UD Football 2005

Delaware Wins Rivalry Game Against Villanova 38-13; Finishes Season With Winning Record

2005-11-22T18:01:00.000-05:00

The University of Delaware Football Team concluded their 2005 season this past Saturday, beating Atlantic 10 conference rival Villanova 38-13. The game was played at Villanova Stadium in Pennsylvania. The Blue Hens finished the season 6-5 overall and 3-5 in the A-10. This was the 17th time in 18 years that UD finished the season above .500. The Villanova Wildcats fell to 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the A-10.

Senior quarterback and captain Sonny Riccio (pictured left) led the Blue Hens to victory in his final collegiate game. Riccio rushed for a career high 90 yards and 4 touchdowns in the game while sophomore running back Omar Cuff tacked on 125 yards and 1 touchdown. Riccio finished his career with a 15-9 record as a starter at Delaware. After the game Riccio said: "Things really worked out great today. We did a great job running the option. We wanted to take the ball on the opening drive and go up 7-0 right away, and that’s what we did." Cuff finished the season with 1,205 yards, putting him 8th on the all time list for yards in a season at Delaware. Freshman kicker Zach Hobby kicked a 34 yard field goal in the game, his season long. The field goal was Hobby's seventh of the season, tying a school record for field goals by a freshman in one season. Stephen Purkey and Matt Marcorelle each forced fumbles for the Blue Hen defense and Tom Parks and Marquez Davis had the recoveries. Nicos Chavis came up with an interception as well. In addition John Mulhern became the 13th player in UD history to record over 300 career tackles. Mulhern ended his career with 306.

Head Coach KC Keeler put it well in his post game press conference:

“This is always a rivalry game so it’s very rewarding getting a win at their place today. We really wanted to finish the season off in the right way and we won two big games on the road. We were really charged up to play today, and our kids really came through. This is a great way to finish the season and it gives us a nice springboard to next year."

It was nice to see the Blue Hens win their last two games of the season to end up on a highnote and with a respectable record. Although many UD football fans, including myself, were upset with the team's performance this year, I think the team has a strong core for the years to come. 2005 was a rebuilding season for the Blue Hens. With many key players like Omar Cuff returning next year, 2006 should see some better results from the football team.

It is possible that this will be my last post on this blog. If that is the case, I would just like to say that I have had a great time constructing this blog and keeping it updated. Thank you to those who visited the site and posted comments. Take care. GO BLUE HENS!!!!!

Delaware Outlasts William & Mary 22-21

2005-11-14T21:13:00.000-05:00

The University of Delaware Blue Hens improved to 5-5 overall and 2-5 in the Atlantic 10 conference with a 22-21 victory over No. 24 William & Mary this past saturday. The loss was the third straight for the Tribe who fell to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the A-10. Omar Cuff surpassed the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season with his sixth 100+ yard game.

The Tribe got on the scoreboard first when QB Jacob Phillips scored on a 1 yard touchdown run with 4:16 remaining in the first quarter. The game remained 7-0 until until late in the second quarter. With 3:41 left to go in the half, Cuff evened the score on a 1 yard touchdown run into the endzone. W&M responded quickly driving 69 yards down the field in six plays and scoring on another 1 yard run by Phillips with just 1:33 left to play in the half. Delaware could have easily lost momentum, but on the ensuing kickoff Rashaad Woodard returned the football 45 yards. The big specials teams play by Woodard ignited the Delaware offense. With just 59 seconds left on the clock, QB Sonny Riccio's pass was deflected in the end zone and ended up in the hands of WR Armand Cauthen for 21 yard touchdown completion. The score tied the game 14-14. W&M fought right back and found themselves on the 10 yard line with just seconds left in the half, however K Greg Keuhn missed a short field goal to keep the game tied.

W&M broke the tie on their first possession of the third quarter by driving 78 yards down the field and scoring on a 2 yard touchdown pass from Phillips to Matt Otey. Delaware was forced to punt on their following position and P Stuart Kenworthy's punt was blocked and recovered by a W&M player on Delaware's 11 yard line. The Blue Hen's defense held strong and forced W&M to attempt a 35 yard field goal. Keuhn missed his second try of the game keeping the score 21-14 in favor of the Tribe. On their next possession, W&M again threatened to score but came up empty as Keuhn missed his third kick of the game, this one was 46 yards attempt. The Delaware defense came up big when John Mulhern (pictured left) and Matt Marcorelle sacked Philips in the end zone for a safety to decrease the Tribe lead to 21-16. On W&M's next posession Mulhern intercepted a pass by Phillips. After the game Mulhern said “Coach Keeler kept saying the the whole year that we don’t make enough plays to get a win, but today we did.” After the interception, the UD offense drove 62 yards down the field. The drive ended when Riccio connected with Aaron Love for a six yard touchdown, putting Delaware on top 22-21 with 4:17 left to play in the game. Coach KC Keeler had his team go for the two-point conversion but they were not successful. W&M had enough time to get down the field and score however, the game was sealed for the Blue Hens when Kyle Campbell intercepted a pass with less than 1 minutes to play.

Cuff finished the game with 28 rushes for 101 yards and 5 receptions for 49 yards. Riccio completed 17 of 29 passes for 179 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Campbell led the Blue Hen defense with 10 tackles while Fred Andrew added 8.

This was a much needed win and hopefully the Blue Hens can end the season on a high note by beating Villanova next week to win two straight. That is right folks, the 2005 college football season will end for Delaware next Saturday, when the Blue Hens travel to Villanova to play their rivals the Wildcats. Check out the entire GAME PREVIEW. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm and the game will be televised on CN8.

Players To Watch:
Omar Cuff - 28 carries 101 yards; 5 receptions 49 yards; 1 touchdown
Sonny Riccio - 17 completions on 29 attempts 179 yards; 2 TD; 0 INT
Aaron Love - 3 receptions 28 yards; 1 touchdown
Armand Cauthen - 1 recption 21 yards; 1 touchdown
Kyle Campbell - 10 tackles; interception
John Mulhern - 7 tackles; 1.5 sacks for -8 yards; interception
Tom Parks - 4 tackles; 2 sacks for -11 yards

Schedule:
November 19 at Villanova 1:00pm

Delaware Loses to UMASS 35-7

2005-11-08T14:42:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday the UD Blue Hens lost their last home game of the season to the 8th ranked University of Massachusetts Minutemen 35-7. The loss spoiled Senior Day at Tubby Raymond Field where the 13 seniors on the team were honored. UMASS was able to take advantage of 5 Delaware turnovers, which included 4 interceptions. UMASS won for the sixth time in their last seven games and improved their record to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the Atlantic 10. Delaware, which suffered its worst loss in coach KC Keeler's tenure, dropped to 4-5 overall and and 1-5 in the Atlantic 10.

UMASS scored early and often in this very lopsided game. On their first offensive drive of the game, the Minutemen moved the ball 81 yards down field and scored on a short run by QB Liam Coen. UMASS scored again with less than a minute left in the first half to bring the score to 13-0. When Delaware got the ball back with just seconds left before halftime they chose to be risky and try to score before time ran out. This proved to be costly. With 20 seconds remaining Sonny Riccio's pass was intercepted by a UMASS cornerback and returned 45 yards for a touchdown. This put the Minutemen on top 21-0 going into the half.

Delaware did not fair much better in the second half. UMASS increased their lead to 28-0 early in the third quarter when Coen connected with wide receiver Rasheed Rancher for an 84 yard touchdown. Delaware finally got on the board late in the third quarter when Riccio threw a 20 yard touchdown pass to freshman WR Armand Cauthen. The touchdown was the first of Cauthen's collegiate career. Unfortunately Delaware would not score again in the game. UMASS on the other hand, scored again in the fourth quarter to make the final score 35-7.

Delaware lost the game because of costly turnovers. Starting QB Sonny Riccio was intercepted 3 times and backup QB Ryan Carty was intercepted once. This is just unacceptable. A team can not throw 4 interceptions and expect to win a football game. This game was embarrasing for Blue Hen fans. I am actually glad that I was not able to attend the game, even though it was the last one of the season. I would rather remember my Delaware Football Saturday's on a more upbeat note.

Sophmore running back Omar Cuff, who has been having a great year so far despite the team's mediocre performance, rushed 16 times for 95 yards, bringing his season rushing total to 979 yards. If Cuff plays well next week, he will break the 1000 yard rushing mark for the season, which is a big accomplishment. Currently, Cuff leads the nation in scoring and is second in the Atlantic 10 in rushing yards.

Next week the Blue Hens travel to Williamsburg, Virginia to take on 24th ranked William & Mary in Atlantic 10 conference action. Kickoff is set for 1:00pm.

NOTE: This week in the Players to Watch section I have listed all of the seniors on the football team and some of their stats from the season so far.

Players to Watch:
Sonny Riccio (QB) - 1,853 total yards; 14 total touchdowns
Roger Brown (DB) - 23 tackles; 1 forced fumble (only played in 3 games due to injury)
Brian Ingram (WR) - 22 receptions 212 yards; 1 touchdown
Joe Bleymaier (WR) - 15 receptions 170 yards; 3 touchdowns
Justin LaForgia (TE) - 20 receptions 205 yards; 1 touchdown
John Mulhern (LB) - 80 tackles; 2 sacks for -19 yards
Tom Parks (DL) - 27 tackles; 3 sacks for -27 yards
Brett Wharton (LS) - 3 tackles
Rob Bergman (OL) - 6 games played; 6 starts
Brian Sims (OL) - 9 games played; 9 starts
Mike Weber (P) - 37.3 yards/punt; Long = 50 yards

Schedule:
November 12 at William & Mary 1:00pm
November 19 at Villanova 1:00pm

Tamba Hali Earns National Defensive Player of the Week Honors as Penn State Beats Wisconsin 35-14

2005-11-06T23:42:00.000-05:00

Tamba Hali is a senior defensive end for the Penn State Nittany Lions who are now ranked 6th nationally in Division I college football. The Nittany Lions (9-1) are having an incredible season and have a good chance to play in a major bowl game. Tamba is a friend of mine from home in Teaneck, New Jersey where he was a high school standout and even though he does not play for Delaware, I like to watch his games and I wanted to celebrate his accomplishments on my blog.

This past Saturday, Penn State played 14th ranked Wisconsin in a game that most probably decided who the Big Ten Conference champions will be. Penn State proved that they are the real deal this season. Tamba played the best game of his collegiate career in his last game at Beaver Stadium, recording a total of 9 tackles including 7 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. His 4 sacks combined for negative 27 yards and tied the Penn State record for sacks in a game and his 7 tackles for loss broke the school record for TFL. Tamba's great performance earned him the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week Award. In addition to that honor, Tamba is also one of four candidates up for the Cingular/ABC All-America Player of the Week.

So far this season, Tamba has 11 sacks (for -79 yards) which leads the Big Ten and is fifth best in NCAA Division I. He also has a Big Ten leading 16 tackles for loss and has 54 total tackles. Tamba is an All-American candidate as well as a candidate for the Hendricks Award which is awarded to the best defensive end in college football.

I am very proud of Tamba and I hope to be watching him on Sundays next year playing in the NFL. Penn State has a week off this week and then visits Michigan State on November 19th in their last regular season game. I am sure they will also be playing in a bowl game.

Last Home Game of the Season!

2005-11-04T18:50:00.000-05:00

On Saturday Delaware will play its last home game of the season against the 8th ranked University of Massachusetts. UMASS comes into the game 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the Atlantic 10. It will be a tough battle for the Blue Hens who are 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the A-10. The game will be televised on CN8 for those of you who can not go, but I encourage everyone to try and make it to the game, especially you seniors. The way it looks now, even if Delaware does make the playoffs, they will not have another home game this season. This is most probably the last opportunity for most of us to attend a UD football game as undergrads. So go out, tailgate hard, cheer loud and enjoy yourselves.

Many of you have already commented that you do not plan on going to the last home game against UMASS. As bad as this may sound, I really do not blame you. Delaware football has been a disappointment this year as the team is rebuilding with a lot of young players. Many of you are just tired of seeing UD lose. I am too. However, I still would have liked to be able to go this game, the last of my college career. Unfortunately I have to work early on Saturday and will not be able to make it. Let me know if the rest of you plan on going or not.

Delaware Football Defeated by Maine 25-15

2005-11-02T21:18:00.000-05:00

This past week the Blue Hens headed to the University of Maine to take on the Black Bears in Atlantic 10 football conference action. Delaware entered the game coming off a huge win last week against defending national champs James Madison University. Maine like Delaware has been struggling this season and were looking for their first conference win of the season. In my eyes this was the game that was going to decide the rest of the season for the Hens. With a record of 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the league this game was make it or break it.

Unfortunately, Delaware was not able to put it together and come away with the victory. Maine got off to a strong start, going up 13-0 early in the second quarter. Delaware looked to be making a comeback after a 55 yard drive that lasted over 10 minutes ended with a touchdown run by Omar Cuff right before halftime. Freshman kicker Zach Hobby nailed two field goals in the second half to tie the game 13-13. Hobby has hit 6 of 7 field goals this season. With about 7:00 minutes remaining in the game, Delaware had the ball in the red zone looking to take the lead. However, on a run up the middle, Danny Jones (who was injured on the play) fumbled the ball and it was recovered by a Maine player. Maine then drove 88 yards and scored when QB Ron Whitcomb found Kevin McMahan in the end zone, puttin Maine on top 19-13 (missed the extra point). With just over 3:00 minutes remaining in the game, Delaware began their next drive on their own 42 yard line. On the first play of the drive, QB Sonny Riccio was sacked and fumbled the ball which was recovered by a Maine player and run to the 1 yard line. Maine scored again but missed a two point conversion to bring the score to 25-13. Delaware put together another good drive late in the game and found themselves on the Maine 1 yard line. But on 4th and goal Omar Cuff (who missed most of the second half with turf toe) was stopped short of the goaline by Maine defenders. The ball was turned over to Maine who actually snapped the ball out of the endzone for a safety, making the score 25-15. It was too little too late though for the Blue Hens who dropped to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the A-10 conference. Injuries and costly mistakes by Delaware were the difference in the game.

The Maine defense was lead by senior linebacker Jermaine Walker who had 17 tackles including 11 which were unassisted. Jermaine is from Teaneck, New Jersey and is a friend of mine from high school, so props to him on representing Teaneck well.

For Delaware, Riccio finished the game 15-of-23 for 158 yards, Danny Jones rushed 19 times for 108 yards, and Omar Cuff who saw limited action because of injury rushed 18 times for 33 yards and the Blue Hens only touchdown. Aaron Love was the leading receiver for Delaware, catching 8 passes for 78 yards. Defensively, KeiAndre Hepbrun lead the team with 9 tackles and half a sack, John Mulhern had 8 tackles, and Stephen Purkey had 7 tackles including a sack.

Next week, Delaware will host UMASS at 1:00pm in the last home game of the season. Make sure you make it to the game and check back for my next update.

Players to Watch:
Danny Jones - 19 carries 108 yards
Zach Hobby - 2 Field Goals (25, 29)
KeiAndre Hepburn - 9 tackles for -7 yards; 1/2 sack
Stephen Purkey - 7 tackles for -4 yards; 1 sack

Schedule:
November 5 vs UMASS 1:00pm
November 12 at William & Mary 1:00pm
November 19 at Villanova 1:00pm

Get Discounts at the Perkins Book Store!

2005-10-26T20:58:00.000-04:00

Some of you may already know this but I just found out. Apparently, every Friday before weekends when the football team has an away game, Delaware logo merchandise (hoodies, t-shirts, hats, etc) is 30% off at the University Bookstore at Perkins. In addition, every Monday following a football team victory, students can receive the same 30% off discount on logo merchandise. And if that wasn't enough, every Tuesday, if you wear a Delaware hoodie to the Bookstore you will receive 20% off the purchase of any hoodie in the store. This is a great deal and they have a lot of cool stuff in there. Get some gear to wear for possibly the last home game of some of our undergraduate careers.

Check out the story on UDaily.

Omar Cuff’s Four Touchdowns Leads Delaware Past JMU 34-28

2005-10-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

Sophomore running back Omar Cuff (above) ran for a career high 236 yards on 39 carriers and four touchdowns this past Saturday as the Blue Hens upset #13 James Madison University, defending national champions. The win was Delaware’s first in the Atlantic 10 this season and they improved to an overall record of 4-3. The win also broke a three game losing streak for Delaware. Just over 22,000 fans were in attendance on a gloomy and rainy day.

Cuff has emerged as a playmaker this season, and is a national leader in all purpose yards, touchdowns, and rushing yards. He is also an All-American candidate. Through 7 games, Cuff has accumulated 851 yards rushing, 330 yards receiving, and 15 total touchdowns.

Quarterback Sonny Riccio also had a solid game for the Blue and Gold, completing 9 of 18 passes for 80 yards and rushing for 54 yards. Riccio also threw a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin LaForgia. Riccio surpassed 4,000 career passing yards in the game, becoming only the seventh UD quarterback to do so.

Delaware looks to come back strong after loosing three straight prior to the win against JMU. If the Blue Hens play the football they are capable of playing, they should have no problem beating Maine next week who is 2-5 and still winless in the Atlantic 10. Next weeks game against Maine is away, however it will be televised on CN8.

Players to Watch:
Omar Cuff – 39 carries 236 yards; 4 touchdowns
Sonny Riccio – 9 completions on 18 attempts 80 yards; 1 touchdown; 0 INTs
Justin LaForgia – 4 receptions 44 yards; 1 touchdown

Schedule:
October 29 at Maine 12:00pm
November 5 vs UMASS 1:00pm
November 12 at William & Mary 1:00pm

Delaware Losses to Hofstra and Richmond; Extends Losing Streak to 3 Games

2005-10-16T18:36:00.000-04:00

Since my last post, the Blue Hens lost two straight games, increasing their losing streak to three games. On October 8, Delaware was defeated by Hofstra 10-6 in their Homecoming game. This past Saturday, they fell to Richmond in a 20-10 loss. Delaware is now 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Atlantic-10 Conference. The Blue Hens have not had a team lose three consecutive games in the same season since 1989. Delaware, ranked #5 in Division IAA at one point during the season, has watched their national rank continue to drop and will most probably be dropped from the national rankings after this past weekend’s loss to Richmond.

Delaware’s Homecoming game against Hofstra was played on a miserable day, as the weather conditions were cold and rainy. The rain led to terrible field conditions and caused a sloppy game that was mostly a defensive battle. The weather mirrored the feel around campus after the game. I thought you were supposed to win your Homecoming Game?

Because it was Homecoming, the football game was played when it probably should not have been. The field got so torn up and destroyed that the Richmond game, which was supposed to be a home game for Delaware, was moved to Richmond. In addition, it is uncertain if the field will be playable for next week’s game against JMU.

I am not going to lie. Things do not look good for the Blue Hens and this season is looking more and more like it is going to be a huge disappointment. Next week’s game is against James Madison University, defending national champions. The way Delaware has been playing lately the do not stand a chance. If the game is moved to JMU, the chances of winning are even worse. Next weeks game against JMU is critical. If Delaware wins it may be a catalyst to finish the season off strong and hope for a spot in the playoffs. However, if Delaware losses, I think that hopes of even making it to the post season are going to be slim to none. Delaware has a tough end-of-the-season schedule and have to change something.

I am sorry to be negative, but Delaware Football has really disappointed me lately. Until Delaware puts up a win, there will be no Players to Watch. Stay tuned for information concerning the site of next week’s game against JMU.

Players to Watch:
None

Schedule:
October 22 vs JMU 12:00pm (location TBD)
October 29 at Maine 12:00pm
November 5 vs UMASS 1:00pm

TAILGATING and HOMECOMING

2005-10-05T00:18:00.000-04:00

Although last week's loss to Towson was a dissappointment for Blue Hen fans, it is time to forget the past and get ready for Homecoming! This Saturday Delaware will take the field against Hofstra at 12:00 noon, however students will be "pre-gaming" by the time the sun comes up. Many of these students who will be tailgating to celebrate the Homecoming game, will not even show up to see the actual game. This has been a trend i have noticed recently and it does not just occur on Homecoming. Every week students tailgate outside the stadium, only to leave before the game even starts. This is something that I do not understand. What is the point of coming to the field to drink if you are not planning on attending the game? I hope some of you will comment with your opinions about tailgating. Also, please take the poll regarding tailgating on Homecoming which I have just added to the blog (Thanks Nickie).

Whether you will be tailgating, going to the game, either, or neither, I hope you all have a safe and fun Homecoming. LETS GO BLUE HENS!

Towson Stuns UD in 35-31 Upset

2005-10-04T22:46:00.000-04:00

The University of Delaware Blue Hens were handed their first loss of the season this past Saturday as they were upset 35-31 by an inferior Towson University. The game was Delaware's Atlantic 10 opener and their first game on the road. The win was Towson's first against an Atlantic 10 team since joining the conference last season.

Towson's running back Nick Williams lead the Tigers, rushing for a career high 169 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Sean Schaefer completed on 19 of 34 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown.

Delaware's running back Omar Cuff, who has been putting up great numbers this season, rushed 27 times for 127 yard and a touchdown. This was the sixth straight game (going back to last season) that Cuff had over 100 rushing yards, which tied a school record set by Gardy Kahoe in 1971.

After trailing 21-3 in the third qaurter, Delaware had seemed to make a late comeback. Quarterback Sonny Riccio threw touchdown passes to Joe Bleymaier and Omar Cuff and the Hens were only down by four points at the end of the 3rd quarter. Riccio found Bleymaier in the end zone again to put the Blue Hens on top 24-21 with just under 10 minutes to play in the game. Towson took back the lead when William got into the end zone on a 17 yard run with around 4 minutes to go. Playing with urgency, the Blue Hens put together an 81 yard drive and scored on a short run by Riccio to put the Hens ahead 31-28. The game seemed to be all but over, but apparently nobody told the Tigers. Trailing by 3 with 1:17 left to play, Towson drove down the field with a few long gains and a couple of costly penalties committed by Delaware. Williams scored his second touchdown with only 38 seconds to play, leaving Blue Hen fans wondering HOW?

With the loss, Delaware dropped from a #5 national rank to #13. They are now 0-1 in the Atlantic 10 and 3-1 overall. The Blue Hens must step up their play to have any hopes of advancing to the post season. Delaware was able to squeek by some weaker teams with mediocre play in the first few games. With teams like UMASS, William & Mary, and Villianova coming up on the schedule, Delaware has an uphill battle from here. Hopefully the dissappointing loss against Towson will be the last for the Blue Hens this season.

Players to Watch:
Sonny Riccio - 22 completions on 39 attempts 241 yards; 10 carries 28 yards; 4 TDs; 1 INT
Omar Cuff - 26 carries 127 yards; 8 receptions 76 yards; 1 touchdown
Joe Bleymaier - 5 receptions 54 yards; 2 touchdowns
KeiAn Hepburn - 10 tackles for -14 yards; 1 sack

Schedule:
October 8 vs Hofstra 12:00pm (HOMECOMING!!)
October 15 vs Richmond 3:00pm
October 22 vs JMU 12:00pm

Blue Hens Beat Holy Cross 35-23, Improve to 3-0

2005-10-01T17:30:00.000-04:00

The University of Delaware Blue Hens, ranked 6th nationally, won their third straight game as they defeated Holy Cross this past Saturday 35-23 at Tubby Raymond Field. More than 22,000 fans were in attendance for Delaware’s third and final night game of the season.

On Saturday, September 24th, I celebrated my 22nd birthday, and although I did tailgate before the game, I unfortunately did not make it to the actual game. Delaware’s sophomore running back, Omar Cuff (pictured left), was also celebrating his birthday on Saturday and luckily for Blue Hen fans, he mad it to the game. Instead of tailgating, Cuff celebrated his 21st by rushing for a career high 177 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns. This is the third game in a row this season that Cuff has surpassed the 100 yard rushing mark and fifth straight game going back to last season. Cuff’s three touchdowns brought his season total to 10 as he continues to lead Division IAA in scoring.
#28 – Happy 2-1

Quarterback Sonny Riccio also had a great game, completing 16 of 22 passes for 3 touchdowns and rushing five times for 60 yards. The Delaware offense combined for 430 yards of total offense.

The first half of the game was a defensive battle with neither team scoring until Holy Cross scored a touchdown with six minutes left in the half. However, Delaware battled back and Omar Cuff evened the score with a short touchdown run with under a minute until halftime.

The third quarter brought on a lot more offensive action and saw the lead change four times. Holy Cross took the lead again early in the quarter with a field goal. Delaware responded immediately however as Cuff scored on his second touchdown run from 23 yards out and gave Delaware the lead back 14-10. Holy Cross regained the lead for the final time when QB John O’Neil found WR Sean Gruber for their second touchdown connection.

The Blue Hens took the game over late in the third quarter. The Blue Hens put up 21 unanswered points as QB Sonny Riccio threw touchdown passes to Joe Bleymaier, Cuff, and Brian Ingram. Delaware’s 35-17 lead proved to be too much too late for Holy Cross who were able to make the score look a little respectable by scoring on a late touchdown.

This week the Blue and Gold, who climbed the ladder one spot to a #5 National Ranking, travels down the road into Maryland to face of with Towson (2-2) in their Homecoming Game. Look for the Blue Hens to improve to 4-0 in their first Atlantic 10 Conference game of the season. Although Delaware will be on the road for the first time this season, they go into the game with a lot of momentum from the Holy Cross game. Also, Towson is only in their second year in the Atlantic 10 and lack the experience of the Blue Hens.

Players to Watch:
Omar Cuff – 26 carries 177 yards; 3 receptions 27 yards; 3 touchdowns
Sonny Riccio – 16 completions on 22 attempts 124 yards; 3 touchdowns; 0 interceptions
Brain Ingram – 5 receptions 47 yards; 1 touchdown
Joe Bleymaier – 3 receptions 21 yards; 1 touchdown

Schedule:
October 1 at Towson 6:00pm
October 8 vs Hofstra 12:00pm (Homecoming)
October 15 vs Richmond 3:00pm

UD Fight Song Now Available!!

2005-09-18T23:09:00.000-04:00

I have just added a link that plays the University of Delaware's Fight Song as performed by the UD Marching Band. To be able to hear the song your computer must have Real Player enabled.

According to the University of Delaware Website:

"The Delaware Fight Song, popular since the 1930s, was composed by alumnus George F. Kelly. Its first appearance is found in the Student Handbook from 1933. It is performed at home football games and at other athletic contests by the Delaware Marching Band and other instrumental ensembles."

Eric Corson has asked me to post the words to the fight song as well, so he can sing along with the band at next week's night game against Holy Cross. Here they are:

And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware,
Fight for the Blue and Gold,
And when we hit that line,
Our team is there
with a daring spirit bold
And when we strike with might
Let foes beware
Our glorious name we'll uphold

And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware,
Fight for the Blue and Gold,
Delaware will shine to-night,
Delaware will shine.
When the sun goes down and
the moon comes up,
Delaware will shine.

And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware...
[repeat]

Delaware Defeats West Chester 42-21

2005-09-18T18:22:00.000-04:00

The Blue Hens, ranked 6th nationally coming into this week, looked good Saturday night as they rolled over Division II powerhouse West Chester University and improved their record to 2-0. For the second week in a row Tubby Raymond Field was sold out and Delaware fans got to see some good football.

Offensively, Delaware was lead by its running backs Omar Cuff and Danny Jones who combined for 237 yards on the ground. Cuff scored his sixth and seventh touchdowns of the season. This was the first time that Delaware had two players rush for over 100 yards in the same game since their 2003 National Championship season. “To have two runners go over 100 yards, that’s a great thing for us,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler. “Danny and Omar give us an outstanding one-two combination and we need that for a long season ahead.” (Quoting the UD Website). Quarterback Sonny Riccio was also on point, throwing for 176 yards and one touchdown and rushing for another touchdown. Riccio surpassed 3,000 passing yards for his career. Niquan Lee and Aaron Love also had big games for the Blue Hens. Lee scored twice on short yardage runs and Aaron Love caught his first touchdown of the season. Love also had a 49 yard punt return which set up a touchdown for Delaware.

The Blue Hens looked strong on the defensive side of the ball as well. Defensive captain Roger Brown recorded a team high 11 tackles while John Mulhern and Erik Johnson each had 9. Tom Parks, an All-American last season had two sacks on the day which totaled negative 14 yards for West Chester.

I watched most of the game from the students section and I would have to say the most exciting play of the game came at the end of the first half. West Chester had the ball with enough time for one more play. Rams QB Matt Burdalski heaved a long ball towards the end zone which was picked off by Rashaad Woodard. Woodard broke a number of tackles and returned the interception for 78 yards, ending up just shy of a touchdown. Although Delaware did not score on the play, it got the team and crowd excited for the second half. Also, I must say that the student section certainly gave the Blue Hens a home field advantage, standing and cheering loud the entire game.

Players To Watch:
Omar Cuff – 18 carries 116 yards; 2 touchdowns
Danny Jones – 21 carries 121 yards; 1 reception 9 yards
Niquan Lee – 4 carries 9 yards; 2 touchdowns
Aaron Love – 4 receptions 45 yards; 1 touchdown
Roger Brown – 11 tackles, 8 solo
Tom Parks – 2 sacks for -14 yards

Schedule:
September 24 vs Holy Cross 7:00pm
October 1 at Towson 6:00pm
October 8 vs Hofstra 12:00pm (Homecoming)

Cuff Named Division I-AA Offensive Player of the Week

2005-09-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

Omar Cuff earned Division I-AA Offensive Player of the Week honors for his five touchdown performance this past weekend. Cuff scored on all of Delaware's touchdowns as the Blue Hens beat Lehigh 34-33. With the victory UD advanced to a #6 national rank.

Omar Cuff Leads Blue Hens to 34-33 Win Over Lehigh

2005-09-14T23:05:00.000-04:00

Omar Cuff scored a school record 5 touchdowns this past Saturday as the University of Delaware Blue Hens pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Lehigh 34-33 in overtime.

22,500 fans sold out Tubby Raymond Field to see 10th ranked UD take on 14th ranked Lehigh in the Blue Hens home and season opener. The fans were treated to an exciting and intense match that had the feel of a playoff game.

Delaware came out of the gate sluggish as Lehigh dominated most of the first half. The Blue Hens found themselves down 27-13 with 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter after Lehigh scored on a rushing touchdown. Lehigh QB Mark Borda should be complemented on a hard fought game. Borda completed 32 passes on 52 attempts that totaled 272 yards.

Cuff, only a sophomore, took the game over midway through the fourth quarter. Cuff had already scored two rushing touchdowns earlier in the game and added two more in fourth. His fourth touchdown tied the game at 27 with only 20 seconds left in the game. In overtime Cuff added his fifth and final touchdown on a pass play from QB Sonny Riccio. Lehigh answered back in overtime with a touchdown but failed to make the extra point and the Blue and Gold took the victory.

Players To Watch:
Omar Cuff - 23 carries 101 yards; 4 receptions 53 yards; 5 touchdowns
Sonny Riccio - 20 completions on 31 attempts 206 yards; 2 touchdowns; 0 interceptions
Justin LaForgia - 6 receptions 45 yards
Kyle Campbell - 17 tackles, 9 solo
Jeremy Kametz - 2 sacks for -10 yards

Schedule:
September 17 vs Westchester 7:00pm
September 24 vs Holy Cross 7:00pm
October 1 at Towson 6:00pm

Welcome!

2005-09-06T14:42:00.000-04:00

Hello and Welcome to UD Football Team’s Unofficial Blog. My name is Matthew Fox and I will be tracking the 2005 season of the Division IAA Fighting Blue Hens. The purpose of this blog is to provide readers with scores and highlights as well as news and accomplishments of the team. Please make posts and comments to this blog with your opinions and ideas.

In 2005, the Blue Hens are looking to improve on last year’s admirable 9-4 record and will again contend for the Division I-AA National Championship which they won in 2003. In 2004 Head Coach KC Keeler brought his team to NCAA I-AA quarterfinals. The team will look to senior captains Sonny Riccio (QB) and Roger Brown (DB) for leadership and encouragement. Other players who could make an impact this year include Sophomore DB Omar Cuff, Junior DB Rashaad Woodard, Junior DL Bubba Jesperson, Senior DL Tom Parks, Junior RB Niquan Lee, Senior OL Brian Simms, and Senior WR Brian Ingram.

Recently, the UD football was ranked 10th in a preseason poll conducted by Sports Network. The Blue Hens begin their 2005 campaign with three home night games. UD opens against Lehigh on September 10th, and then takes on West Chester on September 17th, and Holy Cross on September 24th.

2005 guarantees to be an exciting season for the Blue and Gold. Please continue to read our posts and make your own comments as well. -M. Fox