By Marc Narducci

This is why they stay in the weight room on those hot summer nights and never lose focus even when a season starts with frustration.

Rancocas Valley's football team experienced one of those rewarding moments with Saturday's comeback 35-28 win over visiting Lenape in a Burlco/Olympic American football game.

It was the first win in four games for the Red Devils, who were 7-3 last year but hit hard by graduation.

Not only did Rancocas Valley lose the first three games, but loss No. 4 appeared imminent when Lenape's Nick Wagner scored his second touchdown of the day on a 3-yard run to boost the Indians' lead to 28-13 with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

After that, Rancocas Valley scored the next 22 points, in a true measure of perseverance and desire.

"We started working for this season right after Thanksgiving," said quarterback Ryan Kaylor, who completed 18 of 33 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. "And when something like this happens, it feels so good."

It was true gut-check time for the Red Devils, since Lenape had taken a 15-point lead late in the third quarter.

Kaylor then connected with Mick Paye on a 5-yard scoring pass and with Tariq Jett on the two-point conversion, and the Red Devils were within a touchdown, 28-21.

They made it 28-27 on Jerome Williams' 2-yard run, but the conversion kick was blocked.

Then came the turning point of the game, when a former fullback playing defensive tackle suddenly looked more like a running back.

Rancocas Valley junior Chris Purnell intercepted a deflected pass and rumbled 25 yards for the touchdown with 7:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"I used to run the ball, and all I was thinking was to get to the end zone," Purnell said.

Even after his play, Rancocas Valley coach Sam Jenkins laughed when asked whether the 5-foot-8, 250-pound Purnell had earned any carries.

"No, he's staying on defense," Jenkins said.

In between the levity, Jenkins had a serious message for his team after this emotional win over an improved Lenape team that is now 2-3.

"I told them that life isn't about what happens to you," Jenkins said. "It's how you react to what happens."

Even as his team was going 0-3, Jenkins liked the way it reacted not only Saturday but in practice leading up to the game. The losses were to Moorestown, Eastern, and Washington Township - three teams that are a combined 11-3, so the Red Devils didn't have the luxury of easing into the schedule.

Most impressive was that Rancocas Valley kept playing and fighting and received great senior leadership from Kaylor as well as Paye, who had eight receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

"Even down 15, all we kept saying was to do our assignments," Paye said. "We stayed together."

It was the Red Devils' passing game that earned the admiration of Lenape coach Greg Harvey.

"Their quarterback and wide receivers were outstanding," Harvey said.

Even the defense, which was having problems stopping Lenape's running game, stiffened in the fourth quarter.

"This game was a microcosm of our season, where we started poorly and kept getting better," Jenkins said. "The thing about our players is that they made mistakes, but they learned from the mistakes."

They also taught a pretty good lesson about never giving up.

Lenape   7 14 7 0 - 28

Rancocas Valley   0 13 8 14 - 35

L: Nick Wagner 15 run (Tyler Sharp kick)

RV: Mick Paye 24 pass from Ryan Kaylor (Ed Larkin kick)

L: Maceo Morris 2 run (Sharp kick)

RV: Kareem Jones 44 pass from Kaylor (kick failed)

L: Tahron Earl 90 kickoff return (Sharp kick)

L: Wagner 3 run (Sharp kick)

RV: Paye 5 pass from Kaylor (Tariq Jett pass from Kaylor)

RV: Jerome Williams 2 run (kick failed)

RV: Chris Purnell 25 interception return (Jett pass from Kaylor)

Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.