University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Close Out Season vs. #13 Villanova Saturday for Senior Day, Battle of the Blue
11/19/2016 12:37:00 AM | Football
DELAWARE “Blue Hens” (4-6, 2-5 CAA) vs.
#13/15 VILLANOVA “Wildcats” (7-3, 5-2 CAA)
Saturday, November 19, 2016 • 3:30 p.m. • The Comcast Network TV
Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium • Newark, Del.
Battle of the Blue • Senior Day
GAME PREVIEW:
Blue Hens Close Out 2016 Season Looking to Upset #13/15 Villanova in Battle of the Blue, Senior Day
NEWARK, Del. -- A season filled with more downs than ups comes to a close this week as the University of Delaware finishes off the 2016 campaign looking to post an upset in the annual Battle of the Blue series with local CAA rival #13/15 Villanova. The game will be televised live regionally on The Comcast Network.
The Blue Hens (4-6, 2-5 CAA) will look to finish on a high note after having a two-game win streak snapped in a 31-17 setback at No. 8 Richmond on Saturday. The Blue Hens battled throughout against the Spiders before four turnovers and several big plays by the high-powered UR offense proved to be too costly.
Delaware, which will say goodbye to its nine seniors in a pre-game ceremony, will be looking to reach the five-win mark for the first time since 2014 but for the 13th time in the last 15 seasons. In the process, the Hens will also attempt to snap a personal four-game losing streak to the Wildcats and win for the first time since 2011. Villanova has won 9 of the last 10 meetings.
Villanova (7-3, 5-2 CAA), whose head coach Andy Talley will be making his final regular season appearance before retirement, enters the game smarting from a 20-7 setback at home to No. 6 James Madison that snapped a six-game home win streak.
BATTLE OF THE BLUE
Delaware's fiercest rivalry, Delaware and Villanova will once again plays for the Battle of the Blue Trophy this week. The winner will receive the Battle of the Blue Trophy which made its debut in 2007. The ball features both team's logos and school colors with Villanova on the left half of the ball and Delaware on the right side. A base lists each year's game score. The winning team will receive the trophy and display it on campus until next year's game.
DELAWARE-VILLANOVA SERIES
• This week's game marks the 50th meeting all-time since 1895 with Villanova holding a 27-21-1 edge
• Villanova has won four straight and 9 of the last 10 meetings, including three straight come-from-behind victories, including a 35-34 victory at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. in 2013, a 35-28 win at Delaware Stadium in 2014, and a 28-21 victory at Villanova Stadium in 2015
• Villanova had won five straight games in the series before Delaware's 26-16 win in 2011 in the first-ever football game played at PPL Park. The win streak was the longest for either team since Delaware won six straight in 1990-95.
• Villanova is the only Delaware CAA opponent that has defeated the Hens five straight times
• Delaware's last win in the series was the 26-16 victory in 2011 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
• Delaware has lost five straight at Delaware Stadium in the series since a 41-35 victory in 2004
• Four of the gamess in the series - all since 1994 - have gone into overtime (Villanova leads 3-1)
• More than half of the games (25) have been decided by a touchdown or less and 33 by 10 points or less
Click HERE for complete game notes
