Midshipmen sink Hens 35-18

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — It was a dark day at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium as the Navy Midshipmen beat the Hens 35-18.

Delaware started slowly and QB Pat Devlin missed on a few big third down passes in Navy territory that would have led to first downs in the red zone. Instead, their two first quarter drives both ended in kicks, the first a punt and the second a 47-yard field goal by Jon Striefsky, a career long.

Navy opened their sole first quarter drive with a rare pass from QB Ricky Dobbs, catching the Delaware defense off guard for a quick 23-yard gain. Dobbs finished the drive with a one yard quarterback keeper touchdown.

After a fumble recovery by John Higginson which left the Hens at Navy's 19 yard line, Delaware settled for another field goal, this one from 39 yards out.

Navy started their sole second quarter drive on their 14 yard line, but after nine plays and six minutes only made it to midfield. Navy's punt pinned the Hens at the eight yard line, leaving a lot of ground to make up.

Delaware stepped up to the challenge and let RBs Jerry Butler and David Hayes march them down the field slowly but surely. The Hens ran the ball 14 times on the drive that ended in Striefsky's third field goal on the day, this one from 25 yards.

Devlin completed all five passes he attempted on the drive, including a beautiful loft pass to Crosby in the end zone. The officials called offensive pass interference away from the play, leaving the Hens players and fans visibily upset.

The Midshipmen opened the second half with a dominating drive of their own, spanning 64 yards in 11 plays, which lasted just under six minutes. Dobbs finished the drive with his second one-yard QB keeper touchdown of the day.

Not to be outdone, the Hens took the following drive the same distance on the same amount of plays, but wound up three yards short of the end zone. Striefsky completed a 21-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, which set a new Delaware record. The field goal also tied a Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium record for four field goals in a game by one kicker.

Delaware's defense stepped up to Navy's challenge following the field goal. Greene returned Striefsky's kick 39 yards to their 47 yard line, but after a first down and an incomplete pass the Midshipmen found themselves back on their side of the 50 because of a nine-yard fumble by Dobbs, recovered by Greene, and a 4-yard loss on a sack by Siddiq Haynes.

Navy's punt left the Hens to start on their own 12. A two yard rush by Hayes ended the third, and Delaware failed to convert the first down after the beginning of the fourth quarter, punting the ball to midfield.

Dobbs finally broke through the Delaware line on the next play and rushed for 46 yards, his career long, down to the four yard line. Two plays later he kept the ball and ran for the three yard touchdown, his third on the day, to lead Delaware 21-12 with 12:26 left in the game.

On the following kickoff, Butler returned the kick up to the Delaware 41 yard line. After an incomplete pass, Devlin fumbled the ball mid-pass and Navy's Jabaree Tuani recovered the ball at the Delaware 37, marking the beginning of the end for Delaware.

Navy began their drive with a 10 yard carry by Gee Gee Greene. Two plays later, Teich ran the ball 22 yards down to the two yard line. Dobbs punched the ball in for his fourth rushing touchdown of the day to go up 28-12.

Delaware's following drive started on their 22 yard line and after two first downs for 11 yards each, Devlin completed a 22 yard pass to Nihja White on third down to the Navy 36 yard line. After a first down to Duncan, Devlin returned to White for an 11 yard completion to the Navy 12. Three rushes, including two QB keepers, brought the Hens to the one yard line for a first and goal, followed by a rushing touchdown by Butler. The Hens trailed 28-18 after the failed two point conversion.

Delaware decided against an onside kick, essentially sealing their fate. After winding the clock to 1:21, Navy rubbed salt in the Hens wounds with a 31-yard pass to Bobby Doyle, followed by a three-yard touchdown run by Dobbs, his fifth on the day, to lead Delaware 35-18. Dobbs' performance broke a Navy school record for most touchdowns in a season on the run.

Check out the Review's Chicken Scratch Sports Blog for a breakdown of each scoring drive.

www.udreviewchickenscratch.blogspot.com

Comments

1 comments

neil

Mon Nov 16 2009 11:42

With the Hens having lost to Navy on Saturday, even a big win over Villanova will likely prove to be not enough to make the playoffs. Why, why ,why do we continue to schedule West Chester? The game means nothing to us and in light of the playoff picture, scheduling a Div II team comes back to haunt us. Replace W. Chester w/ Del St and maybe schedule another FBS team. How about renewing the greatest rivalry in Blue Hen history?? Bring back Temple.

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