Dutchmen Battle to Double Overtime, Fall Just Short at Alvernia

 

 

Written by Braydin Adams 

Adams is a sports enthusiast & recent graduate of Northern Lebanon High School.

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It doesn’t get much better than a Saturday filled with college football. On Saturday, September 26, the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen traveled to Reading to take on the Alvernia Golden Wolves. LVC entered the afternoon at 0-3 and still searching for its first victory of the 2026 season, while Alvernia came in at 1-2 looking to even its record. The matchup would turn into a defensive battle that needed two overtimes to decide. Football vs Alvernia University…

The Dutchmen started with the ball and immediately made their opening possession count. Osmany Guzman helped direct a nine-play, 51-yard drive before Connor Hazel drilled a 31-yard field goal with 9:31 remaining in the first quarter to put Lebanon Valley ahead 3-0. Football vs Alvernia University…

From there, both defenses took control. Lebanon Valley’s defense repeatedly kept Alvernia from finding the end zone, and the Dutchmen carried their 3-0 advantage deep into the second quarter.

The Golden Wolves eventually drove into LVC territory, but the Dutchmen came up with a fourth-down stop around the 30-yard line to preserve the lead.

Alvernia finally got on the scoreboard just before halftime. Kevin Carotenuto converted a 36-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining, finishing a 10-play, 61-yard drive and sending the teams into the locker room tied at 3-3. Football vs Alvernia University…

The same narrative continued after halftime. Defense ruled the afternoon, and neither team could find a way into the end zone during the third quarter.

A pass-interference penalty helped Alvernia move into Lebanon Valley territory, but a bad snap on a field goal attempt kept the game tied. The Dutchmen defense continued to hold its ground, allowing LVC to enter the fourth quarter with a legitimate opportunity to earn its first victory of the season.

Lebanon Valley’s defensive performance was led by Owen Chernich and Jacob Karkoska, who each finished with eight tackles. J.D. McCallion, Brandon Choi, Kaies Handy and Calvin Bent each added seven tackles. Bent recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, while Sheadan Makosy also recorded a sack as LVC limited Alvernia to 284 yards of total offense. Football vs Alvernia University…

Late in the fourth quarter, the Dutchmen finally created the explosive offensive play they had been looking for. Guzmanconnected with former Cedar Crest Falcon Ethan Heisey for a 46-yard completion that helped move Lebanon Valley deep into Alvernia territory. Heisey finished as LVC’s leading receiver with three catches for 60 yards. Football vs Alvernia University…

Lebanon Valley appeared to have an opportunity to take the lead, but a high snap on the field goal attempt resulted in a loss and kept the score tied at 3-3.

That gave Alvernia one final opportunity in regulation. The Golden Wolves moved down the field and set up Carotenutofor a potential game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired. The kick was no good, keeping the Dutchmen alive and sending the game to overtime. Football vs Alvernia University…

Alvernia got the ball first in overtime and finally broke through against a Lebanon Valley defense that had kept the Golden Wolves out of the end zone for all four quarters. Quarterback Sawyer Esbenshade connected with James Shaeffer for a two-yard touchdown pass, and Carotenuto’s extra point gave Alvernia a 10-3 advantage. Football vs Alvernia University…

Suddenly, Lebanon Valley’s offense needed a touchdown to keep the game alive.

The Dutchmen faced fourth-and-three during their possession and converted to move the ball down to the two-yard line. With the game on the line, Guzman finished the drive himself, rushing for a two-yard touchdown. Hazel converted the extra point, tying the game at 10-10 and forcing a second overtime. Football vs Alvernia University…

Lebanon Valley received the ball first in the second overtime but was unable to find the end zone. The Dutchmen eventually turned to Hazel for a 35-yard field goal attempt, but Alvernia blocked the kick and suddenly needed only a field goal to win. Football vs Alvernia University…

The Golden Wolves took advantage. Carotenuto converted a 21-yard field goal to finish the 13-10 double-overtime victory and send Lebanon Valley home with a heartbreaking loss. Football vs Alvernia University…

Despite the result, there were plenty of encouraging signs for a Lebanon Valley team still looking for its first win. The Dutchmen defense held Alvernia without a touchdown throughout regulation and limited the Golden Wolves to 116 rushing yards. LVC also did not turn the ball over, while the defense recorded two sacks and repeatedly came up with stops to keep the game within reach. Football vs Alvernia University… Football vs Alvernia University…

Offensively, Guzman accounted for most of Lebanon Valley’s production. The quarterback completed 10-of-20 passes for 128 yards while also carrying 24 times for 120 yards and LVC’s only touchdown. Jayden Stanfield added 41 rushing yards on seven carries, while Trey Freeman caught five passes for 51 yards. Football vs Alvernia University… Football vs Alvernia University…

Lebanon Valley finished with 294 yards of offense, including 166 on the ground. More importantly, the Dutchmen found themselves just a few plays away from their first victory after taking a conference opponent into double overtime on the road. Football vs Alvernia University…

The heartbreaking loss drops Lebanon Valley to 0-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play. The Dutchmen will now have a week off before returning to Arnold Field on October 10 to host Stevenson for Homecoming. Football vs Alvernia University…

Alvernia improves to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Golden Wolves will also have next weekend off before hosting Misericordia on October 10.

Alvernia 13, Lebanon Valley 10 (2OT)

 

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Lebanon Valley Stats

Passing: Osmany Guzman – 10/20, 128 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, long 46 Football vs Alvernia University…

Rushing: Osmany Guzman – 24 carries, 120 yds, 1 TD, long 27; Jayden Stanfield – 7 carries, 41 yds; Deakon Schaeffer – 7 carries, 11 yds; Trey Freeman – 3 carries, 9 yds; Cole Spears – 2 carries, -3 yds; Ellis Gensamer – 1 carry, -12 yds; Team – 44 carries, 166 yds, 1 TD Football vs Alvernia University… Football vs Alvernia University…

Receiving: Ethan Heisey – 3 receptions, 60 yds, long 46; Trey Freeman – 5 receptions, 51 yds, long 21; Harrison Delissaint – 1 reception, 8 yds; Noah Hoff – 1 reception, 8 yds Football vs Alvernia University…

Defensive Leaders: Owen Chernich – 8 tackles (4 solo), 0.5 TFL; Jacob Karkoska – 8 tackles (5 solo), 0.5 TFL; J.D. McCallion – 7 tackles (5 solo); Brandon Choi – 7 tackles (4 solo), 1 TFL; Kaies Handy – 7 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL; Calvin Bent – 7 tackles (3 solo), 2.5 TFL, 1 sack; Landen Baughman – 4 tackles (2 solo); Sheadan Makosy – 4 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL, 1 sack; Bradley Weder – 3 solo tackles, 1 TFL; Nahseem Cosme – 2 tackles (1 solo), 0.5 TFL; John Klein – 2 tackles (1 solo); Anthony Pez – 1 solo tackle; Dakota Baublitz – 1 tackle Football vs Alvernia University…

Sacks: Calvin Bent – 1; Sheadan Makosy – 1; Team – 2 sacks Football vs Alvernia University…

Scoring: Osmany Guzman – 1 rushing TD; Connor Hazel – 31-yard FG, 1 PAT; Team – 10 points Football vs Alvernia University…

Special Teams: Connor Hazel – 31-yard FG, 35-yard FG blocked in 2OT, 1/1 PAT, 2 kickoffs for 130 yds with 1 touchback; Jake Musselman – 4 punts, 153 yds, 38.2 avg, long 43; Owen Strouse – 1 punt, 25 yds, inside the 20; Hazel – 1 punt, 20 yds; Trey Freeman – 2 kickoff returns, 46 yds; Jacob Karkoska – 1 punt return, 9 yds Football vs Alvernia University… Football vs Alvernia University…

Team Totals: 294 total offensive yds (166 rushing, 128 passing); 44 carries for 166 yds and 1 TD; 10/20 passing for 128 yds; 0 turnovers; Defense – 2 sacks and 116 rushing yds allowed.