2008 Woodie Awards
Football team loses to rival Villanova
Playoffs hopes still in question
by Michael LoRe
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
The first half of Saturday's 41st meeting between No. 9 Delaware and Villanova seemed to lack the competitive spark and fire the rivalry usually has, but in the second half the intensity increased.
Villanova (7-4, 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association) lulled the Hens to sleep in the second half, rushing the ball 30-plus times and only passing six times. The Wildcats' lengthy drives, including a 14-play, 7-minute, 55-second fourth quarter drive, contributed to their 16-10 victory.
Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler had nothing but praise for Saturday's opponents, saying they did something no one else has done - pressure senior quarterback Joe Flacco.
"I didn't think anyone could do that to our offense," Keeler said. "I give them credit. We played hard, but they played better."
Villanova's defense was able to sack Flacco three times for a loss of 22 yards. Coming into the game, Delaware's offensive line allowed 1.5 sacks per game. Villanova head coach Andy Talley said the defensive schemes were complex and he even had a play drawn up with no one in a three-point stance.
"There was a lot of multiplicity in our schemes," Talley said. "You want to give a guy like Flacco a bunch of different looks without confusing yourself."
The Wildcats did just that, limiting the Walter Payton award candidate to 145 yards on 17-for-37 with one touchdown and one interception.
Keeler said the turning point in the game was a Villanova fake punt in the fourth quarter. Down 10-3 and on the Delaware 49-yardline, the Wildcats ran the fake with senior running back Matt Dicken, who led all rushers with 134 yards, taking the ball 44 yards before being tackled.
Keeler said he noticed the motions but was talking with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca about an offensive play and did not have enough time to react.
"If I saw it right away, I would have called a timeout," Keeler said. "[Villanova] had nothing to lose. They hit us with a big one."
Villanova (7-4, 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association) lulled the Hens to sleep in the second half, rushing the ball 30-plus times and only passing six times. The Wildcats' lengthy drives, including a 14-play, 7-minute, 55-second fourth quarter drive, contributed to their 16-10 victory.
Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler had nothing but praise for Saturday's opponents, saying they did something no one else has done - pressure senior quarterback Joe Flacco.
"I didn't think anyone could do that to our offense," Keeler said. "I give them credit. We played hard, but they played better."
Villanova's defense was able to sack Flacco three times for a loss of 22 yards. Coming into the game, Delaware's offensive line allowed 1.5 sacks per game. Villanova head coach Andy Talley said the defensive schemes were complex and he even had a play drawn up with no one in a three-point stance.
"There was a lot of multiplicity in our schemes," Talley said. "You want to give a guy like Flacco a bunch of different looks without confusing yourself."
The Wildcats did just that, limiting the Walter Payton award candidate to 145 yards on 17-for-37 with one touchdown and one interception.
Keeler said the turning point in the game was a Villanova fake punt in the fourth quarter. Down 10-3 and on the Delaware 49-yardline, the Wildcats ran the fake with senior running back Matt Dicken, who led all rushers with 134 yards, taking the ball 44 yards before being tackled.
Keeler said he noticed the motions but was talking with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca about an offensive play and did not have enough time to react.
"If I saw it right away, I would have called a timeout," Keeler said. "[Villanova] had nothing to lose. They hit us with a big one."
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