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Delaware to meet Colgate for Division I-AA title 2:07 p.m., Dec. 15, 2003--When the University of Delaware meets Colgate University in the NCAA Division I-AA championship game on Friday night at W. Max Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn., it will mark the renewal of a long-dormant rivalry that saw the teams meet four times between 1977 and 1982. The 1977 game was particularly memorable for Fightin’ Blue Hen fans, as the Red Raiders, then playing in Division I-A, came into Delaware Stadium 10-0 and ranked among the nation’s top 20 teams by the Associated Press. A crowd of more than 23,000 excited UD fans jammed the stadium to watch as the Hens, then a Division II team, upset Colgate 21-3. That day, UD, which finished the season 6-3-1, shut down an attack that had been averaging 37.7 points per game. The Red Raiders were led by quarterback Bob Relph, who was ranked third in the nation in total offense, and running back Henry White, a product of Cape Henlopen High School who came into the game within striking distance of the Colgate rushing record then held by Oakland Raiders star Mark van Eegen. Directing the UD attack was quarterback Jeff Komlo, who went on to play for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, and running backs Craig Carroll and Ivory Sully, who later played defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams. Defensively, UD’s Mike Randolph had three interceptions to disrupt the Colgate attack. The Hens went on to win the other three games in the series, 38-29 in 1978, 24-16 in 1979 and 20-13 in 1982. Friday’s championship game, which will be broadcast on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m., should be another classic as the teams appear to be evenly matched. Colgate, which is 15-0, advanced to the championship game with victories over Massachusetts, Western Illinois and Florida Atlantic. UD is 14-1 and advanced with playoff victories over Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Wofford. Massachusetts is the lone common opponent. Colgate defeated the Minutemen 19-7 in the opening round of the playoffs Nov. 29 while the Hens won 51-45 in triple overtime on Nov. 15. Colgate is coached by Dick Biddle and, like UD, features a strong offensive line. In the semifinal victory over Florida Atlantic, Colgate had time-eating drives of 11, 12, 15 and 17 plays. Junior tailback Jamaal Branch, a candidate for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in NCAA Division I-AA, is the leading ball carrier for the Red Raiders. Against Florida Atlantic, he rushed for 130 yards on 45 carries. In so doing, he set Division I-AA single-season records for carries (430), yards (2,271), touchdowns (29) and 100-yard games (12). Colgate is far from one-dimensional, however, as junior quarterback Chris Brown has thrown 214 completions in 374 attempts for 2,738 yards and 22 touchdowns. Junior Luke Graham and senior J.B. Gerald are the leading receivers for the Red Raiders, Graham having caught 73 passes for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns and Gerald 72 passes for 808 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior linebacker Tem Lukabu leads the Colgate defense, with 103 tackles and five sacks. UD is led by second-year Head Coach K.C. Keeler and, after the victory over Wofford, holds the school record for most victories in a season with 14. Keeler played on the 13-win team that won the Division II national championship in 1979. The Hens have turned their game up several notches through the playoffs, with the defense shutting down previously potent offenses and the offense confounding opponents with power runs supplemented by timely pass completions. UD’s offense is led by Walter Payton Award candidate quarterback Andy Hall, who works behind a large, strong and experienced offensive line that includes co-captain Jason Nerys. Hall is joined in the backfield by running backs Germaine Bennett, who now holds the UD single season record with 1,565 yards, and Antawn Jenkins. Downfield, Hall has a fleet of talented receivers, led by David Boler (54 receptions), Brian Ingram (47) and Justin Long (46). UD’s defensive line is led by Shawn Johnson, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in Division I-AA who has 73 tackles and 13 sacks. Among the linebackers, Mondoe Davis has 103 tackles and John Mulhern 93. In the defensive secondary, co-captain Mike Adams has four interceptions. A special pregame event for Blue Hen fans in Chattanooga, scheduled from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Dec. 19, at the Chattanooga Marriott, is sold out. For information, call the Office of Alumni and University Relations at 302-831-2341. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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