WILKES-BARRE (PA) – The Delaware Valley University defense held King's College off the board, and the offense put up 49 points for the second straight week, as the Aggies earned a convincing 49-0 road victory to remain perfect in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play.
DelVal improved to 8-1 overall and 7-0 in conference games with its 19^th straight MAC victory dating back to 2016. With just one game remaining on the schedule, at rival Widener University next week, the Aggies sit atop the league standings, tied with Misericordia University who defeated Albright College today. Due to the league's unbalanced schedule, DelVal will not play the Cougars this year, but do own the tiebreaker for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.

The Aggies defense entered the game allowing 16.5 points per game to its opponents, but stifled the Monarchs' attack all day and held them to just 137 yards of total offense while forcing four turnovers.  

After the offense's first drive of the game was halted by an interception, the defense forced a punt and the Aggies marched 71 yards on nine plays capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from Mario Nigro for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, DelVal got the ball with 43 seconds on the clock and went to a trick play as quarterback Dashawn Darden handed the ball to wide receiver John Davis who then launched a pass to Shaveiz Stewart down field for a 48 yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

On the first play of the second quarter, King's handed the ball off from its own 20 yard line, but Blaine Netterman punched it loose and Ryan Barrett scooped it and ran it 17 yards the other way for another DelVal touchdown.

The Aggies defense sacked quarterback Tyler Moore three times on the Monarch's next drive to get the ball back to its offense, and Darden capped a 12 play, 79 yard drive with a 13 yard scamper to the end zone for a 28-0 lead.

Just before the end of the half, Netterman halted another King's drive as he picked off a deep pass attempt at DelVal's own 13 yard line, and the Aggies went into the break up by 28 points.

Delaware Valley got the ball to start the second half and put together another long drive of 11 plays that spanned 5:48 and resulted in Nigro's second score of the day, a six-yard run. The Aggies defense got another interception and forced a three-and out on the Monarch's next two possessions as they took a 35-0 lead into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, DelVal's Bert Robinson picked off Moore's pass at King's four yard line and took it in for six points and his first collegiate touchdown. On the Aggies next offensive possession, Terrell Brent also earned his first score of his career with a eight yard rushing touchdown to put the final touches on the 49-0 shutout.

Anthony Tedesco led the defense in tackles with nine while Michael Nobile lived in the backfield and recorded three sacks, four tackles for loss and eight total tackles. Dan Finelli had three sacks on the day and Netterman forced two turnovers. Anthony Nobile finished with six tackles and a sack.

Seven different players carried the ball on offense led by Nigro's 11 attempts for 58 yards and two scores. Darden was 6-for-14 for 145 yards with one interception throwing the ball and Anthony Fontana played the fourth quarter and completed 2-of-4 passes for 17 yards.

For King's, Moore completed just 12-of-28 passes for 109 yards and three picks and Jordan Downes ran the ball 14 times for only 28 yards.

DelVal and Widener will play in the battle for the Keystone Cup next Saturday in Chester, Pennsylvania at 1 p.m.