No. 6 Salisbury stunned by Delaware Valley College
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - The No. 6 Salisbury University football team was handed its first loss of the 2008 season Saturday afternoon as it fell 41-27 to Delaware Valley College on the road before 1,700 at James Work Memorial Stadium.
The loss is the first for the Sea Gulls (3-1) since their road loss in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament against Muhlenberg College on November 17. Delaware Valley (2-1), who entered the game off a bye week, defeated its second top 10 team from the Atlantic Central Football Conference in a row. The Aggies beat Wesley College 25-22 on September 13 when the Wolverines were ranked No. 3 in the nation.
The fourth quarter started with a crucial mistake that cost the
Gulls. Delaware Valley held a 28-20 lead but the SU defense forced
an Aggie punt. Sophomore returner Zach
Holbrook could not field the DVC punt cleanly
and fumbled the ball at the SU 25-yard line. The
Aggies recovered and pounced at the opportunity.
Two plays later, Aggie quarterback Mike Isgro (17-for-27, 297
yards) found Butch Whiteside for a 24-yard touchdown to
increase the Aggie lead to 34-20. Isgro threw four touchdowns in
the victory; two strikes were over 50-yards in length to Brandon
Fox (three receptions, 146 yards).
The two score advantage proved too much for the Gulls to overcome. The two teams traded a rushing touchdown each in the final eight minutes of play. SU senior quarterback Ronnie Curley scored from six yards out with eight minutes left in the game to cut the lead to 34-27. Curley was the leading rusher for SU with 99 yards on 13 carries. This is the first game this season the Sea Gulls did not have a 100-yard rusher.
Salisbury got on the board first on a 27-yard touchdown run by sophomore Bryan Woolson (nine carries, 90 yards) at the 4:13 mark in the first quarter. The second quarter turned into a shootout as the teams traded scores, including two scores in the final 30 seconds before the half. Senior Shelby Fisher (11 carries, 41 yards) rumbled in from two yards out to give the Sea Gulls a 14-7 lead with 5:47 left before intermission. DVC answered when Isgro hit Chad Peterman for the 10-yard touchdown strike to knot the game at 14.
The Sea Gulls took to the air as senior quarterback
Bobby Sheahin (3-for-5, 72 yards) connected with
senior wide receiver Kevin Tillage (two
receptions, 49 yards) for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds
left before halftime. Freshman Tommy Kowalick had
his extra-point attempt blocked. DVC answered 22 seconds later when
Isgro hit Fox for a 53-yard touchdown strike. The Aggies led 21-20
at the break.
SU stalled out on offense in the third quarter. The Gulls failed to
convert a first down in the third quarter on any of their three
possessions and allowed the Aggies to build some momentum. Isgro
and Fox hooked up again for a 50-yard touchdown pass at the 9:26
mark to give DVC an eight-point lead, 28-20.
Delaware Valley accumulated 487 yards of offense (297 yards
passing, 190 yards rushing) as the SU defense allowed its first
100-yard rusher this season. Aggie running back Matt Cook carried
the ball 34 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns. The 487 yards
of offense is the most Salisbury has allowed since October 29, 2005
when the Sea Gulls surrendered 643 yards to Wesley College in a
63-19 loss.
The Sea Gulls entered with the nation's top rushing attack (over
400 yards per game) but was held under 300 yards for the first time
this season as SU gained 274 yards on the ground.
Defensively the Gulls were led by senior Matt
Barnes (14 tackles - seven solo) and senior defensive end
Jarrell Chandler had the team's only sack of the
game.
The Sea Gulls still hold a 3-2 series lead over the Aggies as SU won the previous two meetings in 2006 and '07.
Salisbury will begin its ACFC schedule next Saturday, October 4, on the road against the Apprentice School in Newport News, Va., at 1:30 p.m.
