READING, Pa. -- Five weeks ago, looking ahead at the Albright football schedule the regular-season finale at Lebanon Valley appeared to be shaping up as a matchup between two teams playing out the string of a long season. Things have changed drastically since that time.
Albright, which was 1-4 after a road loss at Delaware Valley, has reeled off four consecutive wins to improve to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The Lions now have an opportunity to secure a possible ECAC Bowl Game with a victory over the Dutchmen on Saturday at Arnold Field.
"I told our team that nobody remembers how you start or who was leading at the quarter pole of a race," said head coach
John Marzka. "They only remember how you finish. And we have an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note."
The Albright coaching staff can point to many different facets as to why they have turned the season around. The emergence of a strong running game, the continued development of the young players, a defense that has made big plays during big moments and the All-American season of kicker
Daniel Sobolewski. But likely the most important factor has been the approach of winning each week and focusing on Albright and not who the opponent is in any given week.
"We have been 1-0 for four consecutive weeks," said Marzka. "Our goal has been to improve every day and every week. I feel like we have done that."
Albright will need to play well to beat a suddenly hot Lebanon Valley squad. The Dutchmen, who started the season 0-5, have posted three wins in the their last four games and fell in overtime last week at Lycoming. Lebanon Valley enters the game with a 3-6 overall record and a 3-5 mark in conference play.
The Albright offense has turned the corner and is averaging 33.5 points and 349.5 yards of total offense during its four-game winning streak. Freshman
Chris Dawson has led the Lion ground game and notched a career-best 175 yards and scored two touchdowns in last week's victory over Misericordia.
Junior quarterback
Patrick Wise was 13-26 for 221 yards and a score against Misericordia, while sophomore wideout
Gerrod Gainer hauled five passes for 119 yards including a 32-yard touchdown reception.
Mark Capetola and
Jamal Hayden each recorded a sack against Misericordia, while linebacker
Steve Barroso notched his second interception of the season.
Sobolewski tied his own school record when he converted a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter, which put Albright ahead 3-0.
This marks the 94th meeting between the two rivals with Albright leading the alltime series 58-32-3.
Albright Game NotesLebanon Valley Game Notes
