2008 Woodie Awards
Hens win in 'sea' saw battle at Navy
by Michael LoRe
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Sports
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Saturday afternoon's 59-52 upset against Football Bowl Subdivision Navy was what Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler predicted it to be - physically taxing on both teams.
The Football Championship Subdivision Hens ranked No. 1 in the Colonial Athletic Association in total offense with 469.1 yards per game. Saturday, Delaware put up 581 yards of total offense, including 434 yards in the air.
Senior quarterback Joe Flacco, a Walter Payton Award candidate, went 30-for-41 with 434 yards and four touchdowns - two went to junior wide receiver Kervin Michaud, who had eight receptions for 96 yards.
Flacco, who became the fifth Delaware quarterback to pass for 5,000 or more yards in his career, had no problem spreading the ball around to his receivers as he connected with six different sets of hands.
Junior tight end Robbie Agnone had seven receptions for a game-high 133 yards.
Coming into the game, Keeler said the Hens would have to force Navy to turn the ball over if Delaware was going to win. The Midshipmen gave up the ball three times, including two lost fumbles and one turnover-on-downs.
Navy head coach Paul Johnson said he was disappointed his team turned the ball over on so many occasions.
"We can't turn the ball over twice and lose," Johnson said. "We cannot miss a turn with the ball."
The No. 9 Hens (7-1, 4-1 CAA) received the opening kickoff and capped off a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Omar Cuff, setting the tone for the back-and-forth battle the game would turn out to be on Saturday afternoon.
Delaware's star running back set a new university record for most touchdowns in a single-season with his first rushing touchdown of the game, passing Gardy Kahoe's mark of 24. Cuff extended his record to 28 as he finished the afternoon with 141 rushing yards on 28 carries with four touchdowns, including a 37-yard score that put away the game with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter.
The Football Championship Subdivision Hens ranked No. 1 in the Colonial Athletic Association in total offense with 469.1 yards per game. Saturday, Delaware put up 581 yards of total offense, including 434 yards in the air.
Senior quarterback Joe Flacco, a Walter Payton Award candidate, went 30-for-41 with 434 yards and four touchdowns - two went to junior wide receiver Kervin Michaud, who had eight receptions for 96 yards.
Flacco, who became the fifth Delaware quarterback to pass for 5,000 or more yards in his career, had no problem spreading the ball around to his receivers as he connected with six different sets of hands.
Junior tight end Robbie Agnone had seven receptions for a game-high 133 yards.
Coming into the game, Keeler said the Hens would have to force Navy to turn the ball over if Delaware was going to win. The Midshipmen gave up the ball three times, including two lost fumbles and one turnover-on-downs.
Navy head coach Paul Johnson said he was disappointed his team turned the ball over on so many occasions.
"We can't turn the ball over twice and lose," Johnson said. "We cannot miss a turn with the ball."
The No. 9 Hens (7-1, 4-1 CAA) received the opening kickoff and capped off a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Omar Cuff, setting the tone for the back-and-forth battle the game would turn out to be on Saturday afternoon.
Delaware's star running back set a new university record for most touchdowns in a single-season with his first rushing touchdown of the game, passing Gardy Kahoe's mark of 24. Cuff extended his record to 28 as he finished the afternoon with 141 rushing yards on 28 carries with four touchdowns, including a 37-yard score that put away the game with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter.
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