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RAF LAKENHEATH, United Kingdom -- The Lakenheath Lancers will be overlooked no longer.

After two winless seasons, the perennial DODDS-Europe pushover shoved its way squarely into the Division I playoff picture Saturday with a gritty 25-15 defeat of the visiting Vilseck Falcons.

Workhorse running back Marcus Smith starred again, carrying 25 times for 262 yards and a touchdown. Colten Menges and Lamont Scott also found the end zone and Jake Croft converted 15 and 25-yard field goals to round out the Lancer offense.

Menges also spearheaded a Lancer defense that limited the Falcon offense to a single score in each half. Menges had 12 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Croft and Smith also produced stellar iron-man stat lines, with Croft making seven tackles and Smith adding six. Asher Cedillo added six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Austin Archangel found Xavier Scott for a 75-yard touchdown pass and Derek Davis scored on a 15-yard run for Vilseck.

The win improves Lakenheath to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in divisional play. The Lancers are in line for one of four spots in the Division I semifinals, ahead of winless Kaiserslautern and Vilseck, the two teams they've beaten so far this season.

Vilseck is trending the opposite direction, with two straight losses in Division I play after forcing defending champion Ramstein to a 7-7 tie in a season opener that doesn't count towards playoff seeding.

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