DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University football team will look to capture its fourth-straight victory in the annual rivalry game against Widener University to retain the Keystone Cup and cap off another accomplished regular season as it host the Pride in Doylestown at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

With their 44-0 shutout at Alvernia two weeks ago, the Aggies claimed at least a share of their third-straight Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship, and punched their ticket to the 2019 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. A win on Saturday over the Pride will secure the outright conference championship with a perfect 8-0 mark in league play, and would ensure DelVal retains the Keystone Cup rivalry trophy for the fifth-straight year. The Keystone Cup has been handed out annually to the winner of the DelVal-Widener rivalry game since 1981, and the Aggies have never won it more than four times in a row. They will have a chance to do just that this weekend.

After the game, DelVal will celebrate its third MAC Championship in a row on the field and will await the announcement of its first round playoff opponent during the NCAA selection show on Sunday at 6 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
DelVal is coming off a week 10 bye, and head coach Duke Greco looks to remain perfect (5-0) in games following his team's bye week. The Aggies will try to pick up right where they left off before the break, as they are riding a seven-game win streak that includes two shutouts. To boot, the defense has not allowed a touchdown or more than 100 yards of total offense in the last three games as it continues to dominate the MAC and stand out as one of the best units in all of Division III.

Here is how the defense ranks among all teams in the country:

Sacks: 29 – Tied 1^st
Scoring defense: 9.1 ppg. – 4^th
Total defense: 189.6 yds/gm. – 4^th
Rush defense: 43.4 yds/gm. – 3^rd
Tackles for Loss: 64 – 4^th
Interceptions: 17 – T-5^th
Passing defense: 146.1 yds/gm. – 16^th

Returning All-American defensive end Michael Nobile (Brick, Nj./Brick Memorial) continues to lead the country in tackles for loss as he has all season; he is up to 24 TFL this year and his nine sacks also ranks inside the top-20. He has recorded a team-high 54 tackles this season, and needs just two more sacks to move into second place on the program's all-time list. Last game against the Golden Wolves, he led the squad with 12 tackles including four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one safety.

Michael's twin brother Anthony Nobile (Brick, Nj./Brick Memorial) returned to the defensive line after missing six games with an injury, and he had eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown against Alvernia. Senior Kenyonn Jones (Burlington, Nj./Glassboro) and sophomore Yusuf Aladinov (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./William Tennent) are also featured up front. Jones has 44 tackles, nine TFL, and six sacks this year, while Aladinov has 6.5 TFL including 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.  

Sophomore safety Blaine Netterman (Brick, Nj./Brick Memorial) has four interceptions in the last four games and has 26 tackles this year. He is joined in the defensive backfield by Justin Harris (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter), Dontae Mason (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), and Jamir Prevard (Galloway, Nj./Atlantic City) who have combined for seven interceptions, 13 pass breakups and 78 tackles. Seniors Rashiek Harvard (Edison, Nj./John P. Stevens) and Anthony Thomas (Phiadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) will also see time in the rotation and they have three interceptions and five break-ups, combined.

The linebacking corps flaunts four upper classmen that have combined for 152 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and three forced turnovers in Ryan Barrett (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood), Vincent DiLeo (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), Anthony Tedesco (Ocean, Nj./Ocean Twp.), and Billy Walsh (Brick, Nj./Brick Memorial). DiLeo is second on the squad with 10 TFL, and leads the team with six quarterback hurries while contributing five sacks..

Offensively, The Aggies are second in the MAC, behind Widener, with 38.2 points per game and the balanced attack is posting 243.1 yards through the air and 151.8 yards on the ground. They have converted 51-of-115 (44.3%) of their third downs, and 7-of-19 (36.8%) fourth downs. A total of 18 different players have scored for DelVal this year.

Senior quarterback Anthony Fontana (Brick, Nj./Brick Memorial) has completed 63% (132-210) of his passes and has thrown 20 touchdowns, both good for top-3 honors in the MAC. He has hit 10 different receivers for scores and has thrown just three interceptions. On the ground he has run the ball 69 times for 182 yards and six scores.

Returning All-American tight-end Dan Allen (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Wood) and senior wide out Aaron Nelson (Hampstead, Md./North Carroll) pace the team with 25 receptions to go with 428, and 535 yards, respectively. Allen has five touchdowns and Nelson has four, while fellow senior Juwan Manigo (Windsor Mill, Md./Perry Hall) has hauled in 19 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns, including a 65-yard catch-and-run against Alvernia.  

Two running backs have toted the ball over 65 times for over 300 yards in seniors Mario Nigro (South River, Nj./South River) and Donte Simmons (Bristol, Pa./Bristol). They each have four touchdowns to their credit and Simmons leads the way with his 400 yards.  

The special teams have been a key contributor for DelVal this season led by return men Jamir Prevard and freshman Tahmir Barksdale (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood). Barksdale returned his second punt for a touchdown last game as he went 75 yards to the house. He is now fourth in the country with 19.3 yards per punt return. Prevard has returned 10 kicks for an average of 32.5 yards and would rank second in the country at that number, but is just shy of the minimum requirement of 1.2 returns per game.

Senior kicker Nick Restaino (Bloomfield, Nj./Bloomfield) became the program's all-time leader in extra points made and points by a kicker this season. He has converted 44-of-47 attempts but is just 1-for-6 on field goals.
 
SCOUTING THE PRIDE
Widener has won two games in a row including last week's 41-21 home triumph over King's. Against the Monarchs, The Pride scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 24-7 lead at the half and never looked back as they improved to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in league play. They currently sit in a tie for fourth place with Misericordia and will need a win on Saturday to earn a MAC-Centennial Bowl Game berth.

Chris Randle ran for three touchdowns and 58 yards on 13 carries and his second on the team in rushing this season with 452 yards on 98 carries, but his 11 touchdowns leads the squad. Tahir Cruse is the leading rusher with 460 yards on 85 attempts and has found pay dirt three times. The quarterback is senior Sean McGuaghey and he leads the MAC with 3,046 yards and 28 touchdowns as he has completed 56.5-percent of his passes this year. He has thrown 12 interceptions, second most in the conference.

Overall, the Pride's offense ranks atop the league with 338.4 yards per game and 38.8 points per showing. The passing attack leads the way with 338.4 yards per game while the ground attack ranks eighth at 128.4 ypg.

Senior wide out James Gillespie leads the MAC in receptions (69), receiving yards (1,247), average per catch (18.1), average per game (138.6), and receiving touchdowns (15). He missed last season's game against DelVal, but caught four passes for 72 yards when the team's met in 2017.

Sample is completing just 50-percent (51-of-102) of his passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns. His favorite targets are sophomore wide receivers Neeko Scurlock and Antwann Cade who each have 19 catches with 265 and 199 yards, respectively. Six different players have caught a touchdown pass led by Cade's two.

Widener has converted 48-of-110 (43.6%) third downs and 7-of-19 (40%) fourth downs.

Defensively the Pride allow 29.6 points per game and 411.3 yards to its opponents. Their passing defense (249.4 ypg) and the rushing defense (161.9 ypg) both rank near the middle of the league. They've held opponents to 59-of-136 (43.4%) on third down attempts. As a unit, the defense has gotten to the quarterback for 24 sacks this season and forced 20 turnovers including nine interceptions.

Senior linebackers Matt Russo and Brendan Kearns lead the unit. Russo has 81 tackles this year while Kearns has recorded 57 including 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Mario Scotese, a junior defensive lineman, has 51 tackles, eight TFL, and six sacks to go with two forced fumbles and a blocked kick..

On special teams, the Pride are averaging 19.2 yards per kickoff return on 39 attempts and have returned 9 punts for 66 yards. Mavromihalis is 4-for-4 on field goals and 35-for-36 on extra point attempts. Raczak has punted 29 times with an average of 39.9 yards per boot and three balls over 50 yards or more.

Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Robert A. Lipinski Field inside James Work Memorial Stadium. Before the game, the Aggies will be honoring their 24 seniors with a Senior Day ceremony.