DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Wesley College quarterback Shane McSweeny threw three touchdowns passes and ran for another as the fifth-ranked Wolverines took advantage of five Delaware Valley College turnovers and posted a 31-13, non-conference victory.
Wesley improved to 3-0 on the season and avenged last year's loss when Delaware Valley used a last-second touchdown to down the then third-ranked Wolverines, 25-22. The loss dropped the Aggies to 2-1 on the season. They will now have the bye week and then prepare for the beginning of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) schedule when they travel to Lebanon Valley on Saturday, October 3.
Two of Delaware Valley's turnovers came in the first quarter, both in Wesley territory. The second miscue took place at the Wolverine 6 late in the quarter as Justin Strickland stripped and recovered the ball after a long Aggie catch-and-run. McSweeny then directed Wesley on a 14-play, 91-yard drive that culminated in a 20-yard field goal by Collin Blugis with 7:44 remaining in the second quarter.
Delaware Valley went three-and-out on its next possession and the Wolverines took over on the Aggie 32-yard line. They reached the 10 when McSweeny hit Barry Garrard for a screen pass and Garrard crossed the goal line for a touchdown. Blugis added the extra-point for a 10-0 advantage with 3:13 to go before halftime.
Late in the half, Delaware Valley was forced to punt from its own end zone and Wesley had possession at the 32-yard line. It needed just six plays to hit paydirt and make it 17-0 as McSweeny found Ellis Krout from three yards out with just 11 seconds remaining.
The Wolverines made it 24-0 midway through the third as Krout took a short pass from McSweeny, broke a few tackles and raced 61 yards for the touchdown. Krout later had a third touchdown called back because of a penalty and he finished with four catches for 83 yards and two scores.
The Aggies got on the scoreboard with 13:41 to go in the contest as quarterback Mike Isgro scramble and found a wide-open Chad Peterman for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score at 24-6.
Delaware Valley forced Wesley to punt, but a fumble on the return was recovered by the Wolverines' Yvenei Sainsume at the Aggie 12. Two plays later, McSweeny scored on a five-yard run for a 31-6 lead. McSweeny finished the day 17-for-24 for 173 yards in the air and added another 47 yards on eight rushes.
The Aggies got the final score of the day in highlight-filled fashion with 1:20 remaining. Blugis attempted a 50-yard field goal for Wesley and it was short. The Aggies' Charles Squitiere caught the miss eight yards deep in the end zone and returned it the distance, breaking several tackles along the way. By college rules, the play goes down as a 100-yard missed field goal return and it can never be broken, only tied. The official NCAA Division II and III records book does not currently have the category listed, so it is unknown if Squitiere's play is the first of its kind on this level.
Delaware Valley outgained the Wolverines, 341-338, in the contest. Isgro completed 22 of 34 passes for 282 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Peterman hauled in four passes for 48 yards and the one score while Rob Eagles and Ryan McCullough notched interceptions on the defensive side.
In addition to Krout and McSweeny, Gene Knight had five catches for 33 yards for Wesley. Abeeb Badmus led a balanced ground attack with 59 yards on 12 carries. Marcus Wilson had eight tackles while Mike Asiedu and Zach Johnson added seven stops apiece.
