DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – For the second week in a row, the nationally-ranked Delaware Valley University football team scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of regulation, this time, to defeat visiting Stevenson University, 21-14, and earn at least a share of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship title.
The Aggies got the ball with one minute left in regulation and the game tied, 14-14. On the very first play, quarterback Louis Barrios IV found Luan Avdijaj over the middle of the field and the junior wide receiver made two defenders miss and sprinted into the end zone for what would be the game winning touchdown with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter. It was the second game-winning touchdown for the Barrios – Avdijaj connection in as many weeks as the duo connected for a 10-yard game-winning score with 38 seconds left last week.
Today's win improved DelVal to 7-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 in MAC play and a full two games ahead of every other team in the league with two games to play. The loss dropped the Mustangs into a four-way tie for second place with King's, Lebanon Valley, Stevenson, and Widener at 5-2. The Aggies have wins over three of those four teams and will play Widener in the final game of the season on November 11.
With a win at Misericordia next week, DelVal will clinch its sixth consecutive outright MAC Championship and berth to the NCAA Playoffs.
The Aggies opened today's game nearly the same way they ended it with Barrios and Avdijaj connecting for a 68-yard touchdown on the second play of the game to give the home team an early 7-0 lead.
Stevenson tied the game early in the second as it took advantage of a short field after a DelVal turnover gave the Mustangs the ball at the DelVal 14-yard line. Two plays later, Louis Clouser took a hand off and ran around the edge for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
On Stevenson's next drive, the Aggies got a blocked punt from John Mahana and the offense took over at the Mustang 41. Head Coach Duke Greco dialed up two trick plays on the next drive that both resulted in Nick Arcaroli completing a pass to Barrios. The first pass went for 31 yards to the Stevenson 10, and the second was a three-yard touchdown pass that put DelVal ahead, 14-7.
Stevenson tied the game at 14-14 with an 18-play, 96-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that spanned 8:11 of game time in the fourth quarter and set up the late-game dramatics.
The DelVal offense finished the game with 408 total yards including 261 through the air and 147 on the ground. Barrios led the charge with 227 yards passing, 88-yard rushing, and another 34 yards receiving. He scored one receiving touchdown and threw two touchdown passes. Avdijaj racked up 149 yards on three receptions including two long touchdown catches. Fallon carried the ball 12 times for 65 yards and had three receptions for 30 yards.
Defensively, the Aggies held Stevenson to 41 yards rushing and 276 total yards for the game. Defensive end Jacquez Mabin made 11 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Linebacker Nick Chapman followed with eight tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a tackle for loss and Ahmad Jones added seven stops with two passes defended, two TFL, and a sack.
Stevenson was led on offense by wide receiver Pat Gorman who caught eight passes for 135 yards. Quarterback Nyaire Wilson was 22-for-40 for 235 yards and one touchdown and was sacked five times. Clouser led the team in rushing with 15 carries for 39 yards.
The Aggies will look to clinch their sixth-straight outright MAC Championship title next week when they travel to Misericordia to take on the Cougars at 1 p.m. in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
