Delaware domination: Hens take Route 1 Rivalry over DSU 45-0

One week after a narrower-than-expected win over Division II West Chester University, the University of Delaware Blue Hens put on a dominating display over their downstate rivals, the Delaware State University Hornets.

The Blue Hens (2-1) were nearly flawless in the first half, building a 35-0 halftime lead. Delaware quarterback Tim Donnelly, named the game’s most valuable player, completed 13 of 14 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

“Never flawless, but it was pretty good,” Donnelly said. “It was our execution, rather than their flaws, that made it work so well.”

Donnelly wasn’t the only star for the Blue Hens; running back Andrew Pierce finished with 106 yards and three touchdowns. Delaware consistently gashed the Hornets on outside running plays. In the passing game, wide receiver Nihja White caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

The Hens started rolling right off the bat, taking its first possession 80 yards in only five plays, capped off by Donnelly’s 43-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Colin Naugle.

On its next possession, Delaware was pinned back against its own goal line after Marco Kano’s 52-yard punt was downed at the Delaware 4-yard line. But the Blue Hens went on a methodical 96-yard drive, culminated by Pierce’s first touchdown.

Delaware went three-for-three after taking advantage of a Nick Elko interception to drive 58 yards in eight plays, with Donnelly finding White from 11 yards out.

It was a rough day for the Hornets (2-1) offense, which was playing without its top receiving threat, Justin Wilson, who injured his ankle last week in DSU’s win over Shaw University.

“I’m not going to say one guy would have made a difference tonight, but our five guys up front on offense have to be the key, and our defense has to play a lot better than they did tonight,” coach Kermit Blount said.

Without the services of Wilson, the Hornets offense struggled to move the ball on the ground and in the air, finishing with only 112 total yards, including minus-3 yards rushing. Turnovers also hurt the Hornets, as an Elko fumble was scooped up by Delaware’s Jake Giusti, who weaved his way into the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown.

“We made mistakes, and we can’t make mistakes against a good football team,” Blount said. “Delaware didn’t give us anything we didn’t prepare for. We shot ourselves in the foot on a lot of occasions.”

“I think we were ready for it, but we just came out kind of sluggish. I just don’t think we were prepared to play a good team like this. We just got outmatched today,” Elko said.

By the middle of the third quarter, Donnelly, White, Pierce and the rest of the Delaware starters were taken out of the game, as the Hens were holding a 42-0 lead.

The Blue Hens chalked up their performance to a solid week of practice leading up to the game.

“It was probably, and I’m not exaggerating, the best week of practice we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said.

“It started in practice,” Donnelly said. “This was probably the best week of practice we’ve had all year.”

After getting blown out by Navy in week 1 and struggling to finish off West Chester last week, the Blue Hens seemed out to make a statement against their in-state rivals.

“Definitely. That’s what we wanted to do. We definitely came out and dominated a pretty good Delaware State team,” Pierce said.

“It was more about playing up to our potential. We knew that last week wasn’t the best we could do, and this week we wanted it to be, and I think the score reflects that,” Donnelly said.

The Blue Hens’ 45-0 win allowed them to accept the First State Cup from Gov. Jack Markell for the second time, and gave the team its third win over Delaware State in three tries.

“It was just their night. They outplayed us,” Blount said.

“Our talk in there was, it will be a rivalry when they beat us, so let’s not make it a rivalry. They’re going to get it going. You can see they have some good football players; they just don’t have enough of them right now,” Keeler said.

Delaware will look to continue its winning ways next Saturday, Sept. 24 at home against Old Dominion, while Delaware State will continue its three-game road swing in Orangeburg, S.C., against South Carolina State.