Turnovers Prove Costly as Top-Ranked New Hampshire Football Pulls Away From Delaware in Second Half For 43-14 Victory

Saturday, November 15

Durham, N.H.

1:00 PM

University of Delaware

#1 New Hampshire

Turnovers Prove Costly as Top-Ranked New Hampshire Football Pulls Away From Delaware in Second Half For 43-14 Victory

11/15/2014 5:01:00 PM | Football

By: Delaware Athletics

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of Delaware stayed within striking distance of top-ranked New Hampshire for over a half, but could not overcome four turnovers as the Wildcats eventually pulled away for a 43-14 Colonial Athletic Association football victory Saturday afternoon at Cowell Stadium.

The Blue Hens, who were facing their first No. 1 ranked opponent since Eastern Washington in the 2010 FCS national championship game, had their two-game winning streak snapped while falling to 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the CAA.

Dave Brock

The Wildcats struck first with a 26-yard Christian Breda field goal, while Nico Steriti scored from six yards out on the final play of the opening quarter to give UNH a 10-point lead. The Wildcats extended the advantage to 17 when Goldrich connected with Spears on a 12-yard scoring toss with eight minutes to play in the second stanza, but Delaware would not go away.

On a fourth-and-one, Hills scampered 47 yards for a score to put the Blue Hens on the board, and UD immediately recovered an onside kick - with Kevin McLaughlin kicking and Justin Watson recovering the loose ball - to maintain momentum. Delaware eventually moved the ball to the UNH 20 yard line, but the drive stalled and Garrett Greenway's 37-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright.

UD had another chance late in the half when Patrick Callaway recovered a fumble forced by David Mackall on the Wildcats' 40, but Hurley was intercepted as New Hampshire took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.

The Wildcats received the third quarter kickoff and marched right down the field, capping a 75-yard drive when Goldrich hit Spears for a 16-yard strike. However Delaware would answer in just five plays, as Hurley connected with Jerel Harrison on a 47-yard pass to the UNH 2 before Hills scored on the ensuing play to bring UD within 23-14 at the 9:02 mark of the quarter.

But UNH would counter with a four-play, 65-yard drive, as Spears hauled in his third touchdown pass of the game from 19 yards out to again make it a 16-point game.

Early in the fourth quarter Nick Boyle caught a pass from Hurley but then fumbled, while the Wildcats recovered on the Delaware 30 and scored four plays later on a two-yard rush by Jimmy Owens with 12 minutes remaining. On the Blue Hens' next possession Hurley fumbled while being sacked, giving the Wildcats the ball on the Blue Hen 28 yard line. The Wildcats again capitalized on the UD turnover, when Goldrich hit Harris for a nine-yard strike to close the scoring.

Michael Johnson caught a team-high seven passes on the day for Delaware and now has 72 receptions for the year, becoming the fourth UD player in school history to haul in at least 70 passes in a season. Mackall and freshman linebacker Donte Raymond led the UD defense with 11 tackles each.

“We had an opportunity to cut the lead to three points late in the second quarter, but we just weren't able to capitalize,” Hurley stated. “I missed some shots, and when we tried to make some plays late in the game, it kind of got away from us.”

Delaware closes out its 2014 regular season next Saturday when the Blue Hens host rival Villanova at 12 noon at Delaware Stadium.

HEN SCRATCHINGS:
• Delaware is now 3-8 all-time vs. top-ranked team, including an 0-2 mark vs. New Hampshire
• Delaware has now scored in the first half in 10 straight games and in 70 of the last 71 games since 2009
• The Hens were looking to win three straight games in the month of November for the first time since 2004
• Delaware senior FS Jake Giusti played in his 50th career game at Delaware, becoming the 26th UD player to reach that milestone
• Between Hills and fellow sophomore Jalen Randolph, the Hens have had a 100-yard rusher in six of the last eight games