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Hens will host Wofford in NCAA playoff semifinal 10:44 a.m., Dec. 8, 2003--The University of Delaware football team has advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoff semifinals and will host Wofford College at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at Delaware Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.The Fightin’ Blue Hens advanced to the semifinals by defeating Gateway Conference co-champion Northern Iowa University 37-7 before 11,881 hardy fans Saturday on the frozen tundra of Tubby Raymond Field. Wofford, the Southern Conference champion that was ranked No. 2 in the final NCAA Division I-AA polls announced by The Sports Network and USA Today prior to the start of the playoffs, advanced to the semifinals by defeating Western Kentucky University 34-17 on Saturday evening in Spartanburg, S.C. Led by head coach Mike Ayers, Wofford is 12-1 with its only loss 49-0 at the hands of the U.S. Air Force Academy on Aug. 30. Since then, the Terriers have ripped off a dozen straight wins, including a 42-16 romp over The Citadel, the lone common opponent on the teams’ schedules. The Blue Hens defeated The Citadel 41-7 to open the season. It will be interesting for UD fans to watch the Wofford offense as the Terriers run the option-oriented Wingbone, which incorporates elements of the Wishbone and the Delaware Wing-T. Wofford quarterback Jeff Zolman directs the attack, most often pitching the ball to fullback J.R. McNair (606 yards on 168 carries) or tailback Kevious Johnson (774 yards on 124 carries). Zolman himself has run for 599 yards and thrown for another 383, although the Terriers most often keep the ball on the ground. What makes the offense work is an experienced offensive line, led by guard Eric Deutsch (6-feet 3-inches, 315 pounds) and tackle Chad Bentley (6-1, 290). On defense, Wofford is led by All-American free safety Matt Nelson, who has six interceptions and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in NCAA Division I-AA, and defensive tackle Lee Basinger. The Terriers also have strong special teams, with Kevious Johnson averaging 20.0 yards on kick returns. Punter Jimmy Miner averaged 38.2 yards per kick. UD Head Coach K.C. Keeler is hoping the 13-1 Blue Hens can extend what has already been one of the most impressive seasons in history and earn a trip to the championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Friday, Dec. 19. The 7 p.m. game will be broadcast on ESPN2. The 13 victories are the most since the 1979 NCAA Division II championship team, on which Keeler played. Throughout the playoffs, UD has shown great balance with a hard-hitting defense, an efficient offense that can pound the ball on the ground or go to the air as needed, and strong special teams. For UD quarterback Andy Hall, the game will provide an opportunity to go against a team from his home state of South Carolina for the second time the season, the first against The Citadel. Hall, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in NCAA Division I-AA, is from Cheraw, S.C., and transferred to UD from Georgia Tech. Hall is joined in the backfield by senior running backs Germaine Bennett and Antawn Jenkins, who combined for 217 yards against Northern Iowa. Bennett had a career-high 140 yards and Jenkins had 77, both running behind a powerful and experienced offensive line that is led by co-captain Jason Nerys. Bennett now has 1,379 yards on the season and is approaching the UD single season record of 1,469 set by Daryl Brown in 1993. Hall has 3,094 yards of total offense and also is approaching a UD single season record of 3,332 set by Rich Gannon. The UD defense has been exceptionally strong, led by senior co-captain Mike Adams at safety and Buck Buchanan Award candidate Shawn Johnson at defensive end. Adams leads the team with four interceptions on the season, including a key pick-off deep in UD territory against Northern Iowa, and Johnson has 64 tackles and a team-leading 12 sacks. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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