By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Villanova, Pennsylvania — The No. 15 Villanova Wildcats defeated the Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats won 38-28 over the Blue Hens at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
This may be the final game of the Battle of the Blue rivalry game. If it’s not, it’ll be the final game in a very long time before it happens again.
The yearly rivalry game marked the end of the Blue Hens as an FCS team. Delaware paid $5 million dollars to move up to the FBS level and enter the Conference USA.
The Wildcats improved to 9-3 overall. They were 6-2 in the Coastal Athletic Association.
The Blue Hens concluded their season with a 9-3 mark, as well. The team had a 6-2 record in the CAA.
Villanova is hoping that they will receive a postseason bid with the win. The Wildcats will find out on Sunday if they’ll play postseason games.
There have been 58 meetings in the Battle of the Blue. Villanova leads the all time series 35-22-1.
The Wildcats have won the last four games in the series. Delaware’s last win — and maybe final win overall in the series — came on April 17th, 2021 when they won 27-20 in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
The Blue Hens last beat Villanova at Delaware Stadium since November 20th, 2004, when they won 41-35.
According to Blue Hens Sports Information Director Brendan Thomas, the two teams are not scheduled to play one another for the foreseeable future. Now, with Delaware moving up to the next level, it would require a fee for Villanova to play another Battle of the Blue.
FBS teams typically pay FCS opponents. And sometimes, like when Northern Illinois Huskies defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish earlier this year, the Huskies also received a fee fo play the game.
Wildcats quarterback Connor Watkins went 13 of 30 for 203 yards. He had own touchdown pass and one interception.
Watkins also had eight carries for 79 yards and one touchdown. Jaylen Sanchez had two receptions for 46 yards.
Blue Hens quarterback Nick Minicucci went 18 of 33 for 198 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Marcus Yarns had 20 carries for 100 yards and one touchdown. He concluded his college football journey with four straight 100-yard rushing yardage games.
He has had NFL scouts looking at him this season.
Yarns also had three receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Villanova outscored Delaware 17-7 in the second half. Brendan Bell scored on a six-yard rushing touchdown.
Watkins also scored on a 38-yard rushing touchdown. Ethan German made a 31 yard field goal.
Blue Hens’ Minicucci hit Jo’Nathan Silver for a six-yard touchdown reception.
The game was tied at 21 apiece at halftime. Villanova went on a 21 run before Delaware responded with three straight touchdowns.
David Avit scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown. Bell intercepted Minicucci and returned it for a 38-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
Watkins hit Kenyon Miles for a 36-yard touchdown reception.
Jojo Bermudez put the Blue Hens on the board with a 14-yard rushing touchdown. Yarns scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown.
Minicucci also hit Yarns for a 65-yard touchdown reception.
© 2007-2024 The Capital Sports Report. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed.
