Nov. 18, 2000

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. (AP) - Matt Nagy passed for 456 yards and three touchdowns as Delaware turned a 25-point, second-quarter deficit into a 59-42 victory over Villanova on Saturday.

The Blue Hens (10-1, 7-1 Atlantic 10) bested the Wildcats (5-6, 3-5) for the first time since 1995, earning their first conference title since that season and a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs.

"This means a lot more than maybe our kids realize," said Delaware coach Tubby Raymond. "At halftime we said that if we'd play defense, we'd have a chance to win the ballgame. We started playing like we are capable of and we turned (Nagy) loose."

Brett Gordon, who went 36-of-48 for 424 yards and four touchdowns, had already broken loose for Villanova. The Wildcats racked up 416 yards in offense in the first half alone, punctuated by Gordon's two short touchdown passes in the second quarter.

But after falling behind 35-10, Delaware outscored Villanova 49-7 the rest of the way, and finished with 583 total yards to Villanova's 582.

"They were a little too much for us in the second half," said Villanova head coach Andy Talley. "They came out early playing not to lose, but the second half they definitely came out playing to win."

Nagy hit Jamin Elliott for a 65-yard touchdown on a catch and run down the left sideline to cut the margin to eight, then tied the game at 42 on a one-yard sneak followed by a two-point conversion run.

Delaware pulled away in the fourth quarter on Craig Cummings' 1-yard touchdown run with 11:07 remaining and finished off Villanova on Ricardo Walker's 100-yard interception return.

Elliott caught eight passes for 220 yards for the Hens, and Brian Westbrook finished with 458 all-purpose yards for the Wildcats, including 269 yards on kickoff returns.