Darden passes and DelVal “D” drop Wesley Wolverines, 24-19
Doylestown, PA – In a battle between two ranked D-3 programs, No. 20 Delaware Valley upended No. 11 Wesley College, 24-19 to open their seasons on this Thursday night in Game 534 for Collegefootballfan.com. Delaware Valley U. QB DaShaun Darden tossed two TD passes in the second period for 39 yards to WR Aaron Nelson and for 30 yards to WR Marquis Ellis to take a 22-3 lead over the Wolverines, a perennial D-3 powerhouse, late in the second half. The drives sandwiched a 70-yard TD of a fumble recovery by LB Nick Wright. After a deadlocked 3-3 score at the end of the first quarter, the kickers did not fare as well. PK Pat Moran, whose 39-yarder bounced off the cross bar, failed to convert extra points following the last two touchdowns. Wesley’s Nick Bruhn evened the first period score with a 22-yarder, but he would also miss his first PAT later on a mildly windy evening at James Work Stadium on the well groomed agricultural school’s campus.
WR Laquille Nesbitt catches pass for a first down in the first period for Delaware Valley.
Wesley started the second half from their 21. On a 4th and one at the DVU 11, QB Nick Falkenberg (Lawrenceville, NJ) picked up the needed first down over the left side, and workhorse RB E.J. Lee (32 carries, 162 yards, 1 TD) scored from the one to close the gap, 22-9. Bruhn converted a second FG later in the third from 34 yards out. The Aggies led 22-12 entering the final period.
DVU LB Nick DiGati fights through Mujahid Manuel to halt Wesley RB E.J. Ellis.
DVU halted Wesley’s next drive in Game 534 with an INT by DB Jarren McBride to take over on their 17. The ensuing drive ended with a nicely placed punt by Stephen Adams to put Wesley at their nine. The Aggies has put pressure and solid hits on Falkenberg in the second half. Nick Wright came up with two more points for DVU when he sacked Falkenberg for a safety in this set to double his team’s lead, 24-14. With 1:58 remaining, Wesley scored at the end of a 76-yard drive on an eight-yard TD pass to WR Dan Kesack (Lyndhurst, NJ). to trail 24-19. The Wolverines attempted an onsides kick. The bounce went high, but the “hands team” fielded the ball nicely . Wesley got the ball back with :45 left. Falkenberg remained on the sideline after some punishing hits, and DVU won a hard-fought, non conference game to defeat Wesley for the second year in a row, 24-19.
The Delaware Valley Aggie mascot celebrates the home team’s win with a victory dance after our Game 534.
The Aggies next face Middle Atlantic foe Lycoming away. Wesley heads to Ewing, NJ to take on NJAC foe, The College of New Jersey. CFF.com heads to Rutgers this evening to watch the Knights host the No. 8 Washington Huskies.
Extra points: Enjoyed the game with Guest Game Analyst Bill Reilly (Juniata College) from nearby Telford. Bill was a suite mate our senior year there at 201 Flory with six other crazies. He play QB at JC. He and I were very impressed by the coverage of DVU CB Sammy Mohr who at 5’10” played tight coverage against 6’4″ WR James Okike. His coverage helped hold the tall receiver with good hands to five catches and only 54 yards. Bill will hopefully meet up with us for another game this season.