University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: University of Delaware
11/13/2026 10:03:00 AM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – The 1946 Delaware football season was a triumphant return to the gridiron after three seasons without a team during World War II. William "Bill" Murray's Fightin' Blue Hens came back stronger than ever, rolling to a 10-0 record, a program best at the time, and claiming the 1946 AP College Division National Championship, the first of six national championships for UD. The Blue & Gold outscored its opponents 358-45 and recorded five shutouts.
The Hens opened with a 25-0 victory over Pennsylvania Military College, then overwhelmed Randolph-Macon, 53-0, and Western Maryland, 44-6. At Gettysburg, running back Doc Doherty turned in one of the greatest individual performances in UD history, rushing for 220 yards on only six carries in a 27-6 victory. Fellow running back Bill Cole rushed for 12.2 yards per carry on the year, a school record that still stands to this day. Cole and Doherty (11.9) are the only two players in program history to rush for over 10 yards per carry in a season, with both accomplishing the incredible feat in 1946.
Delaware continued its march with a 52-0 win over Drexel, a 28-0 shutout of Franklin & Marshall, and a 27-14 victory at Bucknell. Against Washington College, the Hens exploded for a 61-0 victory, highlighted by Buck Thompson's school record 98-yard run. Thompson also set the UD record for longest kick return (99 yards) in the victory over Western Maryland earlier that year.
The season's defining game came on November 23 against unbeaten and nationally-ranked #19 Muhlenberg. Before 15,000 fans at Wilmington Park, #16 Delaware prevailed, 20-12.
Delaware finished its undefeated campaign in the Cigar Bowl, defeating Rollins, 21-7, in Tampa, Fla. on January 1, 1947.
The Delaware defense allowed a staggering 4.5 points per game in 1946, the third-fewest points allowed in a season in school history. UD's defensive dominance was sparked by pick-sixes, recording a team-record five interceptions returned for TDs. Six Blue Hens were named AP All-Americans after the historic season: OT Anthony Stalloni (First Team), HB Gerald "Doc" Doherty (Third Team), FB Paul Hart (Honorable Mention), OG Walter Marusa (Honorable Mention), C Jack Messick (Honorable Mention), and E Buck Thompson (Honorable Mention).
The Hens opened with a 25-0 victory over Pennsylvania Military College, then overwhelmed Randolph-Macon, 53-0, and Western Maryland, 44-6. At Gettysburg, running back Doc Doherty turned in one of the greatest individual performances in UD history, rushing for 220 yards on only six carries in a 27-6 victory. Fellow running back Bill Cole rushed for 12.2 yards per carry on the year, a school record that still stands to this day. Cole and Doherty (11.9) are the only two players in program history to rush for over 10 yards per carry in a season, with both accomplishing the incredible feat in 1946.
Delaware continued its march with a 52-0 win over Drexel, a 28-0 shutout of Franklin & Marshall, and a 27-14 victory at Bucknell. Against Washington College, the Hens exploded for a 61-0 victory, highlighted by Buck Thompson's school record 98-yard run. Thompson also set the UD record for longest kick return (99 yards) in the victory over Western Maryland earlier that year.
The season's defining game came on November 23 against unbeaten and nationally-ranked #19 Muhlenberg. Before 15,000 fans at Wilmington Park, #16 Delaware prevailed, 20-12.
Delaware finished its undefeated campaign in the Cigar Bowl, defeating Rollins, 21-7, in Tampa, Fla. on January 1, 1947.
The Delaware defense allowed a staggering 4.5 points per game in 1946, the third-fewest points allowed in a season in school history. UD's defensive dominance was sparked by pick-sixes, recording a team-record five interceptions returned for TDs. Six Blue Hens were named AP All-Americans after the historic season: OT Anthony Stalloni (First Team), HB Gerald "Doc" Doherty (Third Team), FB Paul Hart (Honorable Mention), OG Walter Marusa (Honorable Mention), C Jack Messick (Honorable Mention), and E Buck Thompson (Honorable Mention).
Wednesday, October 21
Saturday, October 03
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