at the Albright 13, the Lions marched down field. Junior Raymond Keshel's 30-yard run to the Monarch four set up Heintzelman's second score of the day, from four yards out, to cut the King's lead to 38-14 with 3:49 to play. That would be all the scoring for the afternoon, as King's closed out the 24-point win.

Albright finished the day with 330 yards of total offense to 414 for the Monarchs. Heintzelman carried 14 times for 91 yards and the two scores, while Keshel ran 11 times for 65 yards. All told the Lions ran for 189 yards on the afternoon. Tanner Kelly was 12-21 for 141 yards with one interception in relief of Dubbs, who was 0-2 with a pick. Nine different Lions caught passes in the game, with freshman Nate Romig's 43 yards the most for any receiver. Defensively, Juisti led Albright with 10 tackles, six of them solo stops. Freshman Brandon Bresnahan and sophomore Matt Christ each added eight tackles, while junior defensive tackle Mike Ciccimaro had two tackles for loss, including a sack.

For King's Searfass was nearly perfect, completing 17-18 for 214 yards and three scores. Ortiz led the Monarch ground attack with 82 yards on 17 carries and the two touchdowns. Craig Haywood had 10 solo tackles for King's and also forced a fumble.

Albright will return to action next Saturday when the Lions host Juniata in the 56th annual Shriners Pretzel Bowl at Shirk Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:00.

September 16, 2006: Susquehanna 24, Albright 21

Reading, PA - Susquehanna snuffed out Albright's potential go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter to hold on to a 24-21 win over the Lions Saturday night in Shirk Stadium. The loss drops Albright to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in the MAC, while the Crusaders get their first win of 2006, improving to 1-2, 1-1 MAC.

Albright sophomore Jason Heintzelman, seeing more time at tailback with senior Vinnie Andrews sidelined by injury, had a breakout game for the Lions, totaling 167 yards of offense and scoring a touchdown, but it was not quite enough to get the Lions into the win column.

Susquehanna scored the first time it touched the ball, and needed to travel just 26 yards to do so. Eddie Jones' 39-yard punt return set the Crusaders up at the Albright 26, and six plays later Charlie Henry scored from a yard out to put the Crusaders on top 7-0.

Special teams also helped set up Albright's first score, as senior Josh Benson ripped off a 53-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to give the Lions good field position. Junior quarterback Derek Dubbs connected with freshman Justin West for 36-yards to the Crusader four, and junior Raymond Keshel scored from the three two plays later to tie the score at 7.

Susquehanna regained the lead midway through the second quarter, using a 14-play, 53-yard drive to set up a 24-yard Brian Wimmer field goal, making the score 10-7. After trading possessions, Susquehanna took advantage of a special teams miscue by the Lions, falling on a muffed punt return at the Albright 28-yard line. The Crusaders needed just four plays to find the end zone, with Henry scoring his second touchdown of the day to give Susquehanna a 17-7 lead with 1:28 left in the half. Dubbs was able to drive Albright all the way to the Crusader seven, but the clock ran out on the Lions as the half ended at 17-7.

Albright started the second half strongly, as the defense forced a Crusader punt, and the offense immediately went to work. The Lions marched 77-yards for a touchdown, with Heintzelman accounting for 69 of the 77 yards on the drive. He finished off the drive with an 11-yard scamper for the touchdown to pull the Lions within three, 17-14.

Susquehanna answered right back, however, to regain a 10-point lead. Derek Pope's 18-yard touchdown pass to a diving Matt Koziel capped a nine-play, 52-yard drive to put the score at 24-14 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.

Albright needed just three plays to get right back in the game. After fielding a pooch kick at the Albright 43, the ran two plays for no yards and faced third and 10. Dubbs hit freshman Nate Romig over the middle, and Romig did the rest, breaking two tackles and racing down the right sideline for a 57-yard touchdown to pull Albright within three, 24-21.

After trading punts to start the first quarter, Albright took over on the Crusader 49-yard line with 7:50 remaining in the game. The Lions drove to a first-and-10 at the Susquehanna 21, but a two yard loss and a sack on second down pushed Albright back to the 32, facing a 3rd and 21. Albright could only pick up 10 yards in the next two plays, turning the ball over on downs to Susquehanna with 3:37 left in the ball game.

Susquehanna was able to pick up two first downs before having to punt, and John Lunardi's punt was downed on the Albright one-yard line with 34-seconds on the clock. With no timeouts remaining, Albright was unable to get out of its own territory as Susquehanna escaped with the win.

Heintzelman went over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career, carrying 20 times for 112 yards and a score. He also caught eight passes for 55 yards. Dubbs finished 20-29 for 257 yards and a score with two interceptions. Romig led the Albright receivers with 85 yards on three catches. Defensively, freshman safety Brendan Bresnahan was in on a team-high 10 tackles, followed by sophomore Ryan Juisti with nine.

For the Crusaders, Dave Paveletz led the team in rushing with 76 yards on 16 carries. Pope completed 9 of 20 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown with two picks. Koziel caught a team-high four balls for 63 yards. Rob McGarrigle led the Crusader defense with seven tackles.

September 9, 2006: Ursinus 32, Albright 13

Reading, PA - Albright turned the ball over five time, saw two of them returned for Ursinus touchdowns, and with it watched the Bears spoil the 2006 opener for the Lions with a 32-13 win Saturday night in Shirk Stadium. The Bears are now 2-0 on the season as Albright drops its season opener for the first time in three years.

Ursinus took the opening kickoff and marched 54 yards in 11 plays to score the game's first touchdown. David Ashworth carried the ball on seven of the ten plays for the Bears and scored the touchdown on a one-yard run. The point after try clanked off the upright, keeping the Ursinus lead to 6-0.

Albright's offense had an immediate response. Senior Josh Benson's (Dillsburg, PA/Northern) 46-yard return on the kickoff set Albright up at the Bear 42-yard line. Junior Derek Dubbs (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata), taking his first collegiate snaps, drove Albright down field, connecting on two passes to junior wide out Stephen Asay (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) to give Albright a first-and-goal at the five. Senior Vinnie Andrews (Lehighton, PA/Lehighton) picked up four yards on first down, then crossed the goal line to give the Lions a 7-6 lead with 7:30 left in the quarter.

Ursinus came right back, needing just 1:42 to cover 84 yards for another score. On third and four from their own 24, Ted Wallingford connected with James Sproule for 27 yards to the Albright 49. On the very next play from scrimmage, Wallingford hit a streaking Josh Hannum for the touchdown and a 13-7 Bear lead.

After an Albright punt, Ursinus again drove into Lion territory. The drive stalled, and the Bears lined up for a 36-yard field goal attempt. Benson blocked the kick, however, and Albright took over at it's own 20 still trailing by just six points. Freshman Tanner Kelly (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) entered the game at quarterback and drove the Lions into Ursinus territory. On first and 10 from the Bear 42, however, DeVohn Butler stepped in front of a Kelly pass and raced 60-yards for an Ursinus touchdown. Once again the extra point was no good, and the Bears held a 19-7 lead.

On Albright's next possession Kelly fumbled, with Ursinus recovering on the Lion 33. Ursinus turned the ball right back over to the Lions, however, as sophomore Ryan Juisti intercepted Wallingford at the Albright seven. The Lions then embarked on a long, clock chewing drive, methodically moving the ball down the field. Junior Raymond Keshel (New Triploi, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) and sophomore Jason Heintzelman (Halifax, PA/Halifax) shared the load on the ground, with Dubbs mixing in some key completions to keep the drive alive. The Lions faced a fourth and five from the Ursinus 23, but Dubbs hit Asay over the middle for eight yards and a first down. Albright picked up five more yards, but incomplete passes on third and fourth down ended the drive without any points for the Lions, who trailed 19-7 at the half.

Disaster struck for Albright on the opening kickoff of the second half. Freshman Nate Romig (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) took the kickoff and headed up field, only to be hit and cough up the ball. Mike Trio scooped the ball up for Ursinus and ran 22-yards for a touchdown to give the Bears a 26-7 lead.

The Lions were never able to overcome that score. While the defense tightened up, the offense was unable to get completely untracked in the second half. The score remained 26-7 through three quarters, and Ursinus opened the fourth quarter by driving deep into Albright territory. Once again, however, special teams kept hope alive for Albright, as senior James Rowland (Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt to keep the game 26-7.

Albright would turn the ball over twice in the fourth quarter, however, and Ursinus cashed in one final time, with Wallingford and Hannum again hooking up, this time from 32-yards out, to make the score 3207 Ursinus with 4:30 left to play.

Albright did manage to get into the end zone one final time on the next drive. Kelly led the Lions on a 10 play, 65-yard drive, connecting with sophomore Keith Allen (Audobon Park, NJ/Audobon) from 13-yards out on an acrobatic catch to put the final score at 32-13 Ursinus.

Heintzelman was the leading rusher for Albright with 51 yards on 10 carries. Keshel finished with 49 yards on 10 carries as well. Dubbs was 13 of 23 for 79 yards with one interception, while Kelly went 6-9 for 60 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Asay caught a team-high five passes for 79 yards. Junior Matt Christ (Birdsboro, PA/Reading Central Catholic) and freshman Andrew Kibler (Freeland, MD/Calvert Hall) each had six tackles to lead Albright's defense.

For Ursinus, Ashworth totaled 151 yards on 34 carries, while Wallingford finished 7-15 for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns with one interception.

Albright returns to action next Saturday when the Lions open the MAC slate by hosting Susquehanna at 7:00 in Shirk Stadium.