DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Albright Lions football team was defeated 49-14 to #15 Delaware Valley, the first place team, in the MAC on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Lions fall to 0-8 on the season and 0-6 in MAC conference play. Meanwhile, the Aggies continue to remain tied with Misericordia for first place in the MAC with a 7-1 overall record and a 6-0 record in conference play.
 
Junior quarterback Jimmy Lahay went 12-of-26 for 184 yards and threw two touchdown passes with one interception. Senior wide receiver Kyle Dickerson led the Lions with 107 yards receiving on six catches and two touchdowns, while freshman Jory Cole added 58 yards receiving on four catches. Freshman running back Malik Bootman led Albright with a season-high 63 yards on the ground on 14 carries which is the most rushing yards by any Lions player this season.
 
The Lions received the ball to start the game and made an early statement by driving 65 yards in 11 plays to take an early 7-0 lead at the 10:46-mark of the first quarter. Lahay found Dickerson for a 19-yard touchdown on 4^th and 1 from the Aggies 19-yard line. A personal foul penalty on the Lions after the extra point forced the Lions to kick from their own 20-yard line, and the Aggies would get the ball at midfield after the ball was kicked out-of-bounds. The Aggies made quick work of the drive as they just needed six plays to tie the game at seven. The Lions drove into Aggies territory on their next drive but had it stopped on the Aggies 33-yard line after an incompletion on 4^th and 1. The Aggies then threw a 67-yard touchdown pass on the first play of their drive to take a 14-7 lead with 4:16 left in the first quarter. Following an Albright three-and-out, the Aggies again struck on just one play, this time a 48-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-7. A fumble on the kickoff by Dickerson set the Aggies up with good field position, but the Lions defense held on downs.
 
Albright forced an Aggies punt to begin the second quarter, but Lahay threw a 44-yard pick-six on the Lions next drive to make it 28-7 Delaware Valley with 11:12 left in the first half. The Lions nearly converted on a fake punt run on their next drive before having a drive end in Aggies territory with 2:07 left in the first half. Delaware Valley then converted a fake punt on 4^th and 16 to eventually set up a touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half to make it 35-7. Albright forced an Aggies punt to start the second half, but then allowed an Aggies 50-yard punt return touchdown to make it 42-7 after going three-and-out on their first drive. Lahay and Dickerson ended the 42 unanswered point run by the Aggies with a 56-yard touchdown completion on 4^th and 1 on the next Lions drive to bring the score to 42-14. Senior defensive lineman David Sanchez blocked an Aggies punt on their next drive, but the Lions were unable to gain a first down on the ensuing possession. Delaware Valley would score one last touchdown with 3:51 left in the game on a 10-play 60-yard drive in the fourth quarter after an interception from freshman quarterback Todd Shelley.
 
Sophomore linebacker Nate Steffen and freshman safety Jaylan Lawson each tallied nine tackles to lead the Lions, while freshman linebacker Daniel Vital added eight tackles including his first collegiate sack. Senior Zack Marini and junior Tyler Foster also combined on a sack as well. The Aggies held a 418-248 advantage in total yards and forced three Lion turnovers. Albright held the Aggies to be 3-of-11 on third down, but only went 4-of-13 themselves. Aggie quarterback Dashawn Darden went 9-of-16 passing with 167 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another two touchdowns on the ground. Running back Mario Nigro finished with 107 yards on 15 carries.
 
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, November 3^rd when they will host Misericordia for senior day at 1 p.m.