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| Elusive quarterback Andy Hall sprints past JMU defenders. |
Oct. 14, 2002--Senior Scott Collins kicked three field goals, junior quarterback Andy Hall threw for 172 yards and rushed for 97 more, and the University of Delaware's defense held James Madison University to just 34 yards rushing as the Blue Hens posted a 23-10 Atlantic 10 Football Conference Homecoming victory Saturday, Oct. 12, at Delaware Stadium.
The victory was Delaware's second straight and improved the Hens to 4-3 (2-2 Atlantic 10) as first year head coach K.C. Keeler captured consecutive victories for the first time this season. Keeler, a former standout Delaware linebacker in 1978-80 and head coach at Rowan the previous nine seasons, improved to 10-0 as a head coach on Homecoming games.
UD will attempt to continue the winning streak when it travels to the University of Rhode Island for an Atlantic 10 contest at noon, Saturday, Oct. 19.
The Blue Hens jumped out to a 9-7 halftime lead and scored two touchdowns in a span of 34 seconds late in the third quarter to put the game away and down the Dukes (3-4, 2-3) for the third straight year and for the seventh time in the last eight meetings.
"We played some very inspired football today," said Keeler. "Our kids really flew around, hustled and ran the ball well. We did a great job shutting down their offense. The defense kept us in the ballgame until we could finish it off in the second half. We controlled the line of scrimmage."
Collins helped Delaware jump out to the 9-7 halftime lead as he finished off three Blue Hen drives with field goals from 38, 33 and 25 yards to tie his own school record for field goals in a game. James Madison had cut the lead to 7-6 on a six-yard scoring pass from Matt LeZotte to Alan Harrison with 13:45 left in the first half.
The Dukes had a chance to take the lead at halftime when an errant punt snap by Delaware gave JMU possession at the UD 11-yard line. But the Delaware defense, which allowed just 83 total yards in the first half, held the Dukes on downs and JMU kicker Burke George missed on a 31-yard field goal attempt with 33 seconds remaining.
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| Blue Hen running back Keith Burnell finds open space. |
As has been their custom all season, the Hens controlled the second half. Senior running back Keith Burnell (72 yards) capped a 52-yard drive with a seven-yard run around the left end with 5:15 left in the third quarter to give Delaware a 16-7 lead. Just 34 seconds later the Hens scored again as Hall hit freshman Justin Long (nine catches for 99 yards) on a 32-yard scoring pass for a 23-7 lead with 4:41 remaining. The touchdown was set up when UD freshman cornerback Roger Brown intercepted his first career pass at the JMU 32-yard line.
Brown came up with another big defensive play minutes later. LeZotte connected with fullback Jason Mallory on a pass down the right side for what looked like an easy touchdown. But Brown raced down Mallory and stopped him at the three-yard line. The Dukes couldn't put the ball in the end zone and had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by George with 3:18 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 23-10.
Delaware's defense put the clamps down on James Madison, allowing just 10 total first downs and just 34 yards rushing on 30 attempts for the game. James Madison rushing leader Rondell Bradley, who entered the game with 562 yards on the ground this season, was held to just 19 yards on 15 carries. LeZotte hit on 8 of 19 passes for 146 yards. Harrison caught six passes for 76 yards.
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| Mondoe Davis and the UD defensive line held firm against JMU. |
Senior All-American linebacker candidate Dan Mulhern led the Blue Hen defense with 11 tackles, including a sack. Defensive end Mondoe Davis recovered a JMU fumble at the UD 25-yard line with 38 seconds left to seal the victory.
"When you can't run the ball, you can't win," said JMU head coach Mickey Matthews. "Delaware's front seven controlled the game. They were dominant and we couldn't block them. That was the game."
After the game at Rhode Island, UD will return home to face the University of New Hampshire at noon, Saturday, Oct. 26. That will be Parents and Family Weekend.
UD will play at the University of Massachusetts on Nov. 2 and at the University of Maine on Nov. 9. The Hens will have an open date Nov. 16, and then will finish the season at home Nov. 23 against Villanova.
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