By Tucker Bogacki ‘28, staff writer
The Dutchmen have won!
LVC pounced on Widener early and never looked back, scoring 14 points in each of the first three quarters leading to a 45-2 victory.
Captain and starting linebacker Brandon Choi started off the game with a first drive interception and returned it to the one-yard line. After Jayden Stanfield’s first touchdown, another captain and starting linebacker, JD McCallion forced a fumble and the Dutchmen recovered. After Stanfield’s second, the Dutchmen kept on rolling.
Jayden Stanfield, a junior running back who transferred from Alvernia in the spring, tied a school record with five total touchdowns. The last player to score five times in a single game for LVC was Hunter Wilson, which was also coincidentally against Widener.
Stanfield was previously on a 0-10 team, last year at Alvernia. This was his first varsity collegiate win, and he definitely earned it.
“It truly means the world to me this is my first true win on a college football field and I’m thankful for the experience with some of the best teammates,” Stanfield said.
Stanfield rushed for 208 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. He added in the passing game as well, catching three passes for 26 yards and another touchdown. His average yard per carry was also 9.0 yards.
LVC’s defense is one of the most feared in the MAC, year in and year out. Longtime linebackers coach Jack Beidler, was recently promoted to Defensive Coordinator. Coach Beidler also still juggles with assistant linebackers coach and Defensive line. A huge bright spot this season has been Brandon Choi, Captain and starting linebacker. Choi led the game in tackles with a combined 12, going along with his near pic-six.
“Everyone played with swagger, intensity, and just a joy of having fun, understanding that it’s the same game we have played since we were kids. I love this group of guys and am really excited to see what the next few weeks holds for us after that performance,” Choi said after being asked how it feels to win at LVC, after being out all of last year due to injury.
On the field, the defense is surely run by Choi and fellow linebacker and captain JD McCallion, but the Dutchmen have contributors all over the field, especially on the D-Line.
“Guys such as Calvin Bent, Shea Makosy, Kaies Handy, Dakota Baublitz and Jaden Small, and others are guys I owe a portion of my success to. Without them I would not be able to do what I have been able to do so far this season,” Choi said.
Right before halftime, Caden Mengel, a freshman quarterback, took full advantage of an opportunity and found Stanfield who ran it in for a 17-yard touchdown. It was Mengel’s first career touchdown pass.
I asked Jayden how important it is to ease a guy like Caden into this role and how they game planned to make him feel comfortable.
“It’s very important to build confidence in the young guys like Caden Mengel, he’s very talented and plays with a swagger to him that will continue to grow and take him to that next level,” Stanfield said. “Our offense allows him to get his feet wet without making him think too much which allows him to just go out there and have fun and that’s important for these young guys.”.
LVC football has had many changes over the last few years, with three head coaches in the last four years and 40 graduating seniors in last years class of 2026. They were a total of five points away from winning the conference last year, and this year they dropped the first six games on their schedule. Despite a long list of players on the injured reserve and a young core out on the field, the Dutchmen have been in every game so far this season. But head coach Chris Thompson doesn’t want to use any of those as excuses.
“We have been in every game but the 2nd half of Eastern and if a couple plays go our way, we are certainly not 1-5 in the MAC but the reality is we are and it starts with me,” Thompson said.
His message to his team over the last few weeks has been simple and clear.
“Focus on the process, stay positive and driven while we try to overcome all of these obstacles and adversity. We talked about resiliency Saturday morning in our team meeting and how these seniors have done just that in their four years here,’ Thompson said.
The Dutchmen have had their struggles offensively this season but it looks like things are starting to click over the past few weeks with the passing game being elevated as well.
Stanfield, who started off the year injured and unable to play, has been just the spark they needed and has certainly been a leader on the field.
“We know what we got at LVC and no matter who’s against us, we like us. We trust one another to do there 1/11,” Stanfield said.
When I was talking with Coach Thompson, he expressed how Coach Melhorn and himself have been focusing on their preparation and getting this offense where it needs to be.
“We have certainly been working together behind the scenes under my direction the last couple of weeks and I feel our communication on game day has been a lot better too. I am constantly looking at ways or situations within practice to elevate our play and these are things we will continue,” Thompson said.
Nothing feels better than a win, and Coach Thompson expressed how great it was for the guys to play the way they did yesterday.
“It was awesome and long overdue...it was a very dominating performance for us in all three phases,” Thompson said.
The Dutchmen have three games left and can still end the season on a high note. Their next contest is at Misericordia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. The annual Albright game falls at home this year and will be their next and final home game of the season. That game will also be their Senior Game, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m.