University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
#rv Jacksonville (Fla.) (Delaware Day)
Blue Hens Falter in Season Opener, Drop 20-14 Decision to Jacksonville
9/4/2015 10:41:00 PM | Football
• Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware's bend but don't break effort kept the Blue Hens in the game, but the offense never found its rythmn in a 20-14 setback to Jacksonville (Fla.) in the football season opener for both teams Friday night at steamy Delaware Stadium.
Delaware got two touchdowns from junior running back Jalen Randolph, including a one-yard dive with 1:20 left that pulled the Hens to within six points, but UD couldn't recover the onside kick and had its streak of 10 straight home opener wins snapped.
The big play came late in the fourth quarter when Jacksonville, clinging to a 13-7 lead, added to it 
when Justin Horton jumped on a fumble by Delaware redshirt quarterback Joe Walker in the end zone with 2:09 left to push the lead to 20-7.
Delaware, one of the nation's youngest teams with just seven seniors, managed just 297 total yards for the game, including 134 through the air as Walker and junior Blake Rankin shared signal-calling duties.
Jacksonville, which ranked among the national leaders in 2014 in scoring offense and total yards, managed just two offensive touchdowns and two field goals despite pililng up 339 total yards. Senior quarterback Kade Bell hit on 25 of 43 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown.
Dave BrockWes Hills (top left) led the Delaware rushing attack with 88 yards on 16 carries while Randolph rushed for 29 yards and also caught three passes for 20 yards, including a 22-yarder from sophomore wide receiver Diante Cherry off a fake with 1:20 left in the first half to tie the game at 7-7.
Delaware's share of the lead wouldn't hold up as Jacksonville kicker Brandon Behr converted field 
goals of 42 yards in the third quarter and 41 yards in the fourth quarter to push the Dolphins lead to 13-7.
"We just have to do a better job and get in a rythmn," said Randolph of the offense. "It wasn't an effort thing, we just didn't get it going and it was just not good enough tonight.
Jacksonville took a 7-0 lead in the opening stanza as the Dolphins moved 85 yards in 14 plays and got on the board on a 22-yard scoring strike from Bell to Andy Jones. Delaware's razzle dazzle touchdown just before halftime tied the game at 7-7.
Horton's big play was set up when Delaware's Ryan Torzsa (#24 above right) intercepted a pass at the Delaware three-yard line with 2:47 left. But on the Hens' second play, Walker was sacked by TJ Jenkins, coughed up the ball, and Horton fell on it for the decisive score.
Delaware showed it could mount a comeback as the Hens followed with a 46-yard drive and cut the lead to 20-14 on Randolph's one-yard dive. The touchdown was set up by a 15-yard pass from Walker to redshirt freshman Tre Brown and a 31-yard strike to redshirt freshman tight end Ryley Angeline to the JU one-yard line.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Blue Hens staff return to action when ankin started the game and hit on 6 of 10 passes for 60 yards while Walker played most of the second half and was 3 of 9 for 52 yards
• Delaware had won 23 of its last 25 home openers and had not lost since a 24-21 setback to New Hampshire in 2004
• The Hens also had streak of 16 straight homes wins in the months of August and September snapped
• Delaware played seven true freshmen on defense and safety Ray Jones had six tackles and a pass breakup
• Despite being held to just 14 points, the Hens have now scored in 212 straight home games since the 1983 season
• Delaware senior captain David Tinsley had two of the Hens' three sacks
