Game #11 2021 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs
ANNA MARIA COLLEGE AMCATS
at
No. 7 DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY AGGIES
Saturday, November 20 - 12 p.m. Robert A. Lipinski Field at James Work Memorial Stadium - Doylestown, Pa.
Broadcast with Gordon Mann: https://youtu.be/fJnpLWrr8xU Live Stats: https://athletics.delval.edu/sidearmstats/football/summary Twitter and Instagram: @dvuaggies
DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The seventh ranked Delaware Valley University football team returns to the NCAA Division III football playoffs for the fourth straight season when they host Anna Maria College (Ma.) for the first-round matchup on Saturday, November 20. Kickoff at Robert A. Lipinski Field at James Work Memorial Stadium is slated for 12 p.m.
The Aggies claimed their fourth consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship with a perfect 10-0 regular season. Their eight conference wins this year extended their record win-streak to 36 conference games in a row dating back to October 22, 2016. It was the 11th MAC Championship and NCAA Playoff berth in program history.
DelVal is 11-9 overall in NCAA tournament games including 9-6 at home. Its last home playoff game was in the first round of 2018, a heart-breaking 20-13 loss to Muhlenberg. The Mules got a 65-yard pick-six with 36 seconds left in regulation and outscored the Aggies 10-0 in the second half to advance past DelVal.
In the Aggies last playoff appearance in 2019, the squad won two road games to reach the quarterfinals round for the fourth time ever, the furthest the program has advanced. DelVal defeated Bridgewater College (Va.) in the opening round, 30-22, then cruised to a 45-10 victory over Wesley College in the second round.
In the quarterfinals, the Aggies traveled to eventual national champion North Central College where they were overcome. The Cardinals raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead, but DelVal battled back with 14-straight points to pull within three with nine minutes left in the third. North Central scored a touchdown to go up 10, then turned the Aggies over twice in the red zone and added another late score for the 31-14 final.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
DelVal enters the playoffs ranked seventh in Division III by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and ninth in the D3Football.com top-25. In the latest NCAA Region I rankings, the Aggies were the top team and only undefeated squad.
Head coach Duke Greco owns a 67-11 overall record in seven seasons at the helm of his alma mater. He and his staff have reached the postseason every year with five NCAA berths, and two Centennial-MAC Bowl series championships.
The team completed a perfect 10-0 regular season for the fifth time in program history and the first since 2017.
The 2021 Aggies are powered by the top-ranked defense in all of Division III. They enter the playoffs number one in total defense, run defense, and pass defense. They rank inside the top-15 in the nation in 16 different categories:
|
STAT
|
VALUE
|
NCAA RANK
|
|
Total Defense
|
99.5 ypg.
|
1st
|
|
Rush Defense
|
27.9 ypg.
|
1st
|
|
Pass Defense
|
71.6 ypg.
|
1st
|
|
First Downs Allowed
|
78
|
1st
|
|
Passing Efficiency Def.
|
61.64
|
1st
|
|
Scoring Defense
|
5.7 ppg.
|
1st
|
|
Defensive Touchdowns
|
5
|
3rd
|
|
3rd Down Defense
|
.163 opp. pct.
|
1st
|
|
Red Zone Defense
|
.333 opp. pct.
|
1st
|
|
4th Down Defense
|
.100 opp. pct
|
2nd
|
|
Turnovers Gained
|
32
|
3rd
|
|
Turnover Margin
|
1.70
|
4th
|
|
Time of Possession
|
34:23
|
6th
|
|
Team Tackles for Loss
|
8.1 per game
|
11th
|
|
Fumbles Recovered
|
15
|
1st
|
|
Passes Intercepted
|
17
|
14th
|
The defense has given up just six touchdowns all year and zero in the last four weeks. As a whole, the Aggies have outscored their opponents 381-57 through 10 games and 123-3 over the last four including three shutouts in that span.
When the all-MAC teams were announced earlier this week, seven first-teamers and two second-teamers, represented the DelVal defense. Senior linebacker and team captain Anthony Tedesco earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Tedesco leads the team with 72 tackles (29 solo) to go with 8.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and one interception. Seniors Aaron Mayers and Trent Fries round out the starting linebacker corps and have combined for 50 tackles and another seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Mayers pitches in five pass breakups and a forced fumble.
The four down lineman for the defense were all mentioned on the all-MAC teams including junior defensive end Michael Nobile who the Aggies will be without for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Picking up Nobile's workload is his twin brother Anthony Nobile, a first-team all-conference player with 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown. Joining him is first-teamer Yusuf Aladinov who leads the team from his defensive end position with 17 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and five fumble recoveries – the most in Division III. Rounding out the down lineman is senior all-conference honoree Shymere Vessels. Vessels has 36 tackles this season with 4.5 tackles for loss and half a sack.
The defensive backfield is playing so well that each of the four student-athletes were named to the All-MAC first-team. Junior corner back Jamir Prevard has six interceptions this season, just three off the NCAA Division III leader, and two that he returned for touchdowns. Junior safety Blaine Netterman has 29 tackles and five tackles for loss with three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Senior cornerback Justin Harris and senior safety Dontae Mason each have an interception this year and combined for another 11 pass break ups.
This unit will be key in stopping the Anna Maria pass-happy offense.
The DelVal offense features a balanced attack and has rounded into form over the last quarter of the season. They post 38.1 points per game, 383.5 yard per game, and 5.5 yards per play.
Senior tailback Donte Simmons was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year as he has averaged over 100 rushing yards per game and has 1,008 yards for the season and 12 touchdowns. He has six 100-yard rushing games this year and a season-high of 141 rushing yards two weeks ago at Wilkes.
Paving the way for Simmons are four all-conference blockers in Cory Schriver, Jeremy Adams, Bam Bannavti, and full back Walt Truxell.
Quarterback DaQuan Bohannan has started in 9-of-10 games this season and has thrown for 1,439 yards and 17 touchdowns with six interceptions. His favorite target is sophomore Tahmir Barksdale who leads the team with 37 receptions and 364 yards. First-year Nahsir Morgan leads the group with five receiving touchdowns while Barksdale and first-year tight end Isaiah Calhoun each have three. In total, 12 different players have caught a touchdown this season.
SCOUTING THE AMCATS
The AMCATS of Anna Maria College are making their first NCAA Playoff appearance after winning the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a 7-2 overall record and 5-1 conference mark.
Anna Maria dropped its season opener at home to Nichols, 27-23, then ripped off five wins in a row before suffering its last loss at conference foe Castleton, 38-31. In the wins, the AMCATS have outscored opponents 248-149. They come into this game with a two-game win streak including a 31-7 victory of Maritime (Ny.).
Anna Maria runs a spread offense and has talented receivers that they like to get the ball to. The average 429.3 yards per game with 334.4 yards per game through the air and less than 100 yards per game on the ground. However, in each of the last two games they have gone over the 100-yard rushing mark including 148 yards last week.
Senior quarterback Alex Cohen has started every game and completed 61.7% (193-313) pass attempts for 2,926 yards (325.1 ypg.) with 23 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions. His efficiency rating is an impressive 156.1.
Three receivers have caught over 40 passes and four have over 500 yards this year. Senior Justin McMillian has 43 receptions for 686 yards and six touchdowns, and sophomore Deandre Wallace has 42 catches for a team-high 820 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior wideout David Robinson is the downfield threat with just 25 receptions and 20.2 yards per catch and seven touchdowns. Hayden Braga is another player to watch with 41 receptions for 552 yards.
Cohen is a quarterback that is not afraid to run the ball. He has a team-high 73 carries and six rushing touchdowns, but averages just 16 yards per game. Kristian Sapp is a graduate student and the team's tailback. He averages 25 yards per game with one touchdown and senior tight end Vincent Marrone has taken a handful of carries the last couple weeks. Marrone has 18 rushes for 9.1 yards per carry and three scores.
Defensively, the AMCATS present a 3-4 look and have allowed 23.8 points per game, 199 pass yards per game, and 127.2 rush yards per game.
The team has just 19 sacks this year with seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
Senior defensive back Armstrong Antoine leads the team with 65 tackles with one interception that he returned for 70 yards. Graduate student Jude Sampson leads the way with 8.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss – fourth most in Division III.
Sophomore linebacker Sam Jakana has 9.5 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks and 55 tackles for the season. He has forced two fumbles and recovered another. Junior defensive back Lamar Wilkes leads the unit with three interceptions and six pass breakups and has 29 tackles.
THE BRACKET
The winner of this game will advance to the NCAA second round to take on the winner of the first-round game between Muhlenberg College and Framingham State. That game will be played at Muhlenberg at 12 p.m. The NCAA Playoff bracket consists of 32 teams. The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the national championship game, will be played Friday, December 17, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. That game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
