Jacksonville at Delaware: Mr. C's Official Game Thread

[Mr. C]

We're less than 40 minutes away from kickoff for the game between the Dolphins and the Blue Hens. Really nice night in the high 70s, with the clouds having burned off, or blown away. Those in the Philly-Wilmington area, come on out and catch a good college football game. Looking forward to seeing Kerwin Bell and Jacksonville for the first time in person and ready to see what changes await as the Dave Brock era starts at Delaware.

[Mr. C]

Jacksonville's QBs looked good in warm-ups. Delaware better be able to bring some pressure to keep sophomore Kade Bell from getting locked in. Kade is the son of Kerwin Bell, who went from fifth string to Heisman Trophy candidate as a great QB at Florida.

I hear Delaware had a very productive and competitive camp, so this should be a good game.

This is a good test to see if one of the Pioneer Football League's top teams is playoff-ready, with auto bid coming the PFL's way this fall.

[Mr. C]

As always, feel free to get into the conversation, with opinions, questions and the like. Love hearing everyone's feedback as I cover a game. This is the first of three games live for me this weekend. I am doing a New York City doubleheader on Saturday, hitting Georgetown at Wagner and then heading to the Sacred Heart-Marist game. I get to see two PFL teams in three days.

This is my 37th year of covering college football and nothing gets me revved up like the start of a new season.

I hear that season tickets are down 7,000 at Delaware, so it will be interesting to see how many people show up tonight. A lot of complaints about ticket relocation and parking from long-time Hen fans.

Still in search of Mr. Chicken.

[Mr. C]

For those looking for a primer on the 2013 season, check out the latest column at College Sports Journal:

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/713-changes-abound-as-the-2013-season-begins

[Mr. C]

I got down here at noon to pick up credentials, tailgated with my daughter for lunch in the press parking lot and then spent the day hanging out for a little while down at the UD campus (students continue to look younger and younger) and then at the Carpenter Center.

Press box dining fare was the usual roast beef, ham and turkey sandwiches and some tasty hot dogs, with a big raisin cookie for dessert.

[Mr. C]

The national anthem is done and we're counting down to 13 minutes before kickoff. Home side at Delaware Stadium is filling up nicely, still a lot of seats on the far side and in the student end zone section.

[Mr. C]

The band and cheerleaders are lined up to greet the Blue Hens as they come charging on field.

[Mr. C]

No matter how good the Blue Hen football team is, I always love listening to Delaware's marching band.

[Mr. C]

All but one section of the student end zone seats are now filled in.

[Mr. C]

Dave Brock takes in the crowd as he makes his first trip into the stadium as a head coach before the opening kickoff.

[Mr. C]

Time for the captains to meet with the officials for the coin toss.

[Mr. C]

And here come the Blue Hens onto the field. Lot of energy in the crowd, even though it is smaller than you would expect.

[Mr. C]

Rousing boos for Jacksonville as the Dolphins come on the field. Some things stay the same at the Tub.

[Mr. C]

Of course, the boos are not the same as you get for a Villanova, or James Madison game here.

[Mr. C]

Rob Jones, Zach Kerr and Andrew Pierce are the captains for UD.

[Mr. C]

Jacksonville wins the toss and elects to receive. Kerwin Bell wants the ball in his son's hands.

[Mr. C]

Kickoff time.

[Mr. C]

Banner drills it five yards deep to the middle of the end zone. JU's returnman starts to come out and smartly thinks better of that. First down at the 25 for JU.

[citdog]

And here come the Blue Hens onto the field. Lot of energy in the crowd, even though it is smaller than you would expect.


http://www.vivaboo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kool-N%E2%80%99-the-gang-and-senior-citizen-old-people-man-men-woman-women.jpg

[Mr. C]

Spread option sweep for nothing. Good pursuit. Thomas and Gibson on the tackle. SWing pass from Bell to Riley for 11 and a 1st down to the 36.

[Mr. C]

Draw play to the 42, but at least two JU linemen were holding. 1st and 15 back at the 31.

[Mr. C]

Bell finds Randolph open in the secondary for 17 and a first down at the JU 48. Big hit and fumble at the Hen 48, recovered by JU. 2nd and 6.

[Mr. C]

Screen pass from Bell to Harris to the UD 39. 3rd and 2. Four-down territory.

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

Jacksonville wins the toss and elects to receive. Kerwin Bell wants the ball in his son's hands.

And the FCS season has begun!

[Mr. C]

Time out called by Kade Bell. First time out for JU.

[Mr. C]

And the FCS season has begun!

As Thomas Boswell, the great columnisr of the Washington Post would say "Life begins on opening day."

[Mr. C]

http://www.vivaboo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kool-N%E2%80%99-the-gang-and-senior-citizen-old-people-man-men-woman-women.jpg
Those look like Delaware fans, all right.

[Mr. C]

Funny how I can always recognize certain voices in a Blue Hen crowd. "Play some defense."

Bell avoids a blitz and sidearms the ball to Guy, who cuts across the field for 26 yards to the UD 22.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

FUMBLE!!!!! Delaware ball

[Mr. C]

Caudio loses the ball on the handoff, can't get it back and Logan Schultz recovers for UD at the 34.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

free stream for anyone who wants to watch at hensallaccess.bluehens.com

[Mr. C]

Andrew Pierce is stuffed by White and Michel for no gain on his first carry. Hurley hits Boyle up the middle to the JU 37 for 29 yards/

[Mr. C]

Pierce up the middle for 2 to the JU 35.

[Mr. C]

Hurley bubble screen to Johnson is stuffed for only 2. Third and 6 from the 33.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Hurley is looking like a rockstar so far

[Mr. C]

Hurley with a nice thread of the needle to Rob Jones for a 1st down at the 17. 16 yards.

[Mr. C]

Pierce again has little room to the 15 on a 2-yard run. JU looks good inside.

[Mr. C]

Hurley bootleg pass to Jones at the right flag is incomplete. Good coverage. The ball hit the flag.

[Mr. C]

Rob Jones takes a big hit for no yards on a completion at the 15 by freshman Grady Redding. Banner's FGA from 32 yards is wide right with 8:14 left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Banner was 18-of-23 last year and was 33-of-44 for his career.

[Mr. C]

Bell scrambled out of bounds for 11 yards to the JU 31.

[Mr. C]

Snap infraction on JU costs the Dolphins five yards. 1st and 15 at the 26.

[Mr. C]

Bell is running for his life and the ball is tipped, caught by Guy at the 20 and then wisely dropped. 2nd and 15 at the 26.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

bullcrap personal foul called on Delaware

No whistle on the play and still called for a late hit on a ball that could have been in play

[Mr. C]

Bell slightly behind his WR and a hit causes a drop, but UD's Jeff Williams is called for a personal foul after the play. 1st down for JU at the Dolphin 41. Big mistakes there.

[Mr. C]

bullcrap personal foul called on Delaware
UD needs to show more discipline to avoid those.

Short run to the 43.

[Mr. C]

Thomas carrys to the JU 46 for 3 yards. 3rd and 5.

David Mackall, who tipped the pass earlier, is down with what looks like leg cramps. 6:36 left in the 1st Quarter.

[Mr. C]

LT Kevin Battle jumps for JU. 5 yard penalty to the 41. 3rd and 10.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

SACK!!!!

[Mr. C]

Bell is pressured and sacked by Patrick Calloway, though it was really a team play on the sack at the JU 37. Punt time and great UD pressure.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

damnit rookie mistake by Rob Jones gives Jacksonville the ball back in our red zone

[Mr. C]

JU's Andre Addison recovers a Rob Jones fumbled punt on a Terrance Bryant hit at the UD 16

[Mr. C]

Jones was trying to make a big play, instead of letting the Dolphins down it.

[Mr. C]

Calloway with a nice hit on a 1st-down run for no gain. Flags are down. False start on RT Dylan Bostick. 2nd and 15 at the 21.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Jones was trying to make a big ply, instead of letting the Dolphins down it.

We're beating ourselves out there

[Mr. C]

Jump ball pass at the goal line is incomplete. 3rd and 15 from the 21.

[Mr. C]

Bell has room to run, but find Andrew Robustelli open in the middle at the goal line for a 21-yard TD. Kick is good at the 4:09 mark. Jacksonville 7, Delaware 0.

[Mr. C]

3 plays, 16 yards, 1:03 on the drive. Robustelli, the JU TE, had 17 catches last season, but six of them went for touchdowns.

[Mr. C]

Outside of the four penalties on the line, Jacksonville has looked very poised on offense and has had the ball for almost the entire first period through 11 minutes.

[Mr. C]

Most of the stands are now filled on all sides. Looks like a typical Tub crowd.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

You have to be f-ing kidding me! Another fumble in the red zone!?!

[Mr. C]

Jordan Thomas fumbles the kickoff return and Ed Foley recovers for JU at the UD 13. DJ Howard on the forced fumble.

[Mr. C]

Bell breaks contain on the left and hits Randolph for a 13-yard TD pass. Two Tds in 7 seconds.

[Mr. C]

Lynch's PAT is good and makes it Jacksonville 14, Delaware 0 with 3:54 left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Huge cheers as Delaware downs the kick in the end zone. Hen ball at the 25.

[Mr. C]

Michel on the tackle after a 3-yard After an incompletion, Pierce run on 2nd down. 3rd and 7 from the 28. Hurley keeps to near the 35. Stopped just short. 4th and inches. A JU player, rover Jordan Drewhurst, is down with an injury that doesn't look good.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Come on Brock, go for it, you have to, this is the time to attack.

[Mr. C]

Drewhurst is up and being helped off.

[Mr. C]

Come on Brock, go for it, you have to, this is the time to attack.
4th and inches and Eric Enderson is in for his first UD punt. High and a lot of hang time as it angles near the sideline. JU ball at its own 15. 51 yard punt for the redshirt freshman.

[Mr. C]

Good rushing defense for UD on Bryan's 1st down carry. Jeff Williams for minus-2.

[Mr. C]

Robusteli looks good shaking off a tackle on the drag route and going to the 24, 3rd and 1.

[Mr. C]

Another false start on JU. 3rd and 6.

[Mr. C]

Another flag on a UD blitz. Bell is called for delay of game. 3rd and 11 from the 9.

[Mr. C]

Well covered pass is complete to Bryant on the swing, Wallschleger on the tackle. JU 26 punt to the Doplhin 39. Short field for Delaware with 17 seconds left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Pierce on that draw play he runs so well for 10 yards and a first down at the JU 29.

[Mr. C]

First Period

Jacksonville 14
Delaware 0

[Pard4Life]

First Period

Jacksonville 14
Delaware 0

Wow.... synopsis so far? UD sloppy or JU just executing flawlessly?

[Mr. C]

Blue Hens start the 2nd period at the JU 29 and Pierce breaks loose for 12 to the 17 for another 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Wow.... synopsis so far? UD sloppy or JU just executing flawlessly?
Jacksonville has taken advantage of two fumbles. It could be 21-3 if not for a JU fumble in the red zone.

[Mr. C]

Rob Jones for 7 on a trick play that almost resembled a fumblerooskie. Incomplete pass in the end zone. 3rd and 3 from the 11.

[Mr. C]

Rob Jones sweeps for 5 to the JU six. First and goal Blue Hens.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

touchdown!!!!

[Mr. C]

Johnson on the carry after a shovel from Hurley and scores from the six. Jacksonville 14, Delaware 7, 13:17 left in the half after the Banner PAT.

[Mr. C]

6 plays, 39 yards and 2:00 on the Delaware scoring drive.

[Mr. C]

Wow.... synopsis so far? UD sloppy or JU just executing flawlessly?
I've been impressed by Bell and his receivers, particularly the TE Robusteli. Without the five penalties, JU could be carving Delaware's defense up.

[Mr. C]

Nice Banner kickoff goes out of bounds in the end zone, JU ball at the 25 with 13:17 left.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

How the hell is that a penalty!

[Mr. C]

Flag as Delaware hits a WR from JU. Defenseless player rule in effect on the personal foul by Travis Hawkins. 15 yards to the the JU 40. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

One yard for JU on a run to the 41. 2nd and 9.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Flag as Delaware hits a WR from JU. Defenseless player rule in effect on the personal foul by Travis Hawkins. 15 yards to the the JU 40. 1st down.

Are receivers now as sacrosanct as kickers? he was attempting to catch the ball right before he got hit, Hawkins was already in motion

[Mr. C]

How the hell is that a penalty!
That is the new defenseless player rule that is a point of emphasis this year.

[Mr. C]

Draw play and poor UD tackling for a 1st down at the Hen 49.

[Mr. C]

JU is trying to emphasize the zone read a bit on this drive, but a stop for minus-2 to the JU 49. 2nd and 12.

[Mr. C]

Out pattern from Bell to Riley to the UD 45. 3rd and 6. Bell pass is incomplete with UD pressure. 4th and 6. Punt time.

[Mr. C]

Dylan Lynch on to punt. Fair catch by Jake Giusti at the UD 11.

[Mr. C]

199 games scoring a TD for the Blue Hens at Delaware Stadium (since 1983).

[Mr. C]

Laing for 13 yards spelling Pierce to the 24. Tunnel screen to Johnson for 11 yards to the UD 36 for a 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Hurley read option and slides down at the UD 42. 2nd and 4.

[Mr. C]

Waggle pass by Hurley and he is under pressure and has to throw it away. 3rd and 4 from the 42.

[Mr. C]

Hurley was about to let the play clock expire when the coaching staff called a late time out to save a penalty. One time out used by both teams with 9:43 left in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Nick Boyle's second effort results in a first down after a catch. Ball on the UD 47.

[Mr. C]

Read option for Hurley again to the JU 38 on a 15-yard sprint.

[Mr. C]

With the offense finding rhythm, Hurley to Rob Jones at the JU 28. Another 1st down

[Mr. C]

Harrison shows some quickness on the jet sweep to the JU 6. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

Pierce off-tackle to the 3. 2nd and goal.

[Mr. C]

Randolph powers to the left down to the one. 3rd and goal.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

TD BOYLE!!! Boyle is setting himself up to be MVP this game.

[Mr. C]

Hurley to Boyle for the TD pass as UD lined up in a 3-back Stack-I formation.

Looked like Hank Stram's old Kansas City Chiefs offense from the 1960s and early 70s.

[Mr. C]

PAT by Banner tied the game. Jacksonville 14, Delaware 14. 6:52 left in the 1st half

11 plays, 89 yards, 4:03 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

Nice blocking springs Williams for a kick return to the JU 43. 42 yards on the return.

[Mr. C]

Great audible from Bell opens a deep post up near the UD 10, but Hawkins drops the pass.

[Mr. C]

You could tell Jacksonville had schemed up that pass play. Slightly underthrown, or it could have been six.

[Mr. C]

Bell to Robusteli on a pass set up by the last play call and Robusteli for a 57-yard TD.

[Mr. C]

Jacksonville 21, Delaware 14 with 6:23 left in the first half.

2 plays, 57 yards, 20 seconds.

[Mr. C]

Love watching what Kerwin Bell is doing to the defense with his passing game. Fun stuff for non-Hen fans.

[Pard4Life]

xeekx

[Mr. C]

Hawkins was one step away from breaking the kick return after taking the ball at the goal line. UD 1st down at the Hen 27.

[Mr. C]

xeekx
Jacksonville looks like its ready for a playoff bid in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Harrison zooms for 18 yards to the JU 49. 1st down. Laing to the 46.

[Mr. C]

It will be interesting to see if Delaware wears down the Dolphins. Boyle with a catch at the JU 41. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Addison with a big hit in the backfield, but doesn't wrap Randolph up. 1st down at the JU 33. Addison comes back with a pass break up on the next play. 10-yard holding penalty on UD's RT Ben Curtis. 1st and 20 on the JU 43.

[Mr. C]

Nice time for a draw play and Laing picks his holes nicely for 18 to the 25. Laing crashes for 3 to the 22 for the first down.

[Mr. C]

Pierce zone read to the 15. 2nd and 3. Delaware is playing some CAA powerball now.

[Mr. C]

Hurley overthrows Jones just slightly in the end zone to miss a TD pass in the right corner. Led him too far. Didn't have to cut it that close, with Jones so wide open on the great play fake. Time out No. 2 for the Hens.

[Mr. C]

One impression from the first half. Robusteli and Boyle are two great tight ends.

[Mr. C]

Unbalanced line to the left for UD and Pierce powers to the 10 for a first and goal on the five-yard run.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

That penalty better be pass interference against Jax

[Mr. C]

Hurley short-armed a pass on a fade to the left and is bailed out on a pass interference call. Bad call in my opinion.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

TD PIERCE!!!!!!

[Mr. C]

Pierce slams in for the TD. Ties the game on the Banner PAT.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Hurley short-armed a pass on a fade to the left and is bailed out on a pass interference call. Bad call in my opinion.

Why ? He was mugging the guy, it would have been a travesty if it wasn't called.

[Mr. C]

10 plays, 67 yards, 4:24 on the drive.

Jacksonville 21, Delaware 21.

[Mr. C]

Why ? He was mugging the guy, it would have been a travesty if it wasn't called.
On an underthrown ball, the defender has a right to go to the ball. The CAA and the SoCon are two conferences that consistently blow pass interference calls.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

On an underthrown ball, the defender has a right to go to the ball. The CAA and the SoCon are two conferences that consistently blow pass interference calls.

He wasn't going for the ball, he was tackling the receiver before the ball arrived.

[Mr. C]

Touchback for JU to the 25 with 1:50 left in the first half. Let's see what that mad scientist Kerwin BEll has in store for the two-minute drill. Bell to Lindsay for 5 to the 30 out of bounds. 1:25. Lindsay carries to the 33. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Lindsay is stopped on a run at the 34. Time out Delaware with 52 seconds left in the half.

[Mr. C]

He wasn't going for the ball, he was tackling the receiver before the ball arrived.
That wasn't the opinion from the press box view, or from what I saw on the replay shown on the videoboard. Couldn't disagree more.

[Mr. C]

51 yard punt from Lynch to the Delaware 15 with 39 seconds left. Look for a running play here.

[Mr. C]

Pierce zone read to the JU 44. 31 yards and the ball is spiked with 26 seconds left.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Pierce for a monster run, yes!

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Late hit on a Delaware receiver after a missed catch, where's the defenseless player call here?

[Mr. C]

Hurley pass behind Johnson on the deep slant inside the 25. 3rd and 10 at the 23 second mark.

[Mr. C]

Run to the 40. 4th and 6 and the half runs out.

[Mr. C]

Why not throw a pass instead of running on third down and set up Banner for a possible field goal?

[Mr. C]

Late hit on a Delaware receiver after a missed catch, where's the defenseless player call here?

If I had the new rule handy, I'd post it for you. In one of the media days, the ACC-Big South official coordinator showed us reams of examples of what was and wasn't a penalty for defenseless players. There are several things that have to take place.

[Mr. C]

Halftime

Jacksonville 21, Delaware 21.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Half Time Report -

Jacksonville is playing much better than I'd expect for a non-scholly team. Their QB is apparently legit, and didn't just get the job because his dad is the coach.

As for the Hens, I expected some mistakes tonight since it's the first game with a new coach under a new system. The mistakes I've seen haven't been from a new system though, a muffed punt return that never should have been attempted and a dumbass fumble that wasn't caused by a hit are just focus and preparation errors. Thankfully, since the first quarter things have locked in.

UD is outplaying Jax on both sides of the ball now, we just need to keep it up and wear them down. Jax has one legitimate touchdown, the other two came from concentration mistakes we never should have made.

I'm liking Brock's new offense, but Jax seems susceptible to the run, so maybe it's time to take a page from the KC Keeler school of thought and just keep pounding it on the ground.

[danefan]

This is where the difference between full scholly and non scholly will likely become apparent. I saw Albany in this spot a number of times. Only to get run over by fully scholly depth in the 2nd half.

[Mr. C]

Key stats:

Kade Bell 11-of-17 for 166 yards and 3 TDs passing for JU
Andy Robusteli 3 catches, 89 yards and 2 TDs

JU 15-20 rushing, 166 yards passing, 186 yards of total offense

Andrew Pierce 11 carries for 87 and 1 TD for UD
Trent Hurley 10-of-16 for 84 yards and 1 TD
Nick Boyle 4 catches (career-high) for 40 yards and 1 TD

UD 25-218 rushing, 84 passing, 302 yards of total offense.

Penalties:
JU 7-43
UD 4-43

UD 2 turnovers, JU 1 turnover.

[Mr. C]

This is where the difference between full scholly and non scholly will likely become apparent. I saw Albany in this spot a number of times. Only to get run over by fully scholly depth in the 2nd half.

JU kept the ball away from Delaware in the first period, hence the 14-0 lead. The fumbles lost by UD helped set up the two TDs, but JU should have scored on its first possession when it fumbled the ball away. Delaware left three points on the field with the early miss of a chippy field goal. Delaware played grind-it out CAA football as the first half wound down and that's what the Hen will try to do in the second half. The first possession defensively for Jacksonville is huge to open the second half, with Delaware getting the kickoff.

[Mr. C]

2nd half is underway. Procedure Penalty, no gain by Pierce, but Hurley to Jones for 20 and a first down at the 36.

[Mr. C]

Pump fake and pass on the slant to Michael Johnson for 15 to the JU 49.

[Mr. C]

Hurley to Harrison for 9 on the sideline.

[Mr. C]

Pierce with no blocking to the JU 37. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Hurley to Johnson for a completion to the JU 24. JU player is down to try to slow down the quick pace.

[Mr. C]

Lots of time on the play fake and Hurley hit Jones on a deep comeback at the 5. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

Laing for 2. Pass Hurley to Johnson incomplete in the end zone, 3rd and 3.

[Mr. C]

Hurley to Bush on a pass under pressure. Incomplete. Banner on for a extra-point-like FG.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Baner FG good!

[Mr. C]

Banner drills it.

Delaware's first lead at 24-21 with 11:55 left in the third period after the Sean Banner 20-yard field goal.

11 plays, 81 yards, 2:53 on the scoring drive.

[Mr. C]

Return to the 23 for JU. Incomplete pass on 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Fumbled snap by Bell to the 9 on the 14-yard loss. Right through his hands.

[Mr. C]

Bell to Guy on third down to the 29. 20 yards for 4th and 5.

[Mr. C]

Punt to the UD 36. 39 yards for Lynch. 10:20 left in the third period.

[Mr. C]

Laing carry, UD penalty. Illegal formation.

[Mr. C]

Another flag on a dangerous completion in the middle. Pass interference on the offense.

[Mr. C]

Pierce runs to the 20.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 26, Hurley to Johnson to the 35. Fourth and long, punt time.

[Mr. C]

Nice return of the punt by Bryant and a saving tackle at the UD 39. 7:37 on the clock.

[Mr. C]

One of JU's linemen clipped Bell for a sack. Loss of 6.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

INTERCEPTION!!!!!! Nice, we needed that

[Mr. C]

Bell misreads Patrick Calloway in the middle and Calloway makes an interception and returns to the JU 45. Huge play in this game with 6:53 left in the third.

[Mr. C]

Pierce runs to the 41 for 5. 2nd and 5.

[Mr. C]

Pierce outside zone to the 37. 3rd and 2. 16 carries for 101 yards by Pierce.

[Mr. C]

Randolph pounds to the JU 34. 1st and 10.

[Mr. C]

Fake jet sweep and pass to Laing is dropped. Hurley had Rob Jones open for a possible TD.

[Mr. C]

Crossbuck action to Laing on the counter for a 1st down at the JU 22. 15 yards on the play.

[Mr. C]

Hurley to Johnson on a 12-yard out. 1st and goal at the 10.

[Mr. C]

Randolph to the five. 2nd and goal.

[Mr. C]

Michael Johnson on the jet sweep is called down at the one.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

TOUCHDOWN!!!!! RANDOLPH!!!!

[Mr. C]

Randolph untouched on a heavy set for the one-yard TD.

[Mr. C]

Banner PAT is good

Delaware 31, Jacksonville 21, 3:04 left in the third period.


9 plays, 45 yards, 3:49 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

19,120 attendance at the Tub (including Tubby Raymond).

[Mr. C]

Loss of one after the touchback for JU.

[Mr. C]

Near disaster as Bell fumbles on a Hallerman sack. JU recovers at the 2. 3rd and 33. Robusteli catch to the 4. Fourth down. Not what the Dolphin defense needed.

[Mr. C]

JU has only 10 men in the punt formation and has to call time with 45 seconds left in the third.

[Mr. C]

Rob Jones weaves to the JU 20 on the punt return with 29 seconds left in the third. 25-yard return.

[Mr. C]

Laing sprints free to the one as he sweeps the right side.

[Mr. C]

1st and goal as the third quarter ends.

Delaware 31, Jacksonville 21.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

TD LAING! This game is finally starting to look how it was supposed to.

[Mr. C]

A Tubby Raymond-styled counter on a Laing TD run from the one. Banner's kick is good.

Delaware 38
Jacksonville 21

14:56 left in the fourth period

2 plays, 20 yards on the scoring drive.

[Mr. C]

Looks like Towson might pull the upset over UConn. The Tigers are up 19-10 with about 10 minutes left and T. West running the ball.

[Mr. C]

Williams nice return to the JU 42.

[Mr. C]

Late hit on Delaware as Bell is hit. 1st down at the UD 42.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Holy crap, that's hands down the worst call of the game, seriously? These refs need to go.

[Mr. C]

Incomplete pass from Bell.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Late hit on Delaware as Bell is hit. 1st down at the UD 42.

Rather, it was a legitimate hit called late by incompetent officials.

[Mr. C]

Bell scrambles and throws another incompletion. Bell fumbles sets up 4th down.

[Mr. C]

Jones fair catch on the punt with 13:15 left.

[Mr. C]

Delaware on the move for 18 yards.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Damn, sloppy play allowing that int to go for a TD

[Mr. C]

Dumb play call and pass and McCray intercepts it and returns it 63 yards for a TD. Anyone remember William & Mary in 2004?

[Mr. C]

Delaware 38, Jacksonville 28, 12 minutes left in the fourth.

[Mr. C]

UD returns the kickoff to the 15 with 11:54 left.

Towson's Terrance West just scored again and it is 26-10 late at UConn.

[Mr. C]

Delaware is trying to run the ball down JU's throat and close out this game.

[Mr. C]

Delaware has a 2nd and 12 coming up at the Hen 43.

[Mr. C]

Hurley to Boyle for 12 and a first down at the JU 42.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

AWESOME PASS!

I'm loving Brock's offense.

[Mr. C]

Michael Johnson pushes off on a defender and catches the ball for 35 yards to the JU 10. 7 catches, 100 yards for Johnson. Hurley has thrown for 238.

TD for Laing.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

and LAING TD! This is going to be an exciting season.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Baner needs to get his head on straight.

[Mr. C]

Delaware 44, Jacksonville 28 after Banner's PAT goes wide with 6:04 left in the fourth.

[Mr. C]

Banner was 67-of-67 in his career before that PAT miss

10 plays, 85 yards, 5:50 on the scoring drive.

[Ivytalk]

Meanwhile, at the craft beer booth...

[Mr. C]

Jacksonville is on the move to make this one more respectable.

[Mr. C]

Near miss in the end zone between Bell and Guy from the 36. 3rd and 8 upcoming. Skinny post from Bell to Andy Jones for the TD.

[Mr. C]

Why didn't JU go for two, down 44-34 with 3:45 left? A two-pointer could have made it a one-possession game. Onside kick?

[Mr. C]

Bell 261 yards and 4 TD throws.

Delaware 44, Jacksonville 35.

[Mr. C]

Nifty onside kick goes off a Hen player and is recovered by Jacksonville at the JU 43.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Nifty onside kick goes off a Hen player and is recovered by Jacksonville at the JU 43.

Not nifty at all. The fumble just returned by UD for a TD though, that's nifty.

[Mr. C]

Delaware's Jeff Williams recovers a fumble for a touchdown with 3:31 left. Banner's kick is good.

Delaware 51, Jacksonville 35.

Salisbury force on the fumble. Williams took it 24 yards for the score.

[Mr. C]

This one is winding down with 2:28 left and UD up 51-35. Down to the field for postgame.

[RichH2]

Since we have been told ad nausuem how weak Pioneer is, Delaware must really be terrible

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Game Wrap Up:


The OL, the biggest question going in, looked very good tonight, kudos.


Hurley showed better judgment than the did last year, but still had some nice runs when appropriate. He's going to be huge for us.


We have, hands down, the deepest RB lineup in the conference, if not all of FCS.


The defense took some time to put things together, but figured it out and started making plays. I'd like to see some more aggressive tackling. We had a couple bull**** penalties against us on D, so let's not let idiot refs make us timid.


Special teams need some work. A lot of work.

Jax is going to make waves in the PFL, they're good. I think they'll go undefeated the rest of their season and make the playoffs.

We're a playoff caliber team this year. They say the biggest improvement a team makes is between the first and second games. If we can improve as much between game 1 and game 2 as we did from last season to this season, we're a lock to win the CAA.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Since we have been told ad nausuem how weak Pioneer is, Delaware must really be terrible


Not at all, the majority of Jax points came from dumb mistakes that we should have never made. We need to clean up our play on special teams, Hurley needs to watch where he throws, and the Offense needs to learn how to play Defense, but otherwise we absolutely dominated every facet of that game.

[Mr. C]

Final Score:

Delaware 51
Jacksonville 35

[blueballs]

Just to put some perspective on this.... Jax traveled to Statesboro this same weekend last year and lost 59-0.

[Mr. C]

Just to put some perspective on this.... Jax traveled to Statesboro this same weekend last year and lost 59-0.
Having watched the DVD of the Georgia Southern-Jacksonville game last year and been in attendance tonight, my observation would be that Jacksonville is a much better team than what you witnessed in the Boro last season. A year older, more talented squad at certain spots and better defensively, though the Dolphins got worn down in the second half, as you would expect a non-scholarship team to do against a top-tier conference team like Delaware from the CAA. There is some good speed out there and a good quarterback. Also, Georgia Southern was the second, or third best team in FCS last season IMO (Towson would have given teams fits in the playoffs, if the Tigers hadn't have been snubbed by Charlie Cobb and the committee boys). Kerwin Bell kept talking to me about matchups in the post-game session tonight and Georgia Southern's speed negated a lot of what Jacksonville would have liked to have done. Delaware is probably a middle-of-the-pack CAA team right now. The Blue Hens are good offensively and looked good against the rush on defense, but struggled on special teams (two fumbles, a missed field goal, a missed extra point, lost an onside kick and gave up some big plays in the return game). There were also some weaknesses in the secondary.

[BlueHenSinfonian]

Having watched the DVD of the Georgia Southern-Jacksonville game last year and been in attendance tonight, my observation would be that Jacksonville is a much better team than what you witnessed in the Boro last season. A year older, more talented squad at certain spots and better defensively, though the Dolphins got worn down in the second half, as you would expect a non-scholarship team to do against a top-tier conference team like Delaware from the CAA. There is some good speed out there and a good quarterback. Also, Georgia Southern was the second, or third best team in FCS last season IMO (Towson would have given teams fits in the playoffs, if the Tigers hadn't have been snubbed by Charlie Cobb and the committee boys). Kerwin Bell kept talking to me about matchups in the post-game session tonight and Georgia Southern's speed negated a lot of what Jacksonville would have liked to have done. Delaware is probably a middle-of-the-pack CAA team right now. The Blue Hens are good offensively and looked good against the rush on defense, but struggled on special teams (two fumbles, a missed field goal, a missed extra point, lost an onside kick and gave up some big plays in the return game). There were also some weaknesses in the secondary.

While I don't disagree about your assessment of UD in tonight's game, I do disagree about the midpack CAA prediction. The mistakes tonight should be easily corrected. Delaware was midpack CAA last year, and this team is far better across the board. If we play against CAA competition like we did tonight, we'll likely lose, but if we can learn from the mistakes and tighten things up, the sky's the limit this year.

This was the first game under a new coach and a new scheme. You can only learn so much in scrimmages and intra-squad play. Thankfully we have a nice mix of increasingly good FCS teams plus a FBS team to really test the mettle before CAA play starts.

[Mr. C]

While I don't disagree about your assessment of UD in tonight's game, I do disagree about the midpack CAA prediction. The mistakes tonight should be easily corrected. Delaware was midpack CAA last year, and this team is far better across the board. If we play against CAA competition like we did tonight, we'll likely lose, but if we can learn from the mistakes and tighten things up, the sky's the limit this year.

This was the first game under a new coach and a new scheme. You can only learn so much in scrimmages and intra-squad play. Thankfully we have a nice mix of increasingly good FCS teams plus a FBS team to really test the mettle before CAA play starts.
My exact meaning is that Delaware is a middle of the pack CAA team as it looks right now. I think a lot of teams will be chasing Towson, Villanova, JMU and possibly Richmond. Doesn't mean that Delaware can't move up as it improves some things and cuts down on mistakes. The offense did a lot of nice things on Thursday night.

[caribbeanhen]

http://www.vivaboo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kool-N%E2%80%99-the-gang-and-senior-citizen-old-people-man-men-woman-women.jpg

ha ha ..... good one citidog

[caribbeanhen]

Jacksonville looks like its ready for a playoff bid in the first half.

that's why they play 2 halfs.... who knows though, they could end up in Newark again this year

[caribbeanhen]

Just to put some perspective on this.... Jax traveled to Statesboro this same weekend last year and lost 59-0.

58... but who cares

[93henfan]

Thanks for a great play by play Mr. C. Next time you're here, I'll trade you a pint of Dogfish Head for the press box wifi password. VZW coverage blows at the Tub on game day. xthumbsupx