Blue Hen News:

Ryan Carty Signs Contract Extension Through 2030

1/14/2025 3:00:00 PM | bluehens.com 

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware and Head Football Coach Ryan Carty have agreed upon a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the football program through 2030, Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak announced Tuesday.

"Coach Carty is a proud Blue Hen who has injected creativity, energy and a winning mindset into our football program," President Dennis Assanis said. "He has led our student-athletes to great accomplishments over the past three seasons, both on and off the field. We all look forward to having Ryan continue leading our program into an exciting new era and wish him and the team continued success."

Carty was named Delaware's head coach in December 2021 and has led the Blue Hens to immense success over the past three seasons. The Blue & Gold has gone 26-11 under Carty and the Blue Hens advanced to the FCS Playoffs in each of his first two seasons, winning first round games in 2022 and 2023. UD has won at least eight wins in three-straight years for the first time since the 1995-97 seasons and the nine wins in both 2023 and 2024 marked the first back-to-back nine-win seasons since 2003-04. Delaware's win over Rhode Island this season was Carty's 25th career victory, tying him with David Nelson for the third-fastest Delaware coach to reach 25 wins.

"First off, I would like to thank President Assanis and Chrissi Rawak for the support and trust they have in me," Carty said. "I am incredibly honored to continue leading the University of Delaware football program through this exciting and transformative era. Over the past three seasons, we've built a foundation of success together—both on and off the field. It's a testament to the hard work and vision of everyone involved, and I am eager to lead this team into a new chapter of competition and growth."

UD's offense has been prolific with Carty calling the plays, increasing its scoring output and total offense each season. The Blue Hens have scored at least 40 points on 14 occasions and surpassed 400 total yards of offense 19 times, including 11 games with more than 500 yards.

Delaware has had 34 players earn All-CAA honors during Carty's three seasons, including a league-high 15 in 2024, and five Blue Hens have received All-America selections. The program has also been successful off the field with 254 CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll honorees, 14 CSC Academic All-District selections and two Campbell Trophy Award semifinalists.

"I'm delighted to have Coach Carty continue his tenure as our head football coach," Rawak said. "He is the definition of Blue Hen Built and represents the 302 with an innate sense of pride having graduated from UD. I believe in him and his staff's ability to continue to lead us into the new era of Delaware Athletics in Conference USA."

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Season tickets for the 2025 season, Delaware's inaugural campaign at the FBS level, are on sale now. Fans who purchase season tickets by February 28, 2025 can save up to 34 percent on their season ticket packages over single-game ticket prices. The Blue Hens will play six home games at Delaware Stadium, including non-conference contests against Delaware State (Aug. 28) and UConn (Sept. 13). Season ticket members also get first access to away game tickets, including UD's games at Colorado (Sept. 6) and Wake Forest (Nov. 22). The eight-game Conference USA schedule, which consists of four home games, will be announced by February.

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Temple University Names K.C. Keeler Head Football Coach
12.1.24 - https://owlsports.com/

PHILADELPHIA - Temple University has hired K.C. Keeler as the new head coach of the Temple football program. Keeler, a championship-winning head coach who has successfully built winning programs at multiple levels of college football, brings a track record of effective recruiting in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and elite-level coaching to the Owls' program. 

"Coach Keeler has a track record of evaluating, recruiting, and developing student-athletes into championship-level young men," Vice President/Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson said. "His leadership, experience, and the culture he establishes within programs are exactly what Temple football needs as we look to return to prominence in the competitive college football landscape. We are ecstatic to welcome K.C., his wife, Janice, and his entire family to Temple." 

"Coach Keeler is a proven winner, but just as important as that, he is a proven program builder. That is exactly what he did at both the University of Delaware and Sam Houston State University," said Temple University President John Fry. "He also led the Bearkats through a seamless transition from the FCS to the FBS, where his teams continually rose to the challenge. Coach Keeler is the perfect leader to help us navigate the rapidly changing landscape of college football and position Temple to compete for conference championships and play in bowl games. This is a great day for Temple University." 
Voted one of the 150 greatest college coaches of all time by Blue Ribbon ESPN panel in 2019, Keeler most recently served as head coach at Sam Houston where he compiled a 97-39 record over his 11 years at the helm. The Bearkats advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs six times and went a perfect 10-0 during the 2020 season to capture a FCS national title. 

Additionally, Keeler guided the Bearkats through their successful transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision as part of Conference USA, where they earned bowl eligibility this year with a 9-3 record, narrowly missing out on an appearance in the C-USA title game. 

"I am beyond thrilled to be named Temple University's next head football coach," Keeler said. "I would like to thank Arthur Johnson and President John Fry for this incredible opportunity. Their shared vision and enthusiasm for returning this program to greatness has been contagious. I'm eager to get to work to bring that vision to fruition for the Cherry and the White. It's a perfect fit and it feels great to be coming back home!" 

Keeler's experience also includes coaching stints at Rowan University (1993-2001) and the University of Delaware (2002-12), where he led the Blue Hens to three FCS national championship game appearances and won the 2003 title. Throughout his career, Keeler has earned several prestigious coaching honors, including the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS Coach of the Year in 2016. 

In his remarkable coaching career, Keeler has amassed 271 career wins, making him the second-winningest active college coach and 21st-winningest college coach of all-time. His teams have appeared in 17 NCAA postseason playoff appearances, 11 conference championships, and have played in nine national championship games across all levels.

Keeler made history as the only coach to win national titles at two different FCS institutions, having claimed championships at both Sam Houston (2020) and Delaware (2003). He was also the fifth-fastest coach to record 250 wins in college football history. 

Keeler's accomplishments extend beyond his team's successes on the field. He is known for developing NFL talent, including Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and 2018 second-round pick PJ Hall, and for mentoring 77 All-America players. His ability to cultivate academic excellence has also been a hallmark of his career, with 22 student-athletes earning national or district Academic All-America honors under his watch. 
In addition to his coaching success, Keeler has been involved in numerous community service initiatives. He and his wife, Janice, raised nearly $1 million as part of the One Campaign for the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware, and he has been recognized by the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation for his commitment to helping others. 

Keeler, originally from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where he played linebacker for the Blue Hens. He and his wife, Janice, have two children, Kate and Jackson, and are the proud grandparents of Gannon, Isla, and Calla. 

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT COACH KEELER...
"I'm so grateful of my time working with K.C. I quickly learned about his approach of putting people first and transformational leadership. He gave me the opportunity to grow as a young coach and steered me along the way. I will be forever thankful for my opportunity to coach for him. I'm excited to see where he takes the program at Temple!" 
-Dan Lanning, Head Football Coach, University of Oregon

"K.C. will be a great hire at Temple. His recruiting skillset is one of the best in the country. His success at Delaware and what he accomplished at Sam Houston State makes him one of the best coaches in the country." 
-Andy Talley, Former Villanova Football Coach; College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2020)

"Coach Keeler took a chance on me 20 years ago and I'll never forget that. I couldn't be more excited for him and his family. If you're an Owls fan, I'd be excited. He has been a winner everywhere he's been." 
-Joe Flacco, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts; Super Bowl XLVII MVP

"Coach Keeler is a great fit and a great look for the Owls! They will be competing for championships in no time! Every program he has been around, he has turned the program around. He is a great leader and always surrounds himself with great coaches. I can't wait to see this unfold! Congratulations to Temple, you have your guy!" 
-Mike Adams, 16-Year NFL Veteran; Captain of 2003 Delaware National Championship Team

"Bearkat Football has been very blessed to have had a Hall of Fame coach like K.C. have such a positive impact on our program. I want to thank Coach Keeler for what he has done for our football program and athletic department. I am so proud of all the successes our program has achieved on the field, in the classroom, and community under his leadership. He has worked hard to embrace and enhance our environment for student-athletes in the football program. I believe we have worked very well together through all the changes we have faced over the years and have developed a strong professional leadership group and personal friendship. I am very happy for K.C. and Janice to have the opportunity to be closer to family and their home." 
-Bobby Williams, Director of Athletics, Sam Houston

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Done Deal: K.C. Keeler leaves Sam Houston for Temple

Sam Houston Bearkats are looking for a new coach as K.C. Keeler accepts the job for the Temple Owls in the American Athletic Conference:
Mike Craven - www.texasfootball.com Dec 1st, 2024

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Wildcats Polish Playoff Resume With 38-28 Win Over Delaware
11/23/24 - https://villanova.com/

Villanova closed regular season and “Battle of the Blue” era with a rousing win on Saturday afternoon

Next Game:
Eastern Kentucky
11/30/2024 | 2:00 PM

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VILLANOVA, Pa.—The trophy is staying home, and as a result the Wildcats hope to as well as a potential host in the first round of the FCS playoffs. It was the end of an era in the last ever matchup as conference foes for Villanova and Delaware, who played their last regular season finale rivalry game at Villanova Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The game was well worthy of the classic battles these teams have waged against each other dating back to the 19th century, but the result was a familiar one as the Wildcats defeated the Blue Hens for the 17th time in the last 19 meetings.

Playoff implications were on the line for No. 15/14 Villanova (9-3, 6-2 CAA Football), while the contest was the last one for Delaware (9-2, 6-2 CAA Football) as an FCS program. The game was tied several minutes into the fourth quarter before the Wildcats scored 10 unanswered points for a 38-28 victory. How unexpected are the twists and turns that have defined this rivalry? The game came down to a made field goal kicked into a gusty wind at the 8:41 mark of the final period, followed just a minute later by a linebacker scoring his second offensive touchdown of the season.

Villanova and Delaware, who first played each other in 1895, agreed to a name for the rivalry in 2007 when the annual matchup attained the billing of "Battle of the Blue" and the programs vied for the Battle of the Blue Trophy each year. Prior to the "Battle of the Blue" era, the Blue Hens led the all-time series by a slim 20-19-1 margin. The tables turned as soon as the trophy came into play. Villanova went 16-2 in the "Battle of the Blue" era and the all-time series now belongs in the Wildcats favor by a 35-22-1 margin. Villanova has played – and beaten – Delaware more times than any other opponent in its storied football history.

If the finale needed a hero on Saturday, it had several, but maybe no one staked their claim better than fifth year linebacker Brendan Bell (Basking Ridge, N.J.) who is the first Villanova player in any kind of recent memory to score both a defensive touchdown and an offensive touchdown in the same game. He returned an interception 38 yards for a pick-six in the first quarter – his second career score and first defensive touchdown – and added it to it with a game-changing six-yard rushing touchdown to close the scoring in the fourth quarter. The three-year starter on defense has 10 rushing yards and two touchdowns to go along with making a reception this season.

Bell shouldn't quit his day job, though. He tied for the game high with 11 tackles against Delaware, recovered a fumble as time expired to end the game, and scored the Wildcats first defensive points of the entire season with his big interception return. Bell is believed to be the first player in Villanova's FCS era (since 1985) to score offensive and defensive touchdowns in the same game.

True freshman running back David Avit (Potomac, Md.) scored a touchdown for the fourth straight game as the Wildcats drove 75 yards on eight plays on their first possession of the game. Avit scampered into the end zone from the one-yard line with 4:39 to play in the opening quarter and the Villanova lead eventually swelled to 21-0 on Bell's pick-six with 2:55 left in the period and the first career touchdown for sophomore wide receiver Kenyon Miles (Huntington Station, N.Y.) on a 36-yard reception at the 9:49 mark of the second quarter.

Nothing comes easily in a grudge match, and the Blue Hens scored two touchdowns 41 seconds apart to tie the game at 21-21 going into halftime. Sixth year quarterback Connor Watkins (Williamsport, Pa.) restored the lead on a 38-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but Delaware answered again and tied the game at 28-28 with 1:44 to play in that period.

The score stayed tied until fifth year kicker Ethan Gettman (Daytona Beach, Fla.) converted an adventurous 31-yard field goal with 8:41 remaining in the contest. Kicking straight into a cold wind which gusted between 23 and 38 miles per hour throughout the game, he put enough power behind his kick to will the ball over the goalpost for a 31-28 advantage. The ball first soared high into the air and easily through the uprights before the wind nearly pushed it all the way back, fate and good fortune intervening to keep the ball just true enough for Gettman's fifth consecutive made field goal over the last four games.

Watkins ended the day with a team-high 79 rushing yards and a touchdown while going 13-of-30 through the air for 203 yards and the scoring pass to Miles. Seven different receivers caught a pass, including Avit who had three catches for 22 yards and rushed for 29 yards and his ninth touchdown of the year.

It wasn't just Bell who stood out defensively. Senior linebacker Shane Hartzell (Perkasie, Pa.) matched Bell with 11 tackles, four different players had a sack and the Wildcats made seven tackles for losses totaling 36 yards. Senior defensive tackle Obinna Nwobodo (Wilmington, Del.), a Delaware native, had two of those tackles for loss and a sack for a loss of 16 yards. Senior linebacker Richie Kimmel (Holmes, Pa.), redshirt freshman defensive end Nigel McSween (Newark, N.J.) and redshirt freshman cornerback Zahmir Dawud (North Brunswick, N.J.) also had sacks.

Villanova will await its playoff fate on Sunday afternoon when the selections for the 2024 Division I Football Championship are announced live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m.

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Football Falls to Villanova in 2024 Finale

11/23/2024 - bluehens.com 

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The University of Delaware football team saw its successful 2024 season come to an end on Saturday with a 38-28 setback at Villanova. With the loss, the Blue Hens finish the season at 9-2 overall and 6-2 in CAA play, while the Wildcats move to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Nick Minicucci passed for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 48 yards. 
Marcus Yarns ran for 100 yards and also caught three passes for 74 yards, scoring two total touchdowns.
JoJo Bermudez and Jo'Nathan Silver both also scored touchdowns.
Dillon Trainer made nine tackles to lead the defense, while Gavin Moul added eight and 1.5 TFLs.


HOW IT HAPPENED

The Wildcats scored on their first possession and doubled the lead to 14-0 with a defensive score.
Another score early in the second quarter made it 21-0.
A short field allowed the Hens to respond as Jake Thaw hit Minicucci for a 15-yard pass on a trick play before Bermudez scored on a 14-yard end-around rush to cut the deficit to 21-7.
The momentum stayed on UD's side as the defense forced a three-and-out before Yarns used a 19-yard run to set up his own one-yard score to make it a 21-14 game with 1:13 left in the second quarter.
Tyron Herring intercepted a pass on Villanova's ensuing drive and Minicucci quickly found Yarns down the right sideline for a 65-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 32 seconds remaining before halftime.
Villanova regained the lead with a touchdown to start the third quarter.
The Blue Hens answered with a methodical 10-play drive. Silver converted on third-and-seven with a 23-yard run, before catching a six-yard touchdown pass to even things back up at 28.
In the fourth quarter, a pair of UD turnovers led to 10 points for Villanova as the Wildcats held on for the 38-28 victory.

GAME NOTES

Yarns became the 24th player in program history to surpass 3,000 career all-purpose yards.
Yarns 100-yard performance was his fourth-consecutive game with at least 100 yards, the longest streak since Andrew Pierce did it in 2010. Saturday was Yarns' ninth career game with 100 rushing yards and fifth this season.
It was Yarns' 10th-career game with multiple touchdowns and seventh with at least one rushing and one receiving score.
Silver's touchdown reception was the first of his career.

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Postseason Implications Loom as Wildcats Host Delaware in Regular Season Finale

11/22/24 - https://villanova.com

Villanova enters play on Saturday riding a 14-game home winning streak dating back to 2022

VILLANOVA, Pa.—The most common opponent in program history comes to Villanova Stadium on Saturday afternoon as No. 15/14 Villanova (8-3, 5-2 CAA Football) hosts Delaware (9-1, 6-1 CAA Football) for a 1 p.m. kickoff. There are playoff implications on the line for the Wildcats in the final game of the regular season, while for the Blue Hens the contest will be their final one at the FCS level. The teams will be facing each other for the 58th time.

Tickets are available for Saturday's game and can be purchased via the link in this release. The game will be broadcast throughout the area on NBC Sports Philadelphia+ and can also be seen on FloFootball with Ben Curtis, Steve Pinone and Tessa Peloso calling the action. The radio call with Ryan Fannon and Kevin Reilly can be heard on the Villanova Sports Radio Network which is most easily accessed on the iHeart radio mobile app.

Villanova enters the final week of the regular season in a three-way tie for third place in the CAA Football standings. Working in the Wildcats advantage is that they have defeated each of the teams they are tied with, posting a 42-24 road win over Stony Brook (8-3, 5-2) and a 14-6 win at home over New Hampshire (7-4, 5-2). A win over the Blue Hens on Saturday would ensure that Villanova finishes no lower than third. Stony Brook hosts Monmouth while New Hampshire travels to Maine in games that will kick off at the same time the Wildcats and Delaware get underway.

The impact of Saturday's implications will be known on Sunday afternoon when the field of 24 teams for the Division I Football Championship is unveiled at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN. Villanova is vying for its second straight FCS playoff berth and third in the last four years.

Saturday's opponent is the most frequent one the Wildcats have ever faced. Villanova has played – and beaten – Delaware more times than any other opponent and leads the all-time series by 34-22-1 margin. The teams first matched up in 1895 and 1896, then faced each other just two times over the next 67 years. Beginning in 1964, there has been a Villanova-Delaware game in all but one year that the Wildcats have played a football season. The exception was in 1985 when Villanova reinstated football after a four-year absence and played a limited five-game slate in its inaugural season at the FCS level.

Entering play this week, the Wildcats are riding a 14-game home winning streak which began during the 2022 season. Villanova is 5-0 at home so far this season, including wins over Youngstown State (24-17) and LIU (24-10) in non-conference action along with Towson (14-13), New Hampshire (14-6) and North Carolina A&T (31-3) in league play. The 14-game streak is the longest at home since 15 straight wins at Villanova Stadium spanning the 2008 to 2010 seasons and encompassing the program's 2009 national championship campaign.

During the Mark Ferrante head coaching era (since 2017), the Wildcats have played their best football of the season when the calendar flips to November and the home stretch of the regular season. Villanova is 15-8 in November games under Ferrante, including this year's 2-1 record with wins over Hampton and North Carolina A&T to start the month. Ferrante is 17-10 (.630) overall in the months of November and December in his career.

One of the reasons Villanova has been successful in 2024 has been its play late in games. The team's most best quarter of the season in terms of scoring differential has been the fourth quarter when the Wildcats have a +45 (82-37) scoring margin against the opposition. In fact, Villanova gets better with each successive quarter of the game. Its scoring differential goes from -17 in the first quarter to +6 in the second period and +20 in the third quarter.

Another factor that has worked in the Wildcats favor this year is the turnover story. Villanova has played turnover free football in seven of its 11 games in 2024 and owns a +4 turnover margin for the year. Last season, the Wildcats committed at least one turnover in all 13 games they played. Defensively this season, Villanova has recovered seven fumbles and recorded six interceptions. In a statistical oddity, neither the Wildcats nor the opposition have scored a single point off the other team's turnovers in any of the last four games.

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Football Set to Close FCS Era at Villanova

11/20/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware football will play Villanova on Saturday, November 23 in the annual Battle of the Blue. It is the 2024 season finale and the Blue Hens' final game as a member of FCS. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Villanova Stadium.

ABOUT THE HENS

Delaware enters the week at 9-1 overall and 6-1 and in the CAA. A win on Saturday would give the Blue Hens their most wins in a season since 2010 when UD went 12-3 and advanced to the FCS national championship game.
Nick Minicucci was named the CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, his first career weekly honor, after passing for career-highs of 230 yards and four touchdowns against Campbell. He also ran for personal-bests of 78 yards and two scores.

Marcus Yarns ran for 134 yards against Campbell, his third-consecutive 100-yard performance. It was his fourth of the season and eighth of his career, tying him for eighth all-time in program history.

Four UD running backs have scored touchdowns this season, with Yarns leading the way with five. Jo'Nathan Silver and Quincy Watson each have four. Saeed St. Fleur has scored two. Yarns also has four receiving touchdowns.

Yarns became the 18th player in UD history to rush for 2,000 career yards, surpassing the mark against Rhode Island.

Phil Lutz caught a pair of touchdowns against Campbell to give him 11 touchdown receptions this year. He is the fifth Blue Hen all-time to reach 10 touchdown catches in a season and is now tied for second all-time.

KT Seay is tied for the CAA lead and is tied for fifth in the country with four interceptions this season. It is the most in a season by a Blue Hen since Nasir Adderley had four in 2018.

Gavin Moul's 63 tackles is tops on the team.

Delaware's defense held Campbell to 60 rushing yards, the fourth opponent held under 75 rushing yards this season.

The Blue Hens finished with a perfect 7-0 record at Delaware Stadium in 2024, the 14th undefeated home slate since the first full season at Delaware Stadium in 1953, and the fifth that has consisted of seven wins or more.


ABOUT THE WILDCATS


Villanova enters Saturday with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in CAA play after falling 40-33 at Monmouth last weekend.

The offense is averaging 23.4 ppg and 322.8 yards of total offense. The defense allows 18.5 ppg, ranking 10th in the country, and 315.2 ypg to opponents.

Connor Watkins, the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has played in every game this year and completed 52-percent of his passes for 1,619 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. He has also rushed for 316 yards and seven scores.

David Avit has rushed for a team-high 764 yards and eight touchdowns.
Jaylan Sanchez has caught 29 passes for a team-leading 416 yards and three touchdowns, while Devin Smith leads the Wildcats with 34 receptions and five touchdown catches.

Shane Hartzell is fourth in the CAA with 93 total tackles, while Brendan Bell is fifth with 91 tackles. Hartzell also leads Villanova with 4.0 sacks, and Bell leads the way with 13.5 TFLs.


SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be the 58th all-time meeting of the Battle of the Blue and will mark the 26th-straight season that the two local rivals will meet on the gridiron.

The Wildcats own a 34-22-1 series advantage and have won 12 of the past 13 matchups, but three of the last four meetings have been decided by eight points or less.

Delaware's most recent win over Villanova came during the 2021 spring season, a 27-20 victory at Villanova Stadium that clinched the CAA Championship for the Blue Hens.

Head coach Ryan Carty was 3-2 as a player against the Wildcats from 2002-06, winning three-straight games from 2003-05.

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Fourth quarter lifts Delaware over Camels 41-22

11/16/24 - https://gocamels.com/

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Marcus Yarns ran for 134 yards and Nick Minicucci posted four touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter, leading Delaware over visiting Campbell 41-22 on Saturday at Delaware Stadium.

Hosting their final home game in the FCS, the FBS-bound Blue Hens improved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in CAA outings, while Campbell dipped to 3-8 on the year and 1-6 in conference play.

Delaware found the end zone on each of its first four possessions, taking a 27-13 lead after Minicucci's three-yard TD run capped a 10 play, 74-yard drive with 6:34 to go before the halftime break.

Campbell clawed back with a 31-yard Connor Lytton field goal before the half, set up by Brandon Guzman's interception, and brought the score within 27-22 with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter on Mark Biggins' three-yard run.

Entering the fourth quarter in a five point game, Minicucci completed TD passes to Jake Thaw (17 yards) and Jojo Bermudez (38 yards) to seal the 41-22 win.

Yarns averaged 7.9 yards on 17 rushes, while Minicucci completed 16-of-26 passes for 230 yards with four touchdowns and an interception, adding 78 yards rushing with two more scores, helping Delaware rush for 299 yards, amassing 529 yards of total offense.

Phil Lutz hauled in four catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns, with Bermudez tacking on three catches for 56 yards and a TD. Gavin Moul made seven tackles with a pass breakup to lead the Blue Hens defensively.

VJ Wilkins totaled a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns on five catches, while Mike Chandler II completed 16-of-31 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Mark Biggins also ran for 44 yards on 13 carries.

Jalen Brooks gathered a game-high 12 tackles with a forced fumble and a pass breakup, while Jojo Pace made 11 stops.

Next up, the Camels will finish out their 2024 campaign at home on November 23 against Towson (2:00 p.m.). Delaware heads to Villanova for their final CAA Conference game. 

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Football Hosts Campbell for Final Home Game as FCS Member

11/13/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football will play Campbell on November 16, 2024, the Blue Hens' final home game as a member of FCS. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Delaware Stadium and will be broadcast on FloFootball. The Blue Hens will also celebrate Senior Day. 

ABOUT THE HENS

Delaware enters the week at 7-1, 5-1 in the CAA, and 6-0 at home. UD has wins over Bryant, North Carolina A&T, Penn, Sacred Heart, Monmouth, Maine, UAlbany, and Rhode Island. 
The win over the Rams was the 25th head coaching victory for Ryan Carty in his 35th game at the helm of the Blue Hens. He is tied with David Nelson for the third-fastest Delaware coach to reach 25 wins behind only William Murray (29 games) and K.C. Keeler (33).
Nick Minicucci led Delaware to its second-straight win as the starting quarterback, as he threw for 187 yards and a touchdown while completing 73.5 percent of his passes against Rhode Island. 
Zack Marker has thrown 10 touchdowns with zero interceptions and 1,011 yards in four games. Ryan O'Connor has thrown for 882 yards and eight touchdowns in three games.
Four UD running backs have scored touchdowns this season, with Marcus Yarns leading the way with five. Jo'Nathan Silver and Quincy Watson each have four. Saeed. St. Fleur has scored two. Yarns also has four receiving touchdowns.
Yarns became the 18th player in UD history to rush for 2,000 career yards, surpassing the mark on his 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against Rhode Island. It was his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, and seventh of his career.
Phil Lutz has a team-best 741 receiving yards on 27 catches with nine touchdowns. 
Lutz is sixth in FCS in touchdown receptions and ranks in the top six in the CAA in receiving touchdowns, receiving yards, and receiving yards per game.
KT Seay is tied for the CAA lead and is tied for fifth in the country with four interceptions this season. The four picks are the most in a season by a Blue Hen since Nasir Adderley had four in 2018. The last time a UD defender recorded five interceptions in a season was Adderley in 2017.
Gavin Moul's 56 tackles is tops on the team. 
Nate Reed set a Delaware record against UAlbany as he recorded his 38th touchback of the season on the second-half kickoff. That set the program's single-season record, passing Jake Roth who had 37 touchbacks in 2018.


ABOUT THE CAMELS

Campbell enters Saturday with a 3-7 overall record and a 1-5 mark in CAA play. Three of its five conferences losses have been by one score to the top teams in the league.
The offense is averaging 23.2 ppg and 383.5 yards of total offense. The defense allows 30.7 ppg and 397.6 ypg to opponents.
Chad Mascoe Jr. has taken most of the snaps at quarterback, completing 68-percent of his passes for 1,611 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions. Mike Chandler II has appeared in 10 games and started each of the last two, going 34-for-63 for 483 yards and five touchdowns against Elon and Richmond.
Chandler II leads the Camels with 471 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while JJ Cowan and Mark Biggins are averaging 49.0 and 43.1 rushing ypg, respectively.
Sincere Brown leads the CAA with 951 receiving yards and 95.1 receiving ypg, and is second with 56 receptions and 11 receiving touchdowns.
Jalen Brooks leads the Campbell defense and is second in the conference with 93 total tackles. He and George Wilson are tops on the team with 4.0 sacks. Three different players have each recorded two interceptions.


SERIES HISTORY

Delaware and Campbell have played just once before with the first meeting taking place last season in Campbells first season in the CAA.
In last year's meeting in Buies Creek, the Blue Hens scored the first 38 points and cruised to a 45-7 victory. Ryan O'Connor passed for 246 yards and four touchdown passes, connecting twice with Joshua Youngblood and once each with Jourdan Townsend and Braden Brose. Delaware outgained Campbell 408-288, including holding a 316-151 advantage in yards through the air.
Khalil Dawsey had two interceptions, returning one 100 yards for a touchdown. It was the fourth 100-yard pick-six in Delaware's history and the first since 2000. Jackson Taylor and Keeno Arrington led the defense with eight tackles apiece, while Dillon Trainer finished with seven.
Delaware assistant head coach Art Link was the first defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Campbell when the program was started in 2008. He held that position through the 2011 season, when he helped lead the Camels to their first winning season and the defense ranked 13th nationally in total takeaways.


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Rhody Falls At Delaware, 24-21, Snapping Win Streak
11/9/24 - https://gorhody.com/

How it Happened:

No. 11/10 Rhode Island (8-2, 5-1 CAA Football) ran out of fourth quarter magic, coming up short in a 24-21 loss at Delaware Saturday afternoon. The host Blue Hens (8-1, 5-1 CAA Football) scored 17 unanswered points and then held off the Rams, snapping URI's seven-game winning streak in the process.

Delaware scored on its opening possession, moving the ball 92 yards in seven plays, with Nick Minicucci scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. The drive was keyed by a 44-yard run by Marcus Yarns through the middle of the defense.

Rhody's defense came up with two big plays late in the quarter to help the Rams score 14 unanswered points. A strip sack by linebacker Harold Miles III gave Rhode Island the ball at the Delaware 35-yard line. Three plays later, Hunter Helms - who came on for an injured Devin Farrell - found Marquis Buchanan for a 22-yard touchdown pass on his first attempt of the day, helping Rhody tie the game.

On the ensuing Delaware possession, Minicucci fumbled on a 2-yard rush. URI linebacker Devin Hightower recovered the ball at the 21-yard line and returned it for Rhody's second touchdown in 13 seconds of game time.

Delaware came right back on its next possession. Yarns took a direct snap and ran for a 27-yard touchdown to once again tie the score at 14-14 just three plays into the second quarter. The Blue Hens added a 25-yard field goal just before the half for a 17-14 lead heading into the break.

Minicucci hit Jake Thaw with a 7-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone. The fourth-and-3 play with 3:56 to go in the third was reviewed and it appeared the ball moved in Thaw's hands as he slid out of bounds.

Facing a 10-point deficit, Rhode Island got a 20-yard touchdown catch from Greg Gaines III with 6:23 remaining to cut the lead to 24-21. A fortunate bounce on the ensuing kickoff meant Delaware started at its own 7-yard line. The Blue Hens converted a key third-and-12 from their own 5-yard line, which allowed them to eat more than five minutes off the clock as Delaware drove to the URI 38.

The Rams got the ball at their own 11-yard line with 59 seconds to go, but linebacker Gavin Moul picked off Hunter Helms to seal the victory for Delaware.

Inside the Box Score:

Despite the loss, Rhode Island can still win a share of the CAA Football title by winning against UAlbany and at Bryant. Because Delaware is transitioning to FBS, games against the Blue Hens do not count in terms of the league championship. So if URI wins its final two games and Richmond also wins out, the teams would share the title.
The Delaware results would still impact the league automatic bid to the FCS postseason. If Richmond and URI both win out, the Spiders' win over Delaware would give them the edge for the automatic bid.
Other teams could potentially finish 7-1, but because the loss was to someone other than Delaware, those teams would not share the title.
Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan had another big day, catching five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Hunter Helms was 15-of-23 for 181 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Linebacker Devin Hightower led the defense with 10 tackles, a 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown and two quarterback hurries.
Linebacker Gabe Salomons had five tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass break up.
Delaware had 17 points on three red zone trips. Rhody had a touchdown on its lone trip inside the 20.
The Blue Hens were 8-for-16 on third downs and 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversions.
The game captains were linebacker A.J. Pena and center Tre Alexander, while the anchor bearer was wide receiver Tommy Smith.
Tight end Jeremy Caspe and linebacker Gage Hinkley were the scout team players of the week.

Up Next:

Rhode Island returns home for Senior Day against UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is 1 p.m. on FloFootball.com.

=========================================

Football Holds On For Exciting 24-21 Win Over Rhode Island
11/9/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. - Marcus Yarns had a career day, and the University of Delaware football team remained undefeated at home with a 24-21 victory over Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon in front of 17,326 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 8-1 on the season and 5-1 in CAA play, while the Rams fall to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in conference action.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Nick Minicucci set career-highs with 25 completions on 34 pass attempts for 187 yards. He passed for one touchdown and ran for another.
Marcus Yarns ran for a career-high 174 yards on a personal-best 23 carries and a touchdown.
Phil Lutz caught five passes for 89 yards, while Jake Thaw also had five catches and a score.
Delaware's defense held Rhode Island to 300 total yards and just seven points after halftime.
Dillon Trainer led the defense with eight tackles and tied a personal best with 2.0 TFLs.
Gavin Moul had four tackles, a TFL and sealed the victory with a late interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED

A 44-yard run by Yarns on Delaware's first drive set up Minicucci for an easy one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Hens up 7-0.
Rhode Island responded with a pair of quick touchdowns off of two turnovers to take a 14-7 lead after one quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Yarns took a direct snap and tiptoed his way into the end zone for a 27-yard score to tie the game 14-14.
A 24-yard reverse run by Jojo Bermudez set up a 25-yard field goal by Nate Reed to give the Blue Hens the lead at halftime.
Late in the third quarter, Delaware capped a 12-play drive as Minicucci lobbed a fourth-down pass from the 7-yard line that Thaw made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone to extend UD's lead to 24-14.
Rhode Island cut the lead to three with a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Josh Cupitt pinned the Rams on their own 11-yard line with just 59 seconds remaining and, four plays later, Moul put a stop to the drive with his second interception of the season to seal the 24-21 victory.


GAME NOTES

Minicucci's touchdown run in the first quarter was the first of his career.
Yarns became the 18th player in program history to rush for 2,000 career yards, surpassing the mark on his 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Saturday was Yarns' seventh-career 100-yard rushing game, and third this season.
Delaware now has at least eight wins in three-straight years, the first time accomplishing the feat since the 1995-97 seasons.


UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will play their final home game of the 2024 season when they host Campbell on Saturday, November 16. Kickoff at Delaware Stadium is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FloFootball. Delaware will recognize the program's seniors prior to the game.

=====================================

Rhody Prepares for Game at Delaware
11/7/24 - https://gorhody.com/

No. 11/10 Rhode Island (8-1, 5-0 CAA) at Delaware (7-1, 4-1 CAA)
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. 

RHODE ISLAND AT DELAWARE - SERIES NOTES:

Saturday's game will be the 27th in the history between the Rams and the Blue Hens, which dates back to 1922.

Delaware has a 25-11 advantage in the series, including a 14-4 mark at Delaware Stadium.

Despite Rhody trailing all-time, the teams have split the last two meetings. Delaware won the last game 42-21 in 2022 while the Rams won 22-15 the year before.
That victory over the No. 10/9 Blue Hens, URI's fifth straight at the time, was sealed by a key Jordan Jones interception with 23 seconds left in the game. 
The former Ram had two picks against Delaware, while current defensive backs coach Henry Yianakopolos, who played safety for URI, had his first career interception during the game. 

Delaware was one of three ranked teams that the 2021 Rams knocked off, as they also took down No. 8 Villanova and No. 18 UAlbany. 

Rhody has not made the trip to Newark since 2018, having hosted the Blue Hens for four consecutive contests.

Rhode Island upset No. 15/16 Delaware 21-19 in its 2018 season opener for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2011. 

This weekend's game will be the last that the teams play as CAA Football opponents. Delaware accepted an invitation to join Conference USA as a full member, effective July 1, 2025 and will be making the move up to FBS Football following this season. 

RHODE WARRIORS

A win at Delaware would make the Rams 4-1 on the road, securing them a winning record outside of Meade Stadium.

It would be the first time that URI has had a winning record on the road since 2020 when the team went 2-0 in the COVID-shortened campaign (spring 2021). 
Before that, Rhody had not achieved the feat since a 4-2 campaign in 2001 (8-3 overall). 

The 1984 team holds the record for most regular season road wins at 5-3. 
URI had previously recorded four wins on the road in its 1955 (4-0-1), 1953 (4-1), 1952 (4-1) and 1934 (4-2) campaigns.

The team's only road loss this season was back at FBS foe Minnesota on Sept. 7 (48-0).

Rhode Island was shut out, 48-0, by the Golden Gophers.

MALLAY IN THE WAY

Defensive back Fredrick Mallay defended his 19th career pass during the win over Monmouth, moving him to 10th all time in program history.

The effort was part of a strong overall performance for Mallay, who had eight tackles and a fumble that he recovered for a touchdown on the final possession of the game. 

The Providence, R.I. native is now tied with Jim Robertson (1981-82) and Antonio Carter II (2020-22) in career passes defended.

Former All-American Jordan Jones (2019-22) holds the career record with 33. 
Mallay also surpassed 100 career tackles during the game against the Hawks and is now up to 102. 

His role has steadily increased over the past five years. He made six starts last season and has already done that in his redshirt senior season.

The corner has demonstrated his commitment to the team by playing through a hand injury that he suffered a few weeks ago.

For the past few weeks, Mallay has sported a club made from cast material and padding on his left hand. 

Having one free hand has not slowed him, as he has recorded an interception, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery with the club. 

DOWN, NOT OUT

The Monmouth win was Rhode Island's fifth this season when it trailed in the fourth quarter. 

Down 28-24 with 3:09 left in the game, the Rams made magic happen after beginning their possession on their own 31-yard line. 

Rhody drove to the Monmouth 24, and on third-and-3 from there, quarterback Devin Farrell connected with wide receiver Marquis Buchanan over the middle for a 24-yard touchdown pass. 

Buchanan's second touchdown of the day gave URI its first lead, as Rhody pulled in front 31-28 with 1:17 to go.

The Rams began this trend way back on Aug. 31 when they took down Holy Cross 20-17 in their season-opener behind a late-game comeback. 

Farrell hit wide receiver Shawn Harris, Jr. with a 31-yard touchdown pass to lift URI to victory with just 19 seconds remaining in the game. 

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Delaware's next opponent Rhode Island Jumps up Multiple Spots in National Rankings to No. 10

11/4/24 - https://gorhody.com

KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island Football achieved its highest ranking since the 2021 season on Monday morning, coming in at No. 10 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the Stats Perform poll.

The Rams (8-1, 5-0 CAA Football) were previously tabbed No. 12 in the Stats Perform poll back in 2021, which was its highest ranking in any national poll since a spot at No. 9 in the Sports Network Top 25 for the week of Oct. 30 back in 2001. That year, URI reached as high as No. 4 in the country for three straight weeks.

The highest Rhode Island has ever been ranked was No. 3 in the season-ending NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll of 1984.

Rhody moved up from its previous spot at No. 14 in last week's rankings from both organizations. A hard-fought, 37-28 victory over visiting Monmouth on Saturday (Nov. 2) at Meade Stadium helped bump the team up. A late touchdown pass from quarterback Devin Farrell to wide receiver Marquis Buchanan gave the Rams their first lead of the day at 31-28 with 1:17 to go before defensive back Fredrick Mallay recovered a fumble for a touchdown to seal the win. 

Rhode Island was the highest-ranked CAA Football team in the Stats Perform poll and was joined in the top 25 by Villanova (No. 12), Richmond (No. 13), Stony Brook (No. 17) and William & Mary (No. 20). The AFCA tabbed the Spiders ninth, the Wildcats 11th, the Seawolves 18th and the Tribe 21st. 

The Rams will hit the road for their next game, heading to Newark, Del. to face off against the Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on FloFootball. 

================================================

Marcus Yarns Invited to 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl

10/31/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football running back Marcus Yarns has officially been invited to participate in the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl. The longest-running college all-star game in the country, the 100th rendition of the game will take place on January 30, 2025 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas and can be watched live on the NFL Network.

Yarns is the seventh Blue Hen to be invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and the first since Bilal Nichols in 2017.

A preseason All-American and member of the 2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, Yarns is having another strong season for the Blue & Gold. He leads the squad with 72.7 rushing yards per game and 108.5 all-purpose yards per game. He has scored eight total touchdowns, four rushing and four receiving, which is among the CAA leaders despite missing two games. Twice this season Yarns has rushed for at least 100 yards including a career-high 142 yards at Monmouth, and he has scored multiple touchdowns in three games. He had 170 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns in Delaware's homecoming victory over UAlbany. The Salisbury, Maryland native received his first All-America award after a breakout 2023 season for the Blue Hens, earning a spot on the FCS Football Central All-American Third Team as well as All-CAA Second Team recognition. He led the Blue Hens with 939 rushing yards, ranking fourth in the nation with 6.90 yards per carry and had four games with at least 100 yards rushing. Yarns accounted for 1,250 total all-purpose yards as he also caught 24 passes for 311 yards. He ranked second in the country with 18 total touchdowns on the season, and fourth with 15 rushing scores which ranked ninth in Delaware's single-season history. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of UD's 13 games and had multiple scores in six games, highlighted by a five-touchdown performance at Towson that earned him CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Yarns is 64 yards away from becoming the 18th player in Delaware history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards and his 31 total touchdowns is 12th in program history. Overall, he has nine career games with multiple touchdowns scored and six games with at least one rushing and one receiving touchdown.

About the East-West Shrine Bowl
The East-West Shrine Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best college football players in the world to showcase their talents as top NFL Draft prospects in front of all 32 NFL teams' scouts and executives. Many of professional football's most recognized and decorated players, including legends Tom Brady, Walter Payton, John Elway and current stars Brock Purdy, Zay Flowers and Isiah Pacheco, played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl has benefited Shriners Children's and its mission to provide excellent specialty care for children. This unique health care system provides excellent care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families' ability to pay for services. This special game helps raise the profile of Shriners Children, so that we can continue to offer hope and healing and reach more kids in more places. Through the experience, everyone connected with the East-West Shrine Bowl gains a deeper understanding of the amazing patients who receive care at Shriners Children's and the ways that they can support the health care system

==========================================

Second Half Push Not Enough for Football at Delaware
10/26/24 - https://ualbanysports.com/

Score: UAlbany 14, Delaware 28 

Location: Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware

Records: UAlbany (3-5, 1-3 CAA) | Delaware (7-1, 4-1 CAA) 

Short Story: The University at Albany football team was unable to overcome an early deficit in a 28-14 road loss to CAA rival Delaware.

Key Stat Lines 
Dontae Lunan led the team with 10 total tackles (three solo) and 1.5 TFLs.
Ron Holmes followed with seven tackles, three solo, 0.5 TFLs and a PBR.
Cam Stodghill recorded a sack, finishing with four tackles.
Myles Burkett went 14-28 for 208 yards and a TD.
Seven McGee led the receivers with three catches for 77 yards.
Caden Burti finished with one reception for 13 yards, a TD catch.
Faysal Aden led the ground game with 57 yards on 10 carries.
Jojo Uga recorded a TD on the ground, finishing with 38 yards.

Head Coach Greg Gattuso: "I thought for three quarters we were the better team. We played our hearts out. We spotted them too big of a lead and we get a critical call against us, it seems to be a pretty consistent theme… Our kids fought their tails off, we had a chance to get back in it, just fighting too much right now."

How it Happened: 
Delaware struck on their first offensive play of the game with Marcus Yarns running 69 yards for a TD. 
The Blue Hens made it 14-0 five minutes later with Yarns once again finding the end zone, this time on a 13-yard pass from Nick Minicucci.
UAlbany responded before the end of the first quarter with a 13-yard pass from Myles Burkett to Caden Burti in the end zone to make it 14-7. The score capped a five-play, 40-yard drive.

Delaware pushed the lead back to two scores a few minutes into the second quarter with a 16-yard TD pass to Ja'Carree Kelly on fourth down, finishing a 12-play 62-yard scoring drive.
With just about four minutes remaining in the first half, UAlbany missed a 40-yard field goal attempt short and to the right.

The first half ended with another missed field goal from the Great Danes. Delaware's Mysonne Pollard blocked a 42-yard attempt to keep the score 21-7 going into the locker room.

The Great Danes started the second half with a monster drive, eating nearly 10 minutes of clock on 17 plays before Jojo Uga punched in a one-yard run for the score. It marked the fifth consecutive game the rookie running back found the end zone.

The final score of the game didn't come until midway through the fourth quarter when Delaware's Yarns scored his third TD of the afternoon, this one a 30-yard reception.

Next: The Great Danes return home to Casey Stadium next Saturday to host the team's annual Pink Game against UNH. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X and Instagram and by following UAlbany Athletics on Facebook. 

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Yarns' Three Touchdowns Leads Football Past UAlbany on Homecoming

10/26/2024 - BLUEHENS.COM

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team scored on the first play of the game and led from start to finish for a 28-14 over UAlbany on Saturday afternoon in front of a Homecoming crowd of 17,847 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the CAA, while the Great Danes fall to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Nick Minicucci started at quarterback and finished 18-of-27 passing for 173 yards and three touchdowns, tying a career high.

Marcus Yarns finished with 170 all-purpose yards as he ran for 127 yards on 13 carries and caught two passes for 43 yards. He finished with three total touchdowns with one on the ground and two receiving.

JoJo Bermudez caught six passes for 46 yards.

Gavin Moul led the defense with 10 tackles, his second game with at least 10 tackles.

Marje Mulumba had UD career-highs of eight tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
KT Seay had six tackles and his CAA-leading fourth interception of the season.
Delaware's defense allowed just seven points and 137 total yards in the second half and finished the game with 4.0 sacks, 8.0 TFLs and eight pass breakups.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Delaware started the scoring quickly as, after Bermudez returned the opening kickoff 31 yards, Yarns broke free on the first play from scrimmage for a 69-yard touchdown run.

After a three-and-out from the defense, Yarns took a shovel pass and scored from 15 yards out to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive to make it a 14-0 game.
UAlbany cut into the deficit with a short scoring drive, but UD answered right back with a 12-play possession that ended with a 16-yard touchdown catch on fourth down by Ja'Carree Kelly.

Mysonne Pollard blocked a field goal, his second blocked kick of the season, as time expired to keep it a 21-7 lead at halftime.

The Great Danes used a 17-play drive to open the third quarter and cut the Hens' lead to 21-14.

The score remained the same until the fourth quarter when Minicucci found Yarns on a wheel route for a 30-yard touchdown pass to make it a two-score game again.
Seay intercepted a pass at the goal line to stop a UAlbany drive with 37 seconds remaining to seal the victory.


GAME NOTES

Nate Reed set the Delaware single-season record with his 38th touchback of the season to open the second half. He broke the previous record of 37 set by Jake Roth in 2018.
Yarns' 69-yard touchdown run was the longest rush play of the season for the Blue Hens. Yarns has UD's two-longest plays from scrimmage this season including his 86-yard touchdown reception at Monmouth.
Saturday was Yarns' ninth-career game with multiple touchdowns, and third this season. He has six games with at least one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
It was Yarns' first career game with multiple receiving touchdowns.
Kelly's touchdown in the second quarter was the first of his career.


UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will have a bye week before remaining home to take on Rhode Island on Saturday, November 9. Kickoff at Delaware Stadium is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FloFootball

=============================================

Football Hosts UAlbany for Homecoming Weekend

10/23/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football will play UAlbany for Homecoming Weekend on October 26, 2024. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloFootball.

ABOUT THE HENS

Delaware enters the week sitting at 6-1, with wins over Bryant, North Carolina A&T, Penn, Sacred Heart, Monmouth and Maine. 

UD has gotten quarterback contributions from Zach Marker and Ryan O'Connor. In four games, Marker has thrown 10 touchdowns with zero interceptions and 1,011 yards. O'Connor has thrown for 882 yards and eight touchdowns in three games.

Four UD running backs have scored touchdowns this season, led by four from Jo'Nathan Silver and Quincy Watson. Marcus Yarns has three rushing touchdowns and Saeed. St. Fleur has two. 

Phil Lutz has a touchdown catch in seven-consecutive games, extending his program record. He also has a team-best 640 receiving yards on 30 catches. 
Lutz is second in FCS and tied for first in the CAA in receiving touchdowns and eighth in FCS and second in the CAA in receiving yards this season. He is the only player in all of FCS, and one of three in Division I football - Nick Nash (San Jose State) and Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) to have played a minimum of four games and caught a touchdown pass in each one. 

Gavin Moul's 42 tackles is tops on the team. KT Seay has three interceptions this season, which is tied for the CAA lead. 

Nate Reed has recorded 36 touchbacks on 49 kickoffs this season. He is already second all-time in Delaware single-season history and is just one away from tying Jake Roth who had 37 touchbacks in 2018.

Through four home games in 2024, Delaware is fifth in the country in total attendance (69,710). UD's average of 17428 is 10th nationally and would rank fourth in Conference USA.

ABOUT THE GREAT DANES:

UAlbany comes to Delaware Stadium with a 4-3 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the CAA. The Great Danes advanced to the FCS semifinals a season ago. The offense is averaging 20.4 ppg and 330.3 yards of total offense. The defense allows 28.9 ppg and 365.4 ypg to opponents.

Myles Burkett has started all seven games at quarterback, throwing for 1,585 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions and a .554 completion percentage.
Jojo Uga has rushed for four touchdowns, while Seven McGee leads the receiving corps with 36 catches for 472 yards and five scores. 

Dontae Lunan leads the CAA with 71 total tackles, averaging 10.1 per game. He is tied with Chiebuka Aduaka for the team lead with 2.0 sacks

SERIES HISTORY:

Delaware and UAlbany are meeting for the 11th time overall, with all of the meetings coming since the 2006 season. The Blue Hens hold a 7-3 series advantage, including a 4-3 mark at Delaware Stadium.

Six of the 10 meetings, including each of the past three match ups, have been decided by just one score.

The two teams last met during the 2021 season when UD rushed for 179 yards in the second half and held on for a 20-15 victory in front of a sold-out Parents and Family Weekend crowd at Delaware Stadium.

Dejoun Lee ran for 116 yards and a touchdown in the win, and Anthony Paoletti also scored on the ground. Ryan Coe kicked a pair of field goals. Colby Reeder led the defense with six tackles and a sack, while Nijuel Hill had an interception.
=======================================

Football Falters at Richmond

10/19/202 - bluehens.com

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Delaware football team dropped its first game of the season, falling 28-9 to Richmond on Saturday afternoon in a CAA matchup at Robins Stadium. With the loss, the Blue Hens slip to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in CAA play, while the Spiders improve to 5-2 on the season and 3-0 in conference action.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Zach Marker completed 20 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Phil Lutz caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Ty Davis led the defense with eight tackles and had 2.0 TFLs, while Melkart Abou-Jaoude had a pair of sacks.


HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Hens forced a three-and-out on Richmond's opening drive before Nate Reed gave UD a quick 3-0 lead on a 33-yard field goal.
Richmond scored on its next three possessions to go up 21-3.
Marker connected on long passes to Bermudez and Lutz on Delaware's next possession, before finding Lutz in the end zone for a 12-yard score to cut the deficit to 21-9.
The Spiders added another touchdown to take a 28-9 lead at halftime.
The Blue Hens moved the ball into Richmond territory on its first four drives of the second half but could not score.
UD's defense allowed just 98 yards in the second half and held Richmond off the scoreboard.

GAME NOTES

Lutz has now caught a touchdown pass in seven-consecutive game, extending his own Delaware record. He is one of three players in Division I to have caught a touchdown in each game played.


UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will return home to Delaware Stadium to open a three-game homestand. Delaware will host UAlbany on October 26 as part of UD's homecoming weekend. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FloFootball.

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SPIDERS FOOTBALL HOST DELAWARE

10/15/24 - https://richmondspiders.com/

Rank 15/18 Richmond
(4-2, 2-0)
DELAWARE BLUE HENS - undefeated
(6-0, 3-0)
Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 19, 2024
Kickoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:30 p.m.
Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richmond, Va.
Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robins Stadium 
Television
FloFootball & MASN
(Bob Black, Chris Anderson & Sean 
Robertson)
Radio
Spider Sports Network
106.1 FM ESPN Richmond
www.richmondspiders.com
Social Media
Twitter @Spiders_FB
Instagram @SpiderFootball
www.richmondspiders.com

What’s On Tap . . .
No. 15/18 Richmond looks for its fifth win in a row when it welcomes undefeated Delaware to Robins Stadium for Red Out Robins Presented By Chesapeake Bank . 

. . The Spiders are coming 
off their bye week, and before that, defeated North Carolina A&T at home, 20-17. . . The win over the Aggies gave Richmond its first 2-0 CAA start in a traditional season since 2015— a year that saw the Spiders open CAA play at 5-0, win their fourth CAA title, and reach the FCS Playoffs Semifinals. 

Series History . . .
Saturday’s game marks the 37th meeting between the two programs and the last for both as members of the CAA . . . Delaware has accepted an invitation to join Conference USA, marking a move to FBS, while Richmond will join the Patriot League ahead of the 2025 season . . . The Blue Hens hold the upper hand in the all-time series, 22-14 . . . The Spiders will look to even their home record against Delaware, where they currently trail, 8-9. 

Ground Game Prevails As Spiders Edge North Carolina A&T Win For Fourth In A Row . . .
The run game came alive against North Carolina A&T as two Spiders rushed for over 100 yards for the first time since 2015 to help No. 21 Richmond pass North Carolina A&T, 20-17, for the team’s fourth consecutive win and second Coastal Athletic Association conference win in as many weeks . . . Zach Palmer-Smith and Andrew King helped the Spiders average 8.2 yards a carry . . . Richmond’s 286 rushing yards were its most this season as it outgained the Aggies 410 to 349 in total offense . . . Defensively, Chance Graves led the Spiders with nine tackles 
(previous single-game high was 2), while Matthew Traynor came up with seven including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of pass breakups (one in the end zone) . . . Wayne Galloway also recorded seven tackles as well as a sack for a loss of nine yards in the fourth quarter.

There They Go! . . .
Junior Zach Palmer-Smith continues to lead the Spiders ground attack, picking up a season and career-high 200 yards and his team-leading seventh touchdown of the year on 25 carries to help Richmond earn its fourth consecutive win with a 20-17 victory over North Carolina A&T on Oct. 5. Palmer-Smith, along with fellow running back Andrew King, helped the Spiders average 8.2 yards a carry and are the first Spider duo to rush for 100 yards or more in a single game since Oct. 10, 2015 when Jacobi Green and Seth Fisher pulled off the feat against Elon. 

Palmer-Smith has now rushed for over 150 yards in each of the last three games and is the first Spider to do so since 2015 when Green did the same during weeks seven through nine. King is Richmond’s first true freshman to run for 100 yards since 2016. King’s six carries needed to achieve 100 rushing yards are the least for a Spider since before 1977 — the furthest back Richmond’s records go . . . Richmond’s rushing offense currently ranks 12th in the nation with 
214.2 yards per game. 

Field Flipper . . .
Punter Aaron Trusler has helped Richmond reach second in the country in net punting with 44.45 yards a kick . . . Trusler and the rest of the Spiders punt coverage unit are currently 10th in the country (1st in CAA) with 17 opponent punt return yards allowed all season . . . Against North Carolina A&T, he recorded a 75-yard punt, the second-longest of his career, just one yard short of his career best . . . Trusler is responsible for three of the 10 longest punts in pro
gram history with kicks of 76, 75 and 74 yards under his belt.

============================================

Football to Play Richmond on the Road

10/16/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football will play Richmond on the road on October 19, 2024. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloFootball.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Delaware Game Notes 

ABOUT THE HENS

Delaware is 6-0 for the first time since the 2021 spring season, having defeated Bryant, North Carolina A&T, Penn, Sacred Heart, and Monmouth. 

UD has gotten quarterback contributions from Ryan O'Connor and Zach Marker. O'Connor has thrown for 882 yards and eight touchdowns in three games, while Marker has thrown for nine touchdowns and 760 yards in three games. 
Four UD running backs have scored touchdowns this season, led by four from Jo'Nathan Silver and Quincy Watson. Marcus Yarns has three rushing touchdowns and Saeed. St. Fleur has two. 

Phil Lutz was named CAA Offensive Player of the Week against Maine after putting up 133 yards on five receptions and a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. His 56-yard scoring grab on Delaware's game-opening drive set a program record as he became the first Blue Hen to record a touchdown reception in six-consecutive games.

Lutz is third in FCS in receiving touchdowns and 10th in receiving yards this season. He is the only player in all of FCS, and one of three in Division I football - Nick Nash (San Jose State) and Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) to have played a minimum of four games and caught a touchdown pass in each one.

Gavin Moul's 36 tackles is tops on the team. KT Seay has three interceptions this season.

Nate Reed has shown off his strong leg in the kickoff game, recording 33 touchbacks on 46 kickoffs on the season. He is already second all-time in Delaware single-season history and he is just four away from tying Jake Roth who had 37 touchbacks in 2018.

The Blue Hens' prolific offense has scored 33 touchdowns through the first six games and has shown amazing balance with a near-even 18 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns. Delaware is one of just five teams (Montana State, Abilene Christian, N.C. Central, Monmouth) in FCS to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing scores.

ABOUT THE SPIDERS

Richmond is coming off its bye week and enters Saturday riding a four-game winning streak to sit at 4-2 overall and 2-0 in CAA play.
The Spiders are averaging 25.8 ppg and 386.7 total ypg on offense and they are second in the CAA with 214.2 rushing ypg. The defense is allowing 19.7 ppg - ranking third in the CAA - and 340.2 ypg.
Zach Palmer-Smith leads Richmond and ranks second in the conference with 115.5 ypg on the ground and has scored seven touchdowns.
Camden Coleman and Kyle Wickersham have combined to throw for 1,035 yards, while each has thrown a touchdown and three interceptions.
Carter Glassmyer leads the Richmond defense with 37 tackles, and Wayne Galloway is right behind him with 34. Jeremiah Grant is second in the CAA with 7.5 sacks on the season and third with 8.5 TFLs.

SERIES HISTORY

One of Delaware's longest conference rivals, the two programs are meeting for the 37th time overall with all but two coming since 1986. The Blue Hens hold a 22-14 series advantage, but the Spiders have won the last three matchups.
The two teams last met during the 2022 season when UD dropped a 21-13 heartbreaker at Delaware Stadium. Nolan Henderson passed for 196 yards in the loss and ran for a score, while Marcus Yarns added a rushing touchdown. Jourdan Townsend caught seven passes for 79 yards.
Delaware defensive coordinator Manny Rojas spent five seasons (2012-16) on the coaching staff at Richmond where he coached the linebackers. He helped lead the Spiders to three FCS Playoff appearances.

============================================

Black Bear Football falls to undefeated Delaware
https://goblackbears.com/ - 10/12/24

NEWARK, Del. – Maine Football led undefeated Delaware, 14-13, at the half but was unable to hold on as the Black Bears dropped a 44-21 decision to the Blue Hens on Saturday afternoon.


Maine trailed by just two with 12:00 left in the fourth quarter but Delaware concluded the game with 21 unanswered points to secure the victory.


Carter Peevy finished the afternoon 15-of-25 for 147 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Tavion Banks and Jaharie Martin each registered touchdowns on the ground. Montigo Moss guided eight pass catchers for the Black Bears with four receptions for 51-yards and a touchdown.


Xavier Holmes had a career day on the defensive end for the Black Bears as he registered a career-high 13 tackles, two for loss, to go along with a sack. Robby Riobe, John Costanza, Christian Thomas, and Kesean Dyson added eight tackles apiece. 


The Blue Hens opened the scoring on their first offensive possession when Zach Marker hit Phil Lutz on a 56-yard strike with 13:08 left in the opening quarter.


Maine responded as it found the endzone with just 28-seconds left in the first quarter. Peevy set the Black Bears up inside the red zone with a 28-yard strike to Mo Irefin. Five plays later, a defensive pass interference call in the endzone set Maine up at the Delaware two where Martin would take a direct snap and rush in for the score.


After Maine's defense forced a three-and-out on a big third down sack from Holmes and Jeremaine Baker, the Black Bears would fumble on their next possession. Delaware took over at the Maine 15 before Marker's second touchdown pass of the first half found Jake Thaw. However, Devin Vaught exploded through the coverage to block the point after attempt as Delaware's lead would stand at 13-7.


Two possessions later, Maine's defense again forced a three-and-out on another sack from Holmes. Peevy and the offense went to work as Brian Santana-Fis' rush of 12 advanced the Black Bears to the Delaware 19-yard line. Peevy stood in the pocket on the next play before delivering a touchdown pass to Moss at the goal line. Joey Bryson's point after try gave Maine a 14-13 edge with 3:11 left in the half.


Delaware setup its two-minute, driving the ball down the field to the Maine two yard line. However, Maine's defense stepped up on both third and fourth down as the Black Bears were able to hold Delaware out of the endzone and take a 14-13 advantage into the break.


The Blue Hens advanced into the red zone midway through the first quarter but Maine's defense again held strong, holding Delaware to a 16-yard field goal. The kick regained the lead for the Blue Hens, 16-14.


Delaware extended its lead to 23-14 on a 40-yard rushing score by Jo'Nathan Silver with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter.


Trevin Ewing, the CAA leader in kickoff return average, set Maine up in Delaware territory following his 60-yard return. A defensive pass interference in the endzone again set Maine up on the one where Banks powered his way in for the touchdown. The score brought the Black Bears back within two.


Delaware would close the game with 21 unanswered points.


The Blue Hens pushed their lead back out to nine when Marker and Thaw connected for the second time on a four yard pass and catch.


On the ensuing possession, Delaware's Ty Davis jumped in front of a Peevy pass and snatched the interception before returning it 34-yards for a touchdown. 


The Black Bears return home on Saturday, Oct. 19 when they host Villanova at 1 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend in Orono.

====================================

Second-Half Surge Leads Football to 44-21 Win Over Maine

10/12/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team outscored the University of Maine 31-7 in the second half on its way to a 44-21 victory on Saturday afternoon at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in CAA play, while the Black Bears fall to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in conference action.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Zach Marker finished 20-of-31 passing for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Phil Lutz caught five passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. It was his third 100-yard game of the season.
Jake Thaw also caught five passes and added a pair of scores.
Quincy Watson led the rushing attack with 66 yards on 12 carries and his fourth touchdown of the season.
The Blue Hens finished with 458 yards of total offense, including 179 yards on the ground.
The defense forced four turnovers on the day, including three interceptions, and held Maine to 229 yards of total offense and 51 in the second half.
Gavin Moul led the Hens with six tackles and Ty Davis returned an interception for a touchdown to help seal the win in the fourth quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On the opening possession, Marker passed short to Lutz who beat his defender and raced for a 56-yard touchdown to give UD the quick lead.
Late in the first quarter, Maine evened the score on a one-yard touchdown run.
On Maine's next drive, Nick Karika stripped the running back of the ball, and Nic Ware recovered deep in Maine territory. Five plays later, Marker found Thaw for a six-yard score to give the Hens a 13-7 lead. 
Maine connected on a 19-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-13 lead at halftime. 
The Blue Hens marched down the field on 11 plays on their first drive of the second half and a Nate Reed 23-yard field goal retook the lead. 
Jo'Nathan Silver capped off an 80-yard drive with a 40-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to extend UD's lead to 23-14.
Maine scored early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 23-21, but the Blue Hens answered right back with another long drive that ended with Marker finding Thaw for a four-yard touchdown. 
Davis picked off a pass and ran it back 34 yards untouched for the score to make it a 37-21 game. 
KT Seay came away with his third interception of the season on Maine's next play to set up a Watson three-yard score in the final minute to provide the final 44-21 score.


GAME NOTES

Lutz' touchdown catch on the opening drive was his eighth of the season and set a Delaware record as he became the first Blue Hen to have a touchdown reception in six-consecutive games. 
Marker has now thrown three touchdown passes in each of the past three games.
Davis' pick-six was his second interception return for a touchdown in his career, and the first for the Blue Hens this season. It was their second defensive touchdown in 2024.


UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will head back out on the road for a CAA matchup at Richmond next weekend. Kickoff on Saturday, October 19 is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FloFootball.

=============================================

Maine Football concludes three-game road swing Saturday at Delaware

10/9/24 - https://goblackbears.com

ORONO, Maine -- Maine looks to extend its win streak to three-straight when it concludes its three-game road swing on Saturday when it travels to take on Delaware at 1 p.m. The contest marks Maine's first trip to Delaware since 2021.

Broadcast Details:
Saturday's game will be live streamed on FloFootball and can be heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket, in Portland on 100.5 FM and 1310 AM, and nationwide at GoBlackBears.com.

Maine (3-2, 1-1 CAA) at Delaware (5-0, 2-0 CAA)
Date & Time Saturday, Oct. 12 | 1:00 p.m.
Venue Delaware Stadium (22,000) | Newark, Del.

Watch Web Stream: FloFootball
Listen 92.9 The Ticket | 100.5 WLOB | 1310 AM | GoBlackBears.com
Live Stats GoBlackBears.com
Game Notes Maine | Delaware
Twitter @BlackBearsFB

The Black Bears, coming off their bye following a win at No. 21 UAlbany, look for their first three-game win streak since 2021 when it travels to take on Delaware on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Maine enters action 11-26 all-time against the Blue Hens and have dropped three-straight in the series, including a most recent 34-24 loss to Delaware in Orono. The Black Bears are making their first trip to Delaware since the spring (March 6) of 2021 where they suffered a 37-0 loss at Delaware Stadium. Maine is 6-16 all-time on the road against the Blue Hens. Maine has won six of the last 11 meetings and two of its last three on the road in the series. Maine's last win at Delaware came in 2016, a 28-21 decision. 

The two teams first squared off in 1972. Maine is coming off its first win over a ranked opponent since March of 2021 as it knocked off then #21 UAlbany, 34-20, on Sept. 28. The win gave Maine its first back-to-back road victories since Nov. 2021. 

Maine's defense forced three turnovers for the second consecutive game as it held UAlbany to just six second half points. Jamaree Gibson's 78-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:46 left in regulation was Maine's first pick-six since Oct. of 2022. Maine showcased a balanced offensive attack with Carter Peevy finishing 20-of-24 for 193 yards and two scores through the air while Jaharie Martin rushed for a career-high 82 yards and a touchdown. Maine, which trailed 14-10 at the half against UAlbany, has now comeback from halftime deficits to win in each of its last two outings.

A year after only rushing for 100+ yards in four games while posting seven total rushing touchdowns on the year, Maine's rushing attack has shown much improvement in the early part of 2024. Maine has rushed for 100+ yards in each of its first five outings and has already matched its rushing TD total (7) from a year ago.

Over its current two-game win streak, Maine's 'Black Hole' defense has forced six turnovers (2 fumbles/4 INTs), allowed just six total second half points, registered 7.0 sacks, and have limited the opponent to just a 5-of-23 on third down (21.7%).
Delaware has opened the season 5-0 and enter play 3-0 at home in 2024. 

The Blue Hens, who have posted 42 or more points in four of their first five games, rank fifth in FCS in scoring (42.0) and eighth in total offense (470.6). Delaware has also been dominant on the defensive side of the ball where it leads the CAA allowing just 315.6 yards per game while limiting opponents to a CAA leading 17.4 points per game. Delaware boasts a +8 turnover margin with 10 takeaways on the season. The Blue Hens have tallied 31.0 TFLs and 16.0 sacks on the season.

A Maine Win Would:
...Be Maine's 12th win over Delaware.
...Be Maine's first three-game win streak since Oct. 16-30, 2021
...Be Maine's first three-game road win streak since Oct. 23 - Nov. 13, 2021
...Be Maine's highest ranked opponent its defeated since 2018 (#3 Weber State).
...Be Maine's first win at Delaware since 2016.
...Be Maine's third win at Delaware in its last four trips.
...Be Maine's seven total road win over Delaware (6-16 all-time on the road against the Blue Hens).
...Double Maine's win total from a year ago and match its total wins over the past two seasons (2-9, 2-9)

Tale of the Tape:

==============================================

Football Returns Home to Play Maine

10/9/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football will return home to play Maine on October 12, 2024. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloFootball.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Delaware Game Notes | Maine Game Notes

ABOUT THE HENS

Delaware is 5-0 for the second time in three seasons after defeating Bryant, North Carolina A&T, Penn, Sacred Heart, and Monmouth. 

UD has gotten quarterback contributions from Ryan O'Connor and Zach Marker. O'Connor has thrown for 882 yards and eight touchdowns in three games, while Marker has thrown for six touchdowns and 481 yards in two games. 

Four UD running backs have scored touchdowns this season, including three from Marcus Yarns, Jo'Nathan Silver, and Quincy Watson. Saeed. St. Fleur has rushed for two. 

Phil Lutz has a touchdown catch in each of the first five games this season, tying a program record. He is the fourth Blue Hen to catch a touchdown in five-straight games and the first since Jamie Jarmon in 2017. Lutz is just one of two players in FCS to catch a touchdown in every game he's played this year. He also has 414 receiving yards. 

The Blue Hens' prolific offense has scored 28 touchdowns through the first five games and has shown amazing balance with a near-even 15 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns. Delaware is one of just three teams in FCS to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing scores.

Gavin Moul's 30 tackles is tops on the team. KT Seay has two interceptions this season.

Delaware is 13-for-17 on fourth down conversions (76.5 percent - 12th in FCS).

ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS

Maine enters Saturday's contest with a 3-2 record and a 1-1 mark in CAA play, and is coming off a bye week after back-to-back road wins at Merrimack (26-15) and then-No. 21 UAlbany (34-20).

The Black Bears are averaging 24.6 ppg and 325.6 ypg on offense, while opponents are scoring 28.2 ppg and totaling 383.6 ypg.

Carter Peevy has completed 68-percent of his passes for 992 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing just one interception.

Jaharie Martin is averaging 51.2 rushing ypg and has scored three touchdowns.
Montigo Moss leads the receiving corps with 24 catches for 266 yards and a score, while Cooper Heisey has three touchdowns on six receptions. 

Kesean Dyson is atop the defense with 31 tackles and is tied with Xavier Holmes for the team lead with 2.5 sacks. Alhaji Kamara has three interceptions, which is the most in the CAA. 

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the 38th all-time meeting between Delaware and Maine. The Blue Hens hold a 26-11 advantage in the series that goes back to 1972 including a 17-6 record at Delaware Stadium. Six of UD's 26 victories have been via a shutout.

The two programs last met in the 2021 season opener when Delaware came away with a 34-24 road victory. UD jumped out to a 17-0 lead but trailed 24-17 at halftime before outscoring the Black Bears 17-0 in the second half. Nolan Henderson passed for 262 yards and had touchdown throws to Thyrick Pitts and Gene Coleman II who both surpassed 100 yards receiving. 

In the last meeting in Newark, the first game of the spring 2021 season, the Blue Hens cruised to a 37-0 victory. Dejoun Lee started things quickly with an 87-yard kickoff return on the opening kickoff and added a rushing touchdown later in the game. Henderson threw for a touchdown and ran for another while Ryan Coe kicked three field goals.

Delaware quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator Sean Goldrich overlapped with Maine head coach Jordan Stevens on the coaching staff at Yale. Goldrich spent three seasons (2019-21) as an offensive quality control coach and wide receivers coach, while Stevens was the Bulldogs' co-defensive coordinator.
==================================================

Monmouth's Late Comeback Falls Short in 42-35 Loss to Delaware

10/19/2024 | https://monmouthhawks.com/

Delaware 42 (5-0, 2-0 CAA)
Monmouth 35 (3-3, 1-1 CAA)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Monmouth's valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell just short as the Hawks dropped a thrilling 42-35 contest to undefeated Delaware in a CAA clash on Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium.

The Blue Hens jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal by Nate Reed just four minutes into the game. Monmouth, however, answered with a methodical 13-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Robertson to Tra Neal.

Delaware took control in the second quarter, going on a 14-play, 71-yard drive highlighted by Marcus Yarns' 1-yard rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion that pushed Delaware ahead 14-7. On Monmouth's next offensive play Robertson's push pass to T.J. Speight went for an electrifying 87-yard touchdown, leveling the game at 14-14. Speight was big for Monmouth, hauling in six catches for 133 yards and the long touchdown.

The second half opened with a long, clock-chewing 15-play drive from Delaware, resulting in a 5-yard rushing score from quarterback Zach Marker to make it 21-14. Monmouth responded quickly on the next play from scrimmage when Robertson connected with Gavin Nelson for a 72-yard touchdown, tying the score again at 21. Nelson had a breakout performance, finishing with five receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, Delaware regained the lead with Marker throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Phil Lutz, extending their advantage to 35-27. Moments later, the Blue Hens stretched their lead to 42-27 when Yarns took a short pass 86 yards to paydirt.

The Hawks, however, refused to go down quietly. Robertson led a late 8-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Sone Ntoh, followed by a successful two-point conversion.

Monmouth got the ball back with just over two minutes remaining after turning Delaware over on downs, but Robertson was unable to connect with Nelson on fourth down inside Delaware territory as the Blue Hens held on for the win.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"The number one thing that comes to my mind is disappointment. We put ourselves in position to win the game, we played extremely hard all the way through, as did Delaware, and I think that is one that got away from us. Not to take anything away from the University of Delaware, they are a great team, they are going to be a FBS team, and I thought we did enough good things to win, but made some mistakes that kept us from winning."
Head Coach Kevin Callahan

Delaware snapped Monmouth's three-game winning streak.
The Hawks are now .500 in 2024.
Delaware improved to 3-0 all-time against Monmouth.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
TJ Speight's 87-yard touchdown was his fifth-career play of 69 yards or more. Speight had a career-high 131 yards with six catches.
Gavin Nelson set a new career high with 131 yards receiving and finished with five catches, including a career-long 72-yard touchdown.
Monmouth had two receivers over 100 yards in the same game for the first time this season.
Derek Robertson threw for 361 yards, his fifth game above 350 yards this season.
Ryan Moran went over 200 tackles for his career after leading the Hawks with 10 stops in the game.
Isaiah Rogers also made a career-high 10 stops to lead the Monmouth defense.
Rodney Nelson led Monmouth in rushing with 76 yards on 14 carries.
Sone Ntoh scored his 13th touchdown of the season and the 27th of his career. He is now alone in eighth in program history in career rushing touchdowns.
Tra Neal caught a 6-yard TD pass from Robertson for his third receiving touchdown of the season.
K-Shawn Schulters had two pass breakups in the game.

UP NEXT
Monmouth has its bye week and returns to action on October 19 against Bryant. The Hawks' homecoming game will kick off at 1 p.m. and tickets are available at MonmouthHawks.com/tickets

=========================================

Big Offensive Day Leads Football to 42-35 Win Over Monmouth

10/5/2024 - bluehens.com

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The University of Delaware football team compiled more than 600 yards of total offense to defeat Monmouth, 42-35, in an exciting back-and-forth CAA game on Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in CAA play, while the Hawks fall to 3-3 and 1-1 in conference action.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Zach Marker completed 16 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 26 yards and another score.
Marcus Yarns recorded 228 all-purpose yards as he rushed for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown while also catching a scoring pass.
Jo'Nathan Silver also set a career high with 97 rushing yards.
Phil Lutz caught six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
The Blue Hens finished with season-highs of 607 yards of total offense and 309 rushing yards.
Gavin Moul and Jason Scott led the defense with seven tackles apiece, while Moul recorded his first career interception.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

After a strong three-and-out on defense to open the game, the offense drove down the field behind passes from Marker to Patterson and Lutz. Reed connected on a 23-yard field goal to give UD a quick 3-0 lead.
Monmouth answered right back with a long drive that resulted in a touchdown to go ahead 7-3.
Runs of 23 and 20 yards by Yarns set up a 24-yard Reed field goal early in the second quarter to cut the deficit to one.
Following another three-and-out from the UD defense, the Blue Hens embarked on a 14-play, 71-yard drive that was capped off by a fourth-down, one-yard touchdown run by Yarns. He also converted the 2-point conversion to put Delaware up 14-7.
A long Monmouth score tied things up at 14 at halftime.
The Blue Hens received the second-half kickoff and marched down the field on 15-play drive that was capped by a Marker five-yard scoring run on fourth down.
The Hawks again answered with a long touchdown to tie the game at 21.
On UD's next possession, Silver broke free for a 45-yard run that set up another fourth-down score as Marker connected with Lutz for a two-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead 28-21.
Monmouth scored again, but James Yelbert broke through the line to block the extra point and keep the Hens up 28-27.
Lutz was on the receiving end of another long reception from Marker, scoring from 29 yards out to extend the advantage to 35-27 five minutes into the fourth quarter.
On the next possession, Marker threw a screen pass to Yarns who followed a pair of blocks and went untouched for an 86-yard score to give UD a 42-27 lead with just over six minutes to play.
Monmouth scored to make it a one-score game, but the Delaware's defense stopped a final drive as Tyron Herring had a pass breakup on a fourth-down stop with just over a minute left to seal the win.

GAME NOTES

Yarns' 100-yard performance was his first of the season and fifth career.
Lutz caught a touchdown pass for the fifth-consecutive game to start the season, becoming the first Blue Hen to do since Jamie Jarmon in 2017.
The 86-yard pass from Marker to Yarns is tied for the third-longest pass play in Delaware history.
Delaware's 607 yards of total offense was the third most under head coach Ryan Carty.

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will return home to Delaware Stadium next Saturday for a CAA matchup against Maine. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FloFootball.

========================================

Pioneer Football Shutout at Delaware
9/28/24 - sacredheartpioneers.com

The Pioneers fall to 2-3 on the season following Saturday's loss

Matchup History:

NEWARK, DE – The Sacred Heart University football team suffered its second straight road loss on Saturday afternoon, falling to the University of Delaware, 49-0. With the win, the Blue Hens remain undefeated with a 4-0 record, while the Pioneers fall to 2-3 on the season.

SHU was held to just 51 rushing and 78 passing yards, respectively, by a strong Delaware defense that entered the game, allowing 325 yards of offense and 17.3 points per game. 

Sacred Heart had two quarterbacks see action in the game, including Cruz Herrera, who made his debut in the fourth quarter. John Michalski finished the game 14-of-22 with 78 passing yards. Herrara rushed for two attempts for a total of 11 yards. 

Records: 
Delaware (4-0)
Sacred Heart (2-3)

Top Performers: 
Offense – 
John Michalski: Passing (14 completions, 78 yards) | Rushing (20 attempts)
Jalen Madison: 10 carries | 30 yards
Ethan Hilliman: 7 targets | 4 receptions | 15 yards

Defense – 
Tyler Jameson: 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assist)
Isaiah Bishop: 5 tackles (3 solo, 2 assist) | 2.0-7 TFL-Yds
Ryan Moore: 1 tackle | 1 interception

How it Happened:

The first 10 minutes of play saw both teams battle defensively as the score remained deadlock at zero. However, at the 4:13 mark, Delaware's Zach Maker found the hands of Phil Lutz for the 45-yard touchdown pass, breaking the deadlock and putting Delaware in the lead, 7-0. 

Shortly after, Sacred Heart's offense returned to the field, hoping to even the score on its next drive. However, the Blue Hens' defense unit sacked Michalski and recovered the ball, leading to a 20-yard touchdown from Ethan Saunders. 

Trailing 35-0 at the half, the Pioneers could not stop the Blue Hens from tacking on an additional 14 points over a four-minute span to put the game out of reach for the Pioneers, 49-0.

Sacred Heart's final opportunity to break the scoreless drought came in the fourth quarter with 10 minutes left on the clock. The visitors put together a 12-play, 60-yard drive that set up Matt Kling for the 32-yard field goal. Unfortunately for Kling, the ball went wide, and the Pioneers remained scoreless.

Up Next:

SHU returns home to Campus Field on Saturday, Oct. 5, for a 1:00 PM showdown against Norfolk State on Family Weekend. 
===========================================

Blue Hen Football Dominates Sacred Heart 49-0

9/28/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team opened up a 35-0 halftime lead and dominated from start to finish in a 49-0 victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,054 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 4-0 on the season, while the Pioneers fall to 2-3.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Zach Marker completed 17-of-27 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.
Phil Lutz caught two passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Caleb Fauria and Sean Wilson each caught their first collegiate touchdowns.
Saeed St. Fleur and Quincy Watson each scored rushing touchdowns.
The Blue Hens gained 414 total yards, including 239 through the air and 175 on the ground.
Anthony Crenshaw led the defense with eight tackles while five different players registered a sack.
UD's defense held Sacred Heart to 129 total yards and 51 rushing yards as the Pioneers came in averaging 205.5 rushing yards per game.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

After both teams went scoreless on their first possessions, Lutz caught a pass at the 36-yard line and broke a tackle before taking it to the house to give the Blue Hens a 7-0 lead.
On Sacred Heart's next possession, Jason Scott stripped the ball from the quarterback for a sack. Ethan Saunders picked up the loose ball and returned it 20 yards for the score.
St. Fleur opened the scoring in the second quarter with a four-yard run before Marker found Fauria in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown.
A Quincy Watson four-yard touchdown run gave UD a 35-0 lead at halftime as Nate Evans intercepted a pass in the final seconds before the break.
Marker connected with Wilson for a four-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. It was Wilson's first collegiate catch and score.
Later in the quarter, on his first career play, Braden Streeter hit Wilson with a perfect 27-yard touchdown pass to provide the final score.

GAME NOTES:

Delaware's shutout was the program's first since the season opener of the 2021 spring season when UD defeated Maine 37-0.
The 129 total yards allowed on defense were the second fewest under defensive coordinator Manny Rojas, and the fewest since allowing 112 against Maine in the 2021 spring season.
The 49-point margin of victory was UD's largest since 2000 when it defeated West Chester 84-0.
Lutz now has a touchdown catch in each of the first four games this season, becoming the first Blue Hen to catch a touchdown in four-straight games since Vinny Papale and Charles Scarff did so in the same four games in 2018.
Saunders' fumble return for a touchdown was UD's first defensive fumble return for a score since Colby Reeder did so against Richmond in 2018.
Delaware's defense has now forced at least two turnovers in each of its first four games.


UP NEXT:

The Blue Hens will step back into CAA play next weekend when they travel to Monmouth. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

==============================================

Late Delaware Touchdown Dooms Quakers, Dropping Opener, 29-22

9-21-24 - https://pennathletics.com/sports/football

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Pennsylvania football team had a strong first half, but playing its first game of the season the Quakers were unable to sustain it against a Delaware program playing its third. The Blue Hens (3-0) used a dominant third quarter, a late touchdown, and a turnover in the final 90 seconds to slip past the Quakers, 29-22.

Quaker Notemeal
*Delaware extends its all-time lead over Penn, 4-3. The Blue Hens have claimed the last four matchups in the series.

*Malachi Hosley put on a show in the first appearance of his sophomore season, totaling 176 rushing yards on 26 carries. He's recorded four straight 100-yard rushing games dating back to the end of last year.

*Jared Richardson led the way with five catches for 98 yards, following his 58-yard catch to end the fourth quarter. He also scored a TD early in the first quarter.

*Julien Stokes returned from injury in style, recording seven catches for 91 yards.

*Aidan Sayin was 17-for-28 through the air for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

*On defense, John Lista finished with a team-high eight tackles (with four solos), followed by defensive backs Alec Wills and Julian Talley (6).

*Penn's defense totaled four TFLs, with one each for Sam Carlson and Max Matolcsy.

*Shiloh Means had a team-high two pass breakups, with one each for Wills, Paul Jennings, Devin Malloy, and Grant Parker.

*The Quakers led the yardage battle, 393-375, with 228 passing yards and 165 yards on the ground.

How It Happened
Penn received the opening kickoff and the offense got right to work to begin the contest. A 20-yard gain up the middle by Hosley put the Quakers in the red zone. Penn had 4th and 3 on the 25-yard line when Sayin found Julien Stokes for the first down. On the very next play, Sayin faked the handoff to Hosley, airing it out to Richardson for 18 yards and the score as Penn took an early 6-0 lead.

The Blue Hens also had a lengthy first drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. Delaware drove 58 yards down the field and got within four yards of the end zone before the Penn defense caused a turnover on downs from a drop.

Getting the ball late in the first and the start of the second, Penn marched 75 yards down the field and Sam Smith converted a 30-yard field goal as the Quakers took a 9-0 lead.

The Quaker defense did a fabulous job limiting Delaware on its next drive, as the Blue Hens gained negative yardage when Bryce Hall and Carter Janki combined on a second-down sack. That caused UD to punt from the Quakers' 40-yard line.

With less than five minutes to play in the half, Delaware used three minutes on a nine-play, 80-yard drive and scored a 47-yard touchdown (with a failed extra point) to cut the Penn lead to 9-6.

Penn was fortunate to avoid danger following an interception from Sayin, getting the ball back at the two-minute timeout after a Blue Hens punt. The Quakers made good use of the time, a 27-yard rush by Hosley and a 47-yard pitch-and-catch from Sayin to Stokes allowing them to cash in on a nine-yard fade route to Bisi Owens. That gave Penn a 16-6 lead heading into the locker room.

The third quarter was all Hens, as the hosts outscored Penn 9-0 and set themselves up for another score early in the fourth.

Ja'Carree Kelly set the tone, taking the second-half kickoff and running it back to midfield. It took just five plays for UD to score after that, as Ryan O'Connor found Phil Lutz down the left sideline for a 39-yard touchdown. The Hens went for two and were unsuccessful, and the Quakers' lead was 16-12.

Penn was unable to move the ball out of its end and punted, and the Hens went right back to work. Starting from its own 38, Delaware got the ball down to the Quakers' 18 and Nate Reed kicked a 35-yard field goal to get the hosts within one at 16-15.

Penn had a sustained drive after that, taking the ball from its own 25 and using 10 plays to get to Delaware's 22 before stalling. Smith came on to kick the field goal, but after getting called for a false start his 44-yard kick was just wide of the left post and it was still a one-point game.

The Delaware offense was still feeling it, and soon the Hens were in the lead for the first time of the night. The nine-play, 73-yard drive bridged the third and fourth quarters and ended with O'Connor throwing a touch pass to the left corner of the end zone that Jake Thaw ran under and caught ahead of a Penn defender. Now up 21-16, the Blue Hens again went for two and were unsuccessful.

Penn went three and out on its next possession, but the defense came on and held UD to a three-and-out and then Francesco Barone blocked the Hens' punt attempt. That gave the Quakers the ball on Delaware's 38-yard line, and then a defensive holding call was followed by a 13-yard rush by Hosley, getting the ball to Delaware's 13.

On a third-and-12 play Sayin found Stokes on the left sideline to give Penn first down at the 1-yard line. It took four plays, but on fourth down Penn ran an option to the short side and Sayin spun into the end zone to give the Red and Blue a 22-21 lead. Sayin's pass to Richardson fell incomplete on the two-point play, leaving Penn with the one-point lead with 6:02 left.

Delaware's offense again caught fire. The Hens needed 10 plays and a little more than four minutes to cover 75 yards, and they hit paydirt with 1:44 left when Jo'Nathan Silver ran around the left end and beat a pair of Penn defenders to the pylon from 13 yards out. UD then converted a 2-point conversion when O'Connor found Thaw on the right side. That left the Hens with a seven-point lead, 29-22.

Penn looked like it might be in a position to tie this game or even take the lead after Jared Richardson caught a pass from Aidan Sayin near midfield, shook a pair of UD tacklers, and raced the ball to the Hens' 17-yard line.

However, on the very next play Sayin threw to Hosley who was hit as the ball reached him. The sophomore juggled the ball and it fell into the arms of Delaware's Ty Davis with 1:26 left. The Hens were able to take three knees to clock it out

Up Next
The Quakers host Colgate next Saturday for their home opener at Franklin Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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Late Score Leads Football to Exciting Comeback 29-22 Win Over Penn
9/21/2024 - BLUEHENS.COM

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and scored the winning touchdown with just 1:44 remaining to win come away with a thrilling 29-22 victory over Penn on Saturday night in front of 17,848 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Quakers slip to 0-1.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS
Ryan O'Connor completed 25 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
Phil Lutz finished with seven catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Jake Thaw set career-highs with nine catches for 72 yards and caught his first touchdown reception.
Jo'Nathan Silver led the ground game with 56 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Gavin Moul led the defense with a career-high 14 tackles and one TFL.
KT Seay finished with seven tackles and had his second interception of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn opened the scoring with a touchdown on its first drive, but Dillon Trainer blocked the PAT attempt to keep it a 6-0 game.
After a field goal made it 9-0 in the second quarter, O'Connor connected with Lutz on a 4th-and-8 play for a 41-yard touchdown.
Penn added a score just before halftime to make it a 16-6 game at the break.
O'Connor and Lutz again connected on the first drive of the third quarter, this time for a 39-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 16-12.
A Nate Reed 35-yard field goal made it a one-point game after three quarters. 
Just five plays into the fourth quarter, O'Connor hit Thaw for an eight-yard touchdown to give UD its first lead of the game at 21-16.
The Quakers scored midway through the frame to retake the lead, but Delaware stuffed the 2-point conversion.
With just 1:44 left, Silver found the end zone from 13 yards out and O'Connor found Thaw for the 2-point conversion to give UD a 29-22 advantage.
Penn drove into the red zone, but Ty Davis intercepted a pass to seal the victory. 
GAME NOTES
Lutz has now caught touchdown passes in three-consecutive games. 
Saturday was the 20th career victory for head coach Ryan Carty as he comes the fastest UD head coach to reach 20 wins (29 games) since K.C. Keeler reached the mark in his 27th game.

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will be back at Delaware Stadium next weekend for a nonconference matchup against Sacred Heart. Kickoff on Saturday, September 28 is set for 3:30 p.m. The game is part of Delaware's Parents & Family Weekend.

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PENN Football Opens 147th Season Saturday at Delaware

9/18/24 - pennathletics.com

PHILADELPHIA — The University of Pennsylvania football team embarks on another hunt for an Ivy League title on Saturday, visiting Delaware at 6 p.m.

The Quakers, searching for their 19th Ancient Eight crown, tied for fifth place in 2023 after finishing with an overall record of 6-4 and a 3-4 mark in Ivy play. Meanwhile, the Blue Hens will take the gridiron for the third time in 2024 following back-to-back victories over Bryant and North Carolina A&T.

GAME 1 – PENN at DELAWARE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 | 6 p.m.
Delaware Stadium | Newark, Del.
Watch Live on FloFootball ($) | Listen Live (QAN) | Live Stats
Penn Game Notes (PDF) | Delaware Game Notes (PDF)

Football Is Back!
The Ivy League starts a couple weeks later than everyone else, but opening day is finally here as Penn opens its 147th season Saturday at Delaware. This will be the Quakers' first matchup against the Blue Hens since 2019 and for the seventh time in the program's history. Penn is 5-3 in season openers during the Ray Priore era after a 20-6 victory at Colgate last year.

The Delaware Series
Penn owned the series back in the "classic" era, having taken the first three matchups from 1919-1921 before Delaware won the next three in 1981, 1983, and 2019. Saturday's winner will take the lead in the all-time series.

The Last Time Against Delaware…
So close. On Sept. 28, 2019, the Quakers stormed out to a 21-7 lead before the Blue Hens fought back to take a 28-21 cushion late in the fourth quarter. Penn was set to get the ball back with under 3:00 to play, but Isaiah Malcome had other ideas and the junior took a Delaware punt 69 yards for a touchdown. The Quakers elected to go for two but were just short. One Blue Hen first down later, the hosts escaped with a 28-27 win.

Scouting The Blue Hens
It's been a strong 2-0 start to the season for Delaware following consecutive victories over Bryant (48-17) and North Carolina A&T (42-13). On the road against the Aggies on Saturday, the Blue Hens scored five rushing touchdowns while the defense didn't allow an offensive TD in the win. UD finished with 526 yards of total offense, including 201 on the ground as quarterback Ryan O'Connor completed 23 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for a team-high 47 yards and a score.

Delaware currently ranks first in scoring offense (45.0 ppg), second in red-zone offense (1.000), and third in rushing defense (70.5 ypg). It's defense has totaled four sacks through two games, ranked fourth in FCS football.

Preseason All-Ivy
Announced by Phil Steele on August 2, eight Quakers earned Preseason All-Ivy honors led by first-teamers RB Malachi Hosley, WR Jared Richardson, TE Bryce Myers, LB Jack Fairman, LB John Lista, and DB Shiloh Means. DL Paul Jennings and LB Kadari Machen earned spots on the second team.

All Eyes on J-Rich
The entire nation has been laser-focused on what Richardson will bring to the fold in 2024. The junior wideout burst onto the scene last year by earning first-team All-Ivy honors following a special season. He caught 67 passes for 788 yards and eight touchdowns. Already this preseason, Richardson has been named a Preseason All-America by FCS Football Central, Stats Perform, and Phil Steele and was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, awarded to the national offensive player of the year in FCS football.

Hail King Hosley
New number, same baller. Sophomore running back Malachi Hosley will rock the No. 1 uniform after wearing No. 23 during his freshman campaign in which he was named both Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Ivy pick. Hosley rushed for 723 yards on 121 attempts during his first season, scoring seven touchdowns. He was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year a program-record five times in route to winning the end-of-season accolade, which also included Freshman All-America by Stats Perform, Phil Steele, and FCS Football Central.

That's What We've Been Sayin
The puns are back, but so is Penn's veteran signal-caller. Senior quarterback Aidan Sayin enters his final season wearing the Red and Blue having started 25 career games, racking up 6,069 yards on 619 completions with 39 touchdowns. The two-time team captain enters the 2024 season ranked second among Penn QBs all-time in pass attempts (983), third in yards and completions and fourth in TDs.

Fresh Faces
Another season, more first opportunities as a part of the starting lineup for several student-athletes Saturday at Delaware. On offense, Aaron Kruse is projected to make his first-career start at right tackle while Sam Carlson, Carter Janki, Devin Malloy, and Josh Narcisse are poised to make first starts on defense.

Hey, Coaches!
Priore added four new faces to his coaching staff with Greg Chimera (offensive coordinator), Marvin Clecidor (defensive backs), Jordan Johnson (running backs), and David Josephson (tight ends) coming to University City.

Aye, Aye, Aye Captains!
Seniors Paul Jennings, Shiloh Means, and Aidan Sayin will be Penn's captains for the 2024 season, as voted by their teammates during the preseason. It's the first time since 2018 that three players were featured as captains. The Quakers had five captains in 2023 and four in both 2021 and 2022.

Follow The Action
Saturday's game will be streamed live on FloFootball with Jon Mozes (play-by-play) and Pat Devlin (analyst) on the call. Matt Leon enters his 21st season on the microphone as the radio voice of the Quakers, joined by analyst Hench Murray in his 43rd campaign on the Quaker Audio Network (QAN).

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Football Returns Home to Host Penn Saturday

9/18/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team will return home to host University of Pennsylvania, in a nonconference game on Sept. 21, 2024. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloFootball.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Delaware Game Notes | Penn Game Notes

ABOUT THE HENS

Delaware is 2-0 on the season after defeating Bryant, 48-17, and North Carolina A&T, 42-13. 
Ryan O'Connor leads Delaware's offense with five passing touchdowns, 573 yards, and a 64.2 completion percentage. He has also ran for a touchdown. 
Four Delaware running backs have scored touchdowns this season - Marcus Yarns, Jo'Nathan Silver, and Quincy Watson have two each and Saeed St. Fleur has one. Yarns also has a receiving touchdown.
Phil Lutz leads the Delaware receiving corps with a pair of touchdowns and 117 yards. He also leads the country with 29.3 yards per reception as he has four catches for 117 yards in two games.
Dillon Trainer's 13 tackles is tops on the team. 
Delaware's defense has recovered three fumbles and recorded two interceptions through the first two games. 
UD is 10-for-10 on touchdowns in the red zone.
The Blue Hens defense has allowed just one touchdown this season. 

ABOUT THE QUAKERS

Saturday will be Penn's season opener as the Quakers look to build on a 6-4 record from a season ago.
In 2023, Penn averaged 26.2 ppg on offense and was eighth in FCS with 286.1 passing ypg.
Aidan Sayin returns at quarterback after completing 64.7 percent of his passes last season for 2,805 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Malachi Hosley led the rushing attack with 723 yards and seven touchdowns out of the backfield. Overall, he accounted for 969 all-purpose yards and eight scores. Jared Richardson was atop the receiving corps with 67 catches for 788 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
The Quakers' defense was 11th nationally in both total defense and rush defense in 2023, allowing just 102.5 ypg on the ground and 304.0 ypg of total offense.
Jack Fairman returns to lead the defense after recording a team-high 73 tackles last season to go along with 6.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.


SERIES HISTORY

This will be the seventh all-time matchup between the two programs with each team having wins in the series. It is the first meeting since the 2019 season when the Blue Hens came away with a tough 28-27 victory at Delaware Stadium.
After three lopsided shutouts by Penn during the 1919-21 seasons, the Blue Hens have won each of the last three meetings to even the series, including the last two at Delaware Stadium.
Nolan Henderson passed for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the 2019 win, connecting on scoring passes to Thyrick Pitts, Gene Coleman II, and Bryce De Maile, as UD overcame a 21-7 second-half deficit. Penn scored late in the fourth quarter to make it a one-point game, but Delaware came up with a stop on the 2-point conversion to preserve the win.

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Five Rushing Touchdowns Leads Football Past NC A&T, 42-13

9/14/2024 - bluehens.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Delaware football team scored five rushing touchdowns, and the defense did not allow an offensive touchdown on its way to a 42-13 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon in a CAA contest. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in the conference, while the Aggies fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in CAA play.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

The Blue Hens finished with 526 yards of total offense, including 201 yards on the ground.
Ryan O'Connor completed 23 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a team-high 47 yards and another score.
Quincy Watson rushed for two touchdowns while Marcus Yarns and Jo'Nathan Silver also found the end zone.
Phil Lutz caught three passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Delaware's defense held NC A&T to 264 total yards, while registering five sacks and forcing three turnovers.
Dillon Trainer led the way with eight tackles.


HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Hens wasted no time as they received the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards on 10 plays. Yarns had 40 yards on six carries, capping the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.
On the next possession, a deep pass to Caleb Fauria put UD into the red zone before Silver eventually scored on a one-yard rush.
Following a NC A&T field goal, Delaware went 75 yards in just six plays to add to its lead. A 29-yard catch-and-run by Ja'Carree Kelly was the big play of the drive before Quincy Watson punched it in from the 1-yard line.
A defensive touchdown for the Aggies cut UD's lead to 18-10 before both teams traded field goals in the final minute as the Blue Hens took a 21-13 lead at halftime.
The offense picked right back up in the third quarter as O'Connor rushed for a 23-yard score and Watson ran it in from 17 yards out on UD's first two possessions to quickly extend the lead to 35-13.
After a Marc Viechec interception, O'Connor launched a deep ball to Lutz for a 47-yard touchdown to provide the final score.

GAME NOTES

For the second-straight game, nine difference receivers registered a catch for Delaware's offense.
UD's five rushing touchdowns were the most in a game since the 2016 season opener against Delaware State.
The four different players with a rushing touchdown were the most by the Blue Hens since the 2013 season opener against Jacksonville.
The Blue Hens moved to 8-0 under head coach Ryan Carty when having at least a plus-two turnover margin.


UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will return home to Delaware Stadium next weekend to open a two-game homestand when they take on Penn in a nonconference contest. Kickoff on Saturday, September 21 is set for 6 p.m. and tickets are still available.

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Delaware to Play North Carolina A&T in First Road Game of the Season

9/11/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team will travel to Greensboro, N.C. for its CAA opening game against North Carolina A&T on Sept. 14, 2024. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloFootball.

Delaware opened its final FCS season with a 48-17 win over Bryant on August 29. 
Ryan O'Connor completed 29-of-41 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns, while Marcus Yarns accounted for 96 total yards and two touchdowns.

Nine different receivers caught a pass, led by JoJo Bermudez who had seven grabs for 50 yards.

Jalyn Witcher and Nicholas Laboy each caught their first touchdown pass of their UD careers and Phil Lutz also had a scoring grab.

Dillon Trainer and Tyron Herring each had five tackles to lead the defense while Keyshawn Hunter had a pair of sacks. KT Seay added an interception.

ABOUT THE AGGIES

NC A&T is 1-1 on the season. They lost to FBS opponent Wake Forest 45-13 on August 29 before defeating Division II's Winston-Salem State, 27-20 in overtime, at home on September 7.
The Aggies are 10th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 209.5 ypg through their first two games. NC A&T rushed for 243 yards in its victory over Winston-Salem State.
The Aggies are in their second season in the CAA. They went 1-10 last season, and 0-8 in conference play. NC A&T were picked 14th in the CAA Preseason Poll, ahead of Bryant and Stony Brook.
Virginia Tech transfer Kenji Christian is in his second season with the Aggies. He has rushed for 201 yards on 21 attempts and a touchdown this season. Last year, he had 718 yards and six touchdowns, but just 43 rushing yards against Delaware.
Sophomore Kevin White thrown for 290 yards and a touchdown through two games. Delaware held him to 31 passing yards with a 41.2 completion percentage a season ago. 
South Carolina transfer Ger-Cari Caldwell is in his third season with NC A&T. He has accumulated 96 receiving yards this season after having 193 in his first two seasons. Senior safety Ty Williams Jr. has the most tackles on the team with 11. 

SERIES HISTORY

Delaware is 2-0 all-time against NC A&T. Saturday will be their first game ever on the road against the Aggies. 
Last season, Delaware defeated NC A&T 21-6 on Oct. 14. UD had two players rush for at least 100 yards, with Kyron Cumby leading the way with two touchdowns and 144 yards. Yarns ran for 126 yards. 
O'Connor threw a touchdown pass to Jourdan Townsend during last season's matchup. Nic Ware and Keyshawn Hunter both forced fumbles, while Jackson Taylor had 15 tackles. 
Delaware's only other matchup against NC A&T came on Oct. 14, 1978, a 26-0 win. Between the two games all-time, Delaware has never allowed a touchdown against the Aggies, and has outscored them 47-6.
This will be the third meeting all-time with between the programs, but first for Delaware on the road. 

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Bryant falls to Delaware in season opener

8/30/24 - https://bryantbulldogs.com/

NEWARK, DEL. – The Bryant University football team fell to the University of Delaware 48-17 in the season opener on the road.

Jarrett Guest threw for 146 yards and a touchdown and Brennan Myer had 106 yards through the air. Marc Taglieri Jr. hauled in a score and posted 44 yards, while Markiel Cockrell ran in for a touchdown.  Chris Yates had a career-high of 12 tackles, while Cole Nilles posted seven tackles and two tackles for loss. Gary Cooper posted a career-high 78 yards on four catches.

Game Information:

Delaware 48, Bryant 17
Records: Bryant (0-1, 0-0), Delaware (1-0, 0-0)
Location: Delaware Stadium (Newark, Del.)
Key Moment
The Blue Hens recorded 21 straight points after the Bulldogs hit a field goal in the first quarter.

How it Happened:

The Bulldogs began their second drive of the game on the Bryant 34. They then drove 58 yards to set up a 25-yard Bryce Soli field goal for the game's first points. The drive was catapulted by Fabrice Mukendi, who gained 24 yards, and Gary Cooper, who caught a 20-yard pass (3-0). The Blue Hens responded with a nine-play touchdown drive and scored on a pass to the running back (7-3).

On the next Bryant drive, the Blue Hens intercepted it and returned the ball to the one-yard line. Delaware punched it in on the next play for the score (14-3).
The Blue Hens began the second quarter on the Bulldog side of the field, leading to a three-yard dump pass to the running back (21-3).

The Black and Gold responded with an 18-yard screen pass to Mukendi, and a 31-yard deep ball to Cooper. A Taglieri TD capped off the drive with a play-action pass (21-10).

The Blue Hens would produce two more touchdown drives to end the half, tallying a 34-10 deficit for the Bulldogs. Both teams went three and out to start the second half, and then Delaware produced a 12-play drive, resulting in a passing TD (41-10).

The Blue Hens scored their 48th point on a 25-yard rush up the middle in the fourth quarter (48-10). With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Myer completed a 35-yard pass to Taglieri and then threw a 40-yard pass to Keegan Wilburn on the run, who was tackled on the one-yard line. Cockrell then punched the ball in for a touchdown (48-17).

Stats:

Guest tallied 146 yards and one touchdown through the air.
Cooper caught four passes for 78 yards.
Taglieri hauled in a score and caught three balls for 33 yards.
Cockrell posted a touchdown.
Wilburn registered 40 yards on two catches.
Yates recorded 12 tackles.
Nilles posted seven tackles and TFLs in his Bulldog debut.
Olatunde Mkparu and Sean Hunt had seven tackles each.
Myer tallied 106 passing yards.
Mukendi had 40 yards on the ground.
Soli connected on his first career field goal.
Game Notes
Mukendi reached 700 rushing yards in his career.
Guest threw his fifth 100+ yard passing game in his collegiate career.
Yates posted a career-high 12 tackles.
Cooper registered a career-high 78 yards.

Next Up:

The Bulldogs will host Franklin Pierce on September 7th for their home opener.

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Football Rolls Past Bryant 48-17 in Season Opener

8/29/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team opened the season in style on Thursday night, scoring touchdowns on five-consecutive possessions in the first half to defeat Bryant 48-17 in front of 17,244 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens won their sixth-straight season opener to improve to 1-0, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-1. The game was delayed for 75 minutes due to weather at the beginning of the second half. 

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Ryan O'Connor completed 29-of-41 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Marcus Yarns accounted for 96 total yards and two touchdowns as he rushed 12 times for 62 yards and a score, while catching four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. Nine different receivers caught a pass, led by JoJo Bermudez who had seven grabs for 50 yards.

Jalyn Witcher and Nicholas Laboy each caught their first touchdown pass of their UD careers and Phil Lutz also had a scoring grab. Dillon Trainer and Tyron Herring each had five tackles to lead the defense while Keyshawn Hunter had a pair of sacks and KT Seay had a big interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams had quick first possessions before Bryant took the lead with a 23-yard field goal midway through the first quarter.

The Blue Hens responded right away with a long nine-play drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass from O'Connor to Lutz that gave UD the lead for good.
Three plays later, Seay picked off a tipped pass near the 40-yard line and returned it to the 1-yard line where Yarns ran it in on the next play for a 14-3 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Yarns caught a short three-yard pass for a touchdown for his second score of the half. After a Bryant touchdown, Jo'Nathan Silver ran for 57 yards on the ensuing drive, capping off a 14-play drive with a 1-yard plunge to make it 27-10.

Laboy broke free for an 11-yard touchdown catch right before the half to make it 34-10 at the break.Midway through the third quarter, UD marched on a 12-play, 96-yard drive that culminated in an 8-yard scoring grab by Witcher. Saeed St. Fleur added a fourth-quarter touchdown run before Bryant found the end zone late to wrap up the scoring.

GAME NOTES

The game was delayed for 75 minutes due to weather at the beginning of the second half.

Yarns recorded his first multiple touchdown game of the season after recording six last season. He had three games in 2023 with at least one receiving and one rushing score.

O'Connor passed for multiple touchdowns for the first time this season after recording five such performances last year.
Jake Thaw had a 16-yard catch for his first collegiate grab.

UP NEXT
Delaware will have a bye week before traveling to North Carolina A&T on Saturday, September 14. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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Football Begins 2024 Season Against Bryant

8/28/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team opens its final FCS and CAA season at home in a non-conference matchup against Bryant on Thursday, August 29. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Delaware Stadium and will be broadcast on FloSports. 

ABOUT THE HENS

Thursday will be the first time the Blue Hens open the season at Delaware Stadium since the 2021 spring season when UD defeated Maine 37-0. Dejoun Lee got things started fast with an 87-yard kickoff return on the opening kickoff and Nolan Henderson had two total touchdowns. The win kickstarted UD's run to the FCS Semifinals.

Thursday's contest against Bryant will also be Delaware's first home game in August since 2019 when the Blue Hens defeated Delaware State 31-13 behind three total touchdowns by Pat Kehoe. 

Delaware has won each of its last five season openers. Including the wins over Delaware State (2019) and Maine (2021 spring), the Blue Hens have also defeated the Black Bears (34-24; 2021), Navy (14-7; 2022) and Stony Brook (37-13; 2023). The last two have come under head coach Ryan Carty. 

The Blue & Gold wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. 

UD's offense continued to be explosive and dynamic in Carty's second season. The Blue Hens scored at least 40 points in five games in 2023 and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions. Nationally, Delaware ranked sixth in total first downs (293), 21st in scoring offense (31.6 ppg) and 22nd in total offense (413.2 ypg). 

The Blue Hens return All-American running back Marcus Yarns who accounted for 1,250 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns, ranking second in the country, in 2023. Ryan O'Connor was among the best quarterbacks in the CAA as he threw for 2,104 yards and 19 touchdowns, including multiple scores in five games and four contests with more than 300 yards passing. 

Delaware once again boasted a prolific defense in 2023, ranking 10th in the country in turnovers forced(24) and 12th in defensive touchdowns (3). UD held three opponents to less than 10 points and at one point had a streak of 13-straight quarters and more than 210 minutes of game action without allowing a touchdown.

The defense returns eight starters to its staunch defense including AllCAA selections Ty Davis and Tyron Herring as well as Dillon Trainer who ranked second on the defense with 66 total tackles in 2023. Serving as captains for this season will be Ryan O'Connor, Brock Gingrich, Dillon Trainer, and Tyron Herring. 

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

Bryant will be competing in the CAA after having previously competed in the Big South-OVC Football Association and Northeast Conference. 
Head coach Chris Merritt is in his sixth season leading the Bulldogs and has a career record of 23-26. 

Bryant went 6-5 last season and 3-2 in conference. 
Bryant was picked to finished 15th out of 16 in the preseason CAA poll by head coaches. Michael Otty was select to the preseason All-CAA Defensive Team. 
Fabrice Mukendi returns as Bryant's leading rusher, coming off a season of 393 yards and five touchdowns. 

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the first matchup with between the programs. 

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Football Gameday Updates

8/19/2024 - bluehens.com

The University of Delaware Department of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation (DACCR) has announced exciting new updates to football gamedays at Delaware Stadium this season.

For the first time ever, Delaware football fans can sign up to elevate their gameday through Blue Hen Experiences. For a nominal fee, fans can sign up to take a picture on the field, have their child be a kickoff kid, put a custom message on the videoboard, ring the bell after a touchdown, and more for the game of their choice.

With new corporate sponsor Schell Brothers, the Hen House will be expanded for home football games this season. For only $35, The Hen House includes an all-new beer garden and updated menu. With an all-you-can-eat buffet and a diverse alcohol and beverage options available for purchase that cannot be found inside Delaware Stadium, this is the perfect pregame destination. Tickets are sold on an individual game basis. Admission can be purchased as either an individual or group. Private tents are available for groups for a nominal fee.

Student tailgating opportunities for the 2024 season is expanding! Students, including organized groups such as registered student organizations, Greek life, and others will be able to reserve spaces in the lot off Sincock Lane behind Bob Hannah Stadium where baseball plays. Non-organized groups can also participate in the enhanced student tailgate lot. Students will be able to reserve a space and request a tent package via Bluehens.com. Tailgating spaces will open four hours prior to kickoff and remain open two hours after the conclusion of the game. Students will be required to make final reservations by 5 p.m. on the Monday before the game during a traditional Saturday game week.

Entrance locations to the stadium will be changing for this season. The north endzone gates will no longer be open for entry into the stadium. This gate will however open as an exit postgame.

Once inside the stadium, Delaware Athletics in conjunction with ARAMARK, will be offering a souvenir cup at all concession locations. For only $20 fans can purchase this refillable cup for the 2024 football season, which includes free refills at select locations. Fans will be allowed to bring this up into Delaware Stadium each gameday if it is empty.

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Delaware to Expand Student Tailgating Opportunities

8/15/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware Department of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation (DACCR) is expanding student tailgating opportunities, it was announced Thursday.

"Our staff has been very intentional in having conversations and working directly with various student groups on campus to understand the experience they want to have at our games," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "I am incredibly excited about where we have landed. There is no doubt that having our students at all home events cheering on their peers is really important and it continues to build a sense of Blue Hen pride."

Students, including organized groups such as registered student organizations, Greek life, and others will be able to reserve spaces in the lot off Sincock Lane behind Bob Hannah Stadium where baseball plays. Non-organized groups can also participate in the enhanced student tailgate lot.

"Having our student body at our games makes a world of difference," Head Football Coach Ryan Carty said. "We want Delaware Stadium to be a difficult place to play and our students play an integral role in creating that environment."

The lot will consist of 20 10'x10' spaces. Two packages are available for students to purchase. The first is an unfurnished space for $50 or a furnished space for $199. The furnished space includes a tent, an eight-foot table, and six chairs. Each space has one parking space associated with the purchase. For all spaces purchased, students will be able to bring their own furniture, excluding charcoal grills. Permissible items include but are not limited to tables, chairs, tents, propane or electric grills, lawn games, speakers, food, drink, etc.

Students will be able to reserve a space and request a tent package via a landing page and form on the BlueHens.com/Cockpit website. Tailgating spaces will open four hours prior to kickoff and remain open two hours after the conclusion of the game. Students will be required to make final reservations by 5 p.m. on the Monday before the game during a traditional Saturday game week. All reservations will need to be paid in full by 5 p.m. on Wednesdays prior to gameday.

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Football Positional Preview: Quarterbacks

8/12/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team is into its third week of training camp as the Blue Hens prepare for the upcoming 2024 campaign. As the season opener on August 29 quickly approaches, Bluehens.com will be taking an in-depth look at each of the team's position groups, with this edition featuring the quarterbacks.

The Blue Hens have a wealth of experience returning at the quarterback position, led by Ryan O'Connor who started in 10 games last season and quickly became one of the top quarterbacks in the conference. He completed 56 percent (162-290) of his passes for 2,104 yards and 19 touchdowns. On four different occasions, O'Connor surpassed 300 yards in a game, including in his first career start when he threw for 346 yards at Stony Brook. He had five games with multiple touchdown passes, including four against both Duquesne and Campbell.

"Ryan has been awesome," said quarterback coach Sean Goldrich. "The thing about Ryan is he is never satisfied; he knows the work ahead of him. He has something to prove every day he is out there, but he has been very confident and intentional with how he prepares. Going all the way from the meeting room to the practice field he seems locked in with everything he does. He is playing with a lot of energy right now which is awesome." Delaware returns three more quarterbacks who saw valuable playing time in 2023, including two that started and won games. Zach Marker appeared in five games with three starts and passed for 678 yards and three touchdowns. He threw for 239 yards and accounted for two touchdowns in his first career start at Hampton and then completed his first 16 passes, a UD record, while throwing for 307 yards in a win at Towson.

Nick Minicucci got into six games as a true freshman, completing 49 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 156 yards. He started in Delaware's FCS Playoff victory over Lafayette where he finished 17-of-25 for 180 yards with three touchdowns and 46 rushing yards. Daniel Lipovski also saw action in two games and completed two passes for 33 yards.

"The depth that we have is fantastic," Goldrich said. "Something you always strive for is to make the most competitive room possible and they have done nothing but that. We have great energy in the room, they all have great relationships and when they step on the field they push each other at the highest level. Having guys with experience, that have shown they can play, pushes one another knowing that there is never a day they can take off. They all have something they can improve on, and they all work really hard." 

The Blue Hens also have two talented freshmen on the roster with the addition of Braden Streeter and Austin Troyer, who will both compete for playing time and look to make an impact in their first season with the Blue & Gold.

"They have been unbelievable," Goldrich said. "I am really excited about both of them. Both have very live arms, and they show they're not afraid to make throws. I think, for them, now it is more about processing and getting comfortable in the system, but both of them have done a nice job of understanding the information we have asked them to know at this point. They both have high ceilings and bright futures ahead of them."
The Blue Hens will open the 2024 season on Thursday, August 29 against Bryant at Delaware Stadium. Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now with fans able to purchase season tickets, partial plan packages and single game tickets for all seven of Delaware's home games.

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Marcus Yarns Named FCS Football Central Preseason All-American
7/15/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware running back Marcus Yarns has earned preseason All-America honors as he has been named to the FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team as an all-purpose player. This is Yarn's first preseason accolade after being named to the FCS Football Central All-American Third Team last season.

Yarns received his first All-America award after a breakout 2023 season for the Blue Hens, leading the team with 939 rushing yards to earn All-CAA Second Team recognition. He ranked fourth in the nation with 6.90 yards per carry and had four games with at least 100 yards rushing. Yarns accounted for 1,250 total all-purpose yards as he also caught 24 passes for 311 yards. Yarns ranked second in the country with 18 total touchdowns on the season, and fourth with 15 rushing scores which ranked ninth in Delaware's single-season history.

The Salisbury, Maryland native scored at least one touchdown in nine of UD's 13 games and had multiple scores in six games, highlighted by a five-touchdown performance at Towson that earned him CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now with fans able to purchase season tickets, partial plan packages and single game tickets for all home games except UD's Parents & Family Weekend contest against Sacred Heart (Sep. 28), which will go on sale on June 1. Fans can purchase tickets to Parents and Family weekend now if you purchase season tickets or within a partial plan package.
With an additional home game in 2024, the ticket price per game for every season ticket in the stadium decreased from last season. Due to the additional home game, the total season ticket price increased slightly from 2023. Season ticket members save up to $27 per game over individual game tickets. Furthermore, season ticket prices will not increase for renewing season ticket members for the inaugural season of FBS in 2025.

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A Blue Hen Affair: The Hranickas' Story

6/14/2024 - bluehens.com

By: Jeremy Goode - Coordinator, Communications & Creative Services

Before Madison Hranicka could even imagine setting Delaware and CAA women’s lacrosse records, her father, Todd, blazed the trail for the Hranicka family at the University of Delaware. 

What makes the Hranicka legacy so fascinating is that it goes beyond a father-daughter connection. 

Yes, while some siblings and children aspire to follow their family’s collegiate footsteps, Michael Hranicka, Todd’s brother, and Madison Hranicka, Todd’s daughter, can all share the fact that they played their respective sports at the University of Delaware. 

From 1982-87, Todd Hranicka enjoyed a football scholarship at UD, where he played under legendary head coach Tubby Raymond as a defensive end. Little would Todd realize the strong family tie the Hranicka name would establish 37 years after he graduated from Delaware. 

“I guess inadvertently I recruited my brother but it was years in the making, around eighth or ninth grade,” Todd Hranicka said. 

For Michael, who was a prime football recruit as was his five-year older brother, he just wanted to play with his brother as a Blue Hen, even if it would only be for one year. 

Michael had a head start. When he was a freshman in high school, Todd was just beginning his football days at Delaware. Michael visited his older brother often, ultimately making it an easy decision when it was time for the senior to commit to a university to play football three years later. 

“At the age of 14, I would go up every weekend (to UD) because my brother was literally my idol,” Michael Hranicka said. “Throughout that four-year period, I had just grown to idolize the Blue Hens and always thought that was where I was going to play.” 

After a heavy recruiting press for Michael that included offers from Virginia Tech, Navy, and Richmond, he ultimately turned to family ties to share what is now a lifetime bond together with Todd. 

“I could have told him at the time to go to Delaware and he would have gone,” Todd said. “But I felt like that was not my place; from my perspective it just was not the right thing to do. He needed to make that decision.”

Luckily for Todd, Michael was already set and made his decision rather easily. Michael noted, “the only thing I could think about was playing football with my brother.”

As it would turn out, the family tree grew even larger in 1986-87, as Todd and Michael’s sister, Jill, transferred to Delaware during her junior year. As a result, three Hranickas were at the University of Delaware at the same time; Todd as a fifth year, Jill as a junior, and Michael as a freshman. The three were always close, and Michael enjoyed the idea that it would be a common tie throughout their lives. 

They were at ages that had just prevented them from overlapping and playing together in high school. And while they would not play together at Delaware in an actual game, they were able to practice together regularly. While Michael redshirted his freshman year, he was still able to practice against Todd, which Michael referred to as “wild.” 

Todd and Michael were always close. During summers when they were old enough, both would work construction, getting up in the early hours of the morning, eating dinner together afterwards, and then running a couple of miles, going to the gym, and repeating the next day. 

They took advantage of their only overlapping collegiate year together, practicing together often and hanging out with one another and their friends when they were not competing on the gridiron. 

Beyond their own brotherhood, they also formed a brotherhood with the entire roster, and their team still has a 75-person group chat going. They often reminisce about their time playing college ball together to update each other on their lives. 

So, it was incredibly fitting for Michael to wear his brother’s number 53 jersey after Todd graduated. As Todd noted, “for eight years at Delaware stadium, a Hranicka was wearing 53.”

Fast forward a generation. 

Todd is settled down in Mendham, New Jersey with his wife and two children. He is the director of solar energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage at PSE&G, the largest utility company in New Jersey. His daughter, Madison, had been going through a rigorous recruiting process that began her freshman year of high school, during which she was offered a spot on the women’s lacrosse team at Delaware by its head coach at the time, Kateri Linville. 

Madison started lacrosse young. It was big in the area she grew up, and no one in her family had any experience with the sport. But Madison would try different sports when she was younger and lacrosse stuck. She loved it.

It was a new sport for Todd, but that would not stop him from tapping into Madison’s world and connecting with his daughter. Todd would go to the backyard with a baseball mitt and practice with Madison, as she flung lacrosse shots and passes to her dad, who would catch it with his baseball glove and throw it back to Madison.

Her love of the sport was so strong that when Madison was cut from her sixth-grade lacrosse team, it almost broke her. When Todd told her she needed to practice more since her stick skills were not where they needed to be, the advice lit a fire in Madison. So much so that within the next three years, Madison worked hard and often on her craft. So much so that her first collegiate offer came in the ninth grade. 

Not bad for the once-cut sixth grader. 

Some context: the University of Delaware was nothing new to Madison. Of course, she was aware of her family’s athletic ties, with her father playing defensive end and her uncle playing defensive tackle for the Blue Hens. But she was also immersed in the culture throughout her childhood.

“We would have big family tailgates, so I have been coming to Tubby forever,” Madison Hranicka said. “Both my uncle and my dad were coached by Tubby Raymond, so I heard so many stories growing up, and then to actually play on the same field [as them], is a full-circle moment.” 

Like his brother, Todd swears that he did not nudge Madison to choose Delaware for her collegiate playing experience. He did not consider it his place to do so. Even so, he was certainly ecstatic when she decided to follow his footsteps and committed to play women’s lacrosse for the Blue Hens.

Of course, when Madison committed to the University of Delaware, Todd noted his satisfaction for several reasons. 

“I was thrilled,” Todd said. “I loved Delaware and I thought it was going to be a good fit for her since she was going to be able to play Division I lacrosse and only be two hours away from home.”

Her previous connections to the university helped, but Madison also fell in love with the school on her own terms, especially the people.

“The more I was around the team and saw the culture, I realized not only am I going to love the lacrosse, but I am always going to love the family aspect,” Madison said. “I spoke with some of my high school friends at other colleges and the connection and love Delaware has, didn’t exist for.” 

Michael, who is now located in Denver and the CEO of MicroStar Logistics, the largest independent owner of kegs in the world which manages the associated logistics for global brewers for both kegs and plastic returnable pallets, also found immense joy when he heard Madison would continue the family legacy of competing at Delaware. 

“Seeing her go there to play just brought incredible joy,” Michael said. “Seeing how she has progressed; she will come out of the university with an undergrad and an MBA, and having excelled as she has on the field… she remains the same, kind-hearted, sweet niece that we have seen from the time she has been just a little girl.”

Todd, Michael, and Madison would not only share the same colors during their college playing days, they would also play the same type of role on their respective teams: defender. Todd played defensive end as a Blue Hen, for Michael it was defensive tackle, and of course, Madison played defense in lacrosse. 

A question about what made the Hranickas so committed to defense elicited a few laughs, adding another connection the three have together. 

“I think there are certain personality traits that lead to a defensive mindset,” Michael said. “With my brother and I, it was always a really aggressive desire to control what people are trying to do to you.”

Madison also believes there is a family connection to defense. 

“I feel like it kind of fits our style of play,” Madison said. “We’re just more about footwork and the mentality that defense wins championships, so that’s the mindset we have.” 

Todd agreed with the notion that there was a broader connection. 

“I think what linked myself, Mike, and Madison was that we all had that warrior mentality, which was go out and play your ass off and do the best you can.”

Michael also mentioned that for him, it seemed as though offensive players were more thoughtful towards game planning and strategy, while defensive players tend to be really aggressive and just grind.

It makes sense. Todd and Michael both enjoyed successful careers at Delaware going after the quarterback. 

And where do you begin in terms of measuring Madison’s defensive aggression on the lacrosse field? 

During her graduate-year season, she became the first Blue Hens’ All-American since 2002, having won back-to-back CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors. For the second-consecutive year, she ranked third nationally in caused turnovers per game (3.56) and third nationally in ground balls per game (3.94).

The list goes on and those are just a few of the accolades Madison has exponentially collected during her time in Newark. 
Hranicka family
The Hranicka family supporting Madison on the road.

Over the last five years, her father and uncle have always been extremely supportive, cheering on the latest Hranicka Blue Hen every step of the way. 

“They have always been the most supportive people in my life,” Madison said. “They’re always pushing me to do my best, always rooting for me, texting in our group chats if I break any records or have any success, they’re the first because at the end of the day, same last name.”

The connection the three related Blue Hen athletes share is special and different. 

While the Hranicka family is extremely close, the Blue Hen athletic bond between Todd, Michael, and Madison seems to spark its own connection, one to which others are unable to relate because they do not share the bond of donning the Blue & Gold. 

After all, college athletics does not end at these three for the Hranickas. Jennifer Hranicka, Todd’s wife and Madison’s mother, competed in equestrian in college. And Madison’s brother, Ty, played football at Lafayette as a fullback. But there was just something about that Blue Hen connection that sets Todd, Michael, and Madison apart. 

“There is a little something different with her Uncle Mike that exists because we all went to Delaware. It is that Blue Hen connection that we feel that is really cool and special,” Todd said.

Academically, Delaware has meant a lot to the brothers. They both have ventured out of state to establish their own careers, achieving CEO and Director titles. Todd and Michael credit the education they received at Delaware to achieving what they have today from a professional and family point of view. 

“I came from a high school that I was not that well prepared for college,” Todd said. “Delaware prepared me for the business world. I was a history major, so I did not have a lot of business courses, but it taught me how to learn, taught me how to think, and having a number of professors that focused me and really understood that they needed to push this kid.”

Michael had a similar take; he feels he is able to deeply reflect on the university’s impact and will do so for years after graduating. To Todd’s point, there is a deeper meaning he gained from his academic experience at Delaware.

“As you get out and begin working in the world, you realize how important all those foundational academic building blocks were,” Michael said. “It allows you to do simple things that if you are an alum of Delaware, you learn. You know how to communicate. You know how to write effectively. You know how to think on your own. It is a true environment of learning.”

Madison refers to her head coach, Amy Altig, about how important her Delaware education has been for her as a student and alumna.

“Her [Altig’s] main focus is lacrosse, but she also wants to make sure when we go off to the real world that she has prepared us,” Madison said. “Academically and being able to handle time management, Delaware has prepared me beyond measure.” 

The football duo also was quick to site the influence their football careers at Delaware played in their lives after college. Specifically, they noted how important their college hall of fame head coach Harold “Tubby” Raymond was. 

“My approach to life was molded in a really significant way by Tubby Raymond, his coaching staff, and my teammates,” Michael said. “It is very rare that a week goes by where I don’t reflect on something that I learned on the field.”

When asked about how Delaware football prepped Todd for life after college, he grinned, immediately responding, “that’s easy.”

“Keep moving forward,” Todd continued. “There are a lot of times in business where you have some really difficult situations and you’re trying to work through it and get through the problem… but nothing is more difficult than Tuesday afternoons on the practice field at Delaware. Nothing. We ran a lot; it’s all we knew. But we won a lot of football games because we were better conditioned than the teams we were playing.”

Madison finished her MBA and has a job lined up at a financial technology company, Fiserv, where she will be doing the sales academy for two years while getting a new rotation every six months. After the two years, Madison will get to pick which rotation she liked the best and continue to work in that rotation going forward. 

Over the past five years, Madison has been able to take advantage of all the University had to offer. But she also takes away a lot from the game of lacrosse that will help her for life after college. 

“It definitely taught me perseverance and to be able to keep working at things,” Madison said. “You can always get better… I think that’s my biggest take away… not to settle and always look at where you can improve.”

Coming from one of, if not the, greatest defenders in Delaware women’s lacrosse history, that’s saying something. 

Todd and Michael have enjoyed careers after their academics and playing careers at Delaware. They have seen the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of using their Delaware degree to prosper professionally. Based on Madison’s experience, just like she followed her father and uncle’s choice in college, she seems on track to follow their professional path, starting at Fiserv. 

“I think Madison’s experience as a Blue Hen and as a captain is going to make her a business leader as she enters the work world,” Todd said. “She leads by example, but Amy pressed her to be more vocal a few years ago. She has grown significantly and I think Delaware prepared her academically and athletically to achieve as she gets older.” 

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QB Nolan Henderson Enjoys Strong Finish to First Professional Season

6/13/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – Former University of Delaware quarterback Nolan Henderson recently completed his first professional season with the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). While it was an up-and-down first full year as a professional football player, Henderson had a strong finish that has left him confident for the future.

The two-time All-CAA honoree finished his Delaware career ranked third in program history in completions (547), fourth in pass attempts (859) and fifth in passing yards (6,413). As a senior in 2022, the Smyrna native set the UD record with 32 passing touchdowns and became the second in program history to surpass 50 career touchdowns, finishing with 56.

Henderson signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens following the 2023 NFL Draft but was released prior to training camp. In January, he signed with the Roughnecks in the newly-formed UFL, which came from a merger of the XFL and United States Football League (USFL).

Training camp started in late February as all eight teams in the league descended upon Arlington, Texas ahead of the start of the 10-game regular season. Each team called Arlington home for training camp and in-season practices before flying out to the site of their weekend games. Henderson entered his first professional training camp not only fighting to earn Houston's starting quarterback job, but also learning the ropes of being a professional football player.

"It was big for me to see how different people worked and what worked for them," Henderson said. "Just navigating how to be a professional, how to take care of your body, investing in your body, using all the resources you can. I tried to tag along with some of the older guys that have been in the NFL and knew what to do and knew how to manage their time.

"So I think it was a little bit of the things I learned at Delaware but then also taking as much as I could from the older guys that had kind of been through this and maybe had been in the league before. Just picking their brains and trying to figure out what works for me and my routine."

Henderson learned a lot from players like Chris Odom, a defensive end in his seventh professional season who has been a part of four NFL organizations as well as teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and USFL. Additionally, fellow quarterback Reid Sinnett who was a former FCS player and Walter Payton Award finalist. Sinnett has been on the practice squad of four different NFL teams and had spent a season in the XFL.

"The cool thing about the UFL is we had guys that were straight out of college and then guys that are further along in their careers. So, just hearing their journey, hearing what worked for them and maybe some decisions they made that didn't necessarily help. I think that always helps."

Things didn't start where he wanted as he opened the season third on Houston's quarterback depth chart. He did not make his debut until Houston's fourth game against Kedrick Whitehead's Michigan Panthers when he came in late in the game and completed three of four passes. He did the same a couple of weeks later against the Birmingham Stallions.

Henderson got his first significant playing time on May 18 against Birmingham when he completed 9-of-14 passes for 97 yards while also rushing nine times for 37 yards and his first professional score. His performance earned him starts in each of Houston's final two games where he passed for a total of 385 yards and two touchdowns and led the Roughnecks in rushing each game.

"Any time you get a chance to play after a while you kind of remind yourself of things you're capable of outside of practice. You can do a lot of great things in practice but once you get into a game and do those things, that's when you start to have the confidence and the belief you had in yourself to begin with. But also, it helped me the most because it gives you a framework for your off season.

"I had no shortage of emotions felt during all that whole process. Going into camp with the chance to start. Now you're the three, then you start playing a little bit more. Now you're the two. And then eventually at the end of the season, ended up getting some starts. But I was glad at the end of the season, I was able to get an opportunity to play and put some good things on tape."

Overall, Henderson finished the season with 531 passing yards, 143 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. While only playing in five games, he ranked fifth in completion percentage among those with at least 50 pass attempts, completing 43-of-74 passes (58.1%). Following the season finale on June 2, Houston's head coach C.J. Johnson gave a vote a confidence when he stated 'we found a quarterback' while nodding to Henderson in the post game press conference.

"I think we're aligned with the things I need to work on, the things I do well, what they like, how they would change their offense to kind of build around me. We're all in alignment with what the plan was for me and what I need to do to put myself in position to make it back."

With Houston's season over, Henderson has returned to Delaware where he continues his work with Henderson QB Training, a company he started a few years back to train high school-aged quarterbacks. Meanwhile, he will begin his off season workout program to prepare for next season and any potential training camp invites he may receive from NFL organizations.

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Football Ranked No. 19 In HERO Sports Preseason Poll
5/16/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – With just 105 days left until the 2024 season opener against Bryant at Delaware Stadium, the University of Delaware football team earned its first preseason ranking. The Blue Hens slotted in at No. 19 in the HERO Sports Preseason FCS Poll.

The Blue & Gold wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

Season tickets and partial plan packages for the 2024 season are on sale now. With an additional home game in 2024, the ticket price per game for every season ticket in the stadium decreased from last season. Due to the additional home game, the total season ticket price increased slightly from 2023. Season ticket members save up to $27 per game over individual game tickets. Furthermore, season ticket prices will not increase for renewing season ticket members for the inaugural season of FBS in 2025.

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Strong Spring has Blue Hens Ready for 2024 Football Season
5/7/2024 - BLUEHENS.COM

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team recently wrapped up its 2024 spring practices as the Blue Hens are well into their preparations for the upcoming 2024 season. Delaware completed 14 energetic practices before putting on a spirited display at the annual Blue-White Spring Game at Delaware Stadium.

The Blue Hens have a wealth of experience returning from last year's potent offense. Seven of the squad's primary starters will be back in action including all five members of the offensive line, quarterback Ryan O'Connor and All-American running back Marcus Yarns. The Blue Hens bring back all three quarterbacks who started a game last year in O'Connor, Zach Marker and Nick Minicucci, as well as Daniel Lipovski who saw action in two games. Additionally, returners Quincy Watson, Jo'Nathan Silver and Saeed St. Fleur provide a deep running backs room while Phil Lutz and JoJo Bermudez both had strong 2023 seasons and will lead a deep receiving corps this fall.

The defense features eight returners from last season. Jack Hall and Keyshawn Hunter lead a deep and talented group on the defensive line while team captain Dillon Trainer returns at linebacker. Ty Davis will be transitioning to linebacker after starting at safety each of the past two seasons. In the secondary, Nic Ware
, KT Seay and Alex Villas return at safety while Tyron Herring is also back at cornerback. A'Khoury Lyde and Hassan Manning also return after strong 2023 campaigns.

Delaware will be bringing in a strong contingent of newcomers in 2024 that includes several impact transfers and a recruiting class that features four three-star recruits.

Ticket Packages Available Now
Season tickets and partial plan packages for the 2024 season are on sale now. With an additional home game in 2024, the ticket price per game for every season ticket in the stadium decreased from last season. Due to the additional home game, the total season ticket price increased slightly from 2023. Season ticket members save up to $27 per game over individual game tickets. Furthermore, season ticket prices will not increase for renewing season ticket members for the inaugural season of FBS in 2025.

Single game tickets for all home games, except UD's Parents & Family Weekend contest against Sacred Heart (Sep. 28), will go on sale on June 1. Fans can purchase tickets to Parents and Family weekend now if you purchase season tickets or within a partial plan package.

Follow The Coaching Staff
Name Title X Handle
Ryan Carty Head Coach @RyanCarty10
Terence Archer Assistant Head Coach - Offense / Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers @TerenceArcher
Art Link Assistant Head Coach - Defense and Special Teams / Safeties @Coach_ArtLink
Manny Rojas Defensive Coordinator @Coach_Rojas_UD
Corico Wright Defensive Pass Game Coordinator / Cornerbacks @CoachWrightC
Chris Rogers Run Game Coordinator / Offensive Line @CoachRogers57
Rocco DiMeco Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers @Rocco_DiMeco
Andrew Pierce Recruiting Coordinator / Running Backs @Coach_AndrewP
Sean Goldrich Pass Game Coordinator / Quarterbacks @CoachGoldrich
Garrett Smith Assistant Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends @Smith_GS13
Kyre Hawkins Defensive Line @CoachHawk_k9
Tyler Ferguson Senior Offensive Analyst @Coach_Ferguson3
Nick Hunter Senior Defensive Analyst @_nickhunterr12
Summer Camp Registration
Registration for this summer's Delaware Football Camps
is open. There are three opportunities to learn from members of the University of Delaware football coaching staff on the UD campus.

Delaware Football Camps – Wednesday, June 5
Delaware QB Academy – Saturday, June 29
Delaware Football Camps – Saturday, July 20

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Football Closes Out Spring Ball with Annual Blue-White Spring Game

4/19/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team concluded its spring practice schedule on Friday night with the annual Blue-White Spring Game at Delaware Stadium. In front of a strong contingent of UD fans and family members, the Blue Hens exhibited a lot of talent on both sides of the ball that will be on full display for the upcoming 2024 season. 

The evening started with a fun meet-and-greet in the Whitney Athletic Center where fans had the opportunity to meet with several Delaware alums. The list of attending alumni included former All-Americans, current and former NFL players and Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame members.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The defense started strong with a three-and-out and had some big plays throughout the night with multiple sacks and a pair of fourth-down stops.
The offense got going with a strong second drive that was capped by an 11-yard touchdown run from Ronnie Heath. 

Ryan O’Connor connected on a deep pass to JoJo Bermudez that eventually setup an 11-yard score by Jo’Nathan Silver on a shovel pass. 
Nate Reed, who was 3-for-3 on PAT attempts, connected on a 45-yard field goal that brought excitement to the crowd. 

Quincy Watson found the end zone on a five-yard run before, on the final play of the night, Daniel Lipovski found Santino Correa for a 15-yard touchdown as Correa dove over the goal line. 

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will open the 2024 season on August 29 when they welcome Bryant to Delaware Stadium. Season tickets and partial plan packages are on sale now.

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Game Times Announced for 2024 Football Season

3/29/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware athletic department, in conjunction with the CAA, has announced the kickoff times for the upcoming 2024 football season. Fans will have seven opportunities to catch the Blue Hens in action at Delaware Stadium.

For the first time since the 2020-21 spring season, the Blue Hens will open the season at home as they host Bryant in a Thursday night matchup at 7 p.m. on August 29. Because the game was originally scheduled before Bryant joined the CAA, it will not count as a conference game.

After an early bye week, Delaware will travel to North Carolina A&T to open conference play on September 14. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and it will be UD's first trip to Greensboro as the Aggies joined the conference prior to the 2023 season.

The Blue & Gold will return home for a pair of games at Delaware Stadium starting with a matchup against Penn at 6 p.m. on September 21. The Blue Hens will close out nonconference play with a 3:30 p.m. contest on September 28 against Sacred Heart, which will be a part of Delaware's Parents & Family Weekend.

Delaware will head back on the road for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Monmouth on October 5, before returning home to Newark the following week for a matchup against Maine. Kickoff against the Black Bears is set for 1 p.m. on October 12. The Blue Hens will travel to Richmond on October 19 for a matchup against the Spiders that is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.

A three-game homestand will begin against UAlbany, a 2023 FCS semifinalist, at 3 p.m. on October 26 at Delaware Stadium. The contest will be a part of the University of UD's Homecoming Weekend. Following a second bye week, Rhode Island will make its first trip to Newark since 2018 for a 1 p.m. game on November 9. The homestand will conclude on November 16 when Campbell makes its first-ever trip to Delaware Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

The 2024 season will conclude on November 23 when the Blue & Gold visits Villanova at 1 p.m. for the Battle of the Blue.

Individual game tickets will go on sale later this spring. Season tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now. Due to high demand, seating in the best locations in Delaware Stadium is limited. Season ticket membership for the 2024 season locks in pricing for 2025 for the Blue Hens' first season of FBS play.

Season ticket members will also be able to attend an exclusive pregame event in the Whitney Athletic Stadium Club prior to the annual Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Delaware State Parks, on Friday, April 19.

2024 Delaware Football Schedule
8/29 Bryant 7 p.m.
9/14 at NC A&T * 1 p.m.
9/21 Penn 6 p.m.
9/28 Sacred Heart 3:30 p.m. (Parents & Family Weekend)
10/5 at Monmouth * 1 p.m.
10/12 Maine * 1 p.m.
10/19 at Richmond * 3:30 p.m.
10/26 UAlbany * 3 p.m. (Homecoming)
11/9 Rhode Island * 1 p.m.
11/16 Campbell * 1 p.m.
11/23 at Villanova * 1 p.m.

* CAA game

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Series with UConn Completes Football’s 2025 Nonconference Slate

2/15/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team has announced a home-and-home series against UConn that will complete the nonconference portion of the 2025 schedule, UD's first season at the FBS level. The Blue Hens will host the Huskies in 2025 and will make the return trip to Connecticut in 2027.

UConn will be the first FBS program to visit Delaware Stadium when they come to Newark on September 13, 2025. It is the fourth and final nonconference game on the 2025 slate for the Blue Hens who will be playing their first season as a full member of Conference USA. The matchup against the Huskies joins a nonconference home game against Delaware State (Aug. 28) and road contests at Colorado (Sep. 6) and Wake Forest (Sep. 27). The eight-game CUSA schedule will be announced at a later date.

The Blue Hens will travel to UConn for the 2027 season finale to close out the series. The matchup will take place on November 27, 2027, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.

The two programs have met 27 times previously on the gridiron, with Delaware having won the past five matchups and holding a 20-7 series advantage including a 12-2 mark at Delaware Stadium. The last meeting took place back during the 1998 season when the then-No. 15 Blue Hens defeated then-No. 5 UConn 59-17 in Storrs, Connecticut behind a program record 732 yards of total offense. Quarterback Matt Nagy set UD records with 358 passing yards in the first half and 556 yards for the game. He remains the only Blue Hen to have surpassed 500 passing yards in a single game. Eddie Conti caught 15 passes for a Delaware-record 354 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown reception from Nagy, and finished with 401 all-purpose yards which tied his own record from earlier that season.

UConn went 3-9 during the 2023 season, its second under head coach Jim Mora, and finished the season with consecutive wins over Sacred Heart and UMass. The Huskies are just one year removed from qualifying for a bowl game as they played in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl in Mora's first season.

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The 2024 season schedule has been announced and season tickets memberships are on sale now. Renewing members must be renewed by February 29 to guarantee the same seating and parking locations as 2023. All fans who renew or purchase tickets by this date will have the option to use the virtual venue to upgrade, add or select new seats and/or parking spaces for the upcoming season.

With an additional home game in 2024, the ticket price per game for every season ticket in the stadium decreased from last season. Due to the additional home game, the total season ticket price increased slightly from 2023. Season ticket members save up to $27 per game over individual game tickets. Furthermore, season ticket prices will not increase for renewing season ticket members for the inaugural season of FBS in 2025.

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Delaware Football to Play at Virginia in 2026

2/5/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team will travel to Charlottesville in 2026 for a nonconference contest against the University of Virginia. The matchup will take place on September 26 at UVA's Scott Stadium and is the first game to be announced for the Blue Hens' 2026 schedule. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Delaware will be matching up with an ACC opponent for the second-straight season when it makes the trip to Charlottesville after playing at Wake Forest in 2025. The Cavaliers went 3-9 in 2023 with wins over then-No. 10 North Carolina and a Duke team that spent a majority of the season in the top 25. Virginia is just two years removed from qualifying for the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in 2021 and played in the Orange Bowl in 2019 after an appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

The Blue & Gold wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

The 2024 season schedule has been announced and season tickets memberships are on sale now. Renewing members must be renewed by February 29 to guarantee the same seating and parking locations as 2023. All fans who renew or purchase tickets by this date will have the option to use the virtual venue to upgrade, add or select new seats and/or parking spaces for the upcoming season.

With an additional home game in 2024, the ticket price per game for every season ticket in the stadium decreased from last season. Due to the additional home game, the total season ticket price increased slightly from 2023. Season ticket members save up to $27 per game over individual game tickets. Furthermore, season ticket prices will not increase for renewing season ticket members for the inaugural season of FBS in 2025

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Delaware, CAA Releases 2024 Football Schedule

1/10/2024 - BLUEHENS.COM

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware and the Coastal Athletic Association have announced the football schedule for the upcoming 2024 season. The Blue Hens will play seven home games at Delaware Stadium next fall, with three nonconference contests and four conference matchups against CAA opponents.

For the first time since the 2020-21 spring season, the Blue Hens will open the season at home as they host Bryant in a Thursday night matchup on August 29. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two programs and, because the game was originally scheduled before Bryant joined the CAA, it will not count as a conference game.

After an early bye week, Delaware will travel to North Carolina A&T to open CAA play on September 14. It will be UD's first trip to Greensboro as the Aggies joined the conference prior to the 2023 season and the two programs met last October for the first time since 1978. In UD's 21-6 victory, Kyron Cumby ran for two touchdowns and Jackson Taylor was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording 15 tackles.

The Blue & Gold will return home for a pair of games at Delaware Stadium starting with a matchup against Penn on September 21. Delaware is 3-3 all-time against the Quakers and won the only meeting in the last 40 years, a 28-27 victory in 2019. The Blue Hens will close out nonconference play on September 28 against Sacred Heart, the first meeting between the two programs since the first round of the 2020-21 spring postseason which UD won 19-10 on its way to an appearance in the national semifinals. The contest against the Pioneers will be a part of Delaware's Parents & Family Weekend. 

A road trip to Monmouth on October 5 will start a string of five-straight conference games against opponents that Delaware has not seen since the 2021 or 2022 seasons. The Blue Hens defeated the Hawks 49-17 in 2022 behind six total touchdowns by Nolan Henderson.

Delaware will welcome Maine to Delaware Stadium on October 12 for the 35th meeting between the two programs and the first since the 2021 season opener, a 34-24 UD victory. The following week, the Blue Hens will make the trip to Richmond for another matchup against a longtime foe. It will be the 37th all-time meeting between the two programs and the Blue & Gold will look to snap a three-game losing streak against the Spiders.

A three-game homestand will begin on October 26 against UAlbany at Delaware Stadium. The Blue Hens have won five of the last six meetings against the Great Danes, who reached the FCS semifinals in 2023. The contest will be a part of the University of Delaware's Homecoming Weekend.

Following a second bye week, Rhode Island will visit Newark on November 9 for the first time since 2018. Delaware owns a 25-11 all-time record against the Rams and have won three of the past four meetings, all of which came on the road. The homestand will conclude on November 16 when Campbell makes its first-ever trip to Delaware Stadium. The Camels joined the CAA in 2023 and UD won the first meeting between the two programs, 45-7, in November behind four touchdown passes by Ryan O'Connor, including two to Joshua Youngblood.

The 2024 season will conclude on November 23 when the Blue & Gold visits Villanova for the annual Battle of the Blue.

Game times will be announced at a later date.

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Delaware Announces Future Football Series with Buffalo, Contest at Wake Forest

1/9/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team has a pair of additional new opponents on the horizon as the program prepares for its transition to Conference USA and FBS football in 2025. The Blue Hens will play a home-and-home series with the University of Buffalo in 2029 and 2030, and will also travel to Wake Forest University for a contest in 2025.

The two-game series with Buffalo will begin when the Bulls visit Delaware Stadium on September 15, 2029, and the Blue Hens will make a return trip to Buffalo's UB Stadium the following season on September 14, 2030. Buffalo appeared in a bowl game in 2022 and averaged 20.9 ppg in 2023 while finishing fourth in the MAC East Division. The two programs met eight times between 1961 and 1969 with the Bulls holding a 6-2 series advantage.

The contest with Wake Forest will be played at the Demon Deacons' Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Wake Forest, which has played in a bowl game in seven of the past eight seasons, averaged 20.2 ppg in 2023 while playing a challenging ACC schedule. The two schools have met twice before on the gridiron, with Wake Forest winning both matchups in 1932 and 2016. This is UD's third announced nonconference contest for the 2025 season as the Blue Hens will also host Delaware State and play at Colorado to open the season.

The Blue & Gold wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

Delaware will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025 as a full-league member. As they begin the two-year transition process, the Blue Hens will play an FCS schedule in 2024 that will be announced in the coming days. Deposits for 2024 season ticket packages are available now. 

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Delaware, Delaware State Agree to Adjust Upcoming Football Series

1/8/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware, in partnership with Delaware State University, has agreed to an adjustment in the upcoming football series between the two in-state programs. With the transition to Conference USA, the Blue Hens will kick off their inaugural FBS season in 2025 against the Hornets on Thursday, August 28 at Delaware Stadium. This game will replace the 2024 game that was scheduled to be played in Dover.

"We are excited to continue our relationship with Delaware State," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "As we make this transition to FBS football, I'm grateful we can maintain our strong and important rivalry for the 302. Our regular competitions in any sport is a great way to bring the whole state together to support its two Division I programs."

As an FBS program, the Blue Hens will have the opportunity to play a maximum of one FCS opponent each season. The Hornets, as the First State's other Division I program, will continue to be an opponent at Delaware Stadium in future years.

"As we continue to rebuild our football program, we welcome the opportunity to maintain the Route One Rivalry as it represents our shared vision for the future of Division I athletics in the State of Delaware," said Delaware State Director of Athletics Alecia Shields-Gadson.

Delaware and Delaware State share a long history on the playing field across all sports. Over the past five years, the two schools have met 20 times in head-to-head competitions in an ongoing in-state series known as the Route One Rivalry. On the gridiron, the Blue Hens have won all 11 meetings against the Hornets, including the most recent matchup in 2022.

The relationship between the two universities extends far beyond athletics, sharing in numerous academic, research and community engagement partnerships that serve the state of Delaware.

The Blue Hens wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

Delaware will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025, as a full-league member. As they begin the two-year transition process, the Blue Hens will play an FCS schedule in 2024 that will be announced later this week. Deposits for the 2024 season ticket packages are available now.

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Delaware Football Ranked No. 10/11 in Final National Rankings

1/8/2024 - bluehens.com

NEWARK, Del. – With the conclusion of the FCS season on Sunday, the University of Delaware football team found itself ranked among the nation's best in the final national rankings. The Blue Hens finished the season sitting at No. 10 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll and No. 11 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

The Blue Hens wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

Ryan O'Connor had a strong first campaign as Delaware's starting quarterback, passing for 2,104 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games. Marcus Yarns earned All-CAA Second Team and FCS Football Central All-America honors. He led the Blue & Gold with 939 rushing yards and 1,250 total all-purpose yards, while ranking second in the nation with 18 total touchdowns. Jackson Taylor was an All-CAA First Team selection and a Phil Steele All-American after leading Delaware's defense with 116 tackles and ranking second with 13.0 TFLs and third with 3.5 sacks.

Delaware will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025 as a full-league member. As they begin the two-year transition process, the Blue Hens will play an FCS schedule in 2024 that will be announced in the coming days. Deposits for 2024 season ticket packages are available now. 

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