Football

Delaware Valley 46, Susquehanna University 39

SELINSGROVE (PA) - Delaware Valley College scored three touchdowns in the final 7:17 of the game, including two scores in the final 94 seconds, as the Aggies came from behind to down host Susquehanna University, 46-39, in a Middle Atlantic Conference game.

The win improved Delaware Valley to a perfect 3-0 on the year, including 2-0 in the MAC while the Crusaders fell to 2-2, 1-2.

Susquehanna took a 39-25 lead with 9:16 remaining in the contest as the Crusaders took advantage of an Aggie turnover and scored on a one-yard touchdown run by Jason Eck.

Delaware Valley went into its no-huddle offense and pulled to within seven thanks to an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Tailback Steve Cook capped the drive with a 25-yard scamper and Bill Miller added the extra-point for a 39-32 deficit.

The Aggie defense stopped Susquehanna and took over on their own 18-yard line with 6:10 to go. They then faced a pair of third-and-long situations as well as a fourth-and-10, but converted all three with two passes and one Crusader penalty. Quarterback Adam Knoblauch completed the 17-play, 82-yard drive with a one-yard sneak into the end zone. Miller nailed the extra-point to tie the game at 39-39 with 1:34 to go.

Susquehanna took over at its 30 and tried a screen pass on first down. However, Aggie linebacker Sean Raftery stepped in front of the pass, picked it off and returned it to the five-yard line. Delaware Valley was called for excessive celebration after the play, backing the ball to the Susquehanna 20 with 1:21 left.

A four-yard run by Cook was followed by an 11-yard pass from Knoblauch to Lenzie Davis. Cook ran for three yards on the next play and then bulled his way into the end zone from three yards out for the game-winner with 29 seconds left.

Susquehanna made one last effort as a 17-yard pass to Park and a five-yard face mask penalty put the ball on the Delaware Valley 36-yard line with 11 seconds to go. One incomplete pass left five seconds on the clock. The Aggies stopped Robertson at the line of scrimmage but another face mask penalty kept the game alive with no time on the clock and the ball on the 31. A Robertson pass into the end zone was knocked away by Delaware Valley's Michael Caison and the Aggies had the victory.

It was a wild contest that took nearly four hours to play and featured 155 plays, 955 yards of total offense and 36 penalties for 280 yards between the two teams. Knoblauch finished 23-for-42 for 371 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for two scores. His yardage total was the second-highest, single-game total in school history and the junior also became the Aggies' career leader with 5,422 yards.

Sophomore receiver Don Marshall had a day to remember as he hauled in eight passes for 216 yards and two scores, including a school-record 98-yard touchdown. The 216 yards was six shy of the single-game record. Fellow sophomore David Carmon also caught eight passes, including six in the fourth quarter alone, for 117 yards. Cook rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

Delaware Valley took the opening kickoff and went on a 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive, capped by Adam Knoblauch's one-yard sneak into the end zone with 5:31 left in the quarter. A high snap resulted in a failed two-point conversion, leaving the score at 6-0 in favor of the Aggies.

Susquehanna countered with a lone drive of its own and settled for a Dwight Swaney 22-yard field goal with 2:43 remaining in the opening quarter.

Then it was Delaware Valley's turn as Marshall caught a quick hitch, broke a tackle and went down the left sideline for a 52-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion pass failed and the Aggies had a 12-3 advantage with 28 seconds left in the first.

The Crusaders kept the offensive shootout going as they drove 67 yards on 11 plays and it ended when Eck scored on a one-yard run for a 12-10 deficit. Susquehanna took its first lead with 3:28 to go in the first half as Aggie punter Rich Loveless mishandled a snap deep in his territory and tried to get kick the ball in as he was being tackled. Colin Burgher picked up the short kick and went five yards into the end zone. .

Susquehanna upped the lead to 12, 24-13, on its first drive of the second half as quarterback Dennis Robertson hit Josh Kleha for a 35-yard touchdown. Delaware Valley responded by going 60 yards on six plays and was capped by Cook's two-yard touchdown run. The extra-point was blocked and the Aggies trailed 24-18 with 9:01 left in the third quarter.

Delaware Valley stopped the Crusaders on the next drive, but a punt by Swaney was downed at the Aggie two-yard line. However, head G.A. Mangus went for the big play and, on first down, Knoblauch hit Marshall in stride at midfield and he went the rest of the way for the record 98-yard touchdown. Marshall also has the third-longest reception with a 95-yard touchdown last season. Bill Miller kicked the extra-point and the Aggies regained the lead at 25-24 with 3:56 left in the third quarter.

Knoblauch was picked off on the first play of the fourth quarter and the Crusaders took over at the Aggie 36-yard line. Two plays later, Anthony Edwards scored on an 11-yard run and Robertson then hit Duane Park for the two-point conversion and a 32-25 Susquehanna lead just 43 seconds into the fourth. The Crusaders would score one more time before the Aggies' late rally.