Nov. 22, 2003

Final Stats

VILLANOVA, PA. - In the regular season finale at Villanova Stadium, Delaware quarterback Andy Hall scored on a one-yard run with 1:25 left as the Blue Hens defeated No. 18 Villanova, 20-17. The loss drops 'Nova's record on the season to 7-4, 5-4 in the Atlantic 10.

Delaware, ranked third in I-AA football, clinched a share of the conference title and the league's automatic playoff bid with the victory. Hall's score capped a 13-play, 79-yard drive that lasted 4:26. The Wildcats had taken their first lead of the evening prior to Delaware's game-winning drive by virtue of a 7-yard Terry Butler rushing score.

The touchdown was the second of the game for Butler, who gained 43 yards on nine carries. Delaware's Germaine Bennett led all rushers with 113 yards on 21 touches.

Both teams struggled to score points in the first half, as the contest went to intermission knotted at three. Delaware's Brad Shushman connected on a 19-yard field goal in the second quarter, and Villanova's Adam James responded with a 32-yarder. But the Blue Hens wasted opportunities to take an early lead, as Shushman missed his first three-point attempt of the half, and the Blue Hens were unsuccessful on a fake field goal on a separate occasion.

The Blue Hens opened the second half with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard plunge from Antawn Jenkins.

The Villanova defense played well but eventually tired, as Delaware held a 79-67 advantage in plays and close to an 11-minute edge in time of possession. The Blue Hens out gained the 'Cats, 410-299.

The Wildcats had a final opportunity to tie the game or take the lead with 1:25 left and the ball at the VU 35-yard line. Quarterback Joe Casamento, who was 20-for-37 for 191 yards in the game, drove the 'Cats 22 yards on 10 plays, but the drive ended when his desperation pass fell incomplete as he was being tackled on fourth-and-10.