No. 10 Washington Township fell to 4-2, 3-2.
Last year, Lenape beat Township, 21-14, when the Minutemen were ranked No. 1. Yet because some of Township's starters missed the game for disciplinary reasons, Indians coach Bucky Mitchell said, ``I've had to read for a whole year that the win was tainted.''
``That was the biggest win we had in a long time, and we felt people looked down on it. That was no fluke last year, and neither was this.''
Lenape fullback Alex Medvesky adjusted to the sloppy field by rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
``It was tough because you couldn't go full speed to the line or else you would slip,'' said Medvesky, who also played a standout game at linebacker. ``My line kept opening the holes all game, and that made it easier.''
Lenape scored on its first two possessions, and both touchdowns were set up by turnovers.
Four plays after safety Jeff Bagnoli recovered a fumble on the Township 23-yard line, Medvesky scored on a 4-yard run. Chris Hogan's first of four successful conversion kicks gave the Indians a 7-0 lead with 9 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the next series, Lenape's Brad Strahm deflected a pass to Bagnoli, who made a diving interception on the Township 44.
After a 4-yard gain by Rob Gary, Medvesky finished things off with a 40-yard touchdown run. On both scores, Medvesky received key blocks from running back Nick Fazie and guard Mike Donovan.
With only 44 seconds left in the half, Lenape quarterback Greg Smith rolled out and hit Joe Vitt in a corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. That capped an eight-play, 52-yard drive.
It was Vitt's fourth touchdown reception of the season.
Trailing by 21-0, Township gambled with a fake punt in the third quarter, but up-back Matt Scarvaglione missed getting the 4 yards he needed for a first down by about a foot. That gave the Indians the ball on their own 48, and they eventually scored when Smith rolled out for a 14-yard touchdown run with 3:47 left in the quarter.
Two fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Scarvaglione made the final score respectable.
``The early turnovers hurt us, but Lenape just played better than we did,'' Township coach Tom Brown said. ``We were beaten by a very good football team.''
