University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
#6/3 Villanova
Blue Hens Come Up Just Short in Battle of the Blue, Fall 28-21 to #6 Villanova
9/19/2015 4:03:00 PM | Football
• Boxscore
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- It was another tough finish for the University of Delaware football team against rival Villanova Saturday afternoon on the Main Line, but this time All-American quarterback John Robertson didn't have much to do with it.
Delaware, looking to pull the big upset in this annual Battle of the Blue matchup, took the lead early in the fourth quarter but couldn't pull out the win as Wildcat backup quarterback Zach Bednarczyk scrambled 21 yards for a touchdown with 2:35 left to lift No. 6 Villanova to the 28-21 victory.
The Blue Hens (1-2, 0-1 Colonial Athletic Association), who have now lost by a touchdown or less to Villanova (2-1, 1-0 CAA) each of the last three seasons, had taken a 21-14 lead on a 23-yard scoring burst up the middle by redshirt freshman Thomas Jefferson with 10:58 left to play.
Unfortunately the Hens could not hold on as Bednarczyk hit Kevin Gulyas on a six-yard scoring strike just two plays after Robertson left the game with a leg injury. When Villanova kicker Steve Weyler missed the extra point, Delaware still held a 21-20 lead with 6:18 remaining.
After the Hens could manage to pick up only five yards on its next drive and had to punt, Bednarczyk came back to lead the Wildcats on game-winning 74-yard drive capped by his 21-yard scramble. A 34-yard pass to Gulyas and 21-yard strike to Aaron Wells highlighted the drive.
Dave Brock. "I really feel for the men in that locker room, they gave every single thing they had. It was a tough, hard-fought game and I couldn't be more proud. They played their hearts out. We just have to find a way to finish. We didn't
play well enough and that's the reality. I love the effort, but I'm sick about the result."
Delaware had one last chance to tie the game but Blue Hen redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Walker (at right) was sacked twice and then was intercepted by Wes Smith on a desperation pass downfield to seal the VU victory.
Walker was much improved from his previous start in the 19-9 win over Lafayette last week as he hit on 13 of 28 passes for 94 yards and rushed for 48 more yards.
Delaware junior running back Jalen Randolph picked up a game-high 84 yards and scored a first quarter touchdown before leaving the game with a leg injury in the third quarter. His status is uncertain for next week's game at North Carolina.
Jefferson and Kareem Williams each ran for 34 yards for the Blue Hens while Diante Cherry shook off a leg injury to catch eight passes for 78 yards.
Robertson, the 2014 Walter Payton Award winner as the top player in the nation at the NCAA FCS level, threw a 70-yard pass to Gulyas on the first play of the game and scored on his own from six yards out several plays later to stake the Wildcats to a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game.
But Delaware bounced back to take the lead on a 34-yard field goal by Frank Raggo and Randolph's one-yard dive. Villanova took the lead back on Robertson's eight-yard toss to Gary Underwood, but Delaware crept back to within 14-13 at halftime when Raggo nailed a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the stanza.
Neither team scored in the second half until Jefferson's go-ahead touchdown romp up the middle, but the Hens couldn't put any more points on the board.
Robertson was 14 of 24 for 208 yards while Bednarczyk went 4 for 6 for 57 yards passing. Gulyas ended the day with eight receptions for 152 yards.
"I'm proud of our guys, we give it our all," said Delaware senior captain David Tinsley. "The last two games we are a totally different teams. You can just feel us getting better each passing week and hopefully we can build off this game."
Hen Scratchings
• Delaware freshman Ray Jones had another solid day for the Blue Hens as he returned three kickoffs for 89 yards and recorded a team-high six tackles
• Delaware lost its CAA opener for the first time since a 2009 loss to Richmond
• The Hens were looking for their first win over a Top 10 team since a 32-31 victory at No. 7 Towson in 2013
• Delaware dominated the time of possession category, holding the ball for 35:31 compared to Villanova's 24:29
• Villanova now leads the series by a 27-21-1 margin with 9 wins in the last 10 meetings but 10 of the last 15 meetings have been decided by 7 points or less
• Raggo has now converted 6 of his first 7 career field goal tries
