Blue Hens suppress rise of the Phoenix with a 28-16 upset

Newark, DE – The Fighting Blue Hens (4-2,2-1 CAA) came back from deficits in both halves to take a big win over the Elon Phoenix for contention to an FCS playoff bid, 28-16.  Despite losing starting QB Davis Cheek early in the game, sub QB Jalen Greene filled in to give Elon an early lead. The tough Delaware defense led by the CAA’s leading tackler LB Troy Reeder’s 15 tackles held Elon to one TD.  Reeder accumulated eight solos, and the D shut the Phoenix down in the final period to regain the lead for the victory.  This outcome impacts the Colonial Athletic Association’s standings since Elon defeated this year’s leader and defending champion, James Madison, the Saturday before.

Early Phoenix QB change

Cheek left the game to an injury on Elon’s second possession.  Later in the first, Greene completed a 52-yard pass to Cole Taylor at the UD ten.  RB Taylor Thomas took it in for the score from the nine-yard line for the first score of the game.  Elon led going into Q2, 7-0.

A fumble by UD QB Pat Kehoe early in the second period turned the ball over to the Phoenix at the Delaware 23.  The Delaware defense buttoned down the Elon offense to settle for Skyler Davis’s 25-yard FG for a 10-0 lead.  Guest Game Analyst Dave Headden (Ohio Wesleyan) enjoyed the early lead as his son Christopher, a freshman, and his money now go to Elon.  Dave realized though that the Phoenix fans were outnumbered significantly among an enthusiastic crowd of 19,209 mostly looking for the Blue Hen program to figuratively rise from the ashes.  UD hired HC Danny Rocco  to bring their program back from there and to get back into a perennial playoff mode.

Great time management

Elon started a late first half drive with 1:26 remaining from its own three.  Two tackles by Reeder and three UD time-outs later, the Blue Hens snapped the ball at their 47 with 1:02 left.  On Kehoe’s fifth pass attempt of the drive, TE Charles Scarff gathered in a seven-yard TD pass to close the score to 10-7 before going into half time.

Ascent of the Blue Hens

The Fighting Blue Hen Marching Band put on a great performance for their fans who came hoping to see a resurrection of its great and proud football program under its second year HC.  In his 12^th season as an FCS Head Coach, according to today’s game program, Rocco remains the only HC with 12 years or more experience to never have suffered a losing season.  Last week, the UD win over Richmond marked his 100^th career victory.  Prior to Delaware, he coached Richmond and before that, Liberty.  Rocco hales from Huntingdon, PA – home of the alma mater, Juniata College. He’s a Wake Forest grad.  His father coached at Penn State as an assistant during the Paterno years.

Back to game action

Delaware’s D forced a Phoenix punt to start the third.  From the 31, the Hens started their drive. Kehoe’s 37-yard pass to Gene Coleman II (Montclair, NJ) put them on the 20.  Scarff (5 catches for 43 yards, 2 TDS) caught a six-yarder for a 14-10 Blue Hen lead.  Elon moved the ball again, but eventually settled for a 25-yard FG by Davis.  Elon drove into FG position again on its next possession, and with Davis converting from 38, the Phoenix regained a 16-14 advantage at the end of the third.

Blue Hen comeback

With the ball in their possession starting the final period, Delaware didn’t respond on its next series.  Reeder continued to lead the Blue Hen defensive charge with his eight solos, four Tackles for losses, and a game-sealing sack.  After forcing an Elon punt, the UD offense started to drive from its 32.  This series culminated in a 23-yard TD to WR Vince Papale (four catches, 58 yards, one TD) to regain the lead 21-16 for the Blue Hens.  The defense held Elon to no yards during the next Elon possession that forced a punt from the 18.  Starting from its 47, the Fighting Blue Hens sustained a 53-yard touchdown drive as RB Kani Kane (19 carries for 124 yards, one TD) ran it over from the three to extend the lead, 28-16.  4:02 remained to play.

Sealing the victory

Elon (4-2, 2-1) started from its 33 and got to the Blue Hen 47.  On fourth and ten, Reeder sacked Greene for a seven-yard loss to end any hope for the Phoenix.  UD went into the victory formation and ran off the clock. The win marked UD’s first win over a Top 5 opponent since 2010.  Things are starting to look up for the Hens, now 5-2, 2-1 in the CAA.

Up next!

Ahead now for FCS, No.25 Delaware looms a struggling New Hampshire Wildcat team (1-5) next Saturday up in Durham before they return home against FCS No. 14 Towson.  Elon, now ranked at No. 11, hosts Richmond next week followed by No. 23 Rhode Island and No. 14 Towson respectively both at home.  Big games come up for both squads to position themselves in the FCS play-off picture.

We at CFF.com venture into another two-game weekend (possibly followed by two more) as we travel to Franklin Field in Philly on Friday night to see the Penn Quakers (4-1, 1-1) welcome the Yale Bulldogs (3-2, 2-1) in and Ivy League clash.  On Saturday, struggling Navy (2-4, 1-2) hosts American Athletic West rival Houston (5-1, 2-0).  Houston DT Ed Oliver and company will be looking to stymie Navy’s triple option.

Extra Points:

Speaking of Navy, the University of Delaware welcomed the crew of the Submarine USS Delaware who sat near beleaguered GGA Dave and ecstatic me in the east stands of Delaware Stadium.  The boat, still under construction, will be the first US Navy vessel in 100 years to be named after the First State.  The young enlisted crew and some of if officers were honored on Tubby Raymond field.  Go Navy!

CFF.com suffered an injury this past Saturday as our canopy got swept up by a strong gust of wind and hurdled over two vehicles bending a leg.  It has to be looked at still for repair so the leg will hopefully fit back into it carrying bag for transport to games.  Otherwise it may have t retire for duty on the home front only.

St. Laurie made the trek down for the game, but once our niece Kassie and her friend McKenzie showed up to tailgate, the temptation set in for all of them to stay in the parking lot to tailgate during the game.  No problems on this end. She had packed up our tailgate gear to head out after Dave and I returned after the end of the game.  We met up for brunch with Kassie the next morning at the Oyster House in Wilmington – Bloody Mary’s and a steak and egg bowl among their house specialties.

Disappointingly, RB Thomas Jefferson of Delaware whom we met last season has been relegated to the kickoff and kickoff return teams his senior year.  We did get to see him return the kickoff for 22 yards after Elon took a 10-0 lead.  He got a big cheer from the UD fans after his name was announced. He had some big game his first two years with the program.   We went over to the locker room to see if we if we could catch up, but we didn’t find him there.  Hopefully the Blue Hens can go far into the playoffs and we will try to catch up with him again, but it will probably be difficult for everything to work out right.

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