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Aug. 30, 2002--University of Delaware junior running back Antawn Jenkins scored two touchdowns, including a 45-yard scamper in the opening five minutes of the game, as the Fightin’ Blue Hens made a winner of new head coach K.C. Keeler with a 22-19 victory over No. 5 Georgia Southern Thursday night, Aug. 29, at Delaware Stadium.
For Keeler, a former UD linebacker who served the previous nine seasons as head coach at NCAA Division III Rowan University, the victory marked the 10th straight year his team has won its season opener.
Keeler replaced Tubby Raymond, who served the previous 36 seasons and compiled 300 victories and three national titles for the Blue Hens. Raymond was honored at halftime when the Delaware Stadium field was dedicated as Tubby Raymond Field.
The Blue Hens, coming off a 4-6 record in 2001 that included a 38-7 loss to Georgia Southern at Statesboro, won despite a 400-299 disadvantage in total yards.
Jenkins, the Hens' leading rusher in 2001, scored on a 45-yard run with 9:17 left in the first quarter to open the scoring, going over 1,000 career yards in the process, and followed with a four-yard run with 3:20 left in the first half that capped an 80-yard drive and gave the Hens a 14-6 halftime lead.
Jenkins' second touchdown was set up by a 57-yard pass from junior quarterback Andy Hall to redshirt freshman wide receiver Brian Ingram to the four-yard line.
Hall, a first-year transfer from Georgia Tech, hit on 7 of 14 passes for 99 yards and rushed 10 times for 88 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown run with 6:33 left which proved to be the game-winner.
Georgia Southern, winner of six NCAA Division I-AA titles and a 2001 national semifinalist, could not pull out a win in the opener for new coach Mike Sewak.
The Eagles rushed for 279 total yards, including 73 by redshirt freshman Jermaine Austin, but couldn't put the ball into the end zone from close range.
After Jenkins' first touchdown run, Georgia Southern came back to cut the lead to 7-6 on field goals of 27 and 26 yards from Scott Shelton. Then Jenkins' second score gave the Hens a 14-6 lead at the half.
The Eagles cut the lead to 14-12 when Austin scored from 11 yards out with 1:32 left, but Trey Hunter's two-point conversion run attempt failed. Georgia Southern later had a chance to take the lead but Shelton's 35-yard field goal attempt with 10:42 left went wide.
UD’s Hall scored what proved to be the game-winner four minutes later when he was forced out of the pocket and scrambled 24 yards into the end zone.
Georgia Southern scored on a one-yard run by quarterback Chaz Williams (61 yards) with nine seconds left to cut the lead to 22-19 but Delaware recovered the onside kickoff to clinch the victory.
For more information, see the Blue Hen football web site at [http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/football/].
Photos by Kathy Flickinger
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