Steve Adelman had a clutch catch in the closing minutes.

The Explorer defense held tough, sacking SFU quarterback Anthony Doria twice.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle football team (1-3) notched its first win of the season in dramatic fashion, defeating St. Francis (PA) 29-27 with a Kevin Sullivan (Nanuet, NY/St. Joe's-Montvale) touchdown that capped off an 89-yard drive in the final minutes.

 

Trailing 27-23 after a St. Francis touchdown reception by Michael Caputo with just over three minutes to play, the Explorers received the ball on their own 11-yard line and proceeded to rattle off a 10-play, 89-yard drive. Senior running back Steve Adelman (Tuscon, AR/PIMA Junior College) came up huge with a tightrope catch on the two-yard line. Quarterback Dwayne Lodge (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) dropped back to pass and, unable to find an open receiver, scrambled allowing Adelman to get open near the sideline where he hauled in the pass that would set up the eventual game-winning play.

 

After an Adelman rush for a loss of two yards, Head Coach Phil Longo called up a trick play: a reverse to Sullivan, who found the end zone for the deciding score. St. Francis had a chance to get off three plays before time expired, but the La Salle defense held on to preserve the victory.

 

Lodge impressed in his first start of the season in place of the injured Michael Jump (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South). The sophomore rushed for 134 yards and touchdown. Lodge also threw for 162 yards and a TD on another nice catch by Adelman. St. Francis quarterback Anthony Doria threw for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

 

Sullivan was a main part of the Explorer offense, averaging 14.5 yards per touch. He racked up 188 total yards on 13 plays.

 

The Explorers wrap up their four-game homestand when they host Iona on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1:00 p.m.