Madison, NJ (June 13)- Throughout the next weeks, we will be taking a look back and ranking our top 10 moments of the 2023-24 season. There were a ton of great games and performances from this past calendar year, and we are excited to look back and recap some of these moments with our fans!
Making our top 10 list at #9: Football Topples Lebanon Valley, 28-21
The FDU-Florham football team came up big on the road in Middle Atlantic Conference action as the Devils toppled Lebanon Valley, 28-21 on Saturday afternoon.
Offensively, Ryon Thomas (Mattapoisett, Mass.) showed out today with 320 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Both of those touchdowns were to Michael DeSantis (South River, N.J.) who caught seven passes for 110 yards and also added a rushing touchdown to his total. Aidan Clowry (Pawling, N.Y.) posted a career-high 94 yards on four catches while Nayson Brown (Red Bank, N.J.) totaled 33 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown for FDU.
Defensively, the Devils were led by Christian Puntolillo (Wayne, N.J.) who posted a season and career-high 13 tackles (five solo). Matt Heineman (Staten Island, N.Y.) had nine tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
The Devils got the ball first and took the opening drive for a touchdown to go up 7-0 early. It was a 12-play, 75-yard drive. On the drive, the FDU offense saw four plays go for 10+ including two receptions by DeSantis (10 and 21), a 13-yard completion to Adrian Reese (Indianapolis, IN) and a 13-yard run by Kwanir Edwards (Trenton, N.J.). The drive was capped of on a 6-yard touchdown completion by DeSantis.
Lebanon Valley answered the Fairleigh Dickinson touchdown drive with one of their own as they took a 11-play, 72-yard drive in for a touchdown. The Flying Dutchmen drive was finished off on a four-yard run by quarterback Brady Bohannon.
The Devils took the advantage right back and they scored a touchdown on back-to-back drives. The passing attack was once again in full forces as Thomas completed four 10+ yard passes to Clowry, Brendan Dennis (West Palm Beach, Fla.), DeSantis, and Anthony Bilotta (Ceder Grove, N.J.). The touchdown drive was completed on a one-yard run by Brown to give Fairleigh Dickinson the lead, 14-7.
The defenses held for four drives straight that all resulted in punts heading late into the second quarter. The Flying Dutchmen tied the game with 1:18 left to go in the first half after a 7-play, 55-yard drive. Bohannon found the endzone again, this time on a one-yard run to even the contest, 14-14.
FDU-Florham, on the two-minute drill, was able to go all the way down the field and score to take a 21-14 lead into the second half. It was a 7-play, 69-yard drive. On a trick play, DeSantis lined up under center and got enough push under center to get into the endzone from a yard out.
The third quarter started with both teams getting into field goal range and both teams missed their respective field goal attempts to keep the score at 21-14. After an LVC punt, the Devils extended their lead to 28-14 on another big drive that went 87 yards on 11 plays. The drive was finished off on a third and goal where Thomas found DeSantis again, this time from 10-yards out to take a comfortable lead.
The Flying Dutchmen, needing a touchdown, got exactly that as they took a nine play, 64-yard drive in for a touchdown. This time, Dion Bryant scored for Lebanon Valley from seven yards out on the ground.
Fairleigh Dickinson went three and out on the next drive and Lebanon Valley had the chance to tie the game if they could go down and score a touchdown. After gaining a first down on a 2nd and 12, The Flying Dutchmen could not find much after and on their final play of offense, Bohannon scrambled to try and get past the down marker but was stopped short by Ginika Ozurumba (Union, N.J.) and the Devils defense held.
The offense was then able to run the clock out and secure the big conference win.
FDU-Florham wraps up the 2023 regular season on Saturday, November 11 as they host Misericordia for a 12pm kickoff. The team will also be honoring their seniors before the start of the game.
For the latest on FDU-Florham Athletics, follow the Devils via social media (@FDUDevils) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.
