WVUD Sports’ NCAT Trip
By Sanaa Mason, Images by Mia Lenkiewicz
A pick-six with 3:40 to go in the 2nd quarter. A one-possession game at the half. Everything looked to be going wrong for Delaware as the half ended at Truist Stadium down in Greensboro, North Carolina. And the WVUD Sports team was along for the ride.
Truist Stadium, while surrounded by Biscuitville’s, KFC’s and Popeyes (The South loves their chicken), was a beauty to behold. As we watched the players warmup on the field, stretching and getting ready, we assumed that this would be an easy matchup for Delaware. It seemed to start that way at least.
Delaware dominated in the first quarter and within the first 5 minutes of the game star running back Marcus Yarns acquired a touchdown, putting the Blue Hens up 12-0 without much of an NCAT fight. However, Coach Carty wouldn’t be happy for long as the 2nd quarter started off without much Delaware momentum. The shot in the foot would be a Ryan O’Connor 30 yard throw intended for Jake Thaw but instead landing in the hands of an NCAT defender. Cheers erupted in the stadium as NCAT’s first touchdown was scored, but heads were hung low and helmets were slammed on the Delaware sideline. The replay on the board showed an overthrown O’Connor spiral that Jake Thaw’s fingers lightly grazed before tragedy struck.
With Marcus Yarns now sidelined due to a little twist up around the ankles, questions remained prominent for an angry Coach Carty. Yarns gains pushed them to multiple first downs and even a touchdown before he eventually left the field. As the Blue Hens ran into the locker room their heads were swarming with the same questions we announcers have. Can they win without their top running back? Is NCAT better than they thought? Is Delaware worse than we thought?
“FIRST AND TEN FOR DELAWARE” went over the speakers multiple times in this second half. Two touchdowns scored in the 3rd quarter including one by Delaware’s own quarterback really put the nail in the coffin and had NCAT dragging out all the stops. As the ball was snapped and there was nowhere for O’Connor to get a good throw, he ran right around NCAT defenders for 23 yards, eventually ending up in the end zone. There was no stopping him as his legs carried him down the field, the end zone right in reach. A rush up the middle by Quincy Watson and a Phil Lutz catch turned touchdown ran up the score for the ambitious Hens.
21 turned to 28 turned to 35 turned to 43 and still nothing for the opposing Aggies. The Blue Hens leaped off the sidelines with a victory as they collected their belongings and traveled the 2 hours home. 43-13 was the final score, a real blowout in their second game of the season.