Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University had five scoring plays of 50 or more yards as the 14th-ranked Aggies cruised to a 49-7 triumph over visiting Misericordia University in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opener for both teams.
DelVal, which downed No. 7 Wesley last Friday, improved to 2-0 overall while the Cougars fell to 0-2. The game was moved from Saturday afternoon to Friday evening due to excessive heat warnings in the area.
The Aggies wasted no time as sophomore Eric Shorter took the opening kickoff and went untouched down the right sideline for an 89-yard touchdown. Shorter, who took a kick back for a score at Lycoming College last year, is the first player in DelVal history to have multiple kickoff return touchdowns in a career. Nick Restaino added the extra-point for a 7-0 advantage just 12 seconds in.
DelVal got the ball at its own 20 on its next possession and marched 80 yards on 10 plays. Devauntay Ellis capped the scoring drive with a five-yard burst into the end zone. Restaino's point-after made it 14-0 with 6:54 left in the opening quarter.
The Aggies were not done in the quarter as they struck two more times for a 28-0 advantage. Following a touchback, they marched 80 yards again, this time on just five plays. Fullback Abdul Crowther took care of the final 54 yards for his first collegiate score and a 21-0 lead with 2:52 remaining in the stanza. Then, on the first play after Misericordia went three-and-out, Shorter got behind the secondary and quarterback Dashawn Darden hit him for a 78-yard touchdown with 94 seconds to go.
DelVal had another one-play scoring drive midway through the second quarter as Darden hit James Cole for a 66-yard strike. It was Cole's first collegiate score and that made it 35-0. The Aggies struck for more score in the half as Robert Cleveland's two-yard scamper capped a six-play, 80-yard drive. Vlad Keenan added the extra-point and it was 42-0 with 1:11 on the clock.
That was it for the DelVal first team offense and defense and each team had one score in the second half. The Cougars got on the board with 7:26 left in the third quarter as a 13-play, 69-yard drive ended with Clayton Vleck's one-yard touchdown run. The Aggies got their score from freshman Emendo Thomas and his highlight-reel 52-yard touchdown with 9:46 remaining in the contest.
DelVal finished with 505 yards of total offense on 48 plays (10.5 avg), including 404 yards on just 29 plays in the first half. Darden was nearly perfect as he went 12-for-13 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. In the process, the sophomore set the school's single-game mark for completion percentage (92.3%).
Shorter had two catches for 91 yards and a score while Cole had two grabs for 70 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Bing led the team with five receptions (50 yards). Crowther (54 yards) and Thomas (53 yards) paced the ground attack. Defensively, Joe Oliver had eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Aric Boyes finished with two tackles and two sacks.
Brandon Leap was 13-for-26 for 117 yards for Misericordia. Colton Pyne had six grabs for 58 yards while Ryan Kurtz finished with 65 yards on 15 carries. Mike Becker and Jared Harris had six tackles apiece.
DelVal will travel to King's College for a MAC contest on Saturday, September 17 (1 p.m.).