Football

Delaware Valley 23, Juniata College 18
Aggies Improve To 2-0 For The First Time In 20 Years

HUNTINGDON (PA) -- Freshman cornerback Matt Murphy intercepted a Greg Troutman pass in the end zone with 9.4 seconds remaining as the Aggies held on for a 23-18 victory and improved to 2-0 for the first in 20 years.

It was also the Middle Atlantic Conference opener for Delaware Valley - a team comprised of mostly freshmen and sophomores. Those underclassmen weren't even alive when the 1983 edition got off to a 2-0 start. It's the third win in a row for the Aggies, including last year's season-finale victory at FDU-Florham, and that's a first since 1985. They will host 2-1 Susquehanna next Saturday and look to go 3-0 for the first time since 1963.

Juniata (1-2, 1-1 MAC) took over at its own four-yard line with 2:32 remaining following a blocked field goal attempt. The Eagles then reached Aggie territory with nine plays, including a pair of third-down conversions. Later in the drive, they faced a fourth-and-five from the 30-yard line and Troutman hit Anthony Lipple for nine yards and a first down with 26 seconds left.

Following two incompletions, Troutman threw a pass in the end zone and Murphy was in position for his second interception of the season and the game clincher.

Delaware Valley jumped out to a 24-3 lead in the game behind a potent running game, two touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Adam Knoblauch, and a solid showing from the defense.

Juniata turned the ball over on its first possession of the game as Andrew Erby forced a fumble and DeWaine Whetstone recovered it. The Aggies needed just six plays to reach the end zone and the 43-yard drive was capped by Steve Cook's five-yard run and a 7-0 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, a Pat Conerly punt trapped Juniata at its own five-yard line. The Aggie defense held and a poor punt resulted in Delaware Valley taking over at the Eagle 27. Three plays later, Knoblauch found senior tight endKevin Moloney open in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage with 8:54 to go before halftime.

Delaware Valley forced another turnover moments later as freshman defensive end Anthony Silver tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and caught it for his second interception of the season at the Juniata 12. Silver finished with a game-high 13 tackles.

The Aggie offense stalled, but freshman kicker Bill Miller, who nailed four field goals in the season-opener against William Paterson, made it 5-for-5 with a 26-yarder and a 17-0 lead with 7:17 remaining.

Juniata's only points in the first half came on a 21-yard field goal by Daniel Heinlein after the Aggies held them at the two-yard line.

After a gutsy fourth down call in his own territory, Delaware Valley head coach G.A. Mangus went for the big play and Knoblauch found a wide open Nick Brady for a 64-yard touchdown pass. However, the extra-point was blocked and returned for two points by Mike Brown for a 23-5 score with 11:12 remaining in the third quarter.

The Eagles made things interesting by scoring two times in a span of two minutes and 30 seconds as Troutman hit Lipple for a 15-yard score and Craig Moshier scored a five-yard run for a 23-18 ballgame with 6:03 left in the third.

Both defenses hung tough from there, leading up to Murphy's heroics in the waning seconds.

Delaware Valley netted 237 yards on the ground, led by Taylor Ramos' 109 yards on 16 carries. Cook finished with 73 yards on 24 carries. Knoblauch was just 7-for-24 for 133 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 54 yards on nine attempts.

In addition to Silver's 13 tackles, junior tackle Clint LaStella had a career-high 12 stops while Erby notched 11 tackles and a sack.

Juniata used its no-huddle, four-receiver offense all day and ran 99 plays in the contest. Troutman was held in check as he completed only 13 of 49 passes for 160 yards. Moshier tied a school-record with 40 carries and picked up 185 yards.