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Haugabrook return sparks UD football victory

Sidney Haugabrooks 80-yard return for a score sparked UD to a 21-17 victory over Towson.

9:18 a.m., Sept. 13, 2004--Senior captain Sidney Haugabrook returned a punt 80 yards for a third quarter touchdown and sparked the University of Delaware football team to a 21-17 come-from-behind victory over Towson University on Saturday night at sold-out Delaware Stadium.

The return energized the Fightin’ Blue Hens, not to mention the 22,782 fans, and UD running back Niquan Lee scored the game-winner on a one-yard dive with 7:26 left to play.

UD overcame a sluggish start and three interceptions by Towson's Allante Harrison to improve to 1-1. The game was largely a defensive struggle, as the Hens managed just 213 total yards, the lowest total in three seasons under Head Coach K.C. Keeler, and Towson just 152 yards.

Sean Bleiler led the Hens with 73 yards rushing while Lee, who missed the season opening 24-21 loss to New Hampshire with a foot injury, finished with 46 yards, most of them late in the game when UD was trying to run out the clock. UD quarterback Sonny Riccio hit just 14 of 31 passes for 81 yards. G.J. Crescione caught a career-high six passes for 54 yards.

Josh Corle ran for 46 yards and Kerry Miles added 45 for the Tigers, while quarterback Andrew Goldbeck hit on 15 of 28 passes for 59 yards but had a crucial turnover in the fourth quarter when he made a wild pitch and Delaware's Chris Mooney recovered at the Tiger 13-yard line. Three plays later, Lee scored the game-winner.

Towson took the early lead when Corle scored from four yards out to cap a 43-yard drive that consumed more than five minutes.

UD tied the game 7-7 with 7:16 left in the third quarter when Haugabrook, an All-American candidate, took a punt at his own 20-yard line, dodged a trio of tacklers, and romped 80 yards for his second career punt return for a touchdown.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Will Marcus returned the ensuing kickoff 69 yards to set up a career-long 41-yard field goal by Towson's Stephan Toth, giving the Tigers a 10-7 edge with 5:17 left in the third quarter.

The rest of the scoring came in the final quarter as the Hens took the lead on a six-yard pass from Riccio to Justin Long to cap a 14-play, 74-yard drive and give Delaware a 14-10 lead with 13:15 remaining.

Towson stormed back when Harrison picked off his third pass of the game and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 17-14 lead with 12:39 remaining.

UD took the lead for good midway through the fourth quarter following Goldbeck’s errant pitch. Bleiler gained 12 yards on two carries, then Lee leaped over from the one-yard line for what proved to be the winning score.

On its final drive, Towson reached UD’s 23-yard line but the Hens threw Miles for a one-yard loss and Goldbeck's four-yard pass to Jim Alexander on fourth down came up short and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.

UD sealed the victory by getting two first downs, including runs of 14 and 20 yards by Lee.

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