University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
7-4 , 5-3
Villanova
5-6 , 2-6
Blue Hens Drop 42-21 Decision to Villanova
11/17/2018 5:27:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – Rivalry games are always a different beast. Records don't matter.
That was exactly the case on Saturday when the University of Delaware dropped a tough 42-21 decision to long-time rival Villanova in the "Battle of the Blue" at Delaware Stadium.
"I'm disappointed in the outcome. I'm disappointed in how we played. That goes squarely on me and I'm going to take a long hard look at things and really evaluate where we are as a program and a team," head coach Danny Rocco said. "We faced some adversity with some key guys going down, but all-in-all, we just weren't good enough and that's disappointing."
Senior Nasir Adderley racked up his second straight double-digit tackle performance with 11 on the afternoon, while classmate Charles Bell finished with nine tackles to climb into the program's all-time tackle list with 324 in his career.
Sophomores Nolan Henderson and DeJoun Lee provided the offensive spark for the Blue Hens after starting QB Pat Kehoe and RB Kani Kane were unavailable for much of the game with injuries. Henderson finished 12-of-20 for 152 yards and a TD, while Lee racked up 98 yards rushing and his first two collegiate rushing TDs.
"We didn't get the job done, plain and simple. We executed and focused all week and we knew we were going to get a healthy and hungry Villanova team and they simply outplayed us and that's not acceptable," Bell said.
Delaware jumped on the momentum early with six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an electrifying 38-yard TD run from Lee to give the Blue Hens a 7-0 cushion.
Villanova soon responded with a long drive of their own to tie the game at 7-7.
Kehoe would go down due to injury mid-way through the first quarter and Villanova would cease momentum, capitalizing on a turnover and putting together a long drive in the second quarter to take a 21-7 advantage into the break.
The Blue Hens responded in the third quarter with a six-play, 59 yard drive, capped off by another Lee TD run to make it a 21-14 cushion.
Villanova responded with a TD of their own, but yet again Henderson helped put together a TD drive, connecting with senior Joe Walker for a 48-yard score to make it 28-21 game.
Once again, the Wildcats had answers, with two scores in the fourth quarter to put away the 42-21 contest.
Up Next
The Blue Hens will now await their NCAA FCS playoff fate, which will be announced on Sunday on ESPNU at 12:30 p.m.
Team Stats
VU 0, DELAWARE 7
DELAWARE - Lee 38 yd run (Raggo kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:42
VU 7, DELAWARE 7
VU - Bednarczyk, Z. 6 yd run (Kresge, D. kick), 4 plays, 93 yards, TOP 1:59
VU 14, DELAWARE 7
VU - Forbes, A. 1 yd run (Kresge, D. kick), 4 plays, 22 yards, TOP 1:14
VU 21, DELAWARE 7
VU - Gudzak, M. 1 yd run (Kresge, D. kick), 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:20
VU 21, DELAWARE 14
DELAWARE - Lee 2 yd run (Raggo kick), 6 plays, 59 yards, TOP 2:40
VU 28, DELAWARE 14
VU - Forbes, A. 3 yd run (Kresge, D. kick), 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:06
VU 28, DELAWARE 21
DELAWARE - Walker 43 yd pass from Henderson (Raggo kick) 5 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:42
VU 35, DELAWARE 21
VU - Bell, R. 8 yd pass from Bednarczyk, Z. (Kresge, D. kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:40
VU 42, DELAWARE 21
VU - Forbes, A. 11 yd run (Kresge, D. kick), 3 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:31
