Football

Delaware Valley 35, William Paterson 0

WAYNE (NJ) -- Junior quarterback Adam Knoblauch threw for 196 yards and four touchdowns and became Delaware Valley College's all-time leader in completions as the Aggies downed William Paterson University, 35-0, in the non-conference season opener for both teams at Wightman Field.

Knoblauch finished 15-for-25, giving him 367 career completion to break the mark of 364 that was held by 2000 grad Joey Shenko. He threw scoring strikes to three different receivers, including two to sophomore wideout Don Marshall helping him tie the passing touchdown record of 50 also held by Shenko.

Meanwhile, the Aggie defense recorded a shutout for the first time in two years and held the Pioneers to 164 yards of total offense. The team won consecutive openers for the first time since 1948 and 1949 seasons.

Knoblauch hooked up with Marshall on a 20-yard scoring aerial 7:30 into the game thanks to a tremendous one-hand leaping grab. The drive, which was the first of the season for Delaware Valley, went 68 yards on six plays and included a 27-yard reverse by Lenzie Davis and a 18-yard screen pass from Knoblauch to Steve Cook.

Midway through the second quarter, William Paterson fumbled a punt return deep in its territory andStephen Shamberger recovered it to give the Aggies the ball at the nine-yard line. Two plays later, Cook bulled his way in from two yards out and Knoblauch hit Davis for the two-point conversion for a 14-0 score. Cook paced the Delaware Valley rushing attack with 67 yards on 16 carries

Knoblauch then threw three touchdown passes in the second half, including another connection with Marshall, this time from 23 yards out that gave the Aggies a 28-0 lead with :03 left in the third quarter. In addition, Knoblauch hit wideout Rob Wallace on a 12-yard touchdown toss and found John Kiphorn for a 31-yard scoring strike.

William Paterson had a few chances to score, including a 15-play, 47-yard drive that helped it reach the Delaware Valley 5 before the Pioneers stalled and went into halftime down 14-0. The Pioneers also hit the left goalpost on a 35-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.

The Aggie defense was led by senior linebacker Andrew Erby, who made nine tackles, and a two-sack performance from junior defensive lineman Matt Wallick. Freshman Kyle Mancuso recorded his first career interception and returned it 24 yards in the fourth quarter.