Football

Delaware Valley College 16, Widener University 0

CHESTER (PA) - Bill Miller kicked three field goals and the Delaware Valley College defense notched its third shutout in a row as the Aggies blanked host Widener University, 16-0, in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) regular-season finale for both teams.

The win improved the Aggies to 8-2 overall, 7-2 and second place in the MAC and they retain the Keystone Cup (awarded annually to the winner of the Delaware Valley-Widener game) for the fourth straight year. The team will not await word as to whether or not they will receive one of the few at-large bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs (the selection show is at 2:00 p.m. on ESPNews on Sunday). If not, Delaware Valley will more than likely get a bid to an ECAC Bowl Game next Saturday (selections are announced on Monday).

Delaware Valley has not allowed a point in 190 minutes and 19 seconds of action and has not allowed a touchdown in 211 minutes of 13 seconds. The consecutive shutouts at King's (10-0), against Juniata (21-0) and Widener is the first, three-game streak of its kind since the 1980 squad blanked four straight opponents. Meanwhile, the shutouts against King's and Widener in consecutive away games were the first time that occurred since 1966.

Saturday's blanking was against a Widener (6-4, 6-3 MAC) team that entered the game ranked second in the conference in scoring (24.6 avg) and third in total offense (330.0 avg). The Aggies allowed 279 yards, including just 81 on the ground, and forced five turnovers.

Widener dominated field position in the first half and drove the ball inside the Delaware Valley 20-yard line three times, but came away with zero points each time. Two ended on missed field goals of 31 and 30 yards by Tom Laurich and another was stopped as Aggie linebacker Justin Porter intercepted a pass at the 11-yard line.

Another turnover by the Pride came late in the first half as John Pursell forced a fumble and Anthony Silver recovered it to give Delaware Valley the ball on its own 41-yard line with 1:50 remaining. The Aggies used two completions apiece to John Kiphorn and Joel Foreman, a Mike Isgro keeper and a Widener personal foul penalty to put the ball at the Pride four-yard line. Delaware Valley stalled from there and settled for Bill Miller's 22-yard field goal with no time left on the clock for a 3-0 lead.

Widener received the opening kickoff of the second half, but the Aggies' Chad Peterman stripped the ball away from Mike Schmidt and Will Staples recovered at the Pride 24. The ball moved back to the 30 and, on second down, Isgro scrambled and went untouched into the end zone. Miller added the extra-point for a 10-0 Aggie lead with 13:28 left in the third.

Miller made it 13-0 with a 35-yard field goal with 8:13 to go in the quarter. That kick made the senior the school's all-time scoring leader (all players) with 201 points and it was set up by a 33-yard halfback option pass from Jake Sheffield to Staples.

Late in the third, Kevin Bliss intercepted his sixth pass of the season to give Delaware Valley the ball at its own 43-yard line. Later in the drive, the Aggies faked a punt on a fourth-and-seven situation, and A.J. Neal picked up 17 yards and a first down. The drive eventually stalled, but Miller booted a 30-yard field goal with 44.7 seconds to go in the quarter and a 16-0 lead. The defense made that score stand from there.

Isgro finished 15-for-28 for 100 yards and added 66 yards and the lone score on 11 rushing attempts. Foreman caught five passes for 28 yards while Kiphorn added four receptions for 35 yards. Sheffield finished with 36 yards on 21 carries and also hauled in three passes for 17 yards.

John Pursell notched a game-high nine tackles and added a forced fumble while Bliss finished with eight stops and one interception. Kyle Mancuso had five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble from his safety position while Anthony Silver added to his school record with the 26th sack of his career. Freshman Charles Squitiere recorded his first collegiate interception and returned it 32 yards in the closing minute.

Widener's Matt Campbell completed 15 of 28 passes for 198 yards, but was picked off three times. Jamie Schild led all receivers with six catches for 113 yards while Khalee Prothro ran the ball 20 times for 97 yards, but was held to just 18 yards on eight carries in the second half.