NEWARK, Del. -- For now, at least, the battle for the starting quarterback spot for the University of Delaware football team is down to two.

Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler announced Thursday that junior Robby Schoenhoft (top right), and redshirt freshman Lou Ritacco (bottom right) will battle for the starting spot for the season opener Aug. 30 at the University of Maryland. Sophomore Sean Hakes, who did not take part in spring drills, will be the No. 3 quarterback.

“We wanted to narrow the field down in preparation for the Maryland game,” said Keeler, whose team must replace All-American quarterback Joe Flacco, who was a first round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. “We’ll give two players the majority of the reps in game-type situations. We won’t rush to pick a No. 1. We’ll wait to make the decision at the right time. We are happy with Sean, but he just came in last week and he needs to learn our system. He has made great progress and he’ll have the chance to compete the rest of this year and next season.”

Schoenhoft, a first-year transfer from Ohio State, Ritacco, who sat out last season as a true freshman and served as the team’s No. 3 quarterback, and Hakes, a first-year transfer from Orange Coast Junior College after a stint at the University of Akron, had shared snaps in Delaware’s first scrimmage Tuesday afternoon.

Schoenhoft and Ritacco will share most of the quarterback duties in the Hens’ second scrimmage this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. Hakes will continue to see action.

A native of Mason, Ohio, Schoenhoft saw action in seven games and threw for 129 yards for Ohio State last season, helping the Buckeyes advance to the national championship game. Hakes threw for 606 yards and four touchdowns last season at Orange Coast Junior College. He did not play at Akron during the 2006 season.

Delaware, coming off an 11-4 record a year ago when the Blue Hens advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game, have been picked in the top 10 in virtually every pre-season Top 25 poll and were picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association South Division in the pre-season coaches and media poll.

The Blue Hens are the only team in the CAA South Division who do not return their starting quarterback.