DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Division I FCS Iona College jumped out to a 21-0 lead and then held on for a 27-19 victory over host Delaware Valley College in the season opener for both teams.

The game was played in tough conditions thanks to a heavy rain and strong gusts of wind. After forcing Delaware Valley to punt on its opening possession, the Gaels went on a seven-play, 85-yard scoring drive in just 2:06. Quarterback Nick Rossetti had a 22-yard screen pass to Andrew Nass and a 17-yard run in the drive and Craig Suttera capped it with a 35-yard touchdown run. Robert Woods added the extra-point for a 7-0 advantage with 10:09 left in first quarter.

Later in the quarter, the Aggies faced a third-and-one from their own 38-yard line. Quarterback Mike Isgro fumbled the snap and the ball was kicked around. Iona cornerback Desmond Hinds scooped it up at the line and ran untouched for the 38-yard touchdown. Woods' kick made it 14-0 with 2:46 remaining in the opening stanza.

The Gaels then took advantage of short field to open up a 21-0 lead. They took over at the Delaware Valley 36-yard line and needed nine plays to hit paydirt. Rossetti completed a pair of third-down passes, including one that put the ball at the one-yard line. Delaware Valley stopped the first two run attempts for no gain before Rossetti scored on a third-down keeper. Woods added the point-after with 6:32 to go in the first half.

The Aggies hit the scoreboard on the ensuing possession as they marched 53 yards on six plays. Facing a second-and-six from the Iona 35, Isgro hit wideout Joe Gionfriddo in the end zone for the touchdown pass. Shane Toohey's extra-point made it 21-7 with 2:32 to go and the score stayed that way into the intermission.

Similar to Iona's start of the game, Delaware Valley forced a three-and-out on the Gaels' opening possession and then marched downfield for a score. They needed just seven plays to go 55 yards and it was capped by Matt Cook's 17-yard run to the end zone. A bad hold on the extra-point attempt forced a two-point conversion pass that fell incomplete and left the Aggies trailing 21-13 with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter.

It remained an eight-point game until the fourth quarter when Delaware Valley forced a turnover deep in Iona territory. Rossetti had a pass deflected twice and Aggie safety Joe Barnicle made a diving interception at the Gael 29-yard line. A pass interference call later in the drive put the ball at the Iona 2 and, on third down, Isgro hit tight end Brad Emmons for a touchdown. Isgro fumbled the snap on the two-point conversion attempt and was sacked as Delaware Valley still trailed 21-19 with 7:53 to go.

Delaware Valley got the ball back and drove to its own 44-yard line, but Isgro was picked off by Matt McGuire. McGuire returned the interception 54 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back to the Aggie 26 because of a penalty on the return. Four plays later, Nass went 15 yards for a touchdown run. Woods' extra-point sailed wide, leaving it a one-possession game at 27-19 with 3:15 on the clock.

The Aggies reached their 46 before turning the ball over on downs. The Gaels were then forced to punt and a touchback gave Delaware Valley the ball at its 20-yard line with 24 seconds and no timeouts. Two Isgro scrambles and a pass completion put the ball at the Iona 45-yard line with three seconds left. However, Isgro's Hail Mary pass was broken up by Andrew Lipski to clinch the win for the Gaels.

Rossetti rushed 14 times for 50 yards and a score while completing 11 of 18 passes for 82 yards for Iona. Sutera led the ground attack with 59 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Lipski had 17 tackles while Paul Mohan had 16 stops to pace the Gael defense.

Cook carried the ball 28 times for 125 yards and one touchdown for Delaware Valley. Isgro had 42 yards rushing and was 9-for-23 for 81 yards and two touchdowns in the air. Linebackers Phil Balzejewski and Kyle Reuter notched 12 and 11 tackles respectively.