Hens dominate No. 12-ranked Minutemen

The Hens beat No. 12 Massachusetts 43-27 in a game which the Hens never trailed. QB Pat Devlin lead the way for the Hens as he went 19-26 for 284 yards and four touchdowns.

Delaware's first touchdown came on a 15-yard reception by Mark Mackey, his first of the season. Mackey jumped in the back of the endzone for a one-handed catch on the overthrown ball. On the extra point, UMass blocked Jon Striefsky's attempt.

Just a few minutes later, Devlin lead the Hens back down the field for a 22-yard touchdown pass to Mark  Duncan, his second in two weeks and Devlin's ninth on the season.

Two plays later, Marcus Burley recovers a fumble by UMass running back Tony Nelson and runs it 42-yards for the Hens' third touchdown of the game. After a 51-yard Minutemen field goal, the first quarter ended 20-3.

The second quarter was rough for Devlin as he turned the ball over twice with one interception and a sack-fumble.

The Hens struck first in the second quarter on a 22-yard Striefksy field goal, but shortly after Devlin threw an interception to UMass defensive back Jeromy Miles at the Delaware 35. UMass, however, went three and out and missed a 52-yard attempt by Cuko.

The following drive, Duncan caught a pass and fumbled, but  Hens WR  Tommy Crosby jumped on the ball.  The next play, though, Devlin was sacked by  DE Michael  Hanson and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by LB  Eric Dickson.

UMass failed to score after the second Devlin turnover as well, and after a close call which would have been  Devlin's second interception of the day, the Hens ran the clock out to end the half.

The second half began with a stalled Delaware drive, bringing the punter Wagner onto the field for the first time. UMass started their drive on the 14 yard line and started a lengthy 11 play drive through the air that brought them as far as the Hens ten, but a holding penalty and a sack by Chris Morales left the Minutemen with a 37-yard field goal by Cuko.

On the ensuing Hens drive, Delaware struck back with a nine play drive that finished with a four-yard touchdown catch by Trevor Mooney, the back up tight end filling in for Colin  Naugle who left the game with a knee injury. It was Mooney's first touchdown of his career and Devlin's 10th on the season.

Seventeen seconds later, the Hens struck again. After an interception by Charles Graves, Devlin hooked up with Mark Duncan again for the second time tonight on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Devlin's four touchdowns mark the first time a Delaware QB has thrown for that many in a game since Joe Flacco in 2007 against Navy.

The fourth quarter featured a valiant attempt of a comeback by UMass, but it was too little too late. Havens hit tight end Andrew Krevis for a four yard touchdown early in the quarter, but the Minutemen failed to recover the onside kick after a one-handed recovery by Zach  Reed.

After a 24-yard field goal by Striefsky to tie the school record, UMass quickly answered back with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Emil Igwenagu. Down 20 points, UMass again attempted an onside kick and again failed after a recovery by  Mark  Duncan.

With two minutes left in the game, Striefsky hit a 23-yard field goal to break the school career field goal record with 33. The Minutemen answered back with a quick drive by backup QB Scott Woodward, who threw a touchdown pass to WR Aaron Fears.

Check out Tuesday's issue of The Review for a complete game recap including player and coach reactions.