Tag: Delaware

Jo Silver stars as Delaware tops Louisiana at 68 Ventures Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Senior running back Jo Silver rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to lead Delaware to a 20-13 victory over Louisiana on Wednesday at the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Louisiana (6-7) trailed by seven when it took possession on its own 7-yard line with 1:41 to play. The Rajin’ Cajuns moved the ball to the Delaware 7-yard line, but the game ended when Lunch Winfield’s third-down pass into the end zone was incomplete.

Delaware (7-6) quarterback Nick Minicucci was limited to 50 passing yards in the first half, but completed 19 of 30 passes for 176 yards and a TD. Sean Wilson led Blue Hens receivers with eight catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Kyre Duplessis added five receptions for 69 yards.

Winfield completed 21 of 36 passes for 231 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for a team-high 40 yards on 14 carries as Louisiana’s four-game winning streak was snapped.

Delaware led 7-0 after one quarter, 10-3 at halftime and 20-6 entering the fourth.

The Blue Hens opened the scoring on Silver’s 61-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Louisiana made it 7-3 on Tony Sterner’s 22-yard field goal with 7:05 left in the second quarter, but Delaware regained a seven-point lead when Nate Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining in the first half.

Delaware was up 17-3 after Miniccucci tossed a 35-yard TD pass to Wilson and Reed added the point-after kick with 12:40 remaining in the third. Reed’s second field goal, a 27-yard kick, extended Delaware’s lead to 20-3 with 6:59 left in the third.

The Rajin’ Cajuns trimmed their deficit to 20-6 on Sterner’s 39-yard field goal with 2:31 to go in the third, and were within seven after Shelton Sampson Jr. caught an 8-yard TD pass from Winfield and Sterner made the PAT with 7:49 to play. The TD came after Louisiana blocked a field goal.

–Field Level Media

Delaware, Louisiana to showcase different offense styles in 68 Ventures Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Teams with opposite offensive philosophies will tangle Wednesday night when Delaware faces Louisiana in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Delaware (6-6, 4-4 CUSA) has a pass-first offense directed by quarterback Nick Minicucci. The Blue Hens averaged 302.2 passing yards per game, which was the best in Conference USA and ranked sixth nationally. Delaware also tied for the lead in Conference USA in points per game (29.8).

Minicucci’s top targets in the passing game are wide receivers Sean Wilson and Kyre Duplessis. Wilson finished the regular season ranked fourth among Conference USA receivers in catches (60) and third in receiving yards (796). Duplessis was tied for fifth in receptions (55) and fifth in receiving yards (755).

“They’re a little unique in that they’re going to throw it a little more — a lot more — than what we’ve seen this year,” Louisiana coach Michael Desormeaux said. “We’re going to need a big day from our defensive line and the edge players in the pass rush. In the back end, we have to play with really good eye discipline.”

Minicucci also rushed for 10 touchdowns this season.

Louisiana (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) is a ground-and-pound team that has the 29th-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 189.8 yards per game. Running backs Bill Davis and Zylan Perry give the Rajin’ Cajuns a one-two punch in the backfield and have accounted for 1,407 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns this season.

Delaware, a perennial contender at the NCAA I-AA/FCS level over four decades including the 2003 national championship, joined the FBS this season and was technically ineligible for the postseason due to restrictions regarding teams transitioning from the FCS level. However, due to a lack of qualifying teams, Delaware was awarded a bowl berth after it completed the regular season on Nov. 29 with a 61-31 victory over Texas-El Paso to reach six wins.

“It’s very exciting,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said. “I grew up a coach’s son. My brothers and I — we loved the bowl season. … I can sit and remember years and years literally watching every bowl game, just edge of my seat in those games. To be part of it is pretty special.

“We loved our FCS playoffs. We enjoyed being part of that as well. And so this has been really exciting, I think, mainly because it’s novel. It’s something new for us and I know our student-athletes are really excited about it and as a program and a department there’s a feeling around here that’s palpable.”

Louisiana is playing in a bowl game for the eighth consecutive season, and for the 13th time in 15 seasons. The Ragin’ Cajuns overcame a 2-6 start by winning their last four games, all by single digits.

Louisiana will be seeking its first bowl victory since 2021.

“Excited for our guys to earn this opportunity,” Desormeaux said. “(Losing in bowl games) is a taste we desperately want to get out of our mouths. We didn’t do all this work and come this far just to get here. We’re intent on going out there and finding a way to win this game. I expect them to play really well and pretty hard and get one more for the Cajuns.”

–Field Level Media

Wake’s Jake Dickert pursues record win total in matchup vs. Delaware

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Wake Forest will aim to double its win total from each of the last two seasons on Saturday afternoon when it meets Delaware in Winson-Salem, N.C.

The Demon Deacons (7-3) continued their meteoric rise under first-year head coach Jake Dickert with a 28-12 victory over North Carolina last Saturday.

Dickert is tied with Bill Dooley (1987) for the most wins in school history by a first-year head coach. That’s quite an accomplishment given that Wake Forest was selected to finish 16th out of 17 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll.

For Dickert, it’s not about one player carrying the mail. It’s more about complementary football.

“Football is a crazy game. You bring a different team to the field every week,” he said Monday. “The mentalities of the young people change, the perception of how you look at it changes, and the more consistent you can be to that approach, the better you can be.”

Carlos Hernandez recorded season-high totals in catches (six) and receiving yards (100) while recording his first two touchdowns of the season against the Tar Heels. Hernandez alertly picked up a teammate’s loose ball and rushed 51 yards for a score in the first quarter and was on the receiving end of a 70-yard flea-flicker in the third.

Robby Ashford threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Demond Claiborne produced 98 rushing yards with a score as Wake Forest picked up its second win in a row.

Delaware (5-5) fell for the fourth time in the past six games with a 26-23 setback at Sam Houston last Saturday.

The Blue Hens nearly overcame a 26-10 deficit early in the fourth quarter, but a successful onside kick led to an unsuccessful 36-yard field-goal attempt with 21 seconds to play ended their threat.

“Hard to wrap my head around, to be honest,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty told Blue Hens Radio. “Obviously, we had a slow start, worked our way down in the red zone, got a penalty, worked our way back out of it, kept getting more penalties.

“Too many turnovers, too many mistakes, too many sacks. Too little, too late.”

Sean Wilson had career-best totals in catches (nine) and receiving yards (162) vs. the Bearkats. He has at least 100 receiving yards in three straight games.

–Field Level Media

Aug 29, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders congratulates Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter (3) following a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado seeking first win of season, welcomes new FBS member Delaware

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado missed a chance for a significant win in its opener last weekend and now turns the page and focuses on playing Delaware on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

Colorado (0-1) took some positives from the 27-20 home loss to Georgia Tech on Aug. 29, most notably ball security. The Buffaloes didn’t commit a turnover against the Yellow Jackets, but they didn’t take enough advantage of their three takeaways, scoring just once.

The most significant issue was clock management on the final drive. Head coach Deion Sanders’ squad had the ball with 1:07 remaining but didn’t use the two timeouts it had left.

Quarterback Kaidon Salter, taking over for Sanders’ son Shedeur (now with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns), had a solid day, completing 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to DeKalon Taylor to open the game’s scoring in the first quarter. Salter, a transfer from Liberty in his Colorado debut, also ran for 43 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

However, Deion Sanders said highly-touted freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis will take some snaps Saturday but declined to address who would start.

“He’s playing this week for sure,” Deion Sanders said. “I know when I’m going to see him. You just don’t know when you’re going to see him. I know when we’re gonna see him.”

Delaware (1-0) made the jump from FCS to FBS this season and opened with a 35-17 win over Delaware State. Quarterback Nick Minicucci threw for 270 yards (28 of 36) and three touchdowns and ran for 44 net yards and another on nine carries in the victory.

He will face a defense that allowed Georgia Tech QB Haynes King a combined 299 yards running and passing.

Saturday will be the first time the Blue Hens faces another FBS team since making the leap to the top level, and their first game ever against a current or former member of the Big 12 Conference.

Delaware’s roster has 14 transfers from Power 4 programs. One of those, defensive end Noah Matthews, came to the Blue Hens via the University of Kentucky to play for a school that is located an hour from where he grew up in the state.

“I wanted to come back and show people, this is what Delaware does,” Matthews told ESPN. “We can play big-time football, too. After this year, they’ll know exactly who we are.”

Sanders is impressed by Delaware.

“I love what they’re doing,” Sanders said. “On film, they do some nice things. They got some people that could make things happen offensively, as well as them getting to the ball defensively.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) looks to avoid a tackle while running with the ball during the first quarter against the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

No. 7 Penn State rolls past Delaware 63-7

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nicholas Singleton rushed for three touchdowns and Kaytron Allen added 103 rushing yards and a score to help No. 7 Penn State roll to a 63-7 victory over FCS program Delaware on Saturday afternoon at University Park, Pa.

Drew Allar completed 22 of 26 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for a score for the Nittany Lions (2-0). Tyler Warren caught a touchdown pass for Penn State, which racked up 33 first downs and totaled 541 yards.

Marcus Yarns rushed for 86 yards on six carries, including a 66-yard scoring run for Delaware (1-1). The Blue Hens, ranked No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll, had just 140 yards and five first downs.

Ryan O’Connor was just 3-of-10 passing for 21 yards for Delaware. Zach Marker completed 3 of 7 passes for 37 yards and one interception.

Penn State ran 91 plays to Delaware’s 41.

Singleton scored all three of his touchdowns in the first half as the Nittany Lions took a 35-7 lead.

Singleton scored from the 2-yard line for Penn State’s first touchdown with 8:19 left in the quarter. Allen scored on a 4-yard run with 2:16 left to make it 14-0.

Delaware’s big highlight came 71 seconds later as Yarns took a handoff and scampered through a big hole up the middle and outran the Penn State secondary to get the Blue Hens on the board.

Singleton restored order with a pair of 5-yard scoring runs, the latter making it 28-7 with 4:36 left in the half. Allar hit Warren from 2 yards out with 22 seconds left to account for the 28-point halftime lead.

Allar scored from the 1 on Penn State’s first third-quarter possession to make it 42-7. That ended his day and backup Beau Pribula scored on a 6-yard run with 7:16 remaining in the period.

Dominic DeLuca intercepted Marker and returned it 26 yards for a score as the Nittany Lions stretched the lead to 56-7 with 2:43 left in the third.

Pribula tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to Omari Evans with 7:35 left in the contest.

–Field Level Media

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) and center Hunter Nourzad (64) point out a detail in the West Virginia defense during the season opener at Beaver Stadium September 2, 2023, in State College.

No. 7 Penn State presents massive challenge for Delaware

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Drew Allar was as good as advertised in his first career start at quarterback for No. 7 Penn State.

Allar will look to follow the strong outing when the Nittany Lions (1-0) host FCS program Delaware on Saturday at University Park, Pa.

Allar completed 21 of 29 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 38-15 victory over West Virginia.

He is the first Penn State quarterback to pass for at least 300 yards in his first career start since Michael Robinson threw for 379 against Wisconsin in 2013.

“It’s really rewarding,” Allar said. “I mean, as a quarterback the only stat I really care about are the wins at the end of the day. To beat a team like West Virginia in a great environment is definitely really cool, especially being my first start.”

Allar is being counted on to replace Penn State all-time passing-yardage leader Sean Clifford (10,661). Allar threw four touchdown passes against no interceptions in 60 attempts as the backup last season.

Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was impressed with what he saw from the 6-foot-5 Allar last week.

“I thought he did a really good job of managing the game from a decision-making standpoint,” Franklin said. “He’s extremely poised. Like we’ve talked about in the past, he’s mobile for a big guy who does a great job of climbing a pocket and keeping his eyes up. I was very pleased.”

Receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught two touchdown passes, including a 72-yarder. He had four receptions for 123 yards.

Defensively, linebackers Abdul Carter, Dominic DeLuca, Curtis Jacobs each recorded a sack. Jacobs had 10 tackles for his third career double-digit output.

Jacobs was pleased to see the offense put together a 10-play, 81-yard touchdown drive after West Virginia scored a touchdown early in the second quarter to tie the game at 7.

“We’re resilient. Obviously, they came down and punched us in the mouth early with that touchdown,” Jacobs said. “And to see the offense come right back out and strike down the score. It gives you confidence just being able to play complementary football like that.”

Delaware (1-0) opened its season with a 37-13 victory over host Stony Brook on Thursday in Coastal Athletic Association play. The Blue Hens, ranked No. 19 in the FCS coaches poll, had a 559-327 edge in total offense.

Now Delaware will be on the type of stage it hasn’t seen before — Penn State drew 110,747 fans for the opener against West Virginia. The game at Stony Brook was attended by 11,132.

“We’re excited about it,” Blue Hens coach Ryan Carty said Monday on a conference call. “It’s a great opportunity for us to go out there and showcase who we are and play against the best.”

Ryan O’Connor completed 24 of 38 passes for 346 yards and one touchdown against Stony Brook in his first career start. Marcus Yarns rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, while Chandler Harvin had five catches for 100 yards.

Defensive backs Tyron Herring, Christian Pierce and Ty Davis all had interceptions. Davis returned his 50 yards for a touchdown.

Of course, visiting Penn State is vastly different than a road game at Stony Brook. Carty said crowd noise will be pumped into parts of practices, but otherwise his club won’t change its routine.

“We’re going to try to not make it too big of a moment,” said Carty, “but we also have to make sure we are dialed in and focused in preparations so we can go out there and perform.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Noah Vedral (0) hands off to running back Aaron Young (4) during the second half against the Temple Owls at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Unbeaten Rutgers chasing improved offense vs. Delaware

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For the first time since 2014, Rutgers is off to a 2-0 start even though its results on offense are not necessarily indicative of its record.

Ranked near or at the bottom nationally of several major offensive categories, the Scarlet Knights hope to display an improved ability to move the ball and remain unbeaten Saturday afternoon when they host FCS foe Delaware in Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers (2-0) is seeking its first 3-0 start since winning the first seven games of the 2012 season in coach Kyle Flood’s debut season after Greg Schiano’s first stint. The Scarlet Knights are unbeaten despite ranking 129th in yards per completion, 118th in total offense, tied for 114th in third-down conversion, tied for 98th in red zone offense and 93rd in rushing offense.

In the season opener, Rutgers cruised to a 61-14 win over Temple despite getting 365 total yards offense, and in Saturday’s 17-7 win at Syracuse, offense was significantly more difficult to come by. Against Syracuse, the Scarlet Knights totaled 195 yards on offense, converted 3 of 15 third downs and did not score until Kyle Monangai’s 11-yard TD run with 6:46 left in the third quarter.

Quarterback Noah Vedral completed 22 of 28 passes for 145 yards and a go-ahead touchdown later in the third quarter.

“I actually thought Noah did exactly what he needed to do,” Schiano said. “He needed to come here and play a clean game, and he really did do that.”

Delaware (2-0) is ranked sixth in the STATS Perform FCS poll, made the FCS semifinals last season and was picked second in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll. The Fightin’ Blue Hens followed up a 34-24 win at Maine with a 27-10 win over St. Francis (PA) when Nolan Henderson completed 18 of 23 passes for 259 yards.

“Delaware was one of the best (four) teams in the whole country last year — that’s why they played (in the semifinals),” Schiano said. “As you watch them, they’re a good football team. They have good players on offense, good players on defense and good players in the kicking game. We understand exactly what Delaware is.”

Delaware is 0-9 against FBS opponents since Joe Flacco led a 59-52 win at Navy in 2007. In 2019, Delaware held a lead into the fourth quarter in a 17-14 loss at Pittsburgh.

“College football is a beautiful thing,” Blue Hens coach Danny Rocco said. “On any given Saturday, you just start all over every week.”

Saturday is the 32nd meeting between the schools but first since 1973.

–Field Level Media

Delaware Sees Slight Dip in Betting Handle for October

Posted on | by Jill Dorson

In October, Delaware’s total sports betting handle dropped almost $2 million, from $16,830,010 in September to $14,738,223, according to the latest report from the Delaware Lottery. But that $14.7 million September handle is the second biggest since the First State became the first state outside Nevada to offer full-fledged, legal sports betting in June.

Previously the state offered parlay wagering on NFL contests only, an offering that was “grandfathered” in under the 1992 federal law ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in May. That law had banned full-fledged sports betting outside Nevada.

Delaware Park, located less than an hour from Philadelphia, remained the busiest sportsbook. Bettors placing $10.6 million in wagers there, compared to the $2.2 million handle at Dover Downs and $1.9 million at Harrington Raceway.

 
 

Read more Delaware Sees Slight Dip in Betting Handle for Octoberon SportsHandle.

New Mexico Lottery to Offer Game Tied to Sports

Posted on | by Jill Dorson

The New Mexico Lottery Board on Tuesday voted to approve a game linked with the outcome of sporting events, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. The game will mark the second venture for an entity in New Mexico to offer sports betting after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May. Just last month, the tribal-owned Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel, with USBookmaking as its operator, launched a sportsbook. 

Though details of the new lottery game were not made public, it’s likely it will involve parlay wagering, similar to Delaware’s sports lottery. In such a game, players must select the winners of at least three sports events and select each one correctly in order to win.

The driving force behind developing a sports-related lottery game is to generate more money for education, which the lottery funds. Lottery CEO David Barden told the Santa Fe New Mexican that the new game could produce $30 million a year, with $9 million to be directed to the lottery’s college tuition assistance program.

 
 

Read more New Mexico Lottery to Offer Game Tied to Sports on SportsHandle.