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Peterson, Georgia Southern run past Blue Hens, 38-7 Sept. 8, 2001
STATESBORO, GA -- Adrian Peterson became the Southern Conference's all-time rusher and gained 121 yards on the day as No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Georgia Southern defeated No. 15 Delaware, 38-7, in a match-up of national I-AA football powers. Delaware, playing without the injured Butter Pressey (hamstring), dropped to 0-2 for the first time since 1988. That year, the Blue Hens opened the season with losses to Rhode Island, who Delaware lost to last week, and Navy before pulling it together to qualify for the NCAA I-AA Playoffs. Saturday's loss also marked the first time since 1984 that Delaware has been held under 10 points in consecutive weeks. "We're growing a little better each week," said Delaware coach Tubby Raymond. "That may be difficult to see because we are 0-2 right now. We were a lot better today, though, than last week. "That Georgia Southern team is a very good football team. The talent of Revere and Peterson was just too tough for us to stop today." Peterson carried 26 times for 121 yards to break the 100-yard mark for the 45th consecutive game overall and 33rd straight regular season game -- two shy of the NCAA All-Division record. He became the Southern Conference's all-time rushing leader, surpassing VMI's Thomas Haskins, who gained 5,349 yards. Delaware had a chance to draw first blood mid-way through the first quarter. The Blue Hens recovered a fumbled punt at the Eagle 14. However, the Georgia Southern defense stuffed the Blue Hens on 4th and 1 to take over at their own 7. Georgia Southern, which has now won 33 straight at home, took a 7-0 lead with 4:31 left in the first quarter when it took advantage of a Delaware fumble. Antawn Jenkins carried 18 yards on second down, before fumbling at the Blue Hen 39. The Eagles needed just four plays after that, capped by quarterback J.R. Revere's one-yard sneak for the score. Revere finished the day with 117 yards rushing, much of it coming on a 51-yard scamper in the third quarter. Another Delaware turnover led to a 14-0 deficit. On the first play of the second quarter, Blue Hen quarterback Sam Postlethwait kept the ball on an option and fumbled. Dereck Cooper picked it up and raced 58 yards untouched for the touchdown. After a Delaware punt, the Eagles used another big play to take a 21-0 lead. On the first play, Revere found Derrick Owens for 58 yards to the Delaware 11. Peterson took it on each of the next two plays, scoring from six yards out to give the Eagles a comfortable lead. Delaware got on the board on its next possession, going 72 yards on 13 plays. Postlethwait looked impressive on the drive, going 5 for 7 passing for 72 yards, capping the drive with a 19-yard scoring pass to Jamin Elliott. Postlethwait finished the day 11 of 21 for 104 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked five times, though. "Sam made remarkable progress," said Raymond of his fifth-year senior quarterback making just his second career start. "He was eons better than last week. He showed a lot of poise. He hit his secondary receivers and just played a lot better than last week. I think the whole team feels that way." However, Georgia Southern (2-0) would tack on a field goal as the first half time expired and a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters for the final margin. The Blue Hens return home to face backyard rival West Chester next Saturday night at 7 p.m.
AGATE
DELAWARE.........................0...7...0...0...- 7 GEORGIA SOUTHERN.......7...17...7...7...- 38
SCORING First quarter Second quarter Third quarter
Fourth quarter
TEAM STATS.........................UD..............GSU First Downs...............................7................17 Rushes-Yards......................40-88...........60-349 Passes...............................21-11-1..........7-2-1 Passing Yards........................104...............63 Total Yards.............................192..............412 Fumbles-Lost..........................2-2...............3-2 Penalties-Yards......................6-52.............6-56 Punts.....................................8-36.1.........4-35.5 Sacks By.................................2-8..............5-27 Time of Possession..............32:16............27:44
INDIVIDUAL STATS RUSHING: Delaware: Jenkins 13-54, Veach 3-16, Bleiler 5-14, Cross 2-6, Patrick 3-4, Bennett 1-0, Postlethwait 13-(minus-6). Georgia Southern: Peterson 26-121, Revere 16-117, Myers 4-43, Davis 2-38, Anderson 4-11, Wells 3-6, Cox 2-5, Ford 2-5, Williams 1-3. PASSING: Delaware: Postlethwait 11-21-1-104. Georgia Southern: Revere 2-5-0-63, Cox 0-2-1-0, Williams 0-0-0-0. RECEIVING: Delaware: Elliott 4-56, Penecale 2-26, Medley 1-11, Bleiler 1-7, Lavelle 1-5, Jenkins 1-2, Cross 1-(minus-3). Georgia Southern: Owens 2-63.
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