DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – Playing in front of its hometown fans for the first time in 2023, the 25th ranked Delaware Valley University football team impressed by shutting out visiting King's College, 28-0, on Saturday afternoon.
On a rain-soaked day with variable winds crossing Robert A. Lipinski Field in Doylestown, the Aggie defense held the Monarchs to 11 yards of rushing to lead DelVal Football (3-1) to its 47th consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) victory while handing the Monarchs (3-1) their first loss of the season.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Aggies forced a 3-and-out to start the second and the offense took over near midfield after a 21-yard punt. Junior wide receiver Luan Avdijaj started the drive with a 14-yard gain on an end-around run, quarterback Louie Barrios IV broke off a 15-yard run, and sophomore Jack Fallon capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run up the middle. First-year Mike Barltley's point after kick made it 7-0 and capped DelVal's 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive.
The Aggies took their 7-0 lead into the halftime break and outgained the Monarchs, 163 yards to 50.
DelVal got the ball to start the second half and on the second play Barrios dumped a pass over the middle to fullback Jordan Collazo who took it 42 yards to the King's 27. Four plays later, Avidjaj took a hand off and sprinted to the near sideline for a three-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Late in the third, with the Monarchs facing a 4th-and-7 at the DelVal 29, sophomore Micah Bootman stepped in front of a receiver and grabbed his second interception of the season to get the ball back to the offense.
The defense forced another turnover in the fourth quarter, and this time converted for a touchdown. Anthony Puntolillo got to the quarterback for a sack and junior linebacker Ahmad Jones punched the ball out to force a fumble that was recovered by Darius Nichols and returned 35 yards for a defensive score and a 21-0 DelVal lead with just 7:16 left in regulation.
Barrios made it a 28-0 game with a 27-yard run followed by a tough seven-yard touchdown run late in regulation. The defense sealed the deal by forcing another turnover on the Monarchs final drive.
King's managed just 142 yards of offense and 2.7 yards per play against DelVal, and the Aggies forced four turnovers on the day. The DelVal offense posted 289 yards of offense with 198 yards rushing on 44 attempts.
Jay White led the ground attack with 17 carries for 99 yards and Barrios had 11 carries for 75 yards while completing 6-of-11 passes for 91 yards. Ryan Loughlin caught three passes that all went for first downs and added up to 39 yards. The defense was paced by Puntolillo's nine tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Shaun Balkcom, Jacquez Mabin, and Ahmad Jones all had two tackles for loss including a sack. Jones also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Nick Arcaroli was good in the punting game for DelVal as he averaged 37.2 yards per punt on six attempts and backed the Monarchs up inside their own 20 three times.
King's quarterback Russel Minor-Shaw ran the ball 20 times and finished with a net of -12 yards while completing 13-of-22 passes for 131 yards and an interception. Mike DiGregorio caught seven passes for 92 yards.
The Aggies have a bye next week before taking to the road two more times until they return home for homecoming on October 21.
