DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The nationally ranked Delaware Valley University football team clinched at least a share of the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship title with a dominating 42-7 home triumph over the FDU-Florham Devils on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Doylestown.
The Aggies, ranked eighth in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll and 14th in the D3football.com top-25, improved to 9-0 overall and 7-0 in MAC play. The win secures the program's fifth-straight automatic qualifier to the NCAA Playoffs. A win next week at Widener would lock up the fifth-straight outright conference championship. No program in the 63-year history of MAC football has ever won five titles in a row.
With the loss, the Devils fell to 5-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
The Aggies wasted no time getting on the board today as the defense forced a 3-and-out and the offense followed with a five-play, 72-yard scoring drive. Sophomore quarterback Louie Barrios IV converted a 3rd-and-10 with a 22-yard completion over the middle to Jahaire Johnson. Two players later, the offense fooled the entire FDU defense when Barrios faked a handoff and sprinted around the edge and on his way to an easy 49-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked and DelVal took an early 6-0 lead.
On the next offensive possession, Barrios found Nahsir Morgan deep down the right sideline for a 29-yard score. On the point after attempt, the snap was bobbled and holder Kyle Pounds was forced to roll to his right and try to make a play. He found linebacker Lundrim Nasufi open near the pylon and Nasufi hauled in the pass for a successful two-point play and a 14-0 lead with 5:09 left in the first.
The Devils responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that spanned 7:29 and culminated with a nine-yard rushing score from quarterback Ryon Thomas. The score made it a 14-7 game with 12:40 left in the first half.
The Aggies countered right away with a 69-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the first play of the drive. Barrios found junior Dez Austin open at midfield and he took it the rest of the way, untouched, for his second touchdown of the season and a 21-7 lead.
DelVal tacked on two more touchdowns as part of a 28-point second quarter to take a 35-7 lead into the break. Junior wide receiver Tahmir Barksdale scored on an 85-yard reception after beating his defender with a double move and then using a stiff arm to shed a tackle en route to pay dirt. That was the longest touchdown of the season for the Aggies.
Late in the half, DelVal used a trick-play to set up a six-yard touchdown run by Barrios. The play started with Jay White taking the snap then pitching the ball to Morgan who then launched a ball deep down field to Barksdale for a 47-yard completion. Barrios' touchdown run was his second of the day and team-best eighth of the season.
The Aggies tacked on another touchdown early in the second half as Morgan fought off a would-be pass interference and juggled the ball before reeling it in and walking into the end zone for his second score of the day and a 42-7 lead.
FDU-Florham was held to 101 yards and no scores the rest of the way as DelVal cruised to victory.
Senior defensive end Michael Nobile led the defense with seven tackles including three sacks and one strip sack and fumble recovery. Fellow senior defensive end Yusuf Aladinov added seven tackles and two tackles for loss. The Aggies held the Devils to 195 yards on 60 plays including a mere 53 rushing yards.
Offensively, Barrios accounted for 349 yards of offense and six touchdowns. He completed 8-of-14 passes for 273 yards and four scores and ran for another 76 yards with two touchdowns.
Barksdale caught three passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, Morgan had three for 77 yards and two touchdowns, and Austin added a 69-yard touchdown reception.
Thomas completed 17-of-24 passes for 120 yards and added 25 yards rushing on nine attempts. Anthony Bilotta led the receivers with four catches for 31 yards.
DelVal Football will travel to Widener University next Saturday for the annual Keystone Cup rivalry game and a chance to complete its second perfect season and a fifth outright MAC Championship in a row. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
