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December 2, 2000
NEWARK, DE -- Matt Nagy threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as the No. 2 ranked University of Delaware scored 40 unanswered points en route to a 47-22 win over No. 10 Lehigh Saturday afternoon in the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals at Delaware Stadium. After Lehigh (12-1) took a 10-7 lead on a Brian Kelley 21-yard field goal with 4:22 left in the first quarter, Delaware took over the game. Brett Veach hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nagy, who finished 18 of 30 for 266 yards and became the first Delaware quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards in a season and 8,000 in a career, in the final minute of the first quarter to give the Hens (12-1) a lead they would not relinquish. Nagy later found Jamin Elliott, who finished with six catches for 162 yards, on an out-and-up pattern for a 70-yard touchdown, giving the Hens a 21-10 lead. The Mountain Hawks appeared to get some momentum on Delaware's next possession when Matt Andrews intercepted Nagy at the Lehigh 14, but Jamaal Burcher fumbled on the ensuing play, and Joe Minucci recovered for the Hens at the 14. Craig Cummings dove in from one yard out four plays later, and after Lehigh went three-and-out on its next possession, Delaware drove to the Lehigh 12 before Scott Collins hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired to give Delaware a 31-10 halftime lead. The Delaware defense, which after giving up points on Lehigh's first two possessions did not surrender another point until the fourth quarter, set the tone early in the second half by forcing a safety when Lehigh quarterback Brant Hall was called for intentional grounding in the end zone. After Lehigh's punt, the Hens increased their lead to 30 when Antawn Jenkins scored from three yards out to cap a 10-play, 45-yard drive. Delaware scored its 40th straight point on its next possession as Nagy scored on a quarterback keeper from one yard out to finish a 10-play, 64-yard drive and conclude Delaware's scoring. Delaware dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 37 mintues. "We won a big football game from a very fine football team," said Delaware coach Tubby Raymond, who won his 296th career game at Delaware. "What helped us today was the hammering that we've taken all year long. We've played six nationally-ranked teams, and we learned to play that way. We showed great hardness, and our defense played to create turnovers with some violent hits." Lehigh scored twice in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Josh Snyder and a 10-yard pass to Dave Crockett to create the final margin. Lehigh struck first after taking advantage of a Delaware penalty. The Blue Hen defense held Lehigh three and out to start the game, but was called for a personal foul on the punter. The Mountain Hawks cashed in when Brian Endler caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Hall, who finished 20 for 33 with 256 yards and three touchdowns. Delaware would answer right back, as Cummings scored the first of his two touchdowns from a yard out to tie the game at seven. Lehigh would drive right back down the field but would have to settle for Kelley's field goal, setting the stage for Delaware's 40-point run. The Blue Hens will host No. 3 seed Georgia Southern, a 48-20 winner over Hofstra, next Saturday at Delaware Stadium.
AGATE: SCORING LEHIGH...........10........0......0.....12.....-
22 First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Attendance: 16,390 TEAM STATISTICS......Lehigh...........UD First
Downs...........................18..................25 INDIVIDUAL STATS RUSHING- Lehigh: Burcher 3-41, Pleasent 7-39, Merrifield 2-5, Hall 11-(-15). Delaware: Jenkins 15-58, Cummings 12-38, O'Neal 12-36, Pressey 5-17, Patrick 4-11, Veach 2-10, Postlethwait 2-14, Mieckowski 1-2, Irvin 1-0, Nagy 6-(-5) PASSING- Lehigh: Hall 33-20-1-256. Delaware Nagy 30-18-1-266, Cummings 1-1-0-32. RECEVING- Lehigh: Endler 7-129, Mack 6-76, Snyder 5-32, Crockett 1-10, Pleasent 1-9. Delaware: Veach 7-80, Elliott 6-152, Jenkins 2-23, O'Neal 2-19, Pressey 1-12, Lavelle 1-2
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