Late Score Leads Football to Exciting Comeback 29-22 Win Over Penn

Saturday, September 21

Newark, DE

6 PM

University of Delaware

Penn

Photo by: Mikey Reeves

Late Score Leads Football to Exciting Comeback 29-22 Win Over Penn

9/21/2024 8:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and scored the winning touchdown with just 1:44 remaining to win come away with a thrilling 29-22 victory over Penn on Saturday night in front of 17,848 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Quakers slip to 0-1.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Ryan O'Connor completed 25 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
Phil Lutz finished with seven catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Jake Thaw set career-highs with nine catches for 72 yards and caught his first touchdown reception.
Jo'Nathan Silver led the ground game with 56 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Gavin Moul led the defense with a career-high 14 tackles and one TFL.
KT Seay finished with seven tackles and had his second interception of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn opened the scoring with a touchdown on its first drive, but Dillon Trainer blocked the PAT attempt to keep it a 6-0 game.
After a field goal made it 9-0 in the second quarter, O'Connor connected with Lutz on a 4th-and-8 play for a 41-yard touchdown.
Penn added a score just before halftime to make it a 16-6 game at the break.
O'Connor and Lutz again connected on the first drive of the third quarter, this time for a 39-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 16-12.
A Nate Reed 35-yard field goal made it a one-point game after three quarters.
Just five plays into the fourth quarter, O'Connor hit Thaw for an eight-yard touchdown to give UD its first lead of the game at 21-16.
The Quakers scored midway through the frame to retake the lead, but Delaware stuffed the 2-point conversion.
With just 1:44 left, Silver found the end zone from 13 yards out and O'Connor found Thaw for the 2-point conversion to give UD a 29-22 advantage.
Penn drove into the red zone, but Ty Davis intercepted a pass to seal the victory.

GAME NOTES

Lutz has now caught touchdown passes in three-consecutive games.
Saturday was the 20th career victory for head coach Ryan Carty as he comes the fastest UD head coach to reach 20 wins (29 games) since K.C. Keeler reached the mark in his 27th game.

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will be back at Delaware Stadium next weekend for a nonconference matchup against Sacred Heart. Kickoff on Saturday, September 28 is set for 3:30 p.m. The game is part of Delaware's Parents & Family Weekend.

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