Saturday No. 8 Delaware and Delaware State met in the 10th installment of the Route 1 Rivalry. Delaware came into the game 9-0 all-time against their rivals Delaware State. The last time the two teams met, Delaware came away with a 31-13 victory.
No. 8 Delaware has had a good season, starting 3-0. Their defense has been lights out, allowing just 8 points per game this spring. Delaware is led by junior quarterback Nolan Henderson. Henderson has thrown 6 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions this spring.
Delaware State is off to a 2-1 start this spring. Last week they defeated Howard 37-28. They are led by sophomore quarterback Jared Lewis. Lewis has thrown 4 touchdowns and just 1 interception this spring.
First Half
Delaware jumped all over their rivals in the first half of this game. They would force two turnovers in the first 9 minutes, a fumble, and an interception. They would capitalize off the fumble with a Dejoun Lee 7-yard touchdown run. Delaware would add a field goal and led their rivals DSU 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
DSU could not get anything going in the first half. They would punt the ball 3 times as well as giving it away 3 times via 2 interceptions and a fumble. Lee extended the Delaware advantage to 17-0 after his second rushing touchdown. Nolan Henderson threw a touchdown to Thyrick Pitts to extend the lead to 24-0 with just 19 seconds left in the first half.
The first half was utter dominance from Delaware. Their defense suffocated DSU, allowing just 35 yards on 22 plays in the first half, as well as forcing 3 turnovers. Lee led the way for Delaware in the first with his 2 rushing touchdowns.
Second Half
Nolan Henderson scored a rushing touchdown early in the third quarter to extend Delaware’s lead to 31-0. Henderson’s early second-half touchdown was the dagger in this one. DSU would get on the board in the 3rd after Trey Goss recovered a blocked punt in the endzone. Delaware would answer by adding a field goal to extend their lead to 34-7.
DSU’s Goss would then block a punt in the fourth quarter to set up a Jared Lewis TD that cut the lead to 34-14. Delaware would end the game by picking off Lewis for the third time and winning by a final score of 34-14.
The Delaware defense was the difference maker in this game. Holding DSU to just 186 yards, recording 2 sacks and forcing 4 turnovers. Nolan Henderson and Dejoun Lee both had big games for Delaware. Henderson passed for 167 and 1 touchdown as well as rushing for 29 yards and a touchdown. Lee rushed for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win for Delaware.
DSU struggled all day against the stout Delaware defense. Jared Lewis threw for just 92 yards and threw 3 interceptions but was able to rush for 52 yards and DSU’s lone offensive touchdown. With the loss, DSU moves to 2-2. They will face South Carolina State in their season finale on April 17th.
With the win, Delaware moves to 4-0 and 10-0 all-time against their rivals Delaware State. Their regular season will come to an end when they meet 2-1 Villanova on April 17th.
