PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle (2-3, 1-0 MAAC) football team fended off a third quarter charge from Iona  (2-3, 0-1) and picked up its second consecutive win in a 39-32 double-overtime thriller. Greg Vaccaro (West Essex, NJ/West Essex) hauled in a pass from quarterback Michael Jump (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) in the second extra frame and the Explorers' defense held off the Gaels' last attempt.

 

The Explorers got on the board in the first quarter when Jump, making his first appearance since suffering a concussion against Ursinus on Sept. 17, found Bernie Cevis (Port Deposit, MD/Hartford Tech) open in the end zone for a touchdown.

 

La Salle struck again later in the half when Jump found John Zabel (Ellicot City, MD/Mt. Hebron) for a 92-yard reception. Facing third-and-20 on the eight-yard line after a pair of penalties, Jump dropped back to pass, scrambled to avoid a hit, and hit the open abel at midfield, who found wide open spaces on his way to the end zone. After a Josh Brumfield (Chester Springs, PA/Owen J. Roberts) score, the Explorers headed into the locker room at halftime with a 19-0 lead.

 

The second half would be a different story. At the opening of the third quarter, the Gaels finally found their way onto the scoreboard. Iona drove the field and scored on a quarterback keeper by Dustin Croick to make the score 19-7.

 

After an Explorer fumble was recovered by the Gaels, Iona struck again, this time on a reception by Dennis Calcione. Iona scored again on its next possession on a seven-yard rush by Maurice Thomas to take the lead 21-19.

 

 

The Explorers charged right back at the outset of the fourth quarter with a 17-yard touchdown run by Brumfield. Brumfield took the handoff and was nearly tackled for a loss, but broke free and made his way up the sideline for the score. The drive was set up by a 40-yard kick return by Dwayne Lodge (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) and an ensuing 15-yard personal foul penalty on Iona. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, the score was 25-24 La Salle.

 

The Gaels answered back with another Thomas touchdown, before Zabel broke off a 35-yard score to send the game to overtime.

 

Zabel caught two touchdowns and had 195 yards on seven receptions. Jump threw for five scores and 325 yards on 20-for-34 passing.