DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University football team's 2022 season to remember came to an end at Saturday with a 22-6 loss at Robert A. Lipinski Field in Doylestown to second-ranked Mount Union.
The Aggies finish the season 12-1 overall, tying the program record for wins in a season. They reached the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fifth time ever and the third time in the last five seniors. The senior class finished their careers with an undefeated mark in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play, four trips to the NCAA Playoffs and two quarterfinal showings.
The Purple Raiders improved to 13-0 and advanced to the semifinals to face Wartburg University who defeated Aurora 45-17.
Mount Union got the ball first to start this game and made its way down the field with a 12-play, 65-yard touchdown drive to open the scoring. Quarterback Braxton Plunk found wide receiver Wayne Ruby, Jr. for 23 yards on the second play of the game and Deandre Parker punched in a one-yard touchdown run to cap the drive.
Late in the first, with DelVal punting from its own 29-yard line, Pat Moran slipped on the wet turf and the punt was blocked and recovered by the Raiders at the Aggie 29. The teams switched sides as the game went into the second quarter and Mount Union scored on a six-yard touchdown pass from Plunk to Jaden Manley to make it a 14-0 game early in the second.
On the Purple Raiders' next drive, DelVal's second-ranked defense forced a turnover as Nick Chapman knocked the ball out of the running back's hands and Anthony Puntolillo recovered at the Aggies' 18-yard line to halt the Mount Union drive and give the ball back to DelVal.
The Aggies went 3-and-out on their next possession, but the defense once again stopped the visitors and forced a punt. The Purple Raiders punt pinned DelVal at their own one yard line with 5:01 left in the first half.
Barrios found Tahmir Barksdale on a quick slant for a seven yard gain and Jay White followed with a 12-yard run. Moments later, on third down, Barrios threw a deep ball that senior Ryan Loughlin tracked down for a 34-yard gain to the Mount Union 28. A 15-yard penalty against the Raiders moved the ball inside the red zone. On first down, Barrios gained eight yards, but the next two runs were stopped for no gain and DelVal faced a 4th-and-1 from the five yard line. Barrios dropped back to pass, but the defensive line broke through for a sack to turn the ball over. DelVal's drive went 85 yards on nine plays, but came up empty and it remained a 14-0 game at the half.
The Aggies got the ball to start the second half but were forced to punt after not picking up a first down. Mount Union responded with a five-play, 36-yard touchdown drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Plunk to Ruby. It was Ruby's NCAA leading 27th touchdown of the season and made it a 20-0 game with just over 11 minutes left in the third.
The Aggies got on the board late in the third quarter thanks to an 8-play, 87-yard drive that spanned just over four minutes. Tim Weldon carried the ball four times for 20 yards and Dillon Shamanow hauled in an 18-yard pass to set up DelVal at the Mount Union 24. On the next play, Barrios threw a jump ball to the end zone and Tahmir Barksdale leaped over a defender to haul in the touchdown and make it 20-6 game heading into the fourth quarter.
On the Raiders next possession they drove the ball deep inside DelVal territory and set up a 2nd-&-goal from the three, but the Aggies' stout defense rose to the occasion and stopped three straight run attempts to keep it a two-score game with just over 12 minutes left in regulation.
DelVal used three plays of over 10 yards to advance the ball near midfield but then faced a fourth down with 9:15 on the clock and punted the ball back to Mount Union. The Purple Raiders ate up six minutes of clock, but a Nick Chapman tackle for loss forced them to punt and kept the Aggies hopes alive. However, the punt pinned DelVal at its own 6-yard line and on the next play Mount Union's defense got through the line for a sack and safety to ultimately seal the 22-6 victory.
The Aggies gained 239 yards of offense including 163 yards through the air against the number one ranked defense in the country. Defensively, the group allowed 348 yards of offense with 142 yards via the run game of Mount Union.
Barrios finished 11-for-27 for 163 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked five times. White and Weldon split the run duties and combined for 89 yards and Barksdale led the receivers with 56 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Loughlin hauled in two passes for 60 yards. Chapman paced the defense with 11 tackles including three tackles for loss as he was all over the field. Michael Nobile added 1.5 sacks and seven tackles while Yusuf Aladinov and Micah Bootman each made eight stops.
For the visitors, Plunk finished with 206 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing and Ruby made 10 catches for 143 yards and a score. Parker carried the ball 28 times for 122 yards and a touchdown.
