Football

Delaware Valley College 35, FDU-Florham 14

MADISON (NJ) - Junior quarterback Adam Knoblauch threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores as Delaware Valley College remained undefeated with a 35-14 victory over host FDU-Florham in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game.

The win was the 10th straight for the Aggies dating back to last season and they improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the MAC. Combined with Moravian's (7-1, 7-1) 35-31 loss at Widener and Delaware Valley is in sole possession of first place with two weeks remaining.

As a result, the Aggies can clinch a share of the MAC title next Saturday if they defeat Wilkes University at home. A Delaware Valley victory and a Moravian loss to Albright would give the Aggies the outright conference crown and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs - something no Delaware Valley team has ever accomplished in a team-qualifying sport.

Knoblauch completed 16 of 29 passes for 269 yards and scoring passes of 14, 21 and 59 yards while also rushing for 16 yards and two trips to the end zone. His performance put him over the 2,000-yard passing mark (2,040) for the third straight year.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Aggies scored 21 unanswered points to take a 21-0 halftime lead. The first points came with 12:47 left before intermission as David Carmon made a leaping, 14-yard catch in the end zone to cap an eight-play, 78-yard drive. Bill Miller made the kick to put Delaware Valley up 7-0.

The Aggies scored again when Lenzie Davis reeled in a 21-yard pass from Knoblauch with 5:03 to play in the second quarter. The touchdown came directly following an FDU turnover as Don Stoltz was intercepted by AJ Neal at the Devil 45-yard line. Neal returned it 24 yards to the 21-yard line and Davis scored on the next play.

Delaware Valley extended its lead to 21-0 when Knoblauch ran it in himself from four yards out with 28 seconds left in the first half to cap a 10-play, 73-yard drive

With 11:14 left in the third quarter, the Aggies struck again when Don Marshall hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from Knoblauch on a flea-flicker. Knoblauch handed off to running back Steve Cook who carried and flipped back to Knoblauch. Knoblauch then hit a wide-open Marshall with the long pass. Miller made another PAT for a 28-0 advantage.

The Devils (2-6, 2-6) finally got on the board with 7:50 left in the third quarter when Dan Harrison broke a tackle that would have had him for a two-yard loss and streaked 47-yards up the right side for a touchdown and a 28-7 score

Delaware Valley scored its last touchdown when Knoblauch scampered in on a two-yard rush with 7:50 left in the third quarter. FDU ended the scoring in the fourth when Stoltz hit Louis Cerrato with a 44-yard touchdown pass.

The Aggie defense was in the FDU backfield all afternoon as they recorded 10 sacks and hit Stoltz on a number of his 41 passing attempts. Linebacker John Pursell came off the bench to notch two sacks while fellow linebacker Sean Raftery and defensive lineman Anthony Silver had 1.5 sacks apiece.

The defense also notched four interceptions as cornerback Matt Murphy picked off two passes and both Neal and cornerback Stephen Shamberger had one interception apiece.

Offensively, Carmon caught eight passes for 123 yards and one touchdown while Marshall had four catches for 87 yards and one score. Cook ran for 44 yards on 13 carries and Jake Sheffield had 37 yards on 10 rushes

Stoltz was 20-for-41 for 259 yards for the Devils. Harrison finished with 126 yards on 16 carries.