Nov. 27, 2004

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. (www.lafayette.edu) - Defending national champ Delaware scored twice in the final seven minutes to rally from a 14-13 deficit and defeat No. 24 Lafayette, 28-14, in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs on Saturday at Tubby Raymond Field.

Lafayette took its first lead of the contest on a one-yard Joe McCourt touchdown run with 11:25 remaining. Rick Ziska's point-after put the Patriot League champion Leopards in front and capped an 18-play, 74-yard scoring drive that lasted 7:06.

Delaware, ranked 10th nationally in Division I-AA, responded with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in Sonny Riccio's six-yard touchdown run, his second scoring run of the night. Riccio hit Steve Selk on the two-point conversion play to bump Delaware's lead to 21-14 with 6:26 remaining.

Brad Maurer completions to Brandon Stanford (12 yards) and Joe Ort (16 yards), combined with a personal foul penalty on Delaware, set the Leopards up with a first down at the Blue Hen 25-yard line. Two plays of negative yardage, an incompletion and a penalty, however, had Lafayette facing a fourth-and-21 with the season on the line. After a Delaware timeout, Maurer completed a laser over the middle to tight end Chad Walker for 24 yards and first down at the Blue Hen 12.

On second down, Maurer rolled to his right and was hit from the side and behind. The ball popped loose, and Delaware safety Garron Bible scooped it up and raced 87 yards down the sideline for the game-clinching touchdown.

Delaware opened the scoring on the game's second possession, covering 66 yards in 12 plays. Omar Cuff scored from the five on third-and-three to put the hosts in front.

Maurer completed three third-down passes on Lafayette's initial scoring drive in the second quarter. He hit Stanford on a post pattern for 23 yards on third-and-10, found Walker running alone in the secondary for 46 yards on third-and-five, then hooked up with John-Frank Stubits for a three-yard score on third-and-goal. Maurer led Stubits toward the corner of the end zone on the touchdown, and the ball was tipped twice before Stubits caught it while lying on his back.

Riccio scored on a two-yard run on Delaware's next possession, but Brad Shushman, who earlier pushed a 37-yard field goal wide right, missed the point-after.

Delaware moved to the Lafayette 32 on the half's final possession, and Riccio threw into the end zone on the final play. The ball was knocked around by players on both teams before Marcel Quarterman secured his first career interception to keep the Leopards within six points heading into the break.

Maurer finished 19-of-27 for 211 yards through the air. He established new career highs for completions and yards, and spread his 19 completions around to eight different receivers. Stanford caught six for 66 yards, while Walker's two catches covered 70 yards.

McCourt was held to 50 yards on 13 carries, but his fourth-quarter touchdown equaled Tom Costello's single-season school record of 16 rushing scores.

Dion Witherspoon and Maurice Bennett led the defense with 11 tackles apiece.

Cuff ran for 109 yards on 23 carries for Delaware, while Riccio completed 14-of-31 for 148 yards.

Delaware improves to 16-5 all-time in home playoff games and is 21-2 at home over the past three seasons.

Lafayette closes its season at 8-4. The eight wins are the most for a Leopard team since 1992.

Delaware improves to 9-3 and will travel to fellow Atlantic 10 member William and Mary for the Division I-AA quarterfinals next Saturday.