FOOTBALL: Delaware Valley University 34, Lycoming College 3
WILLIAMSPORT (PA) – Devauntay Ellis rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns while the Delaware Valley University defense allowed just 82 total yards as the 12th-ranked Aggies opened Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play with a 34-3 triumph at Lycoming College.
DelVal improved to 2-0 overall while the Warriors fell to 0-2.
It was a dominant performance in the Aggies' first road contest of the year, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The 82 yards allowed came on 47 plays, including just 13 yards on 15 rushes. They permitted just three first downs on the day while recording three sacks and forcing two turnovers. Meanwhile, the offense racked up 26 first downs and 477 total yards, including 301 yards on the ground. They also did not turn the ball over for the second straight game.
After holding Lycoming on its first possession, the Aggies took over at their own 17 and moved the ball to the 38 where they faced a third-and-two. Ellis took the handoff and sprinted 62 yards for the touchdown. Pat Moran added the extra-point for a 7-0 lead with 10:10 left in the first quarter.
Later in the quarter, DelVal went on a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was capped by quarterback Dashawn Darden's nine-yard scoring toss to Marquis Ellis. Moran's boot made it 14-0 with 63 seconds left in the quarter.
Lycoming got on the scoreboard after recovering a fumble on a muffed fair catch of a punt. The Warriors recovered the ball at the Aggie 26, but did not gain a yard on their three plays. However, Jamie Fisher kicked a 43-yard field for a 14-3 score with 12:06 left on the first-half clock.
Moran missed on a 33-yard field goal attempt later in the half and the teams went into the intermission with DelVal still up 14-3. The Aggie defense permitted just 37 total yards on 29 plays in the opening 30 minutes.
LaQuille Nesbitt returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back due to an illegal block in the back penalty and the drive started all the way back at the DelVal 10. The Aggies drove down to the Warrior 30-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs.
However, DelVal got the ball right back as Nick Wright, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week, intercepted a pass at the Lycoming 36-yard line. A key penalty on the Warriors kept the drive alive and Devauntay Ellis punched it in from three yards out for a 21-3 advantage midway through the third quarter.
DelVal made it a 28-3 ballgame on its next possession as it drove 84 yards on just nine plays. Darden completed a four-yard dart to Amir Ross-Johnson. Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, linebacker Michael Ockimey came in and stripped quarterback Chase Williams of the ball and Christian Snowden recovered it at the Lycoming 19. Six plays later, Darden called his own number and scored from three yards out for a 34-3 advantage and the final points of the afternoon.
DeVauntay Ellis picked up his 172 yards on 22 carries, including 109 yards on 10 attempts in the first half. Darden was 16-for-29 for 169 yards and two scores while also rushing for 39 yards and one trip to the end zone. Marquis Ellis caught four passes for 54 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Nicholas DiGati led a balanced attack with five tackles. Ockimey finished with three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Wright had three stops, a sack and an interception.
Williams and Collin Wright combined to go 15-for-32 for 69 yards for Lycoming. Mike Ward led the defensive charge with 23 tackles.
DelVal will travel to Wilkes University for a MAC contest on Friday night, September 15 (7 p.m.).