Defense Delivers in Blue Hens’ 19-10 Opening Round Victory

Saturday, April 24

Newark, Del.

7 p.m.

University of Delaware

6-0

Sacred Heart

3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Sacred Heart

DELAWARE

Photo by: Sarah Boekholder

Defense Delivers in Blue Hens’ 19-10 Opening Round Victory

4/24/2021 11:51:00 PM | Football

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – In a stout defensive battle, the University of Delaware football team walked away with a 19-10 opening-round victory in the FCS Playoffs over Sacred Heart Saturday night at Delaware Stadium.

"I'm really excited about the result and I give Sacred Heart a lot of credit," said head coach Danny Rocco. "I thought our defense played like a championship defense out there tonight and we did what we had to do to win the football game."

In the Blue Hens' first home playoff game since 2010, the defense got the party started early as junior Kedrick Whitehead put an end to the Pioneers opening drive by coming up with an interception to put Delaware in great field position.

Three plays later, redshirt junior Nolan Henderson hit redshirt sophomore Braden Brose from five yards out to make it 7-0 in the early stages for Brose's first career touchdown.

The teams traded empty possessions before Sacred Heart was able to tie the game at 7-7 when they put together a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive with just a few minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Delaware defense pitched a shutout over the next two quarters and just before the half, the Blue Hens were able to pin Sacred Heart deep in their own territory before an errant snap on a punt try went through the back of the end zone for a safety.

The defensive efforts were led by redshirt sophomore Noah Plack's career-high 11 tackles and an interception while both junior Johnny Buchanan and senior Andrew Pawlowski had eight stops apiece.

The Pioneers were able to keep the Delaware offense in check as the Blue Hens were only able to connect on a career-long 53-yard field goal by Jake Roth in the backend of the third quarter. The 53-yard boot is the longest field goal in Delaware playoff history.

Clinging to a 12-7 lead, the defense came up with the big play the Blue Hens needed again, putting an end to a lengthy Sacred Heart drive when redshirt junior Artis Hemmingway and redshirt senior Nijuel Hill combined for a sack to hold the Pioneers to a field goal early in the fourth.

With the help of redshirt junior Khory Spruill, the Blue Hens were able to sustain their own drive, using up over six minutes of clock and converting on a fourth-and-short to eventually see redshirt sophomore Anthony Paoletti power his way into the end zone to make it 19-10 late.

Spruill ran it 12 times for 52 yards to lead the Delaware rushing attack. Henderson was 17-for-27 passing for 113 yards and a score.

The defense made one more big play on the final Sacred Heart drive as Nick Coomer threw down the Pioneers' ball-carrier for a loss, part of Coomer's three tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss.

Delaware combined to make nine tackles for loss in the game, including four sacks, holding the Pioneers to just 87 passing yards. It is the first time all season that Delaware lost the time of possession battle, but still managed to win its first playoff game since 2010.

The Blue Hens will travel to Alabama for the FCS Quarterfinals where they will take on Jacksonville State Sunday, May 2 at 3 p.m. on ESPN 3.

For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.