Football

Delaware Valley Caps 10-0 Regular Season With 27-20 Victory Over
Widener University, Retains The Keystone Cup


DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Delaware Valley College junior quarterback Adam Knoblauch notched 377 yards of total offense and had a role in four touchdowns as the Aggies capped a perfect 10-0 regular season with a 27-20 victory over Widener University in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game.

The Aggies, ranked ninth in the Division III coaches poll, also retained the Keystone Cup - the annual award handed out to the winner of the Delaware Valley-Widener game. They will now wait until tomorrow afternoon, November 14, to see who, when and where they will play in the NCAA Division III playoffs when the official 28-team bracket is announced.

Knoblauch, Delaware Valley's all-time leader in every passing category, completed 22 of 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 86 yards and a score on eight carries and rallied the Aggies back from a pair of early deficits.

The Pioneers (6-4, 5-4 MAC) took a 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game as they drove 42 yards on 11 plays, capped by Bob Warden's one-yard run into the end zone. Frank Vinci added the extra-point with 8:37 remaining in the opening quarter.

Delaware Valley responded just two minutes later as Knoblauch faked a handoff and ran down the right sideline untouched for a career-long 61-yard touchdown. It was his eighth rushing score of the season, but Bill Miller's extra point attempt went wide left and the Aggies trailed 7-6.

Trapped at its own nine-yard line early in the second quarter, Delaware Valley orchestrated a 12-play, 91-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Knoblauch to David Carmon. Carmon tied four others for the school's single-game record for receptions with 11 grabs for 165 yards. The two-point conversion pass failed and the Aggies had a 12-7 lead with 8:43 left in the half.

Back came the Pioneers as they went 77 yards on six plays and Tyreak Saviour ended the drive by catching a pass, breaking a tackle and reaching the end zone from 17 yards out. The two-point conversion pass failed but Widener had a 13-12 lead with 6:17 remaining.

However, junior tailback Steve Cook scored two touchdowns in a span of 1:57 late in the half to give Delaware Valley a 27-13 advantage at the intermission. He caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Knoblauch with 2:59 remaining to cap a nine-play, 77-yard drive (Knoblauch hit fullback Anthony Ringle for the two-point conversion), and then ended an 83-yard scoring drive with a 30-yard touchdown run (Miller extra point) with 1:02 to go.

The rushing touchdown was Cook's 12th of the season, tying a school single-season record, and he also tied the overall scoring mark with 13 touchdowns. Cook carried the ball 29 times for 119 yards and became the Aggies's single-season rushing leader with 1,169 yards.

Widener fought back in the second half and made it a one-possession ballgame as Lomas hit Darren Shaw for a five-yard touchdown pass with 10:14 left in the third quarter. Lomas was 23-for-43 for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

In the waning moments of the third quarter, the Pioneers reached the Delaware Valley four-yard line for a second-and-goal situation. Elliott White rushed for three yards on the first play of the fourth quarter to set up third down. Bob Warden then ran in for the touchdown, but the officials ruled that the Aggies had called a timeout before the snap.

Lomas tried to sneak in on third down but was stopped short of the goal line. On fourth down, Warden was stuffed by Delaware Valley's defense, led by Clint LaStella and Matt Wallick. The Aggie offense then ran six minutes off the clock before Miller missed a 28-yard field goal. Widener reached Delaware Valley territory one more time by Lomas was picked off by Dawaine Whetstone at the 15-yard line with 2:09 to go.

The two teams, which combined for 990 yards in last year's 56-55 overtime victory by Delaware Valley, combined for 902 yards this season (Delaware Valley 506, Widener 396).

Terron Hall led Widener's ground attack with 69 yards on 10 carries while Warden finished with 50 yards on seven attempts. Saviour hauled in seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, B.J. Hogan led the way with 10 tackles and a forced fumble.

For Delaware Valley, freshman safety Kyle Mancuso notched eight tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and a sack. Whetstone added five tackles to go along with his fourth interception of the season.