DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Joel Perez returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and the Delaware Valley defense came up with four fourth-quarter interceptions as the Aggies stormed back for a 41-38 Homecoming win over Stevenson on Saturday afternoon.
Perez wasted no time, taking the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house to put DelVal up 7-0 after Brendan Hazell's extra point. The Aggies' defense forced an early punt, but the offense couldn't capitalize, turning the ball over on downs twice inside Stevenson territory. The Mustangs answered late in the first quarter, with Scavetta punching in a short run to tie the game at 7-7. Before the end of the frame, Mike Galasso connected with Alex Rufe for 39 yards, but the drive stalled early in the second.
Stevenson then took its first lead as Adams found McClain for an 11-yard touchdown, making it 14-7. Justin Brown responded with a 45-yard burst up the middle to tie it again. The Mustangs added a field goal before halftime to take a 17-14 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime and Homecoming festivities, a long kickoff return and a personal foul on the Aggies set up another Mustang score, extending the lead to 24-14. A short DelVal punt gave Stevenson favorable field position, and they converted again to make it 31-14. But Perez answered immediately with another electric return—this time 96 yards—to keep DelVal within striking distance.
Stevenson added one more score to make it 38-24, but the Aggies' offense started clicking late in the third. Galasso hit Alvaro Lora for a first down, then found Perez for 35 yards. Brown capped the drive with a pair of runs from nine and five yards out to cut the deficit to 38-28.
The defense took over from there. Tyrell picked off Adams early in the fourth, setting up another Brown touchdown run that brought the Aggies within three. On the next drive, Owen Suah intercepted Adams again, and Galasso immediately fired a 46-yard strike to Perez. Brown then finished it off with a 28-yard scoring run to give DelVal a 41-38 lead.
Micah Bootman came up with the team's third interception of the quarter, but the Aggies couldn't add to their lead after a turnover on downs following a challenge by head coach Mike Isgro. In the final minute, Andrew Vernieri sealed the win with DelVal's fourth interception of the quarter, allowing the Aggies to run out the clock in victory formation.
With the Homecoming victory, Delaware Valley improves to 4-3 overall and 4-2 in MAC play. The Aggies hit the road next Saturday, November 1, for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Alvernia.
