DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Quarterback Dashawn Darden ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clinching score with 1:08 remaining, as defending Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) champion and 22nd-ranked Delaware Valley University staved off Wilkes University, 21-10.
It was the home and conference opener for the Aggies (2-1), who won their 13th MAC game a row, dating back to the 2016 season and including their 9-0 run to the league crown last year. The Colonels fell to 1-2 and 0-1.
Darden, a senior and two-time all-conference honoree, accounted for 234 of DelVal's 298 yards of total offense. He started the scoring with 8:44 left in the opening quarter as he got to the outside, cut back near the Wilkes 25 and found the end zone from 69 yards out. It was Darden's second-longest touchdown run of his career (he had an 85-yard score as a freshman) and Nick Restaino added the extra-point for a 7-0 lead.
Both teams failed to score on their next drive and, following an Aggie punt, the Colonels took over at their own 11-yard line late in the first quarter. Quarterback Jose Tabora moved the sticks with his arm and his feet, including conversions on a third-and-13 and fourth-and-four. They then had a third-and-goal from the four when Tabora found Derek Nelson for the touchdown, That completed a 14-play, 89-yard scoring drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock and tied the game at 7-7 with 11:39 left in the half.
DelVal went three-and-out on the ensuing drive and Wilkes took over on its own 24. Another long drive saw the Colonels move the ball to Aggie 12, but a nine-yard sack by Blaine Netterman brought fourth down. Alexander DeSpirito lined up for a 38-yard field goal attempt, but it was blocked by DelVal's Anthony Nobile and the Aggies took over at their 25 with 3:41 to go before halftime.
A 27-yard pass from Darden to tight end Ryan Norton quickly put the ball in Wilks territory. Six plays later, Darden hit Shaveiz Stewart for 12 yards to give the Aggies a first-and-goal from the two. Quadir Strothers took the next handoff and hit paydirt for a 14-7 DelVal lead with just 25 seconds left before the intermission.
The Colonels put together another long, time-consuming drive to start the second half as they went 68 yards on 16 plays. They had a third and fourth-down conversions on the drive, but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by DeSpirito to pull to within four, 14-10, with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter.
Late in the third, a short punt and an Aggie unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Wilkes the ball at the DelVal 30 to start a drive. The Colonels drove to the Aggie five-yard line where they had a fourth-and-two. They elected to go for it and Tabora missed an open receiver in the back of the end zone as DelVal took over on downs.
The teams had to each punt twice on their next drives and the Aggies eventually had possession at their own 28-yard line with 4:54 remaining. A 35-yard run by Darden on the third play of the drive put the ball at the Wilkes 26. They later converted a third-and-two on a tough run by Mario Nigro. Facing a second-and-nine from the 15, Darden called his own number and got to the outside and the pylon for the game-sealing score with 1:08 remaining.
The final statistics favored the Colonels as they outgained DelVal, 298-292, and had a 24-12 advantage in first downs. They also controlled the ball for more than 39 minutes (39:14). However, Darden was the difference as he netted his 145 yards and two scores on seven carries while also completing 12 of 18 passes for 89 yards. Defensively, Netterman notched six tackles and a sack while Christian Snodwen added five stops and 1.5 sacks. Timaun Williams had an interception following Darden's late score.
For Wilkes, Tabora completed 21 of 37 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 50 yards on 17 attempts. Nick Yanik had nine catches for 90 yards while Nelson made six grabs for 60 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Chang led the defensive effort with 10 tackles.