University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Colgate University (Band Day / Class of 2018 Day)
Hurley Scores in Final Minute as Blue Hens Post Dramatic 28-25 Comeback Win Over Colgate
9/13/2014 9:26:00 PM | Football
The Raiders (0-2), coming off a bye week following a season-opening 30-10 loss at Ball State, seemed to have the game in hand after reeling off 16 straight points that included field goals of 40 and 32 by Jonah Bowman in the second quarter, a 32-yard field goal by Bowman midway through the third stanza, and a 25-yard run by quarterback Jake Melville with 2:03 left in the quarter.
The teams met for the first time since the 2003 season when Delaware downed Colgate 40-0 in the NCAA FCS national championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn. to claim the Blue Hens' sixth national title. Delaware has now defeated the Raiders in all six meetings and the Blue Hens extended their
non-league home winning streak to 22 straight games dating back to the 2006 season. Delaware took the opening kickoff and drove effortlessly down the field, completing the 75-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring pass from Hurley to senior tight end Nick Boyle (at left). But Colgate came back to take the lead as Bowman converted a career-long 43-yard field goal - his first of a stadium-tying record four on the day - on the Raiders' first possession and James Travellin scored on a two-yard dive.
Travellin's score was set up by a 75-yard interception return by linebacker Josh Diener down to the Delaware four-yard line.
The Hens regained the lead at 14-9 on another short Hurley to Boyle scoring toss with 42 seconds left in the opening quarter, but Colgate came back to take a 15-14 advantage into the break on field goals of 40 and 32 yards by Bowman.
Another 32-yard field goal by Bowman and Melville's 25-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter increased the Colgate lead to 25-14, setting the stage for Delaware's dramatic comeback.
Colgate moved 30 yards on its first drive of the final quarter but Travellin fumbled after being hit by Patrick Callaway and David Mackall recovered at the 50-yard line. The Hens then used nine plays to score their first touchdown since the first quarter when Hills bulled his way in from one-yard out with 7:03 left.
Delaware's defense clamped down again on Colgate's next possession, forcing Colgate to punt for 
the only time in the game from their own 34-yard line. Johnson returned the punt 17 yards to the 43-yard line to set up the final drive. Hurley completed five of six passes for 48 yards yards during the possession before running in from five yards out for the game-winner.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Hurley completed 25 of 36 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 32 yards and a score. He surpassed the 400 completion mark and 5,000 yards of total offense for his career at Delaware
• Colgate quarterback Jack Melville was 15 of 25 for 135 yards passing and led all rushers with 118 yards rushing
• Delaware redshirt freshman Blaine Woodson (at right) recorded a team-high six tackles and had two sacks
• Johnson caught a game-high eight passes for 85 yards for Delaware and led the team with 139 all-purpose yards
• Delaware has now scored a point in 206 straight home games at Delaware Stadium since 1983
• The Hens have now won 16 straight home games in the months of August and September
• Delaware will have a bye this week followed by the Hens' Colonial Athletic Association opener Sept. 27 at rival James Madison
