LAKENHEATH, England – If close football games prepare a team for the postseason, the Vilseck Falcons must be playoff-ready by now. Vilseck played its third nail-biter in four games this season Saturday, this time dodging an upset bid from winless host Lakenheath in a 17-14 victory. The Falcons are back to .500 with the win, a fitting place for a team that has played the whole season teetering between wins and losses. They started their year with a heartbreaking 14-13 loss to Kaiserslautern. Last week, they beat Wiesbaden by the same 14-13 score. It was anyone’s guess into which column Saturday’s game would fall until it was over. Lakenheath led at halftime 7-3 behind the first of two touchdowns by Ben Ciero, and took possession in the final minutes trailing by just three. But the Lancers’ 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired.

Vilseck’s touchdowns came on a Will Peters run and a 61-yard pass from Brittion Blackman to Ben Miser. Caleb Miller knocked in a 15-yard field goal for what proved to be the decisive three points. Vilseck can clinch a Division I playoff berth with a win next Saturday at winless Patch. Lakenheath will look for a win Saturday at Kaiserslautern and Oct. 19 versus Patch.