Box Score

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ALFRED, N.Y. - In the hunt for their first NCAA Division III First Round victory since 1996 the Lions (10-1) traveled to upstate New York for a meeting with the Empire 8 co-champs Alfred University (8-2) Saturday afternoon at Merrill Field. Led by quarterback duo of #Patrick Subers# and #Tanner Kelly# the Lions earned the victory defeating the host Saxons by the final score of 35-25.

Also leading the Lions against Alfred was record setting wide receiver #Nate Romig#, who on his second TD reception of the day became the new all-time career touchdown reception leader at Albright. With what was his 37th career td reception, Romig gave the Lions a 21-10 lead with 7:31 left in the third quarter.

Kelly and Subers combined for 323 total yards in the air and three touchdowns. Subers ended the afternoon 11-for-16, while Kelly was 9-for-17. Romig closed out the NCAA tournament game with 193 receiving yards on 11 catches. On the ground #Josan Holmes# rushed for a team best 70 yards on 16 carries and had one touchdown of his own.

Defensively, #Brendan Bresnahan# led the afternoon with two huge interceptions. He also finished the day with 6.5 stops. #Josh Hare# recorded a team best 10 stops and one tackle for a loss. #Bob Harper# recorded six tackles of his own to help out Albright's cause.

For the host Saxons Vinson Hendrix had to take over as the number play maker for Alfred, after Jared Manzer left the game with an injury. Hendrix totaled 116 yards on the afternoon and one touchdown. Nick Clark also recorded a score in Saturday's postseason match-up and rushed for 10 yards on four carries.
Milton Harding led the Saxons receiving game with 52 yards on seven catches and quarterback Tom Seckey threw for 229 yards one touchdown and was 21 of 33.

The first quarter proved to be a back and forth battle for the two squads as they exchanged possession throughout the first 15 minutes of Saturday's contest. On the final drive of the opener quarter, the Saxons worked the ball down the field and eventually found the end zone after totaling 74 yards on 17 plays to take a 7-0 lead.

On the Lion's first drive of the second quarter, the Saxons defense proved to be a tough test for the red and white. However the Lions battled their way to around the 50 yard line, and on third and eight Kelly threw it deep to #Scott Pillar# who got past his man and into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7 with about 12 minutes to play in the half.

Following the Albright score, the two teams once again found themselves in a offensive stalemate. It was not until the final three minutes of the first half that the Saxons started to work their way up the field. Led by Hendrix the Saxons found themselves deep in Albright territory. With a third and 20 situation the Lions defense kept the Saxons out of their end zone. Instead of going for it on fourth down, Alfred recorded a field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 31 seconds left.

Moving into the second half, the Lions started with the ball and on his first play of the new half Kelly was hit hard and had to come off the field. However prior to the hit he managed to connect with Romig deep in Alfred territory on a great one-on-one catch.

With Kelly off, Subers stepped on the field looking to have a repeat performance from a week ago. The MAC Offensive Player of the Week delivered on a long third and 20 play. Looking for the big play, Subers connected with Romig on a high lofting pass to give Albright a 14-10 lead.

The Lions momentum continued on the next Saxon drive as Bresnahan literally stole an interception to give the red and white the ball back on their 30 yard line. Subers continued to guide the Lions up the field with spectacular plays by Holmes and #Tyrell Drumgo#.

Just four yards out, Subers connected with Romig in the far corner of the end zone to give the Lions a 21-10 lead over the Saxons.

Down but not out Alfred put together another long drive and eventually came to rest on the Lions four yard line. On back-to-back plays the Saxons looked to their rushing machine Hendrix, but he was stopped short both times. Alfred then went to the air on third and goal but on a great defensive play by #Brett Gaul# stopped the Saxons score.

Looking to close the gap on the scoreboard, Alfred decided to go for the field goal. However even that attempt was stopped short by the red hot Lions defense as Harper blocked the field goal attempt to keep the score at 21-10.

Unfortunately the red and white were unable to produce anything following the huge stop and were forced to punt. That punt was blocked by a slew of Saxons players and gave Alfred the ball back on the Albright's five yard line. It took just two plays for the Saxons to find the end zone and then scored the 2-point conversion to make it 21-18.

After a great kickoff return by Pillar, Subers once again found his favorite receiver, Romig, deep in Alfred territory. On another great catch by the senior the Lions ended up on the one yard line. Subers heroics continued as he took the ball himself into the end zone to give Albright a 28-18 lead with about 14 minutes to play.

Alfred's offense answered right back on their very next drive, which took nearly six minutes from start to finish and made it a three point game (28-25). On their very next possession which took less than a minute Holmes rushed the ball 45 yards to put Albright up 35-25.

The Lions defense then continued their solid play with another Bresnahan interception with 5:17 left in the game. Albright's offense then continued to take time off the scoreboard with solid rushing from Holmes.

As the final seconds winded down on the scoreboard, Albright knew that they had a date next Saturday with their MAC rival Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. The win was the second first round NCAA victory for the Lions in program history. Next Saturday's match-up will also be the second time that Albright has faced a MAC opponent in the NCAA tournament.

In 1996 the Lions faced and were defeated by Lycoming College in the second round of the tournament.

Next Saturday's match-up between the Lions and the Aggies is scheduled to kick-off at noon from Doylestown.