Delaware Valley dropped from Class 6A to 5A in football for the first time this year, but the Warriors have kept their ambitious approach to scheduling.
Playing in Orlando Friday night against one of Florida’s top Class 6A teams, the Warriors rallied in the fourth quarter and battled into the final minute before falling to Mosley, 24-23.
Delaware Valley moved into Mosley territory late and was in the Red Zone with 12 seconds left, before fumbling into the end zone where the Lynn Haven-based team recovered to seal the victory.
The Warriors trailed 10-0 at halftime and 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Delaware Valley scored touchdowns a minute apart early in the fourth for a 23-17 lead.
Justin Kalitsnik recovered a teammate’s fumble in the end zone, then the Warriors blocked a punt and Paul Weinrich scored on his second touchdown run of the game.
Landon Machado and Peyton Theodore caught two-point conversion passes to turn those scores into 16 points.
Mosley came back to take the lead on a Randy Pitman touchdown run with under four minutes to play.
Weinrich finished with 63 yards on 18 carries.
The Warriors used two quarterbacks.
Junior Tyler Bird went 7-for-9 for 76 yards while sophomore Logan Olsommer was 5-for-8 for 29 yards.
Jayden Ramirez caught 4 passes for 58 yards as each team had 6 players catch the ball.
Mosley had yardage advantages of 138-86 rushing, 130-105 passing and 268-191 total, but the Warriors made the Dolphins use 26 passes to get to that point.
Kalitsnik and Kolton Handy were in on a dozen tackles each for Delaware Valley. Kalitsnik had seven tackles and five assists while Handy had six of each.
There was a lengthy weather delay before the game started.
The challenges against larger schools continue for Delaware Valley, which travels to Harrisburg Saturday at 1 p.m. before opening at home Sept. 9 against Downingtown East.
