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November 20, 1999
But this one hurt more than the others. Delaware, which had scored 38 unanswered points to take a 45-24 lead midway through the final quarter, allowed Villanova to scored three touchdowns in the final nine minutes of regulation to tie the game and suffered the final blow in overtime when Ducarmel Augustin scored on a 25-yard run to lead the Wildcats to a wild 51-45 win Saturday at Villanova Stadium in the season finale for both teams. Villanova (7-4, 6-2 Atlantic 10), which took advantage of three blocked punts, became the first Atlantic 10 team to defeat Delaware four straight times since the Blue Hens joined the league in 1986. Delaware's collapse was its worst since Villanova overcame a 33-7 fourth quarter deficit in 1969 to post a 36-33 victory. The Blue Hens (7-4, 5-3), who were hoping a win would put them into the NCAA I-AA playoff field to be announced Sunday, had a three-game win streak snapped to post its second straight 7-4 season. The offensive heroes were many. Villanova senior quarterback Chris Boden hit on 30 of 44 passes for 286 yards and six touchdowns, including three in the final quarter. In the process, he went over 10,000 yards and 100 touchdown passes for his career. Wide receiver Murle Sango caught 10 passes for 93 yards and a touchdowns. "Our defense played poorly, we just allowed too much stuff," said a drained Delaware head coach Tubby Raymond after the game. "This is another one of those coulda, shoulda games. I don't have an explanation. I feel so bad for our seniors. I honestly thought a 21-point fourth quarter lead would win it." Delaware senior quarterback Brian Ginn was brilliant in his final game, hitting on 17 of 27 passes for a career-high 308 yards and three touchdowns. He connected on two long scoring bombs, hitting Butter Pressey on a 61-yard scoring pass just before halftime and opened the third quarter with an 82-yard scoring pass to Jamin Elliott, the third longest pass play in Delaware history. Delaware opened the scoring on a three-yard Craig Cummings run to open the game but Villanova rallied with 24 straight points to go up 24-7 with 14:16 left in the first half. Boden threw three touchdowns and Villanova got a safety after Reggie Danage blocked a punt that went out of the end zone. But Delaware, which gained a season-high 566 total yards, followed with an impressive onslaught that results in 38 unanswered points. Ginn connected on a 29-yard scoring toss to Elliott (7 catches for 164 yards), Steve Ricco scored on a five-yard run, and Ginn hit Pressey on a 61-yard scoring toss with 20 seconds left in the first half to put Delaware up 28-24. The Hens increased the lead in the third quarter as Ginn hit Elliott down the left sideline for an 82-yard pass play just 1:31 into the half. Garon Sizemore added a 23-yard field goal and backup quarterback Matt Nagy, subbing for Ginn for several series when Ginn injured his back, connected with Pressey for a 22-yard scoring play to put the Hens up 45-24 with 14:29 left to play. But back came Villanova as Boden hit Brian White on a 17-yard scoring toss with 8:37 left, hooked up with Conor Kinsella for a two-yard touchdown pass with 5:37 remaining, and hit White again for a two-yard scoring pass with 2:07 left to play. Villanova had the chance to win in regulation but Casey Hannon's 35-yard field goal with nine seconds left sailed left. Delaware, which had won its previous two overtime games of the season, opened the extra session but couldn't score as Sizemore missed a 40-yard field goal. The Wildcats took over and scored on their first play as Augustin ran off tackle, broke several tackles, and fell into the end zone.
AGATE:
Delaware.......7...21.....10.....7....0....45
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Overtime Attendance: 12,550
TEAM STATISTICS.............Delaware............Villanova First downs
............................................25........................21 Individual Statistics: Rushing - Delaware, Derrick Downs, 6-75, Steve Ricco, 13-55, Craig Cummings, 7-47, James O'Neal, 12-44, Butter Pressey, 7-25, Jamin Elliott, 1 (-2), Brian Ginn, 7- (-8); Villanova, Ducarmel Augustin, 8-42, Roger Harriott, 4-23, Murle Sango, 3-13, Cameron Cross, 1-4, Chris Boden, 5- (-2); Passing - Delaware, Ginn, 17-27-1-308; Matt Nagy, 1-2-0-22; Villanova, Boden, 30-44-2-286; Receiving - Delaware, Elliott, 7-164, Pressey, 4-97, Brett Veach, 3-21, Downs, 2-18, Cummings, 1-21, Ricco, 1-9; Villanova, Sango, 10-93, Luke Stopper, 6-51, Augustin, 5-65, Cross, 2-26, Steve Ward, 2-19, Brian White, 2-19, Conor Kinsella, 2-4, Sean McCarthy, 1-9 |
