`   2021 Delaware Valley University Football    Game #7 at Misericordia University Cougars Saturday, October 23 - 1 p.m. Mangelsdorf Field Dallas, Pa.

 

DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The undefeated Delaware Valley University football team looks for its second-straight road victory and 33^rd consecutive win over a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) team on Saturday when it visits Misericordia University. Kickoff at Mangelsdorf Field is set for 1 p.m.

The Aggies defeated FDU-Florham handedly last week on the road, 61-7, to improve to 6-0overall and 4-0 in league play, while the Cougars are looking to snap a two-game skid. They were shutout at Stevenson last week, 37-0, and fell on the road at Lycoming, 44-16, the week prior.  

DelVal ranked number one in the MAC preseason coaches' poll and have maintained that position the entire season, as it is the only undefeated team left in the conference. In addition to the Devils, the Aggies have league wins over Stevenson, Lycoming, and King's, and a pair of non-conference victories against Kean and Montclair State.

The blemish-free record has DelVal ranked inside the top-10 in a pair of national polls as they remain seventh in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and ninth in the D3football.com top-25.

The Aggies are in search of their fourth-straight MAC championship and with a win on Saturday, seventh year head coach Duke Greco will tie Jim Clements for the most wins by a head coach in program history. Greco is 65-11 all-time and has led his team to the postseason each year. He has four NCAA appearances, four MAC Championships, two NCAA elite eight appearances, and two Centennial-MAC Bowl Series championships.

 

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

After five weeks, the Aggies remain the top-ranked defense in the country with just 133.3 totals yards per game allowed. The pass defense slipped to second best in Division III with 97.2 yards per game against, and the run defense remains second at just 36.2 yards per game. The unit's 18 forced turnovers this year is tied for 10^th best in the nation and number one in the MAC.

The Aggies are allowing just 9 points per game (5^th in NCAA) and Opponents are averaging only 9 points per game (5^th in NCAA) against DelVal and the Aggies have allowed just seven touchdowns (tied-5^th in NCAA). Opposing offenses have scored only five touchdowns.  

The defensive unit features five seniors and six juniors who have started every game. Senior linebacker Anthony Tedesco leads the way with 53 total tackles to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, one interception, and a forced fumble. Junior Yusuf Aladinov is second on the team with four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss while his four fumble recoveries this year ranks among the most in the country. Aaron Mayers, Trent Fries, and Cole Kitchen round out the linebacker rotation and each have over 13 tackles this season.

Anthony Nobile and Shymere Vessels are part of the stout defensive line and have 26 and 23 tackles this season, respectively. Nobile has 3.5 tackles for loss with nine quarterback hurries and three pass breakups and Vessels follows with 2.5 TFL to his credit.

Senior All-American cornerback Justin Harris got his first interception of the season last week and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown and his third pick-six in two seasons. He has 14 tackles this year and 1.5 tackles for loss. Opposite Harris is junior cornerback Jamir Prevard who leads all players in the MAC with four interceptions this season and also has a pick-six to his credit. The safeties are Blaine Netterman and Dontae Mason who combined for 31 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, and seven pass break ups.

The Aggie offense is beginning to find its stride as it has 15 touchdowns in the last two games with a combined 890 yards of offense. For the season, they average 387.3 yards per showing and 43 points per game through six weeks.

Senior quarterback DaQuan Bohannan has thrown for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns with four interceptions.

This season, Bohannan has thrown for 846 yards on 71-of-146 passing with 11 touchdowns to four interceptions. On the ground, he has 25 carries for 68 yards and another five scores. The Aggies are sixth in the MAC with 187.3 passing yards per game.

On the ground, senior tailback Donte Simmons leads the conference with 88.8 yards per game and six rushing touchdowns. For the season, he has 96 carries for 533 yards, and the offense as a whole is the number one rushing team in the league with 200 yards per showing. First-year Julian White is averaging 11.5 yards per carry with 219 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

Tahmir Barksdale leads the receiving corps with 24 catches for 264 yards, 44 yards per game, and two touchdowns. Nahsir Morgan's four touchdowns and 25.4 yards per receptions paces the group.

Barksdale, a 2019 All-American punt returner, leads the conference with 20 returns for 321 yards, 16.1 average per return, and one return touchdown.   

Senior Bobby Miller handles the punting duties and is third in the MAC with 24 punts for an average of 39.5 yards per boot, and eight punts inside the 20-yard line.

 

SCOUTING THE COUGARS

The Cougars two wins this year have come over non-conference foe, and first-year program, Keystone College in week one, and at home against Albright College in week four. The Cougars defeated the Giants, 28-7, on the road and beat the Lions, 31-20.

The team ranks near the bottom of the MAC in total offense and total defense with 272.5 yards per game for, and 397 yards per game against. The offense is run heavy and has attempted 1,011 rushes with an average of 4.6 yards per tote and 168.5 yards per game. Senior David Cromwell leads the ground attack with 96 carries for 447 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow senior Michael Gawlik also has four scores with 282 yards on 41 attempts.

Jadyn Childs and Kevin Pearson each have 13 receptions with Childs leading the group with 173 yards and 13.3 yards per catch. Pearson has one of the team's three receiving touchdowns and has 107 yards on 13 receptions.

Mitchell Mikale and Dallas Engel split the quarterback duties this year and have combined for 70 completions on 131 attempts with three touchdowns to eight interceptions.