University of Delaware Athletics
Saturday, December 3
Brookings, S.D.
3 p.m.
University of Delaware
at
#1 South Dakota State
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Football Preview: South Dakota State – FCS Playoffs Second Round
12/1/2022 4:22:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – The No. 23 University of Delaware football team will play its first December game in 12 years as it travels to No. 1 South Dakota State for a second-round matchup in the FCS Championship. Kickoff at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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Game Notes: Delaware | South Dakota State | CAA
About the Blue Hens
- Delaware is making its 18th appearance in the FCS Championship, and first since advancing the semifinals during the 2020-21 Spring season. Dating back to the program's first appearance in 1981, the Blue & Gold is 25-16 in the postseason, winning the national championship in 2003.
- The Blue Hens advanced to the FCS Second Round with a convincing 56-17 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday at Delaware Stadium. It was the most points ever scored by a Delaware team in the FCS Playoffs and the second-largest margin of victory behind only the 2003 national championship game (40-0). It was the most points in any game since scoring 56 against Richmond in 2007.
- Nolan Henderson accounted for five total touchdowns as he finished 16-of-23 passing for 266 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for another score. He set the Delaware single-season record for touchdown passes as he now has 32 on the year, surpassing Matt Nagy's previous mark of 29.
- Kyron Cumby rushed 10 times for 111 yards while Marcus Yarns also finished with 85 yards on the ground. Chandler Harvin caught four passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the second UD player this season, and just seventh all-time, with three touchdown catches in a game. The Delaware offense finished with 586 total yards of offense with 283 rushing yards and 303 passing yards.
- Johnny Buchanan led all players with 15 tackles while Amonte' Strothers and Artis Hemmingway each also added a sack. The defense held Saint Francis to just 258 yards of total offense.
- Henderson has had a career year for the Blue Hens ranking in the top five in program history in several statistical categories. He has completed 282 passes for 3,200 yards and 32 touchdowns.
- Jourdan Townsend and Thyrick Pitts lead the receiving corps. Townsend has team highs of 57 catches for 674 yards while pulling in five touchdown grabs, and Pitts is second with 52 receptions for 574 yards and is tied for the CAA lead with 10 touchdown catches.
- Buchanan leads all of FCS with 136 tackles and is 18 takedowns shy of setting the Delaware single-season record.
Scouting South Dakota State
- South Dakota State is making its 11th-straight appearance in the FCS Championship and is the No. 1 national seed after finishing the regular season with a 10-1 record. The Jackrabbits opened the season with a tight 7-3 loss at Iowa before winnings their next 10 games.
- The Jackrabbits lead the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 71.4 ypg on the ground and the defense overall ranks second in total defense (255.0 ypg) and third in scoring defense (15.5 ppg). The offense is also averaging 31.4 ppg and 367.6 ypg.
- Mark Gronowski quarterbacks the offense and has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,247 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 204.3 passing ypg. He has also rushed for eight scores.
- Isaiah Davis leads a potent SDSU rushing attack with 93.2 ypg on the ground and has found the end zone 10 times. Twin brothers Jaxon and Jadon Janke are both averaging 54 receiving ypg and have both caught five touchdown passes to lead the Jackrabbits.
- The defense is led by Adam Bock who has 58 tackles and Jason Freeman is right behind him with 56. SDSU has 29 sacks as a team and Caleb Sanders leads the way with 5.0, while Reece Winkelman has 4.5 sacks and a team-high 8.0 TFL. DyShawn Gales and Cale Reeder lead the secondary with three interceptions apiece.
Series History
- Delaware and South Dakota State are meeting for just the third time, and for the second time in the postseason. The Blue Hens won the first-ever meeting between the two programs in 2010, a 26-3 victory at Delaware Stadium, but SDSU took the most recent matchup with a 33-3 win in the 2020-21 FCS Semifinals.
- In that 2020-21 playoff game, Nolan Henderson finished 18-of-21 passing for 142 yards, connecting six times with Gene Coleman II for 43 yards. Ryan Coe kicked a 29-yard field goal in the first quarter for UD's only points. Noah Plack led the defense with six tackles
- In the game in 2010, current Delaware running backs coach Andrew Pierce rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Volunteer assistant coach Paul Worrilow finished with five tackles on defense to go along with 1.0 TFL and a pass breakup.
Up Next
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the FCS Quarterfinals and will take on the winner of the New Hampshire-Holy Cross game on Saturday, December 10.
For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @Delaware_FB and Instagram @delaware_fb, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook. Follow Ryan Carty on Twitter @RyanCarty10.
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